Remington College, a confederation of private career colleges, has deployed campus wireless networks that are managed centrally through a cloud-based service. The 19 schools in 10 states have chosen Meraki to supply 802.11n WiFi gear to extend wireless access to previously uncovered areas. The campuses have a total of about 9,000 students and 1,400 staff.
The previous setup included a multitude of vendors' access points. As the students' consumption of digital content increased, the strain on the network--and the college's IT staff--grew. Remington wanted to standardize on a wireless platform that could be managed centrally from its headquarters and that would deliver a better user experience.
After an evaluation of systems from various vendors, Meraki was chosen. The expansion with Meraki didn't require deployment of a wireless controller at each location, according to the college. Meraki's access points can be managed over the Web by the vendor's Cloud Controller, a Web-based network management console.
"I would definitely recommend Meraki and have already referred it to other school groups who would benefit from this offering," said CIO Chuck Farraj. "We are big fans of the Cloud Controller, and Meraki has created the most user-friendly dashboard we've seen. It's a great product and a very ingenious way to approach enterprise wireless."
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://campustechnology.com/Articles/2010/08/09/Remington-College-Deploys-WiFi-with-Cloud-Based-Control.aspx&ct=ga&cad=:s7:f1:v0:d2:i1:lt:e0:p0:t1281486641:&cd=gpZ13GojqbE&usg=AFQjCNE1CFyM7x2TdiDxcQKez7cvMLR-wA
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Wednesday, 18 August 2010
Tuesday, 17 August 2010
Expand Networks Joins The HP AllianceONE Program
Expand Networks, (www.expand.com) the leader in WAN optimization for branch office consolidation and virtualization, today announced that it has joined the HP AllianceONE partner program, gaining network specialisation partner status.
The HP AllianceONE program provides hardware and software vendors, original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and systems integrators the tools and resources they need to more effectively address client needs. Expand Networks will leverage HP AllianceONE solutions, tools and resources to help clients speed time to application deployment, optimize infrastructure capacity, reduce power consumption and free resources to focus on innovation that drives business growth.
Adam Davison, VP corporate sales & marketing at Expand Networks, comments, “Our approach to WAN optimization is complementary to the strategic networking investments of enterprises today, acting as a key technology enabler to IT initiatives such as server based computing and VDI. We are excited to become an HP AllianceONE partner. The collaborative program provides real market benefits as WAN optimization increasingly becomes a key piece of the networking puzzle.”
“HP partners such as Expand Networks are looking for ways to increase efficiency, focus on their business, and deliver excellent customer service,” said Robin Hensley, director, Solution and Strategic Alliances, HP. ”By leveraging the solutions, tools, services and expertise offered through AllianceONE, Expand can focus on the continued support of its clients while growing its business at the same time.”
As part of the HP AllianceONE partner program, Expand’s integrated technology, flexibly delivered as a Virtual Accelerator (VACC), Accelerator appliance (ACC) or as mobile client software (MACC), plus its comprehensive management platform ExpandView, will add significant value to WAN investments across all network environments.
The HP AllianceONE partner program offers a solid framework for collaboration by integrating servers, storage, networking, security, power & cooling and services. As a member of the AllianceONE program, Expand Networks can significantly extend market reach and improve selling success.
http://expand.com/news-events/release.aspx?pressID=e7a9502e-d6c0-4a9c-a4cc-2feb1740e46b
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Monday, 16 August 2010
802.11n Technology sponsored by Meraki
The 802.11n draft 2.0 standard offers several technical benefits over previous technology generations, which result in improved throughput to 802.11n-based clients, as well as greater reliability for legacy 802.11a/b/g clients.
802.11n is much more than just a new radio for 802.11. In addition to providing higher bit rates (as was done in 802.11a, b, and g), 802.11n makes dramatic changes to the basic frame format that is used by 802.11 devices to communicate with each other. This section will describe the changes incorporated in 802.11n, including MIMO, radio enhancements, and MAC enhancements.
Environmental characteristics and network density plays a significant role in the ultimate performance of a network. In well designed networks, each access point can serve over 130Mbps of TCP throughput to clients using 802.11n technology, and multiple radios can operate simultaneously to provide several gigabits of throughput.
