Foundry Pushes WLANFoundry Pushes WLAN

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Foundry Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq: FDRY), today announced a wireless LAN strategy which seamlessly integrates wireless into enterprise networking infrastructure and provides a product roadmap including standards-based multimode access points, a rich set of WiFi management applications and a wireless LAN (WLAN) software upgrade option for its industry leading FastIron Edge switch product line. In addition to offering a compelling wireless solution to address enterprises’ mobility and productivity issues, Foundry’s wireless strategy will provide more than 6,000 customers worldwide a simple migration path to support wireless access as a part of their high performance network infrastructure hence protecting their existing network investments.

Integrated Wireless and Wired Infrastructure Strategy

Foundry’s Integrated Wireless and Wired Infrastructure strategy consists of three components; the IronPoint 200 IEEE 802.11a/b/g standards-based multi-mode full-featured access points, a SNMP-based IronPoint WiFi Management application suite, as well as a Wireless LAN software upgrade option for Foundry’s popular FastIron JetCore modular, FastIron Edge and FastIron Edge Power-over-Ethernet switches. By leveraging the latest 802.11 standards, these products deliver a wireless LAN solution which offers strong security, seamless mobility, centralised management, dynamic user policies and ease of use, leading to lower long term cost of ownership.

To provide maximum deployment flexibility for customers who want to add wireless capability to their network infrastructure, Foundry’s Integrated Wireless and Wired Infrastructure Strategy offers both a standalone full-featured access point wireless solution which is appropriate for small/medium size deployments, as well as an integrated intelligent access point with wireless LAN switch solution which is better suited for large installations. With the field upgradeability of both the IronPoint 200 access points and FastIron Edge switches, the Foundry IronPoint strategy will offer customers a smooth upgrade path as their wireless deployment grows.

“With the latest 802.11 standards, wireless local area networks (WLANs) have reached a new level of maturity,” said Zeus Kerravala, an analyst with the Yankee Group. “With many of the enterprise deployment barriers such as security, roaming and management being addressed, network managers are now beginning to add wireless LAN support to their network infrastructure. Foundry’s wireless strategy, which supports both standalone access points as well as integrated access points and WLAN switches, offers one of the most complete wireless solutions in the market today. With Foundry’s well-regarded L2/3 product set and credible presence in the enterprise market, their entrance into the wireless LAN market is a significant event,” added Mr. Kerravala.

IronPoint 200 (IP200) Access Points

Central to the Foundry wireless strategy is the IronPoint 200 Access Point, one of the industry’s first dual band enterprise-class access point with 802.11a/b/g as well as 802.11a-Turbo support. The versatile IronPoint 200 can be used as a standalone AP or, with a simple software upgrade, integrated with a wireless- enabled switch. The IronPoint 200 access point is designed with future proofing in mind, using a modular architecture, high performance processor and large memory capacity for scalability. It can support up to 128 simultaneous users. It has a rich feature set including strong security, 802.11i security standard readiness, roaming, automatic channel assignment, power level selection, multi-country radio frequency and channel configuration.

IronView Network Manager (INM) - IronPoint Edition

Foundry’s IronView Network Manager (INM) software provides centralised wireless access point management. By tightly integrating both wired and wireless network management along with scalable security, Foundry offers one of the most complete sets of integrated infrastructure management applications. The IronPoint Edition of the Foundry INM management platform helps overcome one of the major barrier of WLAN deployment in enterprises by offering central AP configuration, backup and deployment, user policy and access management, security configuration, traffic logging and reporting as well as detailed, user-based traffic monitoring.

Wireless-Enabled FastIron Edge (FES) Switches

Foundry’s high performance FastIron Edge Layer 2/3 switches can be software upgraded to enable integrated wireless LAN capability. Already known as one of the top edge switches in the industry with advanced Layer 2 features, comprehensive security features such as 802.1x, sFlow wire-speed traffic monitoring, QoS for converged applications, rate limiting, built-in redundant power supplies, IEEE 802.3af standards-based Power over Ethernet, and Layer 3 upgradeability, the Foundry FES switches with wireless LAN upgrade will be the ideal switch platform for enterprise wireless LAN deployments. The wireless-enabled FES switches will provide seamless wireless LAN support including Layer 2/3 mobility, enhanced monitoring and reporting with sFlow, secure Web guest authentication, IPsec/VPN pass-through for existing VPN support, enhanced authentication, security and user policy control as well as enhanced AP management. The seamlessly integrated solution of IronPoint 200 access points and wireless-enabled FES switches will meet the requirements of any enterprise wireless deployments.

“With our Integrated Wireless and Wired Infrastructure strategy and Wireless LAN products, Foundry will offer a compelling total enterprise network infrastructure solution,” said Ken Cheng, VP and general manager of Foundry’s Enterprise Business Unit. “Wireless capability is the necessary add-on to the overall enterprise network infrastructure. Our wireless solution will seamlessly integrate with our complete line of enterprise switching and network management products to leverage our competency and leadership in the industry,” said Mr. Cheng.

Foundry Networks Inc.