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WirelessDevNet.com Press Release
Aruba Wireless Networks Introduces the Wireless Grid
SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 30 -- Aruba Wireless Networks(TM)
(Aruba) today introduced the wireless grid, the industry's first structured
architecture for deploying high-performance enterprise wireless networks,
while lowering the costs of deployment by over 80 percent. Aruba's wireless
grid architecture integrates WLANs with structured building distribution
systems and builds on Aruba's pioneering centralized approach to securing and
managing enterprise Wi-Fi networks.
"At Cisco, a decade ago, we seized the opportunity created by the
introduction of high-performance LAN switches and structured cabling systems
and drove the unprecedented transformation of corporate networks," said Don
LeBeau, President and CEO of Aruba. "The wireless grid architecture represents
a similar confluence of high-performance WLAN switches with structured WLAN
distribution systems and is a very exciting development for the industry. It
is the first architectural innovation that enables enterprises to move WLANs
from a convenience connectivity solution to a mainstream, high-performance
mobile networking utility."
Aruba's wireless grid employs densely deployed Wi-Fi radios with powerful
centralized control to deliver predictable wired-LAN-like performance with the
flexibility of WLANs. The wireless grid is the first structured approach to
enterprise wireless deployment. The architecture brings access points (APs)
out of the ceiling and into the existing structured cabling infrastructure to
deliver a low-cost deployment model for WLANs. Fundamental to enabling Aruba's
wireless grids, is the introduction of new grid points (GPs) -- low-cost
802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi radios -- that can be deployed alongside or integrated with
existing structured cabling systems and the industry's highest-capacity,
centralized WLAN system (see related release "Aruba Wireless Networks
Introduces New Products for Enterprise Wireless Grids").
In addition, Aruba unveiled a strategic development agreement with
Ortronics, a premier manufacturer of structured cabling solutions, to build
the world's first Wi-Fi wall outlet. The Wi-Fi wall outlet integrates Aruba
next-generation GP technology directly into a conventional network wall jack.
The Wi-Fi wall outlet further extends the performance and deployment benefits
of Aruba's new wireless grid architecture (see related release "Aruba Wireless
Networks and Ortronics Unveil the World's First Wi-Fi Wall Outlet").
"Even with the non-stop innovation that typifies the wireless-LAN world,
this is a very exciting announcement," said Craig Mathias, a Principal with
the wireless advisory firm Farpoint Group. "Users can now move away from
sparsely-deployed infrastructures previously dictated by labor-intensive
installation costs and towards a rapidly- and densely-deployed environment of
excellent coverage and capacity."
Wireless Grids Deliver Predictable Performance with Dense Wireless
Deployments
Just as switched Ethernet delivered a dedicated wired connection to each
user, Aruba's wireless grid architecture effectively allows dense deployment
of wireless so that the issues of performance and network connectivity
disappear. Wireless grids deliver this predictable and resilient performance
through dense deployments of Wi-Fi radios and the creation of micro-cells
around each GP. RF signals are then focused on a small coverage area, with
each GP serving a small number of wireless clients. This approach minimizes
contention and enables superior performance.
Wireless grids then utilize new RF management services that run
pervasively throughout the grid infrastructure and are centrally controlled
from a WLAN switch to constantly tune the grid for high performance.
Aruba delivers on the promise of high density grid deployments by ensuring
a high-performance RF environment throughout the enterprise. Aruba's new RF
management services include proprietary dynamic interference avoidance and on-
demand capacity management algorithms that automatically manage the RF
environment and guarantee delivery of a clear, high-performance RF signal to
any client, anywhere.
Wireless Grids Lower Costs by Integrating Wi-Fi into the Building
Infrastructure
Wireless grids are a practical and cost-effective way to significantly
boost WLAN performance using current 802.11a/b/g technologies. Wireless Grids
integrate 802.11a/b/g radios with existing structured cabling and eliminate
the need to create a parallel cabling infrastructure inside the ceiling for
supporting densely deployed APs. Ongoing repair and replacement are also
easier to perform when radios are deployed in concert with existing structured
cabling.