802.11n is much more than just a new radio for 802.11. In addition to providing higher bit rates (as was done in 802.11a, b, and g), 802.11n makes dramatic changes to the basic frame format that is used by 802.11 devices to communicate with each other. This section will describe the changes incorporated in 802.11n, including MIMO, radio enhancements, and MAC enhancements.
Environmental characteristics and network density plays a significant role in the ultimate performance of a network. In well designed networks, each access point can serve over 130Mbps of TCP throughput to clients using 802.11n technology, and multiple radios can operate simultaneously to provide several gigabits of throughput.
http://searchstorage.bitpipe.com/detail/RES/1281124703_555.html?asrc=RSS_BP_KABPMANAGEIT
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Friday, 13 August 2010
A New Mobile Operating System for IT
Had a very interesting conversation this week with a forward-thinking IT department. They are trying to address the mobile client fragmentation and consumerization problem head on. They know the demand they are seeing from users will only increase and they know unnatural restrictions on that demand will only inhibit innovation and the growth of the business.
Their strategy is to have a single central management platform that operates across client OS and apps, and then push the decisions and responsibilities for the applications themselves to the lines of business. In other words, set the standards, enforce the policies, but get out of the way of the applications. So an agnostic core that supports a diverse and evolving set of user experiences.
It struck me that the central management platform actually becomes IT’s mobile “operating system”. If we assume that user devices will continue to be spread across multiple client operating systems (e.g. BlackBerry, iOS, Android, Windows variants, Symbian), the only way for IT to truly scale is to reduce the complexity IT itself faces at the core. Users get to use what they need, lines of business get to deploy what they want, and IT doesn’t get fragmented beyond repair.
95% of the IT teams I talk to these days believe multi-OS is the future. So the notion that multi-OS management is required is broadly accepted. However, some look to it as a band-aid to solve the immediate problem of the CEO buying a cool new unsupported device. What it needs to be, however, is a strategic foundation to ensure IT efficiency and responsiveness in the smartphone era.
http://mobileiron.com/blog/2010/08/management-as-operating-system/
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Their strategy is to have a single central management platform that operates across client OS and apps, and then push the decisions and responsibilities for the applications themselves to the lines of business. In other words, set the standards, enforce the policies, but get out of the way of the applications. So an agnostic core that supports a diverse and evolving set of user experiences.
It struck me that the central management platform actually becomes IT’s mobile “operating system”. If we assume that user devices will continue to be spread across multiple client operating systems (e.g. BlackBerry, iOS, Android, Windows variants, Symbian), the only way for IT to truly scale is to reduce the complexity IT itself faces at the core. Users get to use what they need, lines of business get to deploy what they want, and IT doesn’t get fragmented beyond repair.
95% of the IT teams I talk to these days believe multi-OS is the future. So the notion that multi-OS management is required is broadly accepted. However, some look to it as a band-aid to solve the immediate problem of the CEO buying a cool new unsupported device. What it needs to be, however, is a strategic foundation to ensure IT efficiency and responsiveness in the smartphone era.
http://mobileiron.com/blog/2010/08/management-as-operating-system/
Join Us: http://bit.ly/joincloud
Thursday, 12 August 2010
OpSource Named Top Cloud and Infrastructure Company on the ...
OpSource, Inc., the leader in enterprise cloud and managed hosting, today announced that OpSource has been named the top cloud and infrastructure company on the AlwaysOn Global 250 list.
