Nortel shares next-gen wireless strategy

Wireless in the Enterprise This newsletter is sponsored by Arsenal Digital Solutions Traditional Backup vs. On-Demand Data Protection Services: Critical Questions for IT Decision-Makers When deciding on a data protection solution, budget limits, service quality, and compliance requirements all weigh on the minds of IT leaders. A single overlooked issue can mean the difference between disaster and continuous operations. In this Webcast, Doug Chandler of IDC will explain how many companies have evaluated their data protection choices in today's market and made a successful transition from in-house backup and recovery operations to service-based solutions. Click here to listen to this webcast today! Network World's Wireless in the Enterprise Newsletter, 07/09/07 Nortel shares next-gen wireless strategy By Joanie Wexler As high-speed 802.11n networks and wireless multimedia traffic inch toward enterprise deployment, enterprise wireless LAN architectures continue evolving in anticipation of growing network loads. Last week, for example, Nortel described self-designed 802.11n-centric products it plans to ship in the second half of 2008 as part of its vision for facilitating “the unwired enterprise” — that is, organizations in which, eventually, all mobile and stationary client access devices become wireless. Specifically, Nortel plans to deliver its own 802.11n-optimized WLAN system that features a multi-radio 802.11a/b/g/n access point and Ethernet switches and routers with embedded wireless AP control functions, explains Kyle Klassen, director, enterprise wireless marketing. The move should accomplish several goals: Wireless Products Buyer's Guide From wireless adapters to WiMax repeaters, we've got detailed information on hundreds of products that will quickly help you pinpoint the hardware or software you're looking for. We've categorized each product into one of 10 specific wireless market segments, so you can drill down, compare and contrast products in only the areas you need. Click here for more.> * Allow Nortel shops to build, manage and enforce security across their wireless and wired infrastructures with a single, unified tool. * Eliminate separate provisioning and management of redundant services across the two environments. * Distribute switching decisions and certain other services around the enterprise to decrease latency in support of real-time application performance requirements. The Nortel design intends to blend wireless traffic management intelligence in Nortel core switches and distributed wired/wireless switches in wiring closets. The idea is to alleviate the delays associated with all traffic having to travel to a centralized controller while also preserving existing virtual LAN configurations. Today, WLAN architecture options distribute switching decisions to APs or require that traffic travel all the way back to a central controller. Klassen explains that its forthcoming design pushes the lengthy trip to the controller out to wiring closet switches, rendering the controller infrastructure “pervasive and distributed rather than completely centralized.” For non-Nortel shops, the company will also introduce a Nortel 802.11n-capable Wi-Fi controller. Nortel intends to “continue to support and evolve” the Wi-Fi products it currently OEMs from Trapeze Networks, Klassen says, but the next-generation, 802.11n-centric portfolio “will be Nortel products.” The company plans to blend its forthcoming 802.11n products with its outdoor mesh products, Windows Mobile-based client software for dual-mode handsets, and its WiMAX base stations to enable indoor/outdoor seamless mobility for customers. Nortel’s news follows a similar announcement by Motorola/Symbol, in May, that it is enabling indoor/outdoor Wi-Fi, WiMAX, and mesh interoperability in its product line. Meanwhile, WLAN market share leader Cisco has achieved some unification of wired and wireless capabilities with special modules for its high-end Catalyst switch and branch-office Integrated Services Router.   What do you think? Post a comment on this newsletter

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Contact the author: 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 joanie@jwexler.com. This newsletter is sponsored by Arsenal Digital Solutions Traditional Backup vs. On-Demand Data Protection Services: Critical Questions for IT Decision-Makers When deciding on a data protection solution, budget limits, service quality, and compliance requirements all weigh on the minds of IT leaders. A single overlooked issue can mean the difference between disaster and continuous operations. In this Webcast, Doug Chandler of IDC will explain how many companies have evaluated their data protection choices in today's market and made a successful transition from in-house backup and recovery operations to service-based solutions. Click here to listen to this webcast today! ARCHIVE Archive of the Wireless in the Enterprise Newsletter. BONUS FEATURE IT PRODUCT RESEARCH AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Get detailed information on thousands of products, conduct side-by-side comparisons and read product test and review results with Network World’s IT Buyer’s Guides. Find the best solution faster than ever with over 100 distinct categories across the security, storage, management, wireless, infrastructure and convergence markets. Click here for details. PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE You've got the technology snapshot of your choice delivered to your inbox each day. Extend your knowledge with a print subscription to the Network World newsweekly, Apply here today. International subscribers, click here. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES To subscribe or unsubscribe to any Network World newsletter, change your e-mail address or contact us, click here. This message was sent to: security.world@gmail.com. Please use this address when modifying your subscription. Advertising information: Write to Associate Publisher Online Susan Cardoza Network World, Inc., 118 Turnpike Road, Southborough, MA 01772 Copyright Network World, Inc., 2007