Summary

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Customer Environment

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What is RDY SKU?

The RDY SKU was introduced to allow users to upgrade the secondary or redundant ZoneDirector to match the software and functionality level of the primary ZoneDirector. This upgrade is crucial for ensuring that both ZoneDirectors in a redundant pair operate in harmony, providing consistent network management and failover capabilities.

Key Benefits of RDY SKU:

• Advanced Replacement Support: The RDY SKU provides advanced replacement support specifically for the redundant ZoneDirector. This means that if your secondary ZoneDirector experiences a hardware failure, you can quickly replace it with minimal disruption to your network.
• Synchronization of Features: With the RDY SKU, the secondary ZoneDirector can be upgraded to the same software version as the primary ZoneDirector, ensuring feature parity and smooth operation during failover events.

How Does Smart Redundancy Work?

The Smart Redundancy feature, available on Ruckus ZoneDirector version 9.9 and above, is designed to provide a robust failover mechanism for networks managed by ZoneDirectors. This feature allows two ZoneDirectors to be configured as a redundant pair, with one actively managing the network and the other serving as a backup in standby mode.

Key Features of Smart Redundancy:

• Active and Standby Roles: In a redundant pair, one ZoneDirector is designated as the active unit, managing all Access Points (APs) and client connections. The other ZoneDirector is in standby mode, monitoring the health of the active unit and synchronizing its settings periodically.

• Automatic Failover: If the active ZoneDirector fails or loses power, the standby ZoneDirector automatically takes over, becoming the active unit. The failover process is designed to be seamless, with all associated APs re-associating to the newly active ZoneDirector within approximately one minute. This ensures that wireless service to clients continues without significant interruption.

• State Synchronization: The standby ZoneDirector continuously monitors the active ZoneDirector and synchronizes its configuration settings to ensure that it can take over immediately if needed. This synchronization is crucial for maintaining consistent network management during a failover event.

• Transition Back to Standby: When the original active ZoneDirector recovers, it automatically detects the presence of an already active ZoneDirector on the network. It then assumes the standby role, ready to take over again if needed.

Important Notes:

• Model Requirements: Smart Redundancy requires that both ZoneDirectors in the pair be of the same model.
  For example, you cannot configure Smart Redundancy using a ZoneDirector 1200 as the primary and a ZoneDirector 3000 as the backup unit.

• AP Discovery and Management: The ZoneDirector in standby mode does not respond to Discovery requests from APs, meaning it won’t manage APs until it becomes the active unit. Upon failover, the newly active ZoneDirector will take control of all APs and client connections.
   

How to Activate RDY Support

For detailed instructions on activating RDY support, you can refer to the following article: How to activate and download RDY Support and License.

Conclusion

The RDY SKU and Smart Redundancy features are essential for ensuring the reliability and continuity of networks managed by Ruckus ZoneDirectors. The RDY SKU allows you to upgrade and maintain your redundant ZoneDirector, while Smart Redundancy ensures that your network remains operational even in the event of a ZoneDirector failure. By configuring your ZoneDirectors with these capabilities, you can minimize downtime and provide a consistent and reliable wireless experience for your users.