Meraki Network Insight Technology now Fingerprints Apple iPads

Assisting wireless network administrators in analyzing and supporting their networks, Meraki, the cloud-based wireless networking company, has announced that its Network Insight technology now fingerprints Apple  iPads.

Wireless LAN products from Meraki help the customers to centrally manage access points from an intuitive browser interface. It also offers powerful features with point-and-click simplicity and the user does not have any controller hardware to buy, neither any software to install.

Offering application-level inspection on wireless traffic and capturing forensics information used by network administrators to analyze network activity and troubleshoot client issues, Network Insight is a technology unique to Meraki's Enterprise Wireless LAN. The technology identifies network events (DNS, ARP, HTTP, etc), and client information such as the NetBios name, MAC address, operating system, and device make and model.

“There is incredible excitement around the iPad, yet network administrators are eyeing it with caution," said Kiren Sekar, Product Marketing Manager at Meraki.  "After the iPad's well-publicized DHCP renewal bug, as well as the potential for significant bandwidth consumption, administrators need visibility into their networks to see the iPad's impact and to support their users.  Meraki's enhancements to Network Insight make this simple.”

Network Insight distinguishes Apple  iPads from other devices running the iPhone OS, namely iPhones and iPod Touches, with its current announcement. Network Insight identified iPads as a significant driver of wireless traffic in use at MIT  CSAIL network (covering MIT's largest interdepartmental laboratory). iPads made up 9 percent of all iPhone OS devices on the network yet consumed more than half of the bandwidth for the week ending May 21st.

In November 2008, the company introduced its new Residential Wi-Fi  Pack. This latest offering is expected to enable property managers and owners to provide broadband wireless access throughout apartment complexes, condominiums, hotels and more. The pack features Meraki's newest WiFi device, the Meraki Wall Plug, designed for deployment in large residential complexes. The demand for Wifi at an apartment, condominium and dormitory complexes is on the rise.

Raju Shanbhag is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Raju’s articles, please visit his columnist page.

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