5 High-Flying Wireless Wares

One of the most common places for thieves and hackers to try to crack the defenses of a wireless network is, believe it or not, the parking lot outside. They troll around looking for WLAN signals that are strong enough to leak out beyond the building perimeter, potentially providing network access to folks that just shouldn't have it. Enter Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Meru Networks and its new RF Barrier technology, which promises to plug the holes and prevent RF signal leaks.



To deploy the technology, solution providers install a Meru access point along the inside perimeter of a building and an advanced directional antenna (pictured) outside. Meru's RF Barrier technology inspects traffic and uses the external antenna to block outside traffic at the RF layer, without impacting signals within the building, the company says. RF Barrier will be available in September. A start kit that includes four antennas, four access points, cables and software licenses will be priced at $3,595.

D-Link is taking a stab at the green IT trend with the launch of several new energy-efficient routers. The new D-Link Green Wi-Fi Routers provide energy savings through Wi-Fi Scheduler, a tool that lets users shut down wireless radios when they're not needed. Among the new offerings is the Xtreme N Duo Media Router DIR-855, which promises power savings of up to 41 percent when Wi-Fi is turned off, compared to conventional D-Link routers. It is available now for $359.99. The product launch is part of the Fountain Valley, Calif.-based vendor's broader green initiative to manufacture environmentally-responsible products.

Virtualization is hot right now, and the WLAN space is not immune. Aerohive Networks recently introduced Virtual HiveManager, a new feature for its HiveManager network management system (pictured). Virtual HiveManager extends the product's existing role-based management capabilities to provide up to 50 virtual HiveManager instances, the company says. That means more flexibility for managing a wireless network by business unit or geographic location. It also provides the opportunity for channel partners to manage WLANs for multiple customers, potentially creating new service revenue streams. The Santa Clara, Calif.-based vendor plans to include Virtual HiveManager with its forthcoming release of HiveManager 3.1, scheduled for availability in August.

Built to handle high-definition video, Cisco's Irvine, Calif.-based Linksys division recently rolled out its new Simultaneous Dual-N Band Wireless Router WRT610N, which enables users to tap into both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz wireless spectrum at the same time. The 5GHz spectrum promises more than seven times the number of non-overlapping wireless channels, allowing for clearer transmissions, the company says, while older network devices like print servers and Wireless-G end points can stick to the 2.4GHz spectrum. It is available now for an estimated street price of $199.99.

Security is always one of the top concerns as customers consider the roll-out of WLAN technology. To help tackle the problem and keep the bad guys out, AirTight Networks recently incorporated 802.11n support into its SpectraGuard wireless intrusion detection suite.



The new SpectraGuard 802.11n Solution includes an 802.11n MIMO sensor (pictured), SpectraGuard Planner 5.0 for deployment planning in 802.11n environments and a free utility, the 802.11n WLAN Coverage Estimator. The new sensor is scheduled for availability in September and will be priced at $1,295.



A starter kit that includes a SpectraGuard Enterprise appliance, two 802.11n sensors and wireless security site planning for up to 50,000 square feet will be available for $9,995.