"We need a wireless model that lets us quickly and easily drop Wi-Fi
radios everywhere to slash the costs of our wireless deployment," said Al
Foitag, chief network architect at a major motion picture studio. "For
wireless to become pervasive to the point where it becomes the primary network
connection, performance, coverage and price per connection must be taken out
of the equation. Aruba is clearly moving wireless in this direction."
Wireless grids further gut the cost of deployment by eliminating the need
for RF planning. Network managers can simply install low-cost radios every few
meters and let automated RF management take over for calibration and
performance tuning of the WLAN. Aruba's centralized radio calibration
algorithms uniquely enable Wireless Grids to learn a building's RF propagation
characteristics in real-time and to automatically adjust as conditions change.
This approach eliminates the need for expensive site surveys that are
optimized for coverage or virtual site survey tools that require the knowledge
of building materials to predict RF propagation. Centralized calibration is
complimented with distributed radio-resource allocation algorithms that fine-
tune RF performance for local RF conditions at each GP.
Wireless Grids Enable Wireless Capacity and RF Services On-Demand
Similar to electrical grids that deliver power on-demand, the wireless
grid delivers wireless capacity and services on-demand to enable a high-
performance mobile networking utility for enterprises. Wireless Grids deliver
adaptive capacity management features that control network performance based
on the number of 802.11a/b/g clients in the network. This allows enterprises
to deploy low-cost single radio 802.11a/b/g GPs and have capacity management
software dictate the frequency band and the number of GPs required for each
band. This greatly reduces the need for deploying expensive multi-radio APs in
anticipation of greater demand. If performance requirements exceed the total
capacity of the wireless grid, it can be easily addressed by increasing the
number of GPs in the grid.
Wireless grids also offer performance optimization of infrastructure RF
services such as security enforcement, location tracking, air monitoring,
diagnostics, calibration and troubleshooting by dedicating GPs for specific RF
services based on current demand for that service. Instead of time-slicing
these services in a single AP and impacting the performance of every service,
the wireless grid distributes RF service processing among multiple radios with
each radio serving a single function at any given time. The centralized grid
control system ensures that all RF services are available in the grid, but
does not assume that every service is needed at every radio at all times. It
delivers these services on-demand by dynamically selecting the function of any
given GP.
Wireless Grids Automate Real-time Location Tracking
Wireless grids deliver real-time location tracking services by dynamically
selecting RF service functions based on what service is required at a specific
time and location. When a 802.11a/b/g radio source moves around, it can be
tracked in real-time on a floor plan, giving visibility into the movement of
people or expensive resources. Any Wi-Fi compatible radio tag may be attached
to expensive resources for tracking purposes.
In addition to real-time tracking, wireless grids completely eliminate the
need for manual RF fingerprinting to gain better accuracy for location
determination. With dense deployment of Wi-Fi radios, wireless grids can
employ multi-point triangulation to deliver better accuracy in location
estimation. Traditional deployment models with sparse AP deployments require a
detailed analysis of RF propagation via signal strength recording at various
test points on a floor in order to estimate the location of given radio
source. This manually intensive process becomes impractical as the overall
coverage of WLANs increase to multi-floor, multi-building deployments.
Wireless Grid Pricing and Availability
Aruba's wireless grid is made possible by new higher performance, lower
cost WLAN products. These include the Aruba 5100, a double capacity version of
its signature 5000 series of modular WLAN switches and a new line of low-cost
grid points -- the Aruba AP 60 Series. With these new products, enterprises
can realize a greater than 80 percent reduction in the operational costs
associated with WLAN deployment.
See related release for detailed product information.
About Aruba Wireless Networks
Aruba Wireless Networks develops and markets centralized systems that
enable corporations to secure their networks from the dual threats of Wi-Fi
and mobility. Aruba's solution consists of a full range of programmable
security platforms designed to securely connect mobile users and mobile
devices to corporate voice, video and data applications. Aruba is privately-
held and has operations in the United States, Europe and Asia and employs
staff around the world. Aruba has received over $59 million in three rounds of
venture funding from top-tier venture firms - Matrix Partners, Sequoia
Capital, Trinity Ventures and WK Technology Fund. Visit Aruba Wireless
Networks at http://www.arubanetworks.com
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