Meru Networks

Meru looks to replace Ethernet with WiFi

Lynnette Luna — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:54:50 -0500

Meru Networks announced a new technology development it says will enable WiFi to replace Ethernet.

The WiFi vendor has developed what it calls "virtual ports" to make WiFi networks as reliable as switched Ethernet ports. Meru's virtual ports, the latest software on the vendor's wireless controllers, provides each user with a dedicated network service. Laptops and other devices connecting to a Meru network with virtual ports each sees a dedicated WiFi Mac address, which is similar to a wired switch port.

Meru said the feature is made possible by the vendor's existing virtual cell architecture that virtualizes the WiFi network so that access points don't have separate identities. The Mac addresses are centralized and network resources are pooled for all users. Virtual ports partition the pooled resources to deliver service-level agreements to individual clients, according Meru.

For more:
- see TechWorld

Related article:
Meru: New access point software upgradeable to 802.11n

ALSO NOTED: Nokia calls for open networks; Intel to invest $500M in Taiwan; and much more...

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 06:59:51 -0400

> Reports out of Taiwan indicate Nokia Siemens Networks is talking to network equipment vendors such as Gemtek Technology and Accton Technology to create a femtocell base-station joint venture. Article

> Nokia calls for open networks. Article

> Intel said it will invest $500 million in Taiwan with most of that amount targeted for the WiMAX sector. Article

> Aruba Networks announced its new Mobile Remote Access Point (RAP) software that uses a combination of WiFi and wireless broadband connectivity. Release

> Meru Networks brings virtual reality to wireless LAN management. Release

> Qualcomm said strong adoption of 3G handsets helped its second-quarter revenues and profits beat analysts' expectations. Article

Meru: New access point software upgradeable to 802.11n

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 06:59:54 -0500

Meru Networks says it has introduced the first WLAN access point that conforms to legacy IEEE 802.11a/b/g standards but can be upgraded with just a software update to the higher performing 802.11n draft 2.0 standard. The move is significant given the fact that enterprises must rip out existing 802.11 a/b/g gear if they want to move to 802.11n, which offers higher throughput and capacity.

Meru says when enterprises decide to upgrade to 802.11n using its new AP302 access point, they only pay for a new software license, avoiding new hardware costs and the disruption of new installations.

For more about Meru's new access point:
- check out this release

Related articles:
Enterprise vendors put pre-802.11n stakes in the ground Report
Philadelphia, Meru and Avaya provide wireless technology at 268 schools Release

Meraki scores $20M in VC money

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 06:59:56 -0500

WiFi mesh operator Meraki scored $20 million in financing that it says will partly be used to finance the cost of creating a free WiFi network across San Francisco. Meraki has been experimenting with the notion of a massive free WiFi network in San Francisco throughout 2007 and apparently sees a big opportunity now that San Fran's city government pulled the plug on muni-WiFi plans after EarthLink bailed out.

The premise of Meraki is using ad-hoc networks that are formed using shared broadband connections and Meraki's WiFi repeaters that users place in their windows, balconies or roofs. The free San Fran network will be "part of an effort to showcase for other communities around the world how the company's technology can allow the creation of city-wide access networks at a fraction of current costs," said the company.

The second-round $20-million infusion came from Sequoia Capital, DAG Ventures, Northgate Capital and other existing investors. It has already received an undisclosed amount of capital from Google and $5 million in first-round financing last year.

To read more about Meraki's plans for San Francisco:
- check out this article from TelecomWeb

Related articles:
About Meraki Report
Meraki user revolt as company jacks up prices Report

ALSO NOTED: $690.9 million committed to wireless startups in September; Alltel launches WiFi hotspot service; and much more...

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 06:59:51 -0400

> According to the latest report from Rutberg & Co., some $690.9 million was committed to wireless startups in September. Article

> FCC delays 700 MHz auction by eight days. Article

> Alcatel-Lucent and Sagem Communications said they are developing a commercial femto cell base station platform for UMTS/HSPA networks. Article

> Meru Networks has certified the "secure and seamless" interoperability of a wide range of new dual-mode and WiFi phones. Article

> Alltel launched WiFi hotspot service. Article

And Finally... PCWorld reveals the ugliest products in technology history. Pics

Cisco introduces enterprise 802.11n equipment

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 06:59:56 -0400

Cisco is the latest enterprise WLAN company that isn't waiting for the 802.11n standard to be completed. The dominant WiFi player for the enterprise announced several integrated enterprise products based on the Draft 802.11n standard, which is designed to boost WiFi's throughput and range. Previously, Cisco said 802.11n wasn't ready for the enterprise, but now it follows the footsteps of Meru Networks, Colubris and Trapeze. Given the fact that the company holds around 64 percent of the enterprise WLAN market, Cisco's entrance gives some significant validity to 802.11n in the enterprise.

