Help us make the Firewalla AP
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- Building a Zero Trust Network with Firewalla
- Firewalla Tutorial: Segmentation and Microsegmentation with AP7
- Early Access hardware is the FINAL production unit
- AP software in BETA.
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Compatibility Requirements:
- Gold, Gold Pro, Gold Plus, Gold SE: Must run Beta software.
- Purple, Purple SE: Must run Early Access software.
- Firewalla must operate in Router mode.
- Firewalla App must run Beta software.
- Availability: USA customers only.
- Shipping: 7–37 days post-order, in waves (FIFO).
- Order Limit: Soft limit of 3 units per order; exceeding this may delay shipment
- Early access signup ends 12/30/2024 at 11:59PM PST.
- A coupon (small discount) will be sent to early access sign-ups before 1/2/2025.
- You do NOT need to sign up to order.
- We started an AP7 Community Page, please post your questions here
- Full Integration with the Firewalla Security Stack
- Zero Trust Network Architecture
- VLAN Segmentation and Microsegmentation Support
- Easy to install, managed anywhere
- Wi-Fi 7, faster and more reliable
- Wi-Fi Mesh with Ethernet or Wi-Fi backhaul
- Firewalla running in router mode is required
- 8 Spatial Streams, tri-band, low-power indoor unit
- 10Gbit + 2.5Gbit Ethernet Interface
- Early access and beta are available only in the USA. (EU and other countries TBD)
- Price for beta units with discount: $299 to $349
- Final price after 1/20/2025: We don't know; it depends on the tariff
- Tentatively, early access/beta sale starts in early January 2025
Key Principles of Zero Trust
- Segmentation and Microsegmentation: Divide your network into smaller segments to limit the lateral movement of threats.
- Least Privilege Access: Grant users and devices only the minimum access necessary to perform their functions on the network.
- Continuous Monitoring: Continuously monitor and verify the security posture of all users and devices.
We usually run a pre-sale cycle, but due to the political changes (new President), it is not possible for us to pre-sale and build units without knowing possible tariff impacts. Instead, we’ve used the sale proceeds from BFCM to pre-purchase a batch of units.
The AP7 units should be built soon and be available for ordering. We plan to split the orders into groups: (This plan is still tentative, we may also merge beta+early access together)
- Early Access (for our earliest supporters at the lowest price, available mid- to late-December 2024. Must be running Firewalla Gold (v1 & v2), Gold SE, Gold Plus or Gold Pro in router mode)
- Beta Access (about 1 month later, available mid-January 2025. Must be running Firewalla Purple or Gold series units in router mode)
- Production (to be decided after 1/20/2025)
- For details please refer the the status update section below
All units will have the final production hardware, software will be in early access/beta.
- Limited number of units available
- Limited to 3 units per customer
- Early access unit will be using early access software
- Beta access will be using beta software
The Firewalla AP7 Ceiling Mount will come a couple of months after 1/20/2025. It will seamlessly integrate with the FWAP7 Desktop units.
Spec
- Triband 2.4Ghz 2x2, 5Ghz 2x2, 6Ghz 4x4
- 8 Spatial Streams, 320Mhz channel support 6Ghz
- Network Interfaces: 10Gbit RJ45 + 2.5Gbit RJ45
- VLAN
- PPSK+WPA2 Support (Personal Key)
- Mesh with Ethernet or Wi-Fi backhaul
- Dimensions: 5.43 x 3.15 x 7.48 inch
- Item Weight: 1.4 lb
- Power: 30W
- Compatible with and Required: Firewalla Gold / Firewalla Purple in router mode
Status Update: 12/10/2024
- The initial batch of APs is nearly complete.
- We plan to ship some units by air right around or after Christmas to reduce shipping costs.
- Shipping optimization is under consideration to keep the beta/early access pricing closer to $299.
- Apps version 1.64 and 1.980 are targeted for "early access" release during the week of 12/16. These updates will include exciting new features and code support for the Firewalla AP.
- Sales are expected to begin in early January, with units shipping within seven days of order placement. (The exact date will be confirmed next week.)