The companies selected for the AlwaysOn Global 250 represent the top private companies that are demonstrating significant market traction and pursuing game-changing technology. The list is selected by AlwaysOn editors in collaboration with partners at Manatt, Morgan Stanley, the Blackstone Group, KPMG, Silicon Valley Bank, Sonnenschein, and Bridge Bank, as well as industry experts across the globe. Judges recognize honorees based on market opportunity, nature of innovation, media buzz and awareness, commercialization and ability to create stakeholder value.
http://www.sourcews.com/opsource-named-top-cloud-infrastructure
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The companies selected for the AlwaysOn Global 250 represent the top private companies that are demonstrating significant market traction and pursuing game-changing technology. The list is selected by AlwaysOn editors in collaboration with partners at Manatt, Morgan Stanley, the Blackstone Group, KPMG, Silicon Valley Bank, Sonnenschein, and Bridge Bank, as well as industry experts across the globe. Judges recognize honorees based on market opportunity, nature of innovation, media buzz and awareness, commercialization and ability to create stakeholder value.
http://www.sourcews.com/opsource-named-top-cloud-infrastructure
Join Us: http://bit.ly/joincloud
Meraki Adds High-Resolution Spectrum Analysis to Cloud-Based Wireless Optimization Suite
Meraki Auto RF, now with spectrum analysis, automatically delivers consistent, reliable performance under challenging interference conditions
SAN FRANCISCO — August 11, 2010 – Meraki, the cloud-based wireless networking company, today announced the addition of high-resolution spectrum analyses to Meraki Auto RF, their cloud-based wireless optimization system. Auto RF with spectrum analysis is included with Meraki’s Enterprise Cloud Controller, and will be available free-of-charge to all Meraki enterprise customers beginning September 30.
While wireless networks are becoming more and more business-critical for organizations, new and greater numbers of interference sources – new Bluetooth headsets, microwave ovens, cordless phones, and neighboring wireless networks – are appearing every day. As a result, many organizations have turned to costly and complex wireless optimization solutions to ensure high performance. Meraki Auto RF offers an alternative: an incredibly powerful, yet completely automated RF optimization system, completely integral to the wireless network, that delivers optimal performance under dynamic interference conditions. The addition of high-resolution spectrum analysis now enables Auto RF to detect and mitigate non-802.11 interference sources.
Benefits of Auto RF with Spectrum Analysis
• Increased reliability under challenging RF conditions
• Better coverage with fewer access points
• Higher client throughput
• Requires no additional hardware, software licenses, cost or complexity
Spectrum Analyzer Key Features
• Granular reporting from dedicated spectrum analysis hardware on APs
• Quantifies interference from Bluetooth devices, microwave ovens, etc.
• Real-time spectrum visualization over the web
• Available on all Meraki 802.11n access points
Cloud-Based Optimization Architecture
With Auto RF, every access point on the network continuously and automatically monitors its surroundings for any source of interference that could affect Wi-Fi performance. Interference metrics, including newly added spectrum analysis data, are continually uploaded to the Cloud Controller from the access points. Armed with real-time and historical data, the Cloud Controller continually assesses the health of the entire network, dynamically tuning wireless channel selection, transmit power, and client connection settings to automatically adapt to changing interference conditions. Auto RF, leveraging the power of multi-tenant cloud computing, tunes optimization algorithms with inputs from 15,000+ networks.
“What our customers love about Auto RF is that they don’t have to worry about complex radio settings – they just set it and forget it,” says Kiren Sekar, Product Marketing Manager at Meraki. “Adding high-resolution spectrum analysis now makes Auto RF even more capable of quickly and accurately responding to interference from non-Wi-Fi sources, ensuring that our customers get optimal network performance in even the toughest interference conditions.”
Join Us: http://bit.ly/joincloud
SAN FRANCISCO — August 11, 2010 – Meraki, the cloud-based wireless networking company, today announced the addition of high-resolution spectrum analyses to Meraki Auto RF, their cloud-based wireless optimization system. Auto RF with spectrum analysis is included with Meraki’s Enterprise Cloud Controller, and will be available free-of-charge to all Meraki enterprise customers beginning September 30.
While wireless networks are becoming more and more business-critical for organizations, new and greater numbers of interference sources – new Bluetooth headsets, microwave ovens, cordless phones, and neighboring wireless networks – are appearing every day. As a result, many organizations have turned to costly and complex wireless optimization solutions to ensure high performance. Meraki Auto RF offers an alternative: an incredibly powerful, yet completely automated RF optimization system, completely integral to the wireless network, that delivers optimal performance under dynamic interference conditions. The addition of high-resolution spectrum analysis now enables Auto RF to detect and mitigate non-802.11 interference sources.
