* Enterasys Networks’ wireless switch, access points
Enterasys Networks this week introduced a wireless LAN switch and two different access points.
The RoamAbout 8400 wireless switch has four Gigabit Ethernet connections and can support up to 120 access points distributed throughout an enterprise network. The switch is a step up from the RoamAbout 8100, which was introduced several months ago and supports just 24 access points.
The RoamAbout AP1002 access point works with both the 8100 and the 8400. It has dual radios, meaning it can support IEEE 802.11a end points at the same time that it supports 802.11b/g.
The RoamAbout AP4102 also works with the two wireless switches. It is a unified access point, meaning it can operate stand-alone or in “thin” mode with the wireless switches. It has the features of the AP1002 and can also support LAN-to-LAN connections in point-to-point or point-to-multipoint modes.
For security, all three products support IEEE 802.11i for wireless encryption. They also tie into Enterasys’ Secure Networks strategy. Network managers can set security policies that span across wired and wireless networks. These policies can determine what users can and cannot do, based on their roles.
The new access points support 802.11e for quality of service, mainly so voice can travel over the wireless LAN.
Enterasys says the wireless switch is “self-optimizing,” meaning it adjusts to changes in the user’s RF environment to keep throughput high. Handoff of wireless end points from one access point to another is kept to within 25 milliseconds, the company says. And the switch can determine the positions of any rogue access points and disconnect them from the wired network.
The RoamAbout 8400 is shipping now for $12,000, the AP1002 is available now for $450, and the AP4102 is set to ship next month for $700.
