The Airespace Wireless Enterprise platform consists of both centralized switches and control software and local and remote access point hardware. The access points themselves can be updated from the centralized software and switches, both in terms of their operating software as well as operational parameters, allowing for the centralized management and operation of the WLAN as a whole. The access points themselves "find" and connect to the WLAN switches or appliances via support for the Lightweight Access Point Protocol (LWAPP), allowing them (the access points) to be either directly connected to the WLAN switches/appliances themselves, or indirectly connected through standard L2/3 switches on the Ethernet network.

The key components of the Airespace product family are the Airespace 4000 WLAN switches, the Airespace 4100 WLAN appliances, the Airespace 1200 Access Point (including a specialized Airespace 1200 Remote Edge Access Point), and the server-based Airespace Control Software, or ACS.

The 4000 WLAN switch and 4100 WLAN appliances serve as the main networking components of the WLAN platform. The switches provide 12 to 24 10/100 Ethernet ports, with optional Power over Ethernet (PoE) on each port for direct attachment over PoE compatible APs, and the appliances provide only a single or dual Gbe ports. The appliance, obviously, can be connected only in indirect platform configurations (where the APs themselves are plugged into external switches and find the appliances via LWAPP); but the switches can be deployed in either direct connect or appliance modes.

Both the appliances and switches have embedded within them the vendor's AireWave Director Software, which allows for the automated adjustment of AP parameters when such adjustments are sensed as being necessary by the switches. For example, the individual power output of individual APs can be automatically adjusted in an attempt to compensate for weak RF coverage areas; and load balancing features enable the efficient spread of user access over multiple APs. AP Channels can also be dynamically assigned and adjusted by the switches to optimize performance.

Security capabilities of the switches include IPsec VPNs with DES, 3DES and AES CBC, L2TP tunneling, 802.1X with multiple EAP types (PEAP, TLS, TTLS), WEP, WPA, and 802.11i (WPA2).

The 1200 Access Points provide the endpoints of the WLAN connectivity, and can simultaneously act as both data transmission devices and air monitors for the use of the control software in identifying and locating wireless security threats. Both multi-mode 802.11 a/b/g and b/g only versions of the APs are available, which include sectorized antennas and optional connectors for external antennas. PoE support is included; and software upgrades to the APs can be performed by pushing them through the WLAN switches and appliances, allowing for centralized management and control. A specialized "Remote Edge" version of the access point is available for remote sites, allowing for the attachment and management of the access point at a remote location while still allowing for its management via the centralized switch over a WAN link. No Airespace switches are required on the remote site itself.

Finally, the server-based (Windows 2000/2003; Redhat Enterprise Linux ES) Airespace Control Software (ACS) provides a central, browser-accessible control point for the whole Airespace platform. ACS includes an embedded database and works in conjunction with the Airespace switches and APs to provide features such as location tracking, rogue detection, and policy enforcement, including user exclusions or warnings. Using ACS, switches and APs can be grouped for simultaneous management tasks.

Pricing for a 24 port WLAN switch is $12,000; for the AP $400; and the ACS $4,000. Contact Airespace for further information.

product submission by EITPlanet Staff

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