| 4/17/08 - Aruba Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARUN) announced that Lane Education Service District (ESD), based in Eugene, Oregon, has selected Aruba's wireless LAN technology and identity-based security for its facilities and has recommended deployment to sixteen school districts and more than 120 elementary, intermediate, and high schools in the region.
Lane ESD was established in 1963 to provide the county's sixteen school districts with educational programs and services that would otherwise have been too costly for a single district to support. Wireless networking is considered an essential technology for learning support applications. Following an extensive review of both single channel and adaptive wireless LANs, Lane County selected Aruba as its wireless network supplier. "The only way to build a low maintenance, scalable wireless LAN is by using a centralized, controlled-based architecture with easy-to-use RF visualization and management plus captive portal functionality for guest access," said Russell Rubrecht, Lane ESD's Manager of Network Services. "A controller-based network has a single point of management and, used with RF visualization, allows for remote observation of the wireless LAN without venturing into classrooms and workspaces. Easy-to-use RF management eliminates the need for an engineer to run the network day to day, while a captive portal allows users to log in without first loading client software. We selected Aruba because they folded all of those features into one controller, eliminating external RF management and captive portal servers and licenses, and making the network much easier to use." Aruba's user-centric networks securely connect users with the enterprise by integrating adaptive WLANs, identity-based security, and application continuity services into a cohesive, high-performance system. By associating security policies with users, instead of ports or hardware, policies can be enforced independently of how or where a user accesses the network. This unique follow-me security capability provides unprecedented mobility for users while ensuring that security is always enforced. Aruba delivers secure wireless LAN connectivity to K-12 schools with networks that feature simple installation and easy operation. To address current and future educational initiatives, the networks feature self-optimizing "no survey" designs that are cost effective for one school, and scale to support hundreds. Trouble-free high-density operation reliably delivers high speed data, toll quality voice, and interference-free streaming video. Aruba's centralized management and remote diagnostics enable existing IT staff to support even the largest district, while a certified firewall, end-to-end data encryption, and rogue AP control helps ensure privacy and security across the entire network. Aruba's software-upgradeable access points and controllers future proof the wireless network, and preserve capital investments. "One of Aruba's unique features is its remote AP software license that allows any access point to become a VPN end device," continued Rubrecht. "We plan to use remote APs where we need a single device, managed from a central location, to provide wireless LAN and VPN, e.g., Lane ESD's 32 remote Special Ed classrooms. Because of features like the remote AP it's my opinion that you get more for your money with Aruba -- it's the Holy Grail of 802.11 wireless."
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Keywords: aruba networks inc, wireless lan technology, high performance system, education service district, rf management, lane esd, continuity services, portal servers, captive portal, wireless lans, essential technology, single channel, Wireless Access Points |
