Juniper Networks is expected to soon announce that it is acquiring wireless LAN player Trapeze Networks from parent Belden in a move that will expand Juniper’s enterprise portfolio, says Computer World. They say Juniper could announce the deal within the next two weeks.
Trapeze Networks is a pioneer in the concept of the “wireless LAN switch,” linking with so-called thin access points to centrally control and secure WLANs, allowing clients to roam seamlessly.
Belden acquired privately-held Trapeze in 2008 for $133 million in cash to add a controller-based WLAN product line. Belden attempted to position itself as a supplier of unified wired and wireless products.
In April 2008, Trapeze introduced a two-radio 802.11n access point and a new
high-end WLAN controller for large-scale wireless networks. Trapeze also acquired Newbury Networks, a maker of WLAN-based location systems, in 2008.
While Aruba Networks, Cisco, Meru Networks and Ruckus Wireless use controllers to monitor Wi-Fi access points, Aerohive Networks, introduced a new class of wireless infrastructure equipment called a Cooperative Control Access Point.
Their system combines enterprise-class access points with a suite of cooperative control protocols to provide the benefits of a controller, without the controller. Two local users can connect directly instead of going through the controller, reducing the overhead.
Aerohive Networks has a new version of its free Online Wi-Fi Planner. The tool can be used by organizations of all sizes to quickly and easily map out their WLAN strategy and determine budget needs, says the company.
