Aruba Networks announced a new wireless LAN platform that addresses the explosion of mobile applications and devices challenging enterprise networks, while dramatically reducing enterprise IT costs.


According to ABI Research, over 9 billion Wi-Fi enabled devices have been shipped since 20091, and Gartner predicts mobile application downloads will hit 310 billion by 2016. Faced with this massive increase in devices and applications, including the demand from users to connect their own personal devices, IT managers must ensure that their network infrastructure delivers top-notch performance and quality for business applications.

The Aruba 7200 Series with new Aruba AppRF technology is the only wireless LAN platform with the integrated application intelligence and controls to optimize application delivery. This insight, and the ability to take real-time action, results in 11x better performance compared to existing solutions.

To accomplish this, Aruba AppRF software, which runs on the 7200 mobility controller, uses Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) for Layer 7 insight to identify application traffic. Then, using Airtime Fairness, QoS and integrated control of RF characteristics on the access points, the controller optimizes over-the-air performance for each application type and user profile.

Aruba AppRF technology gives enterprises integrated visibility into and control over both traditional server-based applications as well as cloud-based and web-based mobile applications such as supply chain management, Box, GoToMeeting, Salesforce.com and more. Using a simple dashboard in the controller interface and in Aruba Airwave management software, Aruba AppRF gives IT unprecedented insight into individual user traffic streams for troubleshooting, long term planning and real time prioritization.

In competitive testing, the Aruba 7200 Series powered by AppRF completed a download from the cloud-based storage service, Box.com, in 12 seconds; this was 11x faster than the 129 seconds required to complete the download using a comparable Cisco Wi-Fi solution. Furthermore, when compared to a similar Cisco wireless LAN deployment, the Aruba 7200 Series delivers up to 50% cost savings in total hardware and support costs for WLAN controllers.

"With the amazing advances we've seen in recent years in wireless LAN architecture, radio technology, price/performance and management, it's no wonder that WLANs have achieved the role of primary access almost everywhere," said Craig Mathias, a Principal with the wireless and mobile advisory firm Farpoint Group. "Aruba's announcement of the 7200 Series is a powerful indication that a shift in focus from wireless technologies and architectures alone to enhanced application performance is now well underway, giving network managers and users everywhere the assurance they seek that the wireless LAN will continue to meet their needs for capacity, reliability and productivity, and with continually-improving price/performance."