* Alcatel brings out several WLAN switches based on Aruba technology
Alcatel this week introduced several wireless LAN switches to bring the security and management it has been developing on the wired LAN side to wireless.
The Alcatel OmniAccess family of WLAN switches is based on technology from Aruba Networks and comes out of the OEM and development deal the two companies struck in March. After Cisco bought Airespace, Alcatel was left to search for a new partner for WLANs, and found one in Aruba.
The switches are intended to fit into a larger enterprise picture. If you are already using Alcatel gear for your wired connections, it would make sense to extend Alcatel to your wireless connections, or so the company’s reasoning goes.
Alcatel has integrated the switches into its OmniVista Network Management system, so that users can get a full view of both the wired and wireless Alcatel products.
On the security side, Alcatel introduced OmniVista 2770 Quarantine Manager software in April. This software helps to shut down ports on switches when it appears that a connected computer may not be secure. This software will now work with the wireless network (where it is more sorely needed, really).
There are three stackable switches in the OmniAccess lineup. The OmniAccess 4304 is an eight-port 10/100M bit/sec switch that can connect to up to four wireless access points. The 4308 also has eight ports of 10/100M bit/sec Ethernet, but it supports up to 16 access points. And the 4324 has 24 ports of 10/100M bit/sec Ethernet supporting up to 48 access points.
There is also the OmniAccess 6000, a four-slot modular controller, Alcatel says. This device can control up to 512 access points for very large wireless nets.
