Aruba Networks Multi-Service Mobility Controller Family
Aruba continues to hold the number two spot for enterprise WLAN shipments with 802.11n options, large deployment capabilities and excellent mobility integration. (2/25/2009)

Cisco Unified WLAN
Cisco Unified Wireless Network continues as a strong product family with 802.11n offerings, extensive management, and next-generation components. With more integration with wired infrastructure, Cisco remains the leading enterprise WLAN vendor. (3/16/2009)

Motorola Enterprise WLAN Family
Motorola continues to integrate WLAN solutions with its extensive line of mobility and wide area wireless technologies, positioning Motorola as a key enterprise WLAN vendor and allowing it to expand beyond its traditional vertical markets. (2/25/2009)

Trapeze Networks WLAN Mobility System
Trapeze Networks continues to evolve its Smart Mobile architecture to ensure enterprise WLAN mobility, expandability, and performance. The 802.11n evolution ties well into Trapeze’s NonStop Wireless initiatives. (4/1/2009)

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Report Contents

• Current Perspective Rating
• Product Strengths & Weaknesses
• Product Buying Criteria
• Product Metrics

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Enterprise Wireless LAN Buying Criteria

• Features
• The features metric ranks a vendor on its depth of features and functionality across the WLAN solution. Features may be delivered natively or via a well-defined partnership with a third party.
  
• Mobility
  • The Mobility metric ranks each vendor on how well its WLAN system handles converged devices and device mobility (roaming) in an enterprise context.
• Pricing
  • WLAN systems may have many individual components which contribute to overall total cost of ownership from purchasing though lifecycle maintenance.
    
• Scalability
  • The scalability metric of a WLAN System ranks each vendor on the capacity of its WLAN architecture, as well as the supporting hardware and software, which contribute to the sophistication and complexity of the WLAN solution.
• Security
  • Features which impact the ability of the system to provide access control and monitor the integrity of WLAN users and traffic.

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Enterprise Wireless LAN Product Metrics

• Products
  • WLAN Switch Models
  • AP Models
  • Supporting Products
• Standards/Certifications
  • WMM
  • WPA
  • WPA2
  • FIPS 140-2
  • Other (VPNC,Common Criteria,etc)
  • Awards
• Capacity/Functionality
  • Max APs per WLAN controller
  • BSSIDs per Radio/AP
  • Routing Support
• Mobility
  • Layer-3 Roaming
  • Roaming Mechanism
  • 802.11i PMK caching
  • 802.11i pre-authentication
• Security Features
  • Integrated firewall
  • Integrated IPsec VPN termination
  • Access control lists
  • Captive portal/Web auth support
  • Rogue AP detection/prevention
  • Ad-Hoc Client Detection/Prevention
  • AP can be a dedicated sensor
  • AP can be a shared sensor
  • Advanced Wireless IDS features
  • Packet Capture
• Authentication Features
  • Local RADIUS database
  • RADIUS Support
  • LDAP Database
  • Native Active Directory Support
• Management
  • Primary admin interface
  • AP Interface exposed
  • Graphical site planning system
  • Auto-RF support
  • Config Audit/Snapshot/Rollback
• Fault Tolerance
  • Redundant Power Supplies
  • Redundant WLAN controllers
  • Dual-homed APs
  • Infrastructure-controlled load balancing
  • Rapid Spanning Tree Support
  • Link Aggregation Support
• Pricing
  • Baseline Hardware Costs
  • Single-Radio AP
  • Dual-Radio AP
  • Software
  • Licensing
  • Service and Support
• Product Class Ratings
  • Scalability
  • Features
  • Mobility
  • Security
  • Pricing