TP-LINK EAP110 with Omada software - mandatory?

[blueowl]

hi all - helping a (non tech) friend up in Europe set up an AP in his apartment. Been looking for what's available in the local market and came across a few options, one of which includes the TP-LINK EAP110 Access Point.

It seems decent enough, as there are only 2 people living in the apartment, and cheap enough. I did notice on the product web page (EAP110 | N300 Wireless N Ceiling Mount Access Point | TP-Link) that the AP uses "Omada" controller software (cloud-based control).

Question for those who may know - is the use of this software mandatory, or can you just log on to the local IP address of the AP and manage it like you would any other local device? I would prefer the latter, so would like to know from those who may have had such a TP-Link device or similar (TP-Link). Thanks in advance,

 

[blueowl]

bump, thank you in advance for advice if you have any to share

 

[Caliph]

If you're just setting up one or two, you can do it by manually logging in wirelessly. The software is generally if you want to set up many at a time. I think TP-link have a video on YT on setting this model up

 

[Phence]

It's a bad idea letting these devices phone home from a security perspective. Rather get another brand that is less "intelligent" and more secure and reliable on anything cloud. Most devices have vulnerabilities if not backdoors. Buying things that are connected in my opinion is just risky as those companies have no real long term interest in being transparent and to provide software support - which is very expensive to them.

Ubiquity got hacked and tried to sweep it under the carpet. They're a big brand in the prosumer space but I would boycott a company indefinitely that does that, especially if it comes near a production network. They also tried to move their products to be cloud dependent with a firmware change or something. Which is why most large enterprise organisations don't use them.

 

[blueowl]

Thanks gents for the feedback - wasn't sure whether the use of the above setup/approach was mandatory (or if I could just do it manually through logging in locally to the device); it seems that I should be able to do so, so will get one and see. Much appreciated,