Cisco introduced its Unified Wireless Network that includes the modular Cisco Aironet 1250 access point and the 48-Gbps Cisco Catalyst 6500-based wireless LAN controller system. It also includes the ability to power a dual-radio Aironet 1250 Series from one Ethernet point, which can be useful if the access point is located some distance from an electrical outlet. Cisco says the Aironet 1250 access point is the first enterprise-class 802.11n draft 2.0 access point available. The products will ship in October.

The enterprise market is risk adverse when it comes to pre-standardized equipment, but the fact that the WiFi Alliance is certifying these products seems to put the enterprise at ease. A recent survey from Colubris Networks highlighted strong interest and momentum for 802.11n deployments in the enterprise.

For more about Cisco's move into the 802.11n market:
- read this article from Mobile Tech Today

ALSO NOTED: Samsung makes digital photo frame complete with WiFi; Meru Networks unveils new WLAN software for security; and muc

Mon, 19 Mar 2007 20:01:31 -0400

> Samsung Electronics displayed a soon-to-be-released version of its digital photo frame with WiFi. Article

> A consortium of companies that includes Alcatel-Lucent will build an urban WiFi broadband network in the Italian province of Trento. Blog

> Meru Networks introduced new wireless LAN software that helps to secure wireless traffic while optimizing mobile application performance. Article

> Mesh network vendor SkyPilot announced its SyncMesh software version 1.5, which enhances the voice over IP capabilities across SkyPilot's mesh products. Release

> Foundry Networks has launched wireless LAN access points and software designed to help increase the connection capacity and security of wireless networks. Article

And Finally... Win a chance to go fly fishing with Intel Chairman Craig Barrett. Article

SPOTLIGHT: Thin is in--but which thin?

Mon, 24 Jul 2006 20:01:33 -0400

There is a general move away from fat, intelligent, stand-alone APs in WLAN design toward a centrally switched architecture (see story #4 above). There are several reasons for this change of direction: Security became an issue, as was the need to allow for cross-subnet roaming. There were other issues having to do with scalability and control. Yes, you could buy gateways from Blusocket or Cisco to help manage the distributed network, but more and more businesses realized that a better way was to manage a series of thin APs by using wireless switches. As Craig Mathias notes, however, there are several different architectures which feature the wireless switch-thin AP combination (just compare the designs of Meru Networks, Extricom and Xirrus). As businesses weigh what WLAN to buy next, they should consider not only features such as throughput and security, but also WLAN architecture. Discussion

ALSO NOTED: Nintendo WiFi users hit 3M; Future of UWB unclear; and much more...

Tue, 24 Jan 2006 19:00:50 -0500

> Following a deal between BT and Nintendo, Irish users of the game console will be able to enjoy free WiFi access at any one of 270 BT Openzone locations across Ireland, the company said today. Article

> Speaking of Nintendo... Nintendo WiFi users hit 3 million. Report

> Motorola is showing its MOTOMESH, a multi-radio, high performance mesh networking system suitable for municipal wireless communications. Release

> The future of UWB is unclear after the UWB standard group has disbanded, but UWB and wireless USB developer Wisair still managed to raise $20 million in its Series C round of funding. Report

And Finally... Juniper Networks is interested in buying an enterprise WLAN start-up, and Unstrung reports that top on its list is Meru Networks, but Colubris Networks is also a candidate for acquisition. Juniper has apparently set aside about $200 million for a deal. Report

New Windows WiFi security flaw discovered

Tue, 17 Jan 2006 19:01:36 -0500

As Saturday Night Live's Rosana Rosanadana would say, "It's always something--if it's not one thing, it's another." Just look at Microsoft's eagerness to help WiFi users by tweaking Windows XP or 2000 so that when a PC or laptop with these operating system boots, it automatically tries to connect to a wireless network. Helpful feature--but also a chink in the system's armor. Here is how it works:

When a PC running Windows XP or Windows 2000 boots up it automatically tries to connect to a wireless network. If the computer can not set up a wireless connection, it will establish an ad hoc connection to a local address. This connection is assigned an IP address and Windows associates this address with the SSID of the last wireless network to which it connected. The PC will then broadcast this SSID, looking to connect with other computers in the immediate area. Here is the danger: If an attacker listens for computers which are broadcasting in this way--and create a network connection of their own with that same SSID--this would allow the two machines to associate together, thus giving the attacker access to files on the victim's PC.

