Hi,

> We’re looking at upgrading our small wireless network by replacing some/all of the Linksys residential WAPS we’re currently using with enterprise class APs (to overcome the “AP fell over because of too many users” issues we’re having) and possibly adding a management controller.  We’re a small site with only about 20 APs in total and authentication/dhcp is already dealt with by a Bradford Campus Manager.
> Anyone have any strong feelings either way about Meru products, particularly the MC1500 and AP320s?  I was thinking of going with Cisco Aironets and a 4400 series controller, but have been impressed by the Meru sales blurb as well as reading good thing about them in this thread not to long ago.
> Anyone got Meru/Cisco horror/love stories that they would be willing to share with me?

from hearing/seeing things, it seems that ALL wireless vendors have
strengths and weaknesses...and all have good things and good stories,
mixed with bad things and horror stories. A lot of the horrors are
mainly due to installation and/or confusion of features or even how
wireless works(!)

do you have an existing relationship with a vendor? you might get 
better support/pricing rather than just starting fresh and only using
them for wireless.

why the 4400? if i were to buy a cisco standalone now it'd be the 5500
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps10315/index.html - as thats geared 
up for new wireless methods and fixes a few 4400 things that cant be fixed
in hardware....it also allows remote access points.

for a smaller deployment you might also look at the 3750G with integrated
wireless controller - http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps6915/index.html
not heard bad or good reviews from this device...might be more
suitable for size of deployment? 

really, for a small (2 dozen) AP system, any of the players - Meru, Cisco,
Trapeze, Aruba, that already have presence in the HEFE have suitable small
scale controller and licence packages.   though, no matter how small,
for such an environment I believe you still need to have minimal featureset

802.11b (though some may state that it should be dropped..have 802.11g is minimum)
802.11g
802.11a
802.11n (in both 2.4GHz and 5GHz - 40MHz mode supported)
mobility (full layer2/layer3 mobility so clients can jump from one AP to another)
security (TKIP/AES attacks, EAP attacks, FakeAP and wifi scan attacks etc)
spectrum management (dealing with channels and allocation thereof)
mapping tools
user location /asset tracking (and visualisation)
proper accouting/reporting of AP statistics
support for multiple SSIDs and VLAN ovreriding (via RADIUS)
centralised login/auth support - RADIUS/AD/TACACS+
captive portal support (so you dont need another appliance)
RADIUS support (so you can do proper wifi - aka WPA/WPA2 enterprise - and thus eduroam)
power management (turn unused APs/radios down eg overnight)
802.11d - support for location and channel allocation in beacons
APs that can be powered via PoE (802.11af or 802.11at)
1Gig connection on AP (if its 802.11n)

..the list can go on - i'm sure other people can add into this.

alan