Nearpoints

Craig Mathias

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Update: Aerohive and Meraki’s Latest Announcements

Since these two firms were key players in my recent review of cloud-based WLAN management, and since anything in print is out of date, here’s an update on some interesting additions to the product lines of these two important industry players.

By Craig Mathias on Wed, 07/20/11 - 12:31pm.

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My just-out Network World review of cloud-based WLAN management systems, being now set in print, is by definition out of date. Not to worry; this is always the case with print media and information in general. But just to make sure you've got the latest, here are a couple of updates, issued just last week, from Aerohive and Meraki, two of the companies whose products I reviewed.

Aerohive announced new 3x3:3 (450 Mbps) APs. These are smaller, faster, and will with an upcoming firmware release be able to function as primary or backup (including via a WWAN) routers. Aerohive will thus have a leading-edge entry-level product that will ease the path from first AP to huge network, a boon for smaller firms. They also announced the availability of HiveManager Online 4.0, which adds a number of useful features, including spectral analysis. The version I reviewed was 3.5, so, again, have a look at Aerohive's site for more on the new features.

Grabbing the unified-networking theme, Meraki announced the MX60 Cloud Managed Router. As one can surmise from the product's name, Meraki is extending their cloud management platform reviewed in the Network World article to a little brother to the firm's MX70. There's a remarkable set of features in a very convenient form factor for branch offices and smaller firms. Meraki also announced a number of new security tools as well.

What's really interesting with both of these companies is that it's easy to start small and grow large with no changes to infrastructure beyond the addition of more APs. This is an important theme that, motivated at least in part by the financial realities of 2011, will be with us well beyond the current recession.