General Questions about Omada Cloud-Based Controller

We have released Omada Cloud-Based Controller. This article will introduce CBC and some general questions.

1. What is Omada SDN?

Omada’s Software Defined Networking (SDN) platform integrates network devices, including access points, switches and gateways, providing 100% centralized cloud management. Omada creates a highly scalable network—all controlled from a single interface, the Omada SDN Controller.

2. What is Cloud-Based Controller?

We have provided Omada Software Controller and Omada Hardware Controller (OC200 / OC300), these are all local controllers, you need to install them on your local servers or buy the hardware and install them.

Now we offer a new controller, the Omada Cloud-Based Controller (CBC), existing entirely in the cloud for the Omada Software Defined Networking (SDN) platform, provides centralized cloud management of gateways, switches, and access points from a single interface.

3. What are the advantages of Omada CBC over local controller?

Compared with local controllers, CBC eliminates the need for additional hardware controller investment and installation at customer premises, supports unlimited centralized management scale, supports efficient deployment with Zero-Touch Provisioning (ZTP) and reduces the overall cost of deployment, operation, and maintenance.

For more detailed information about Omada CBC, please visit the Overview webpage of Omada CBC.

4. How do I charge for using Omada CBC?

For management and configurations on the Omada Cloud-Based Controller, each device should be bound with an activated license.

You can contact your local TP-Link sales or resellers to purchase licenses.

5. Is there a free trial for Omada CBC?

Each TP-Link ID is eligible for a one-time free trial, with 10 licenses valid for 30 days. You can visit the Omada Cloud website, log into your TP-Link ID, and you can request the trial licenses on the license subscription website.

6. Can I cancel a free trial?

We regret that you decided to cancel your free trial of CBC.

You can unbind licenses from your devices at any time, you can manage the devices in other methods, and the licenses will automatically expire.

7. How long is the validity period of the licenses?

When you purchase a license, you can choose from a variety of licenses with different durations, such as 1 year, 3 years, 5 years, etc.

A license starts ticking on the day when it is activated, and it will keep ticking continuously after activation whether it is bound with a device. The number of available days decreases with natural day. Please visit An Introduction to Licensing for details on license validity and status.

Note that free trial licenses are valid for 30 days and start ticking when assigned, not when activated.

7. What happens when my license expires? Can I still use the device when its license expires?

When a license expires, you will no longer be able to manage your device on the Omada CBC or view its real-time status and configurations. However, the device will work according to the configurations set before, and your network will continue to function, but some features that requires Controller will be disabled (e.g. Portal, Schedule, etc.).

You can purchase new licenses and bind them to the devices to restore the management, or you can also adopt and manage them in other methods.

9. What are the differences between Basic and Advanced license?

Compared with the Basic licenses, Advanced licenses support more features, like AI WLAN Optimization, abundant Captive Portal types, and will support more AI-Driven features. These features can greatly facilitate your network deployment, management and maintenance.

When you set up a new Omada CBC, take care to choose the same type as your licenses, as each controller can only support one license type. And vice versa, follow the same type when you buy new licenses for your Omada CBC.

10. Will I be informed if a license expires soon? How can I check the validity period of my licenses?

The controller will send you an email 30 days before the license expires. Meanwhile, when a license is available for less than 30 days, the exact remaining days will be displayed in the License Page of the Cloud Portal and individual cloud-based controller.

Please visit An Introduction to Licensing for details on license validity and status.

11. Does Omada CBC support all Omada products? Why I cannot add my Omada products to CBC?

Note that not all Omada products are supported by Omada CBC. Some models, like EAP610 V3.0, EAP225 V3.20, TL-SG3428MP V3.0, cannot be added to CBC.

Please visit Devices Supported by Omada Cloud-Based Controller to view the compatible devices.

12. What should I do if I no longer want to manage a device on Omada Cloud-Based Controller?

You can unbind the license from the device, and then the device cannot be managed on the cloud-based controller. You can assign the available license to another device.

Note that the license will keep ticking after activation whether it is bound with a device, and the unbinding times are limited. Please visit An Introduction to Licensing for details on license validity and status.

13. Where is the Omada Cloud-Based Controller server?

Omada cloud service is based on Amazon AWS cloud service, and there are three server nodes. The European server is located in Ireland, the Asian server is located in Singapore, and the American server is located in the United States. The Omada Cloud-Based Controller will be deployed to the nearby server node based on where you registered your TP-Link ID.

14. Is the communication between the Omada Cloud-Based Controller and the device secure? Does the data stored on cloud-based controller comply with regulations?

The communication between the Omada Cloud-Based Controller and the device is encrypted by SSL. The device and client data are encrypted and stored on the controller. TP-Link will not read or leak any data. The service provided by TP-Link fully complies with the requirements of European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).