Aruba Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARUN), a leading provider of
next-generation network access solutions for the mobile enterprise,
today announced a new cloud-managed Wi-Fi solution that combines the
simplicity of a cloud service with the performance, manageability and
reliability of enterprise-grade Wireless LANs (WLANs).
The Aruba cloud Wi-Fi solution combines the new Aruba Central
cloud-based management service with Aruba Instant access points (APs) –
including the new Instant 155 wireless and wired AP, the new Instant 220
series 802.11ac wireless AP, and a new version of Aruba Instant OS, to
meet the requirements of diverse, distributed organizations and
mid-sized networks. Offering 10x faster Wi-Fi speeds than competitive
solutions and all the features of a traditional enterprise-class WLAN,
Aruba’s cloud Wi-Fi solution allows branches to benefit from the ease of
cloud management without the usual compromises. In addition, Aruba is
expanding its switching portfolio with the new Aruba S1500 Mobility
Access Switch, optimized for cloud Wi-Fi and designed for both large,
distributed enterprises and smaller locations.
Unlike previous generations of cloud solutions, the Aruba cloud Wi-Fi
solution doesn’t sacrifice critical enterprise capabilities such as
performance, resiliency and flexibility for simplified, cloud-hosted
management. With Aruba’s solution, organizations get up to 10x
faster Wi-Fi connections than competitive cloud Wi-Fi solutions,
guaranteed wired and cellular uplink failover options, 100%
survivability in the event of a WAN link failure, and the choice of
cloud subscription or on-premise management. In addition, Aruba offers
the only WLAN that extends from corporate to branch and home, with a
single architecture and single point of policy and management. This
eliminates the architecture dilemma faced by many organizations with
central sites and remote locations that are struggling to find a way to
manage their branches and remote workers as a seamless part of their
organization. Aruba’s enterprise-grade cloud Wi-Fi solution offers an
ideal, distributed architecture that links into an enterprise’s central
management and policy infrastructure.
Key benefits of the Aruba cloud Wi-Fi solution include:
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Faster Speeds, Better Performance: The Aruba Central database
was designed with web-scale performance to allow users to quickly
access large amounts of management data in the cloud. In addition to
demonstrating 10x faster speeds than competitive solutions at high
density, the Aruba cloud Wi-Fi solution includes the new Aruba Instant
155 AP, providing 450Mbps performance in 802.11n, and the new Instant
220 series APs providing up to 1.3 Gbps performance. Combined with
Client Match and airtime fairness, which allow more clients to move
faster on the network, always-on scanning to avoid performance-slowing
interference, and optimized Wi-Fi channel use and power to speed
client connections, Aruba’s cloud Wi-Fi delivers significant
improvements in WLAN performance.
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Enterprise-class Resiliency and Reliability: Aruba’s cloud
Wi-Fi solution is the only WLAN that is 100% functional without a
wide-area network (WAN) link and the only one that delivers redundant
wired uplinks, as well as fast failover VPN links to other sites. In
addition, Aruba Central is hosted at multiple locations with multiple
providers, ensuring maximum availability around the world.
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Architectural Affordability: Aruba offers the only WLAN that
can deliver a single architecture across controller-based and
cloud-based Wi-Fi deployments. This allows organizations to
cost-effectively deploy one solution across headquarters, branch and
home, with flexible cloud-based, on-premises and free, on-AP
management options. Aruba’s WLAN is also singular in its offering of
both local and centralized authentication options. In addition, the
subscription includes expert technical support for Aruba Central,
enhanced with rich online knowledge bases and community support at no
extra charge.
Aruba channel partner, PacketLogix, Inc. is an active beta for the new
Aruba Cloud Wi-Fi solution and is impressed with the opportunity it
offers both new and existing customers. “By providing a simple way to
manage networks virtually, Aruba’s cloud Wi-Fi solution solves several
problems for our customers,” said Ben Russell, Senior Systems Engineer,
PacketLogix, Inc. “Cloud-based management is an ideal IT solution for
organizations that have multiple locations to support and limited
resources to do so. There is no doubt that these customers can benefit
from the conveniences and efficiencies of Aruba’s new cloud Wi-Fi
solution.”
“With the increasing affinity of enterprise IT towards cloud-based
applications and services, it’s no surprise that cloud-managed Wi-Fi is
becoming an increasingly popular solution for a wide range of
organizations, especially the distributed enterprise,” said Rohit Mehra,
Vice President, Network Infrastructure, International Data Corp. (IDC).
“Cloud Wi-Fi can deliver greater ease of use and automation to strapped
IT departments and keep costs low for the enterprise. That said,
organizations don’t want to sacrifice the robustness, performance and
reliability of traditional wireless networks. With its new Cloud Wi-Fi
offering, Aruba is marrying traditional Wi-Fi networking with the
benefits of a Cloud-based solution, and should be able to capitalize on
this growing Cloud market.”
