Devicescape has partnered with wireless and wireline switch and router specialist LVL7 on Linux-based “wireless LAN switch” software expected to ship this quarter. LVL7's FastPath Wireless LAN stack leverages Devicescape's Wireless Infrastructure Platform (WIP) to support a variety of intelligent wireless network capabilities useful in enterprise environments, the companies say.

According to Devicescape, “wireless LAN switches” are switches that, when used to aggregate traffic from multiple wireless access points (APs), can make intelligent decisions about which AP a mobile device should connect to, based on signal strength and AP load. Additionally, wireless LAN switches support seamless handover between APs, useful for voice-over-WiFi phones, for example, or for carrying a laptop between an office and a conference room across the building. “The market has moved to switches that are smart about wireless,” Devicescape VP of marketing Glen Flinchbaugh summarized.

The combined Devicescape/LVL7 wireless LAN switch offering includes LVL7's FastPath Wireless LAN switch stack, along with a “unified WLAN AP” software stack available from LVL7, but based on Devicescape's Wireless Infrastructure Platform (WIP). The unified AP stack will enable second-tier and even home-networking specialists to enter the market for network LAN switches, Flinchbaugh claims. “This'll be something that people like NetGear or DLink can use to enter the market, to compete with Aruba, Cisco, and Trapeze, and bring pricepoints down,” he said.

LVL7 VP of marketing Dave King stated, “By leveraging Devicescape's technology, LVL7 was able to create a differentiated WLAN access point offering. LVL7's unified access point is a strong complement to our FastPath WLAN switching software, and the combination represents an unbeatable enterprise solution that unifies the wireless + wireline switching domains.”

According to Gartner figures cited by Devicescape, wireless switches and controllers will account for 31 percent of a projected $1.6B market for enterprise-class networking equipment.

Availability

The LVL7 unified access point stand and wireless LAN switch stack will reach OEM customers this quarter, according to Devicescape.

 
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