Status Update: 12/17/2024
- The Firewalla AP7 is coming very soon!
- We are aiming for 1/7/2025 9 AM PST as the Early Access purchase date, but we'll let you know if anything changes! (if the shipment is late, then this date might be pushed back to 1/14/2025)
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I hope this becomes reality VERY soon. I’m bouncing back and forth between Omada or Unifi, but I’d much rather have a full firewalla network stack because Firewalla is an awesome company and I honestly don’t trust Ubiquiti.
My requests for a Firewall AP are simple, it needs 10gbe, and please make sure the AP is fully featured. (PoE, 4x4x4, MLO, SP/AFC). No reason to skimp, go big for your first release. You can always fill in the lower end later.
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Ack, I believe it will have wireless mesh. Using 6ghz for backhaul is perfect way to make wireless faster than ethernet :)
If obstructions don't get in the way. My home has walls & floors that will block it so I suspect wired backhaul will be faster & more stable for me and some others. In essence, we'll need both options.
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Ack, I believe it will have wireless mesh. Using 6ghz for backhaul is perfect way to make wireless faster than ethernet :)
are you referencing to 6ghz in Wifi 7 or 6ghz in wifi 6? 6ghz has the wrost penetration in wifi6, and currently i am using 5G-2 unii-4 channels for wireless backhaul, and link speed is around 1700/1700 with 3 walls between 2 APs.
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Update:
We will likely white label (use an existing product instead of building our own) a WiFi 7 access point. We will start with a desktop version and a ceiling mount version two months later. This will help us focus more on software, and there will be lots of exciting new software features ...
(Will have more details once we sign and pay the deposit)
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Been using Omada APs for years and they work great. Maybe a white label option there? Love the idea of this offering btw. Please bring in as much device details as possible into the UI when this is built.
As others have mentioned VLANs for multiple LANs/SSIDs is a must.
Only downside for me is I just purchased a new WI-FI 6 AP. Any idea on timing of this release? I’m still in my 30 day return window. LOL
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For a ceiling mount WiFi 7 AP, the bottom (the side facing the ceiling) is usually a big heatsink, and the surface of this heatsink can get to 70C if fully loaded in a room >30C. Is this something you care about?
We don't think people will be touching that part since it is so high up ... but we want to know what your thoughts are.
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Heat isn't a huge problem. My current ceiling mounted AP gets hot AF! Obviously not ideal, but it is what it is. For the controller bit, are you saying these will be "SDN" and require a Firewalla firewall to act as a controller? If so, I like where you are going with this. Going the SDN route opens a lot of doors to more networking products down the road.
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30C isn’t hot enough to cook anything, but if the mounting hardware does / will allow for some adjusting distance between unit and ceiling that would make feel warm and fuzzy that the unit is cooling fine and that if I ever take it down there won’t be blistering paint. Less than 1/4 in would be preferable if mountaineering hardware is “open concept. If there is already some kind of bracket attached to the ceiling that the unit interfaces with than heat is a non issue for me.
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maybe my wishlist is asking too much for initial product:
- 2.4G 4x4/40Mhz
- 5G-1 4x4 /240Mhz
- 5G-2 4x4 /160Mhz
- 6GHz 4x4/320
- wireless backhaul MLO and AFC. ( not sure WIFI7, but in wifi6, 6GHz wireless backhaul is really bad if there is no line of sight)
- minimum 2 LAN ports, one upstream and one downstream.
- Price? ( up to $300-$400 each unit, not a concern to me)
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@Firewalla, how big do you think is the prosumer market on a ceiling mounted AP vs top-shelve?
Most people do not have the ability to mount AP's on the ceiling with concealed wires, at least not without doing drywall and painting work and I am not willing to redo my living room ceiling drywall for something as trivial as WiFi. Small businesses or finished basements with popcorn ceiling tiles, that's easy, is that going to be your primary market?
Unless these ceiling AP's can work just as good when mounted on a wall, and if so, instead of building two models, one ceiling and one top-shelve, you could just have a top-shelve cradle in which that ceiling AP can be held.
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