Security experts urge three things: Users with Windows XP who have not yet installed SP2 should do so; commuters should also get personal firewalls; and users should disable the WiFi sniffing feature when not using WiFi (how many of our readers are aware that their computers tend to connect to the peer-to-peer network in such a way?). Companies sending their employees on the road with laptops should have the company's system administrators block ports 135, 137, 138, and 139 from accepting NetBIOS connections.

For more on Windows WiFi vulnerability
-read Tom Espiner's c|Net report

MORE: Meru Networks says its new security solution provides a new layer of protection beyond encryption, firewalls, and intrusion protection by going to the signal-level. Using the company's AirShield Technology, the new Security Services Module (SSM) software does three things. The first is micro-scan the area using APs and switches. The second is radio jamming for mitigating rogue APs. Finally, transmission scrambling takes advantage of the antennas Meru uses on its APs and switches, so only the sender and receiver of the packets intended will ever see them, all other clients on the network see white noise. Story.

ALSO NOTED: Business users confused over WiFi, 3G, GPRS; FireTide, Meru team on enterprise products; and much more...

Tue, 23 Aug 2005 20:00:50 -0400

> New research from Tatara Systems finds that business users are confused over differences between WiFi, 3G, and GPRS. Report

> Los Gatos, California-based mesh gear maker FireTide is teaming up with WLAN system maker Meru Networks to offer jointly developed products to the enterprise. Story

> The latest entryway for SPAM: VoIP. Report

> Intel: Windows Vista soon to come to handhelds. Story

> SMC shows new dual-radio 802.11g wireless bridge. Release

And Finally... McAfee is moving energetically to offer security solutions to home networks. Analysis

Bountiful WiFi shows range-enhancing AP

Tue, 26 Jul 2005 20:01:34 -0400

Woods Cross, Utah-based Bountiful WiFi (yes, this is the company's name; its motto is: "Abundant and Constant") is showing a new AP which, the company claims, doubles or even quadruples the range offered by available WiFi gear. Bountiful WiFi CEO, David Egbert, used to work for Corco which, three years ago, developed a stand-alone WiFi signal booster for Linksys. When Cisco acquired Linksys two years ago,the boosting idea was dropped, so Egbert decided to pick it up in his new start-up. Bountiful relies on an 802.11g chipset from Atheros as the basis of a router which will "put out as much power as the FCC will allow," Egbert told Unstrung. "As much power" means close to 30 dBm gain, which, in turn, means that the Bountiful router should have a range of about 1,000 feet. This is enough power, the company says, to cover a two-floor office. The system also has sensitive receivers, allowing a linear radio amplifier to perform well in obstacle-rich environments.

Other companies have also recently released products which enhance the range and reach of WiFi networks, among them Meru Networks and Xirrus.

For more on Bountiful's latest release
-see company's site
-Dan Jones's Unstrung report
For more on recent coverage-enhancing WiFi products
-see this report

Editor's Corner

Tue, 12 Jul 2005 20:01:40 -0400

I want to remind FierceWiFi readers that the Early Bird discount for our upcoming executive summit, wVoIP 2005, ends on Friday. I am proud to say that our event is shaping up nicely. In the last few days we have added new speakers from In-Stat, Meru Networks (one of the 2005 FierceWiFi Fierce 15 winners), GigaBeam, the Burton Group, Zultys Technologies, and CallWave. Click here to register. And don't forget, you can save an additional $100 if you mention "FierceWiFi" in the registration form. - Ben

ALSO NOTED: Caspian raises$55M; Meru teams with OptiCall on VoWLAN system; and much more...

Tue, 24 May 2005 20:00:50 -0400

> Caspian has secured $55 million in funding. Caspian's flow-state routing solutions identify different traffic flows and dynamically assign the bandwidth and service levels to meet users' needs. Release

> Meru Networks has teamed with OptiCall, its new Scandinavian distribution partner, to demonstrate a VoWLAN system at the Kista Mobile Showcase in Kista, Sweden. Release

> Yale University selects Aruba to wirelessly connect 150 buildings on campus. Release

> The WiFi network in Westminster, London, will be made available to, well, commoners, courtesy of BT Openzone. Story

> UK service provider Libera to launch WiMax service in London. Report

> Students and faculty at the University of Kent in Canterbury will trial a new wireless broadband service with speeds of up to 45 Mbps. Story

> Taiwanese company Accton Technology demonstrated a new line of WLAN mesh networking products with the company's WITnet architecture. Release

> Strategy Analytics predicts a market of more than 20 million WiMax subscriber terminals and base stations per year in 2009. Demand will be driven by the need for inexpensive last mile connections. Release

> Altera joins WiMax Forum. Release

> Bluetooth reaches a milestone: 100 million chips. Report

And Finally... Are Intel and Apple talking WiMax? Blog