Benefits of Auto RF with Spectrum Analysis
• Increased reliability under challenging RF conditions
• Better coverage with fewer access points
• Higher client throughput
• Requires no additional hardware, software licenses, cost or complexity
Spectrum Analyzer Key Features
• Granular reporting from dedicated spectrum analysis hardware on APs
• Quantifies interference from Bluetooth devices, microwave ovens, etc.
• Real-time spectrum visualization over the web
• Available on all Meraki 802.11n access points
Cloud-Based Optimization Architecture
With Auto RF, every access point on the network continuously and automatically monitors its surroundings for any source of interference that could affect Wi-Fi performance. Interference metrics, including newly added spectrum analysis data, are continually uploaded to the Cloud Controller from the access points. Armed with real-time and historical data, the Cloud Controller continually assesses the health of the entire network, dynamically tuning wireless channel selection, transmit power, and client connection settings to automatically adapt to changing interference conditions. Auto RF, leveraging the power of multi-tenant cloud computing, tunes optimization algorithms with inputs from 15,000+ networks.
“What our customers love about Auto RF is that they don’t have to worry about complex radio settings – they just set it and forget it,” says Kiren Sekar, Product Marketing Manager at Meraki. “Adding high-resolution spectrum analysis now makes Auto RF even more capable of quickly and accurately responding to interference from non-Wi-Fi sources, ensuring that our customers get optimal network performance in even the toughest interference conditions.”
Join Us: http://bit.ly/joincloud
Meraki Debuts First Cloud-Based Application Traffic Shaper
SAN FRANCISCO — August 11, 2010 – Meraki, the cloud-based wireless networking company, today announced the launch of Meraki Traffic Shaper, an application aware bandwidth control system integrated with Meraki’s wireless networking solutions. Traffic Shaper is the first cloud-managed traffic shaper, as well as the first intelligent bandwidth control to be integrated into a wireless LAN. It enables administrators to see precisely how their network is being used, and to reserve bandwidth for critical applications while restricting recreational network usage.
Traffic Shaper enables administrators to:
• Analyze network traffic by application or application class
• Enforce traffic shaping policies (e.g., limit each user’s peer to peer traffic)
• Stay up to date with hundreds of constantly updated application signatures
• Prioritize critical applications using QoS policies
Traffic Shaper is Business Critical
Wireless LANs have become a critical part of a network infrastructure. Yet mission-critical applications increasingly compete with bandwidth-intensive recreational applications like video streaming and peer-to-peer file. The result? The ability to intelligently control wireless traffic translates directly to business application performance.
Controlling Traffic with a Wireless Network
While dedicated traffic shaping appliances are available, they come at a considerable cost – often tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars – and require yet another solution to be deployed, maintained, and managed. Integrating Traffic Shaper directly into the wireless LAN provides intelligent bandwidth control with no additional cost and complexity.
Cloud Based Application Signatures are Always Up to Date
Traffic Shaper’s cloud-based signature database is constantly updated, enabling Traffic Shaper to identify new and changing applications without requiring the administrator to download and install software updates. Meraki’s cloud-based architecture also enables Traffic Shaper to continually learn from Meraki’s 15,000+ networks and millions of users, increasing the accuracy and precision of application fingerprints.
Line-Rate Layer 7 Fingerprinting on Every Access Point
Traffic Shaper operates through a custom-built layer 7 packet inspection engine running on each Meraki 802.11n access point. Meraki Traffic Shaper recognizes hundreds of applications, including recreational applications such as YouTube and BitTorrent, and business applications like Salesforce.com and Google Apps. Traffic Shaper provides extensive visibility and control into network usage. Administrators may view and control bandwidth consumption by application, by content type (e.g. video, audio, text), and by user. Meraki Traffic Shaper runs at line rate, with no loss of performance.
Beta-Tested by Top Universities and Enterprises
Traffic Shaper has been beta-tested by a number of Meraki Enterprise customers, including Stanford University’s Computer Science department, Foster Pepper PLLC, and Sweet Briar College.
