Microsoft to overhaul its Wi-Fi net

NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: JOANIE WEXLER ON WIRELESS IN THE
ENTERPRISE
06/13/05
Today's focus: Microsoft to overhaul its Wi-Fi net

Dear security.world@gmail.com,

In this issue:

* Software giant shifts to next-gen Aruba Wi-Fi net
* Links related to Wireless in the Enterprise
* Featured reader resource
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The next generation network in WLANs is all about service
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THE HOMEOWNER'S GUIDE

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Today's focus: Microsoft to overhaul its Wi-Fi net

By Joanie Wexler

Microsoft, which has long operated one of the largest enterprise
Wi-Fi installations in the world, has committed to an entirely
new wireless LAN infrastructure, which it will begin deploying
this month.

The software behemoth will move some 25,000 simultaneous users
and 100,000 devices, which span more than 60 countries, 277
buildings and 17 million square feet, off its aging Cisco
Aironet infrastructure and onto an Aruba Networks Wi-Fi net. The
revamped network will comprise 5,000 to 6,000 thin APs and about
100 Aruba switch/controllers, according to Aruba officials.

The driver behind the multimillion-dollar deal?

"Microsoft has said it needed to improve performance per user,
address security in a more integrated way, and improve
scalability," says Don LeBeau, Aruba president and CEO. He also
notes that Microsoft will run Longhorn, the newest and
security-centric version of Microsoft Windows, on its own
internal Wi-Fi network before bringing it to market.

Microsoft has been shopping for a replacement infrastructure for
approximately the past year. At about that time, it deployed
Aruba's air monitors and RF Director software as a global sensor
overlay to its Cisco network to detect rogue access points for
security purposes.

"Our sensors became part of Microsoft's drive for looking at
next-generation technology," asserts LeBeau. "They found that
they could operate round-the-world security but manage it from
just a few centralized switches [at Microsoft headquarters]."

Microsoft began building its original WLAN using equipment from
Aironet Wireless Communications (which was subsequently acquired
by Cisco) in 1999, long before sophisticated RF tools and
centralized provisioning, management and security platforms hit
the market. It wound up building its own management
architecture, a process that took about four months but allowed
the company to operate its worldwide WLAN with a very small
staff (see newsletter, "Microsoft supports 4,500-AP WLAN with
five people," <http://www.networkworld.com/nlwir2537> ).

The next-generation WLAN architecture should allow Microsoft to
reduce, by two orders of magnitude, the number of managed Wi-Fi
devices, because only the switch/controller devices require
management, not thousands of APs.

Microsoft selected the Aruba platform after a technical
evaluation that put Aruba and competing products through testing
performed by independent laboratories, including Iometrix in San
Francisco and the University of New Hampshire's Interoperability
Lab.

Microsoft was unavailable for comment at press time.

RELATED EDITORIAL LINKS

Microsoft picks Aruba for next generation WLAN
Network World, 06/13/05
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2005/061305-microsoft-aruba.html

Microsoft supports 4,500-AP WLAN with five people
Network World, 03/22/04
http://www.networkworld.com/nlwir2538

Microsoft embarks on internal wireless service initiative
Network World, 03/24/04
http://www.networkworld.com/nlwir2539

Aruba testing by Microsoft results
http://www.arubanetworks.com/arubawins.html

Web services ready to rock mobile apps
Network World, 06/13/05
http://www.networkworld.com/nlwir2540

Colubris rolls out wireless LAN controllers
Network World, 06/13/05
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2005/061305colubris.html?rl
_______________________________________________________________
To contact: Joanie Wexler

Joanie Wexler is an independent networking technology
writer/editor in California's Silicon Valley who has spent most
of her career analyzing trends and news in the computer
networking industry. She welcomes your comments on the articles
published in this newsletter, as well as your ideas for future
article topics. Reach her at <mailto:joanie@jwexler.com>.
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by Colubris Networks
MultiService WLANs Improve Price/Performance.

The next generation network in WLANs is all about service
mobility and access to business productivity applications
anytime, anywhere. Unified wired and wireless networks promise
to deliver multiservice applications and services for
unprecedented mobility, operational savings, price/performance
and security. For more on the Unified Services Network visit
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=106335
_______________________________________________________________
ARCHIVE LINKS

Archive of the Wireless in the Enterprise newsletter:
http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/wireless/index.html

Wireless research center
Latest wireless news, analysis and resource links
http://www.networkworld.com/topics/wireless.html
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What you need to know about maximizing app performance across
the WAN

When deploying and accessing enterprise apps over the WAN
performance can be fickle. IT organizations agree consolidating
operations into single data centers to support users across the
extended enterprise is best.
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=106310
_______________________________________________________________
FEATURED READER RESOURCE
VoIP SECURITY

For the latest in VoIP security, check out NW's Research Center
on this very topic. Here you will find a collection of the
latest news, reviews, product testing results and more all
related to keeping VoIP networks secure. Click here for more:
<http://www.networkworld.com/topics/voip-security.html>
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