According to ABI Research, over nine billion Wi-Fi enabled devices have been shipped since 20091, and Gartner predicts mobile application downloads are expected to hit 310 billion by 20162. Faced with this massive increase in devices and applications, including the demand from users to connect their own personal devices, IT managers must ensure that their network infrastructure delivers top-notch performance and quality for business applications.
The Aruba 7200 Series with new Aruba AppRF technology is the only wireless LAN platform with the integrated application intelligence and controls to optimise application delivery, resulting in 11x better performance compared to existing solutions. To accomplish this, Aruba AppRF software, which runs on the 7200 mobility controller uses Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) for Layer 7 insight to identify application traffic. Then, using Airtime Fairness, QoS and integrated control of RF characteristics on the access points, the controller optimises over-the-air performance for each application type and user profile. Aruba is the only WLAN provider to integrate deep application information with the ability to take action in real time to improve application performance.
Aruba AppRF technology gives enterprises integrated visibility into and control over both traditional server-based applications, as well as cloud-based and web-based mobile applications such as supply chain management, Box, GoToMeeting, Salesforce.com and more. Using a simple dashboard in the controller interface and in Aruba Airwave management software, Aruba AppRF gives IT unprecedented insight into individual user traffic streams for troubleshooting, long term planning, and real time prioritisation.
In competitive testing, the Aruba 7200 Series powered by AppRF completed a download from the cloud-based storage service, Box.com, in 12 seconds; this was 11x faster than the 129 seconds required to complete the download using a comparable Wi-Fi solution.
"With the amazing advances we've seen in recent years in wireless-LAN architecture, radio technology, price/performance, and management, it's no wonder that WLANs have achieved the role of primary access almost everywhere," said Craig Mathias, a Principal with the wireless and mobile advisory firm Farpoint Group. "Aruba's announcement of the 7200 Series is a powerful indication that a shift in focus from wireless technologies and architectures alone to enhanced application performance is now well underway, giving network managers and users everywhere the assurance they seek that the wireless LAN will continue to meet their needs for capacity, reliability, and productivity, and with continually-improving price/performance."