“For wireless-heavy campuses like ours, this is an essential tool for managing bandwidth,” said Aaron Mahler, Director of Network Services at Sweet Briar College. “As we move critical applications for staff and faculty to the cloud, we have to ensure uninterrupted access to these tools while maintaining a quality experience for recreational users. Traffic Shaper empowers us with detailed knowledge of how people are actually using the network so we can make educated decisions when it comes time to add bandwidth.”
“With the proliferation of business-critical web applications, and bandwidth-intensive recreational applications spilling over to business and campus networks, application-aware bandwidth control is a key to a high-performance wireless network,” says Meraki CEO Sanjit Biswas. “Traffic Shaper is a huge step forward in enabling administrators to understand and control what is flowing over their networks Our cloud-based architecture lets us deliver features like Traffic Shaper without adding cost or complexity to our customers’ networks.”
Traffic Shaper will be available for use by all Meraki Enterprise customers, with no additional hardware or software, and at no additional cost. Traffic Shaper is currently in beta, and will be generally available September 30.
Join Us: http://bit.ly/joincloud
Traffic Shaper enables administrators to:
• Analyze network traffic by application or application class
• Enforce traffic shaping policies (e.g., limit each user’s peer to peer traffic)
• Stay up to date with hundreds of constantly updated application signatures
• Prioritize critical applications using QoS policies
Traffic Shaper is Business Critical
Wireless LANs have become a critical part of a network infrastructure. Yet mission-critical applications increasingly compete with bandwidth-intensive recreational applications like video streaming and peer-to-peer file. The result? The ability to intelligently control wireless traffic translates directly to business application performance.
Controlling Traffic with a Wireless Network
While dedicated traffic shaping appliances are available, they come at a considerable cost – often tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars – and require yet another solution to be deployed, maintained, and managed. Integrating Traffic Shaper directly into the wireless LAN provides intelligent bandwidth control with no additional cost and complexity.
Cloud Based Application Signatures are Always Up to Date
Traffic Shaper’s cloud-based signature database is constantly updated, enabling Traffic Shaper to identify new and changing applications without requiring the administrator to download and install software updates. Meraki’s cloud-based architecture also enables Traffic Shaper to continually learn from Meraki’s 15,000+ networks and millions of users, increasing the accuracy and precision of application fingerprints.
Line-Rate Layer 7 Fingerprinting on Every Access Point
Traffic Shaper operates through a custom-built layer 7 packet inspection engine running on each Meraki 802.11n access point. Meraki Traffic Shaper recognizes hundreds of applications, including recreational applications such as YouTube and BitTorrent, and business applications like Salesforce.com and Google Apps. Traffic Shaper provides extensive visibility and control into network usage. Administrators may view and control bandwidth consumption by application, by content type (e.g. video, audio, text), and by user. Meraki Traffic Shaper runs at line rate, with no loss of performance.
Beta-Tested by Top Universities and Enterprises
Traffic Shaper has been beta-tested by a number of Meraki Enterprise customers, including Stanford University’s Computer Science department, Foster Pepper PLLC, and Sweet Briar College.
“For wireless-heavy campuses like ours, this is an essential tool for managing bandwidth,” said Aaron Mahler, Director of Network Services at Sweet Briar College. “As we move critical applications for staff and faculty to the cloud, we have to ensure uninterrupted access to these tools while maintaining a quality experience for recreational users. Traffic Shaper empowers us with detailed knowledge of how people are actually using the network so we can make educated decisions when it comes time to add bandwidth.”
“With the proliferation of business-critical web applications, and bandwidth-intensive recreational applications spilling over to business and campus networks, application-aware bandwidth control is a key to a high-performance wireless network,” says Meraki CEO Sanjit Biswas. “Traffic Shaper is a huge step forward in enabling administrators to understand and control what is flowing over their networks Our cloud-based architecture lets us deliver features like Traffic Shaper without adding cost or complexity to our customers’ networks.”
Traffic Shaper will be available for use by all Meraki Enterprise customers, with no additional hardware or software, and at no additional cost. Traffic Shaper is currently in beta, and will be generally available September 30.
Join Us: http://bit.ly/joincloud
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