Linksys LAPAC2600 MU-MIMO Access Point Review

The Linksys LAPAC2600 MU-MIMO Access Point (which is list-priced at $469.99) is a sleek and self-contained MU-MIMO wireless access point (AP) that can be mounted inconspicuously on walls or ceilings. In case you don't know, a wireless AP is essentially a bridge whereby wireless devices can access a wired network. For many small businesses, that means they need to connect to an organization's core router, but they can also connect directly to a wired switch or hub and perform the same function.

Design and Configuration
To do this, the LAPAC2600 sports two gigabit (GB) LAN connections, which you can use to connect to your small business router. One of them supports Power over Ethernet (PoE), which eliminates the need to mount the device near a power outlet, as long as you've got a raised floor or dropped ceiling through which you can run some Ethernet cable. One minor drawback: the lack of ability to add an external antenna. While it's not a necessity, it is nice to have if the AP needs to be accessible outdoors or reachable across long distances.

On top of the unit there is a single, multi-purpose LED that indicates the current status by color and blink rate. There's also a reset button tucked neatly out of harm's way on the bottom. Under the hood are 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz radios, which offer a theoretical maximum combined data rate of 2.53Gbps.

Configuring the device is handled via a web interface that can be reached by using the IP address of 192.168.1.252 if no Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server is available. If you've got your core router handing out IP addresses via DHCP, then you can simply access your router's management interface to find out the AP's address. Once you've got that, you can use it to log into the AP directly. The LAPAC2600's interface is very straightforward, though you may never need to see it since the AP's Quick Start wizard is only five pages long and covers all of the basic setup options.

The System Status screen provides a comprehensive overview of the AP's current status and system log. Packet statistics and wireless status are broken down per interface and offer a compact look at system performance and trouble spots. For users in need of a more advanced view, SNMP v3 is also fully supported, with the ability to lock down access to up to four management IP addresses.

Packet capture is another nice feature on all interfaces. This can be instrumental for tracking down troublesome traffic on the network that's causing speed issues. While there aren't any sophisticated packet analysis tools onboard, the data is readily available for download to a local machine, where you or your IT staff can interpret it by using a hardware packet analyzer or network monitoring software.

Both radios can be configured independently, each with their own set of eight Service Set Identifiers (SSIDs)—enough so even the most creative network administrator would have a difficult time using all of them. Of those, security can be configured in a variety of ways. All of the most popular wireless security standards are supported, including Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP), Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), and WPA2. Additionally, administrators can opt to employ network Quality of Service (QoS) on traffic times they deem most important.

So, for example, if your company uses a video chat application to handle customer service and that's an important process for you, your administrator can then use QoS to guarantee that a certain amount of the network's overall bandwidth is always available to support that workload. The LAPAC2600 also supports other forms of bandwidth management, as well as usage scheduling and Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) support. It also supports rogue access point detection, which is very useful in locating access points that outside hackers have used to connect to your office network, sometimes from the office next door or even that strange car in the parking lot.

Access Control Lists (ACLs) are also supported and are a nice touch for administrators who really want fine-grain control over who can and can't access the AP and how. While not as powerful as a true firewall, it provides a basic level of control over what wireless users are allowed to do. This could be as simple as eliminating access to specific services. Each ACL may be associated to individual SSIDs across both radios. While there can, theoretically, be some minor throughput degradation when this feature is enabled, it is useful to have the ability to minimize the exposure of your network to the wireless world.

One of the more interesting options is the Captive portal, which can be configured for guest users. This feature enables your organization's guests to access basic network services as you see fit (for instance, perhaps just internet access and the ability to print to the printer nearest the conference room) while keeping the rest of your network inaccessible to guest wireless devices. The Captive portal has a professional layout, and all terms and conditions can be entered on a single screen. The remaining configuration pages are intuitive to navigate and clearly understandable at a glance. I was impressed with how little input was required to make this feature work.

Also notable is the clustering option. One or more access points can be linked together effortlessly to allow access to the same network. Configuring a cluster of similar APs (which usually means they're the same model from the same vendor) means your administrators can manage all of the APs as a single clustered unit, even if they're physically located in different places. I couldn't fully test this capability, as I was only provided one unit for this review and you'd need at least two to test (and usually 4-5 to make this a worthwhile thing to do in the real world).

I found the configuration page to be minimal as compared to some instruction sets I've seen from other vendors. If the manual is accurate, then a clustered environment can be established in minutes, assuming you've done sufficient planning in advance (which is also detailed in the instructions). As an alternative, the unit may be configured as a wireless bridge with any AP that doesn't support clustering. Clustering must be turned off for this to work.

Installation and Performance
Installing the LAPAC2600 is easier than pronouncing its model name. After plugging it in and connecting both Ethernet cables, the LED blinks a few times and then silently glows, which indicates a successful startup. From start to finish, a basic setup takes about five minutes after the system powers on.

The testing environment consisted of two GB-capable PCs and a 4GB file was transferred between RAM disks on the respective machines to rule out any errant Input/Output (I/O) influence. On a wired-only connection, speeds averaged at 980Mbps, close enough to the rated GB speed. When connecting to the 5-Ghz radio using an Intel Dual Band Wireless AC-7265, network throughput averaged around 430Mbps, with spikes as high at 700Mbps. While these do not approach the theoretical capabilities of the device, this is common on a typical network. Users without Solid State Drives (SSDs) and fast machines will struggle to find apps that will tax their wireless connections before slow I/O becomes the prevailing limiting factor.

Unfortunately, the 2.4-Ghz radio didn't perform as well, which was likely due to congestion in the 2.4-Ghz band. Typical speeds averaged 90Mbps, which would be noticeably slower for the majority of users attempting to access high performance local apps. It's undeniable, however, that the 2.5-Ghz radio wins on distance. The signal of the 5-Ghz radio began to noticeably decline at 30 feet while the 2.4-Ghz signal held strong even outside the building.

Regardless of these minor shortcomings, the level of performance is very similar to a wired connection. Users would find little barrier to high-performance tasks such as large file transfers, video conferencing, or real-time network apps that are typically relegated to GB, provided they were close enough to take advantage of the 5-Ghz radio.

Conclusion
With a low profile that can be neatly mounted in the workplace, fast performance, and a rich feature list, the LAPAC2600 is an excellent AP for any office environment. The price point is comparable to other APs in its class and, while it lacks a way to connect external antennas, the range remains good. Combined with the easy-to-use clustering and management features, Linksys has given users a great excuse to ditch the wires.

Linksys LAPAC2600 MU-MIMO Access Point

4.0

See It

$209.99 at Amazon

MSRP $469.99

Pros

• Rich feature set.
• Speedy throughput on the 5-Ghz radio.
• Easy-to-configure clustering.

Cons

• No options for an external antenna.
• Clients require MU-MIMO support to take advantage of maximum data rates.

The Bottom Line

The Linksys LAPAC2600 MU-MIMO Access Point is a great addition to a growing network, offering small businesses good throughput speed, easy configuration, and a robust list of features that administrators can use to both secure traffic and utilize the device in a wide variety of specialized scenarios.