Propagate, Chantry Push CAPWAPPropagate, Chantry Push CAPWAP

WALTHAM, Mass. -- Chantry Networks, the leading innovator of routed wireless networking technology for IP-based networking, and Propagate Networks, provider of AutoCell™, a self-organizing network for 802.11 access and clients, announced today a new protocol, CAPWAP Tunneling Protocol (CTP), for interoperability between wireless access points. This protocol will be proposed to the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) as a superior alternative to the expired LWAPP protocol.

CAPWAP (Control and Provisioning of Wireless Access Points) is a working group in the IETF. The current charter of this group is to come up with a WLAN architecture taxonomy document that will be reviewed by experts of the IEEE.

CTP’s open architectural approach leverages Layer 3 technology, provides a better upgrade path for wireless access point vendors, and provides investment protection for customers of all vendors’ CTP-compliant access points. This enables a simplified migration path from departmental or single-site WLAN deployments to enterprise-wide routed topologies, because companies can expand their WLAN architecture to encompass the entire enterprise by integrating any vendor’s access points that support CTP. This also results in a WLAN architecture that is highly amenable to change and provides seamless roaming between heterogeneous access points, enabling the implementation of next-generation convergence applications such as WLAN voice-over IP (VoIP).

“LWAPP offered a rudimentary solution for early 802.11 networks by providing basic access and interoperability,” said Bob Myers, co-founder and CTO, Chantry Networks. “However the future needs of the wireless community demand a more flexible approach to WLAN deployment. CTP was designed to enable multiple wireless technologies, flexible network topologies and future changes in wireless functionality.”“Enterprise customers want the flexibility to add Wi-Fi equipment to the network with no pre-planning – wherever and whenever they want – especially as VoIP over 802.11 moves up in priority,” commented Floyd Backes, CTO for Propagate Networks. “The combination of CAPWAP tunneling protocol and AutoCell will bring a whole new class of light APs into the enterprise market. Propagate is bringing CTP plus AutoCell to the high-volume low-cost ODM in Taiwan and mainland China. This will produce an unstoppable wave of standards-based Access Points and a new price point for enterprise Wi-Fi.”

Chantry Networks Inc.

Propagate Networks Inc.