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LVL7 Wireless LAN Software Shifts Market Dynamics & Price-Points for Unified Wireless+Wireline Switching

Posted on: Monday, 12 September 2005, 09:00 CDT

Industry's First Stackable WLAN Switch Part of Comprehensive FASTPATH(R) Software Product Spanning Switches, Access Points, & Network Management

LVL7 Systems, Inc., the leading provider of production-ready networking software, today announced a major addition to its FASTPATH(R) software portfolio that will enable original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to deliver unified wireless LAN + wireline switching solutions at lower prices than ever before. The FASTPATH(R) WLAN offering represents a comprehensive solution set including WLAN switching software, Access Point software, and a Wireless LAN Management suite.

LVL7's announcement also marks the industry's first stackable WLAN switch capability - a solution that gives administrators new options for optimizing and scaling WLAN deployments. As well, OEMs can take advantage of LVL7's unique "unified" AP approach that bridges the gap between first-generation fat and thin APs. This allows a single unified AP platform to operate as either a traditional stand-alone AP, or as a switch-enabled AP that is centrally controlled.

For the enterprise user community, LVL7's solution makes it economical to implement an integrated WLAN capability within a wired network infrastructure. The unified network approach drives down overall operating costs while offering administrators and end users the productivity advantages that come from mobility applications.

The combination of FASTPATH WLAN + wireline switching capabilities pre-integrated on merchant silicon promises to change the Ethernet switching landscape. With LVL7's new software, OEMs can bring innovative wireless switching products to market quickly while dramatically reducing product prices by up to 70 percent. This radical shift in price/performance metrics over current approaches can introduce disruptive - but beneficial - changes in an already-dynamic wireless arena.

"Third-party software vendors are changing the way network device vendors bring new products and functions to market," said Abner Germanow, Enterprise Networking Research Manager for IDC. "We believe WLAN capabilities, like those offered by LVL7, will become increasingly embedded into wired network equipment, and enable network equipment vendors to allocate development resources more effectively to solve customer problems."

To encourage that transition, LVL7 has incorporated several critical, differentiated features into its WLAN switch offering, including:

-- plug-and-play radio management to automatically assign channels and radio range settings;

-- continuous and adaptive radio monitoring and security to optimize signal throughput and detect rogue clients and APs;

-- seamless roaming capabilities based on predictive algorithms that provide high-availability for all traffic types, including multimedia;

-- implementation flexibility that can allow wireless deployment as a unified or overlay solution in fixed, stackable, or chassis configurations; and,

-- OEM options for complete turnkey solutions in binary form as well as source code.

One cornerstone of LVL7's production-ready software that is closely tied to both time-to-market speed and cost savings is FASTPATH integration with advanced switching silicon. To support this new WLAN initiative, LVL7 and Broadcom(R) have been working closely to ensure the solution fully utilizes new wireless capabilities inherent in Broadcom's latest StrataXGS III(TM) switching silicon.

"Broadcom's StrataXGS III architecture pioneered integrated WLAN Switching technology, and we're very pleased to see LVL7 creating innovative wireless software solutions - including ones based on stackable systems," said Martin Lund, Vice President and General Manager of Broadcom's Network Switching Business Unit. "The unified WLAN technology will continue to boost productivity by minimizing management while enhancing mobility, scalability and security at the Enterprise network edge."

The combination of Broadcom silicon and LVL7 FASTPATH WLAN software delivers a host of new performance-rich features, such as: end-to-end Quality of Service (QoS) across the switch and access points; centralized data forwarding with IP Tunneling for seamless roaming; MAC-based Virtual LANs (VLANs); and advanced Denial of Service (DoS) protection to stop attacks at the port level.

"The wireless extension to our FASTPATH product portfolio represents a major milestone for our company and the industry," said Dave King, LVL7's vice president of marketing and strategy. "Based on discussions with our OEM customers, the marketplace is primed for a production-ready software solution in the wireless LAN space. LVL7 can enable OEMs to quickly enter the WLAN market and change the pricing and performance associated with adding mobility to enterprise networks."

Initial deployments of FASTPATH WLAN software will occur at the end of this year with general availability in early 2006. The innovative software can be applied to new product designs, or used by OEMs as a field-upgradeable enhancement to add wireless mobility features to existing FASTPATH-powered wireline products and systems.

About LVL7

LVL7 Systems, Inc. creates production-ready networking software that enables communication system manufacturers to reduce development costs and deliver IP/Ethernet products to market faster. Integrated with the industry's leading silicon and embedded operating systems, the company's FASTPATH(R) software portfolio spans the small-medium business, enterprise, access, metro edge, and wireless marketplaces. LVL7 is a privately held company located near Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. For more information, visit www.LVL7.com.

LVL7, the LVL7 logo, and FASTPATH(R) are trademarks of LVL7 Systems, Inc.

Broadcom(R) and StrataXGS(TM) are trademarks of Broadcom Corporation.

Source: Business Wire

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