Kit unifies wired and wireless LAN

ProCurve network division announces hardware to give firms a unified LAN (WLAN) network

HP’s ProCurve network division has announced new hardware to give firms a unified wired and wireless LAN (WLAN) network. ProCurve’s global mobility product manager, Kail Krall, said, “We’re providing a single ‘pane of glass’ to manage both user policy and devices [wired and wireless] across the network.”

The new hardware includes a Wireless Edge Services xl Module for HP’s 5300 series switches; a Redundant Wireless Services xl Module; and three “thin access point” models, which HP calls “Radio Ports”. These models are the 210, 220, and 230, and they differ in their use of external and internal aerials and 802.11 wireless standards.

HP also released a so-called “fat” access point, the Access Point 530, characterised by an on-board Radius server. It is aimed at firms needing local authentication and/or remote site failover. HP said it can deliver a complete end-to-end system for a centrally managed wireless LAN. This could include the network infrastructure as well as devices for staff, such as Intel Centrino-based notebooks and 802.11-based Wi-Fi PDAs.

Evelien Wiggers of research company IDC said firms are getting used to mobile email and wireless access, but deployment of WLANs is more common in some industries than others. She added that consumer wireless systems are spreading faster than business ones. “But vendors have seen demand picking up for centralised-architecture WLANs. However, there are still challenges, such as the need to motivate CIOs [to support WLANs], and to develop specific WLAN-focused applications, and further improve security and operational management.”

The Wireless Edge Services xl Module and the Redundant Wireless Services xl Module are both available now priced £2,500 + VAT and £1,760 + VAT respectively. The Radio Ports are also available now, at £175 + VAT, and the Access Point 530 will be available next month priced at £370 + VAT.

In separate news, Foundry Networks has also launched new hardware to help firms to roll out and manage WLAN systems. The releases include FastIron GS series VoIP-ready switches, new IronPoint Mobility wireless controllers, access points and Wireless Location Manager (WLM) software.