Meru Makes WLAN Deployment and Optimization a One-Button Process
SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 12, 2004--
New System Director v2.0 with E(z)RF(TM) Eliminates Site Surveys, Optimizes Performance, and Simplifies Ongoing WLAN Management with the Touch of a Button
Meru Networks today introduced System Director v2.0 featuring E(z)RF(TM), the first self-optimizing WLAN system with one-touch installation. Available immediately to new customers and as a free upgrade for existing Meru customers, System Director 2.0 sets a new standard for wireless LAN deployment and management simplicity.
"With E(z)RF(TM), Meru has eliminated the deployment and ongoing WLAN management complexity and associated costs that we've seen in other systems," said Don Carlos, director of information services and technology at United Teachers Los Angeles. "This network is as close to plug-and-play as any enterprise-class Wi-Fi system we've seen."
To deploy a Meru WLAN, users simply place Meru Access Points (APs) in areas to be covered and then click a button on the E(z)RF user interface to instantly optimize the entire network based on the unique characteristics and application demands of the deployment environment. Whenever there are significant changes in the environment, another click on the E(z)RF button takes care of it.
"Radio Frequency Spectrum Management (RFSM) is a critical need that's not achieved significant visibility with either vendors or users to date," said Craig J. Mathias, a principal with the wireless advisory firm Farpoint Group (Ashland, MA). "And it's a perpetual challenge. Tools like Meru's E(z)RF have the potential to dramatically lower costs, improve performance, and increase user satisfaction across essentially every wireless-LAN venue and application."
Meru Air Traffic Control Technology Creates Self-Optimizing WLAN
Traditional WLAN system vendors have created software wrappers that support manual optimization of off-the-shelf access point (APs). These products allow users to adjust AP power levels and prioritize traffic as it enters the wired LAN via the WLAN switch or controller. However, these tools must be continually re-used as the network changes, driving up ongoing management costs. In addition, traditional WLAN architectures do not solve the inherent problems of over-the-air service quality and contending traffic among neighboring APs. As a result, a typical WLAN's performance degrades if there are too many access points too close to each other because of co-channel interference.
In contrast, Meru's architecture is based on its patent-pending Air Traffic Control (ATC) technology, which includes the industry's only WLAN control plane that dynamically coordinates APs at a packet level, mitigates co-channel interference, provides over-the-air QoS for the entire WLAN coverage area, and optimizes overall performance.
"Wireless LAN performance isn't just about speeds and feeds. Equipment that is easier to deploy and operate reduces total cost of ownership, provides more predictable Wi-Fi service throughout an organization, and ultimately improves overall user satisfaction," said Kamal Anand, vice president of marketing at Meru Networks. "Meru has proven that we provide five times the throughput of traditional wireless LANs and that we lead the industry in service reliability, even for time sensitive applications like VoIP. With our new E(z)RF capabilities, the Meru wireless LAN system now leads the industry in yet another element of wireless LAN performance - ease of deployment and optimization."
Meru's Wireless LAN System includes the Meru Access Point, a standards-compliant 802.11 access point that simultaneously acts as an access point and RF monitor; the Meru Controller, a centralized gateway by which all security, QoS and management policies can be configured and enforced across the entire wireless LAN, and the Meru System Director, an extensible, embedded software suite.
About Meru Networks, Inc.
Meru Networks is the wireless LAN performance leader, and makes the only enterprise WLAN infrastructure that delivers the service reliability, scalability, security, and ease of use that are essential for pervasive wireless deployments. Offering superior voice performance and subscriber density, Meru's Wireless LAN System is deployed in major Fortune 500 accounts, universities, and healthcare organizations. Meru's unique Air Traffic Control technology provides predictable bandwidth and over-the-air, application-specific QoS to support a wide range of current and future wireless applications. Meru, founded in 2002, is based in Sunnyvale, California. For more information on Meru Networks and its products, visit www.merunetworks.com or call (408) 215-5300.
Contacts
Meru Networks, Inc., Sunnyvale
Sarah Kim, 408-215-5314
skim@merunetworks.com