Aruba Central Cloud-Hosted Management Provides Simplified, Single
Point of Management
The new Aruba Central is a public, cloud subscription-based management
service that gives organizations a single point of management for
multiple sites and multiple Instant WLANs within sites. Designed to
scale to large volumes of data with quick, responsive user interface
(UI) performance, and multiple cloud providers and data centers around
the world, Aruba Central offers top performance and reliability for all
geographies. Aruba Central combines true, zero-touch provisioning with
rich management capabilities including central configuration and
firmware management, remote monitoring and troubleshooting and detailed
compliance records and historical data. As a result, organizations can
easily manage their Aruba Instant networks wherever they are located. In
addition, Aruba is introducing its new eSupport site to give Aruba
Central users free, online access to technical support, educational
resources, tutorials and how-to guides, troubleshooting information and
community support.
Aruba Instant 155 AP Offers Highest Performing Wired and Wireless
Networking
Adding to its broad portfolio of Instant access points, Aruba is
introducing the Instant 155, a new 3-antenna/3-spatial stream access
point for simple installation on desktops. With speeds of up to 450 Mbps
and four Gigabit Ethernet ports with Power over Ethernet (PoE) for
connecting printers, IP phones and other wired peripherals, the Instant
155 AP is ideal for branch and remote offices. The Instant 155 AP also
includes new Aruba Instant OS Version 3.3 software which improves
resiliency by keeping networks up and running even when one Internet
connection fails. The new software provides dual Ethernet uplink
support, 4G cellular uplink and flexible scheduling of image upgrades to
improve network availability for end users.
Aruba Instant 220 Series Access Points
The Aruba 220 Series APs, featuring ClientMatch technology, are
purpose-built for 802.11ac, resulting in time and cost savings for
enterprises. Unlike modular 802.11ac APs, the Aruba 220 Series access
points draw much less power, and also feature a power-efficient mode, so
that enterprises can operate the APs at lower speeds with available
802.3af PoE power.
Aruba’s unique, patented ClientMatch technology resolves the issue of
“sticky clients” on 802.11ac and 802.11n Wi-Fi networks, wherein mobile
devices have difficulty connecting to the best possible access point.
“Sticky client” problems occur due to a mobile device’s poor roaming
algorithms, lack of proper RF interference monitoring, and competition
with other slower devices that monopolize an entire channel. ClientMatch
dynamically optimizes Wi-Fi client performance by putting the Wi-Fi
infrastructure in control of client connection and roaming decisions.
Aruba S1500 Mobility Access Switch Optimized for Cloud Wi-Fi,
Ideal for Branch Offices
The new Aruba S1500, expands Aruba’s mobility access switch portfolio in
a form factor and price point friendly to mid-sized networks.
Integrating with Instant WLANs, the switch provides POE for access
points, can automatically use VLAN information from Instant APs, and
provide rogue AP containment when alerted by the Instant virtual
controller. In addition, the S1500 incorporates innovative power
management and PoE prioritization for business-critical devices
connected to the switch. The S1500 offers 12-, 24- and 48-port options
and four Gigabit Ethernet uplinks.
Pricing and Availability
Aruba Central is available now and is priced at U.S. list $140 per
access point, annually. The Aruba Instant 155 is available now with
pricing starting at $895, U.S. list. The Instant 225 is available
starting in October 2013 and prices begin at U.S. list $1,295. The new
Aruba Instant OS version 3.3 software is available now, free of charge
for existing Aruba Instant customers. The Aruba S1500 Mobility Access
Switch 24- and 48- port models are available now and the 12-port model
will be available in late 2013, with pricing starting at $1,595 U.S.
List. For more information on Aruba’s cloud Wi-Fi solution, please visit http://cloud.arubanetworks.com.
About Aruba Networks, Inc.
Aruba Networks is a leading provider of next-generation network access
solutions for the mobile enterprise. The company’s Mobile Virtual
Enterprise (MOVE) architecture unifies wired and wireless network
infrastructures into one seamless access solution for corporate
headquarters, mobile business professionals, remote workers and guests.
This unified approach to access networks enables IT organizations and
users to securely address the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) phenomenon,
dramatically improving productivity and lowering capital and operational
costs.
Listed on the NASDAQ and Russell 2000® Index, Aruba is based in
Sunnyvale, California, and has operations throughout the Americas,
Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific regions. To learn more,
visit Aruba at http://www.arubanetworks.com.
For real-time news updates follow Aruba on Twitter
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and for the latest technical discussions on mobility and Aruba products
visit Airheads Social at http://community.arubanetworks.com.
© 2013 Aruba Networks, Inc. Aruba Networks’ trademarks include the
design mark for AirWave, Aruba Networks®, Aruba
Wireless Networks®, the registered Aruba the
Mobile Edge Company logo, the registered AirWave logo, Aruba Mobility
Management System®, Mobile Edge Architecture®,
People Move. Networks Must Follow®, RFProtect®,
Green Island®. All rights reserved. All other
trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Copyright Business Wire 2013