HPE Aruba Access Points

HPE Aruba Access Points Buying Guide

An Aruba access point adds Wi-Fi to your wired network, connecting to a switch over one Ethernet cable. HPE Aruba Networking, part of HPE, builds campus, outdoor, and hospitality models for offices, schools, hospitals, and hotels, and the Instant On line is designed for small businesses. To compare other brands, see all wireless access points.

Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E, or Wi-Fi 7

The series number tells you the Wi-Fi generation. 500 series models are Wi-Fi 6 on the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands. 600 series models are Wi-Fi 6E and add the 6 GHz band. Only Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 devices can use 6 GHz, and older devices stay on 2.4 and 5 GHz. 700 series models are Wi-Fi 7, with multi-link operation that lets a device connect over more than one band at once. Model numbers ending in 4, such as the AP-534 and AP-654, and the hardened AP-518 use external antennas sold separately. Browse Wi-Fi 6 access points or Wi-Fi 7 access points from every brand.

Outdoor and Hospitality Models

Outdoor models are rated IP67 against dust and water, run in temperatures down to -40°F, and cover courtyards, parking lots, and warehouse yards. Directional models such as the AP-567 and AP-677 aim their signal at one area to reach farther. Hospitality models like the AP-503H and AP-605H mount on a wall box in hotel rooms and residence halls and add wired ports for devices such as VoIP phones. On an 802.3bt Class 6 PoE port, the AP-605H can power two of those devices. Find more outdoor access points.

Campus or Instant On: How They're Managed

Every model outside the Instant On line is a unified access point that runs in more than one mode. It can be managed in the cloud through HPE Aruba Networking Central, which is sold as a per-AP subscription, run from a mobility controller or gateway, or join a controller-less Instant cluster where one access point manages the rest.

Instant On is HPE's small-business line. It runs on its own free mobile app and web portal rather than Central, with no subscription or license fees, and one site holds up to 125 Instant On access points and switches. Instant On switches, listed with our Aruba switches, run in the same app.

Power and Mounting

PoE needs vary by model. The AP-503 runs on standard 802.3af PoE, the AP-505 and AP-725 run fully on PoE+ (802.3at), and the AP-635 and AP-735 need 802.3bt to run every feature, so check each listing's PoE class against your switch. Ports rated 2.5G, 5G, or 10G need a multi-gig switch port to run faster than a gigabit. Compare PoE switches, or read our guide to PoE vs PoE+ vs PoE++.

Campus, outdoor, and hospitality access points ship without a mount kit, so order the kit that matches your ceiling, wall, or pole. The AP-503 includes a ceiling rail bracket, and the AP-605HR bundle includes a desk stand. Instant On access points include their mounting hardware in the box.

Aruba Access Point FAQs

What does an Aruba access point do?

It connects Wi-Fi devices such as laptops, phones, and IoT sensors to your wired network. Aruba's ClientMatch steers devices to the access point with the strongest signal and moves capable devices off the 2.4 GHz band to 5 or 6 GHz.

What is an HPE Aruba access point?

It's an access point from HPE Aruba Networking, the business Hewlett Packard Enterprise acquired as Aruba Networks in 2015. Campus, outdoor, and hospitality models carry the HPE Aruba Networking name, and the small-business line is sold as HPE Networking Instant On.

How do I set up an Aruba access point?

For Instant On, power the access point from a PoE switch, add it to a site in the free Instant On app, and set your Wi-Fi name and password. Campus models added to a Central account pull their configuration from the cloud through zero-touch provisioning. Without Central, they can find a mobility controller on the network or form an Instant cluster with other access points running AOS 8.

Do Aruba Wi-Fi 7 access points need Aruba Central?

Not always. HPE designs the 700 series around AOS 10, which runs with a Central subscription. Since AOS 8.13.3, they can run on an AOS 8 mobility controller or in Instant mode with basic Wi-Fi 7 support. They ship running AOS 10, and switching one to AOS 8 resets it and can't be undone.