Netgear Offers Wireless Management Solutions
Networking solutions specialist Netgear introduced a family
of ProSafe Wireless Management solutions to meet the demands of small to
medium-size businesses (SMBs) with up to 1,500 users. The suite of ProSafe Wireless
Management Products includes ProSafe 5-AP Wireless Management Software WMS105,
ProSafe 16-AP Wireless Management System WMS5316 and ProSafe 20-AP Wireless
Controller WC7520.
Netgear said the solutions deliver enterprise-class
connectivity and secure wireless LAN functionality, as well as the ability to
configure, control and manage seven different access points (APs) ranging from
SOHO-class IEEE 802.11g APs to professional-caliber dual-band IEEE 802.11n APs.
The WMS105 Software is specifically designed for small businesses with five to
50 users. Features include centralized configuration for up to five APs,
including Wireless-N, user-friendly set up and use where APs are automatically
discovered anywhere on the network, mass firmware upgrade for APs and support
for existing NETGEAR access points, including WNDAP350, WNDAP330, WNAP210,
WG302v2, WG103, WN802Tv2, and WG602v4. It will be available worldwide in May at
suggested price in the U.S. of $50.
"Most wireless networking vendors offer either expensive
solutions designed for the FORTUNE 500 or single AP solutions - neither of
which is suitable for a growing business," said Laurent Masia, Netgear
product line manager for managed infrastructure products. "The management
of wireless networks has been identified as a top priority for growing
businesses, and NETGEAR has responded to this request with leading
price/performance solutions. We are now the only company delivering a family of
wireless management products that exceed the requirements of the majority of
businesses worldwide."
Netgear's ProSafe Wireless Management System offers central wireless management for businesses and schools with 50 to 200 users. Features include load-balancing of clients across the wireless network, rogue AP detection, guest access to enable restricted access to the network, Web browser interface offers central wireless network management and support for existing Netgear access points. The ProSafe 16-AP Wireless ManagementSystem will be available worldwide in March at a suggested U.S. price of $910.
"As the IT administrator of a growing business where
wireless networking is critical, I need a lot more than standalone AP vendors
can provide in terms of management. On the other hand, previous solutions
designed for a much larger environment have not been cost-effective to
implement," said Chris Hemmings of Penguin Internet. "Netgear has
bridged the gap between the -all or nothing' choice I previously had to make,
with a very easy to manage solution. At this affordable price point, a
centrally managed solution will very quickly pay for itself due to the
immediate labor savings in routine maintenance and management of access
points."
Netgear said it designed the ProSafe Wireless Controller WC7520
specifically for midmarket companies, and it scales up to 1,500 users. Features
include central wireless management based on a full-featured wireless
controller, expandable to support up to 50 APs on a single unit, stacking
capability for up to three controllers and 150 APs, controller redundancy, wireless
security with rogue AP detection, heat maps and triangulation, guest access
enables restricted access to the network, with a captive portal and voice over
Wi-Fi support with fast roaming and SpectraLink Voice Priority (SVP) QoS
compliance. The 20-AP Wireless Controller WC7520 will be available worldwide in
July at a suggested U.S. price of $6,280. The Wireless-N License upgrade WC75NL
and 10-AP Incremental License upgrade WC7510L for the ProSafe Wireless
Controller will be sold for $4,200 each.
