Print

Motorola

Motorola Wireless LAN (WLAN)

Motorola’s Wireless Networking Portfolio enables a truly wireless enterprise.

While once considered a luxury, Wi-Fi connectivity is now an integral part of the modern enterprise. To that end, most corporate IT administrators are expected to deploy wireless LANs. Until recently, most enterprises have chosen to deploy Wi-Fi in addition to a wired network. But with the introduction of 802.11n, which will typically require a costly upgrade to the wired network as well, enterprises can save significant capital and feel confident in the decision to go completely wireless. Wireless technologies now match or exceed the performance of wired networks – at a significantly lower cost and a significantly higher ease of installation. And with a broad portfolio of indoor and outdoor wireless networking equipment, Motorola offers all the tools necessary to create a wireless enterprise – including wireless connections between buildings on a large corporate campus. The Wireless Enterprise is all about “getting rid of the wires, inside and out.”

Figure 2: The Truly Wireless Enterprise

In committing to wireless technology, network administrators must ensure every piece of the wireless LAN is both reliable and compatible with the other pieces of the network. The best way to ensure compatibility is to find an equipment provider offering a broad range of wireless networking gear. With the industry’s broadest wireless portfolio, and a long history of delivering business critical wireless connectivity, Motorola offers all the pieces necessary to deploy a wireless enterprise. Not only does the company offer indoor networking equipment, it also provides the tools necessary for wirelessly connecting multiple buildings on a corporate campus. See Figure 2.

And yes, Motorola’s portfolio supports the latest draft of the 802.11n:

  • Wireless switches: Motorola offers a broad range of wireless switches acting as the nerve center of the wireless LAN. The company’s veteran large enterprise switch, the RFS7000 now supports 802.11n. The company’s newest wireless switch, the RFS6000, extends 802.11n capabilities to mid-sized deployments. The RFS6000 provides failover capabilities, ensuring high availability and reliability. The switch also offers comprehensive support for voice services on the wireless LAN, enabling advanced voice applications such as push-to-talk for both indoor and outdoor deployments. Furthermore, the switch includes the ExpressCard™ Slot expansion port, which enables a wireless WAN backhaul connection – supporting current and next-generation WAN technologies such as EVDO, HSDPA, and WiMax. This provides network resiliency for remote and branch offices, in the event of wired backhaul failure, or the absence thereof.
  • 802.11 Wireless access points: Motorola also offers a broad range of wireless access points for both indoor and outdoor deployments. The latest of these is the AP-7131, which offers three radios and includes support for 802.11n. The unique tri radio design of the AP-7131 integrates three 802.11n draft 2.0 radios that deliver high speed client access, mesh backhaul and dedicated dual band IPS functionality simultaneously. The AP-7131 integrates its third radio in an expansion slot which can in future be field upgraded to enable next generation data and non data applications like WiMax and Cellular backhauls.
  • Mesh Access Points: For many enterprises, business is not limited to inside of four walls; their operations extend outdoors into remote and sometimes harsh environments. To mitigate wiring and to enable outdoor network connections, many enterprises are deploying wireless mesh networks. In a wireless mesh network, the network dynamically routes packets from access point to access point to enable the extension of enterprise WLAN coverage to areas where Ethernet or fiber cabling is cost-prohibitive. The AP-5131, AP-5181 & AP-7131 (11n) access points all support fast self-assembling and selfhealing mesh capabilities.
  • Point to Point and Point to Multipoint: Many corporate enterprise campuses sport multiple buildings, and they require network connections between those buildings. Motorola’s PTP and Point to Multipoint line of wireless Ethernet bridges provide highly reliable connections between buildings -- even in high-interference or obstructed environments. Unlike competing solutions, the PTP bridges do not require a direct line of sight between nearby buildings. Motorola also offers bridges that provide long-range connections of up to hundreds of miles including links over large bodies of water.
  • Centralised Management: A full suite of RF Management software for simplified and accurate site design and modeling, around-the-clock protection against attacks and unauthorised access, and day-to-day management of your entire mobility solution — from your wireless infrastructure to mobile devices and wireless applications — inside and out.

Further Reading: