New Aruba architecture eases corporate rollout of iPads

Wireless kit launch to aid deployment of mobile devices in the workplace

Aruba Networks has launched hardware and software designed to make rolling out iPads and other mobile devices onto corporate networks much easier.

The new architecture is called the Mobile Virtual Enterprise (MOVE). It gives firms the networking kit that Aruba says they need to enable a better network strategy for managing the new mobile devices.

"Six months ago people viewed wireless networks as a convenience. That is not the view today. They are essential because of mobile devices like the iPad, Galaxy Tab and the iPhone," said Roger Hockaday, Aruba Networks' EMEA marketing director.

Hockaday said firms are overspending on their networks because they do not have a mobile strategy in place to cope with today's wireless environment and devices.

Problems such as having to configure switch routing, virtual LANs (VLANs), virtual private networks (VPNs) and setting up branch office networks all take time.

MOVE is being promoted by Aruba as providing faster mobile service delivery, reduced networking costs, better management and better wireless troubleshooting and risk mitigation.

Hockaday said that MOVE is faster to set up and all types of network - wired, wireless, remote and VPN - can be managed from a single application.

The software launched with the hardware is version 6.1 of Aruba's network operating system ArubaOS, featuring what Aruba says is the first with Mobile Device Access Control (MDAC) for Apple iOS Devices.

This allows iPhones and iPads onto the network, points them at a self-service intranet portal and automates the installation of a certificate which has their security and access policies defined, so users can access the network quickly.

Two of the three new pieces of hardware are access points (APs) - the AP-134/135 for standard central office wireless LANs, and an AP called Aruba Instant for setting up standalone wireless LANs for enterprise branch offices.

The third hardware launch designed to underpin Aruba Network's MOVE architecture is the S3500 Aruba Mobility Access Switches (MAS), which are designed to integrate wired and wireless networks.

The AP-134 and AP-135 APs have a higher wireless performance than the current generation of 802.11n wireless hardware, rated by Aruba as 450Mbit/s capable, rather than older models capable of 300Mbit/s [see picture].

The Aruba Networks S3500 MAS [see picture] is designed to be placed into a network, usually a large enterprise network, and inherit all the enterprise's network policies from Aruba Network's Mobility Controllers. Such policies would be for identity management, firewalls, intrusion prevention systems and VPN connections, among others.

Aruba Instant AP-105 is an 802.11n AP which virtualises the functions of an Aruba Mobility Controller and runs them onboard, providing wireless connectivity for branch offices [see picture].