Virtualization at the RF Layer

Wireless LAN virtualization isn't something that can run on top of just any 802.11 network. Just as virtualized servers required innovations in processor design, Virtualized Wireless LANs depend on Meru's innovations in RF engineering.

Meru's Air Traffic Control directs every transmission on the network, upstream as well as downstream. An interference-free architecture avoids the need for the microcell channel pattern used in networks based on older technology, letting each Virtual Cell provide enterprise-wide coverage while consuming only a single channel. Both of these features have benefits that go beyond virtualization itself, making the network more predictable and easier to scale.

	Air Traffic Control The technology at the heart of Virtualized Wireless LANs, Air Traffic Control governs all traffic on a wireless LAN – including transmissions from ordinary 802.11 clients as well as Meru access points.
	Channel Layering Because each Virtual Cell requires only one radio channel, other channels are left free for expansion. Additional channels are activated by adding more radios, scaling the network capacity linearly with the number of access points.
	Airtime Fairness Meru ensures predictable performance by giving each client equal access to the network's airtime. Capacity is shared equally in 802.11n networks, while mixed mode networks let each client connect at its own data rate.