ARUBA WIRELESS NETWORKS NAMED OFFICIAL WIRELESS PROVIDER FOR N+I LAS VEGAS 2003 EVENT NETWORK (ENET)
Largest Public Showcase of Wi-Fi Switching Technology Planned for One of the World’s Biggest Temporary Networks
SAN JOSE, CA – March 24, 2003 – Aruba Wireless Networks today announced that it has been selected by NetWorld+Interop as the official wireless provider for the InteropNet Event Network (eNet) in what is expected to be one of the largest public displays of new 802.11 wireless LAN switching (WLAN) technology to date.
The InteropNet Event Network (eNet) is built in collaboration with leading hand-selected networking vendors that put their products to the test of the ultimate networking challenge. The eNet offers reliable, high-speed network services to all NetWorld+Interop exhibitors, staff, conferences and meeting rooms. This dream network addresses an organization’s complete networking needs and sets the bar for innovation and expertise.
Aruba’s WLAN switching technology is being deployed to support an army of eNet technicians across the 1 to 2 square mile Las Vegas Convention Center. Aruba access points will be distributed throughout the show floor to provide 802.11a (54 Mbps) and 802.11b (11 Mbps) access to the team as well as sophisticated monitoring of air space. Aruba APs are dual-function managed WLAN ports that provide RF coverage and media access as well as packet capturing and air surveillance capabilities. Aruba APs will be controlled and managed by Aruba WLAN switches in the NOC.
Automated site survey capabilities within Aruba’s WLAN switch will allow eNet engineers to better and more quickly deploy and calibrate the NetWorld+Interop wireless infrastructure in order to provide optimized coverage and a self-healing Wi-Fi network.
“Big shows like this are inherently a wireless nightmare with so much traffic being transmitted and no real way to effectively control and manage the air,” said Geoff Horne, senior network engineer in charge of NetWorld+Interop’s eNet. “WLAN switching technology now lets us proactively block rogue APs, dynamically react to changes in the environment such as moving to different channels to ensure performance and the ability to have real-time monitoring tools that give us a complete view and centralized control over the airspace.”
Aruba’s WLAN switching is also being used to provide user-based access control. This allows different groups of users to receive different types of network access, security and services. Layer 2 encryption coupled with RADIUS-based authentication and mobile firewalling will be used provide multi-layered wireless security.
Network Operations Center (NOC) personnel will manage the Aruba WLAN switching system with Computer Associates’ Unicenter wireless network management system used as a central control center for the majority of wired and wireless network components.
“Interop has always been about showing what’s real, what really works and solving real problems,” said Pankaj Manglik, president and CEO of Aruba Networks. “Aruba is proud to be able to provide real Wi-Fi products that solve important problems that have hampered the adoption of 802.11 technology on a broad scale.”
Aruba’s WLAN switching technology will be used to service a number of areas within the Las Vegas Convention Center including the NOC, the network services help desk, and the volunteer lounge.
“In selecting a wireless provider for our Event Network, we were looking for technology that would make deploying and managing a huge 802.11 network easier,” said Horne. “Aruba gives us a range of capabilities, within a centralized system, that automates many of the processes that, until now, have been manual or just impossible to get without installing a bunch of disparate boxes”
WLAN switching is the newest Wi-Fi technology developed to give corporations and public providers centralized control of Wi-Fi services and an established deployment model that simplifies large-scale Wi-Fi infrastructures. WLAN switching combines within a single system advanced RF monitoring capabilities, sophisticated wireless services and high-performance switching capabilities.
Aruba was also selected to conduct 802.1x interoperability testing within the InteropNet Labs (iLabs), an interactive setting for thousands of networking professionals to evaluate and verify participants’ products in a live network.
The Networld+Interop exhibition and conference runs April 27 through May 2, 2003 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
-30-