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Evolution of Wireless LAN’s

Since 1999 when the first industry standard 802.11b standard products became available, enterprise WLAN’s have evolved from standalone access points(AP’s) and network interface cards(NIC’s) used by early adopters and company departments to support casual data applications like web and email. As usage grew, the industry was challenged to add enterprise-class security and improved management, first using software or gateways for managing distributed networks of independent access points, and then giving way to a third generation approach using thin AP’s and centralized controllers. Most of today’s major vendors, including Meru, offer customers these third generation solutions which work well in providing secure wireless access for casual data applications.

Going forward usage models are shifting significantly from casual data application access for a few users, to high density usage throughout companies or in university lecture halls combined with business-critical applications like wireless VoIP, asset tracking or even video in retail, manufacturing and healthcare environments. These pervasive business-critical mobility applications spurred Meru to develop its fourth generation solution utilizing networks of coordinated AP’s, operating on a single channel span, working together in virtual cells, that may be layered to expand capacity on demand. Any enterprise considering an initial WLAN deployment, or an expansion of an existing one, even if initially for casual data usage, must look closely at their plans for mobile application and user density, and match those requirements to the system in which they invest today.

An enterprise or organization that is serious about using these pervasive mobile applications to provide better services to customers, students, taxpayers or patients must also be serious about the underlying wireless infrastructure on which these applications run. Wireless is no longer simply about going mobile. It is now about Mobile SCALE.