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Swinging into wireless with ease
Trapeze Networks' Trapeze Mobility System
Ready or not, wireless LANs are popping up in corporations. IT brings some in through the front door, while users tiptoe others in through the back door. Either way, WLANs pose unique management challenges.
Coverage, integration with wired networks, security and detection of rogue access points require thoughtful management. Fortunately, companies such as Airespace, Aruba Wireless Networks, Bandspeed, Bluesocket, ReefEdge, Trapeze and Vernier Networks stepped out in 2003 with enterprise-grade WLANs. Of these, Trapeze stands out for its comprehensive offering.
Trapeze Mobility System does for WLANs what structured wiring systems do for wired LANs. Thus, Trapeze calls its solution "structured air." But that's only part of the story: Trapeze takes wire, glass and wireless media and creates a network with integrated mobility.
Trapeze Mobility System is for companies that see mobility as an essential component of their network strategy. To reap the full benefits, the corporation must standardize on Trapeze's access points. Although Trapeze offers a starter kit, the payoff is greatest for customers with diverse applications, a large number of mobile users or both.
The system consists of four major elements: RingMaster, Mobility System Software, Mobility Exchange and Mobility Points. The RingMaster tool suite is for planning, configuring and optimizing the WLAN. The process begins by importing AutoCAD (or other) floor plans. A software wizard calculates the number and locations of Trapeze Mobility Points (access points) and Mobility Exchanges (switches) to be installed. Once these are in place, RingMaster uploads their configurations and verifies coverage. RingMaster continues to gather statistics, detect rogue access points and plan changes from that day forward.
Mobility Exchanges support what Trapeze calls "identity-based networking." Instead of linking users to physical ports for authentication, security and management, Trapeze focuses on user identities and transfers user attributes from one Mobility Exchange to another as the user roams the network. With other systems, users must re-log on as they roam; with Trapeze, users log on once. The Mobility Exchanges also offload many RADIUS/AAA server tasks for maximum responsiveness and scalability.
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Copyright 2008 Network World Inc.
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