Aruba adds dual-band 802.11a/b/g outdoor access point

San Jose, CA, May 3, 2005 -- (MobileVillage) -- Aruba Networks is showing two new products at the Networld+Interop show in Las Vegas this week: a new outdoor access point, and a Web-based software application that lets remote workers access corporate data via a secure Internet connection.

Aruba's Personal AP software aims to eliminate the process of installing, configuring and managing virtual private network (VPN) software on every user laptop. Users attach the Aruba Personal AP device to a broadband IP connection, DSL router or cable modem. The AP automatically builds a secure IPsec tunnel to a central Aruba mobility controller, authenticates, self-configures and begins operation. If the broadband connection is behind a firewall, Aruba's Personal AP uses Network Address Translation Traversal (NAT-T) to connect to the mobility controller without requiring any user intervention, according to Aruba. If the connection is behind a web portal, as in a hotspot or hotel room, a mechanism is provided for users to complete the login process through that web portal.

Once the Personal AP has configured itself, IT staff can remotely control parameters such as operating channel, radio type, SSID, BSSID and all associated clients, user security privileges, bandwidth per user and much more. In addition, network administrators can see detailed client status reports for remote office wireless, monitor usage levels, protect against malicious or unauthorized wireless use and perform packet capture for remote troubleshooting.

Aruba says its Personal APs also communicate user attributes such as authentication method, application, device type and protocol used to Aruba mobility controllers. This lets IT staff selectively restrict or allow access to particular applications or network resources based on how each user authenticates without having to create virtual LANs everywhere to segment different user groups.

A remotely-connected Aruba Personal AP works with existing 802.1x supplicants to provide secure authentication to the corporate network. Communication with the mobility controller is secured using IPsec encryption, ensuring the privacy and integrity of all authentication information between the client and the mobility controller. Aruba's Personal AP supports the latest in wireless LAN security, including WPA and WPA2/802.11i.

Aruba's Personal AP software works with all Aruba APs. The software is priced at US $250.

Aruba also has added a new outdoor access point to its lineup of wireless local area network (WLAN) equipment. The Aruba 80 uses Atheros Communications' dual-band 802.11a/b/g chipset (AR5002AP-2X), and enables enterprises to operate 802.11a and 802.11b/g wireless networks at the same time.

The weather-resistant Aruba 80 is meant for extending enterprise wireless networks outdoors, such as to transportation loading bays, manufacturing sites, campuses, and office parks. It can also be used to wirelessly connect buildings instead of running expensive leased lines between office buildings. In such environments, the AP provides the wireless backhaul for transferring large data files in point-to-point or point-to-multipoint wireless bridging environments.

The Aruba 80 uses both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands, allowing enterprises to segment their wireless networks. Use of the 5GHz band enables a wireless connection free from potential interference within the crowded 2.4GHz band, according to Aruba. For planning network scalability, the 5GHz band provides an additional 13 non-overlapping channels on top of the three channels available in the 2.4GHz band.

For more information, see the Aruba web site, or the company's recent case study summary page on MobileVillage.

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