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Originally published at Internet.comStrix Systems' primary product offering is their Access/One Networking gear, which facilitates the deployment of extended 802.11 WLANs in both indoor (the IWS series of products) and outdoor (OWS) scenarios. The gear is modular in design, allowing network designers to create a platform using mix-n-match components to fit their design goals and needs.
802.11a, b, and g and Bluetooth deployments are all possible; with multiple radio nodes allowed for the support of multiple RF technologies within the same network. Each network node consists of some combination of modules, each facilitating specific functionality:
- The Network Server acts as the central management and control point of the wireless mesh, providing security features (AES encryption, local, or remote RADIUS authentication) as well as Web-based (or SNMP compatible) management and dynamic and automated configuration capabilities both for node discovery as well as "self healing," (the ability of the network to automatically route traffic through another node in the mesh if a particular node goes down). Multiple Network servers can be deployed in a WLAN deployment in master-slave configurations, allowing for redundancy in the case of network server failure. During self-configuration, each node in the WLAN establishes a connection to one Network Server for the transmission/receipt of management and control data; other traffic is then routed by the server on a best-path basis through the mesh. Whenever the WLAN changes (new node added, removed) data paths are automatically reevaluated.
- Network Connects allow for the connecting of each Network Node into the network proper; such connects are available to connect a node to another wireless node (via a wireless network connect) or to the wired LAN. Thus, the WLAN can be extended through the individual network connects within each network node. The vendor states that their latest technology can support "zero throughput loss and zero latency for over 10 hops."
- Client Connects provide access point functionality for individual wireless devices wishing to tap into the WLAN. Each network node can boast up to 3 client connects in any mix; including available 802.11a, b, g, and Bluetooth modules.
The Access/One platform is available in both indoor and outdoor product lines (note that all connectivity options described above may not be supported in both indoor/outdoor implementations). The outdoor platforms feature weather ruggedized enclosures that also support multiple radios and the ability to serve as network connects to extend the network or client connects for direct attachment by clients; the indoor platforms are stackable (each network node can be built up from some combination of Network Server, Network Connects, and Client Connects; each of which stacks on top of the other to form the single node).
New to the vendor's product line is the OWS 2400-30 outdoor module, which supports scalability for up to 6 radios with enhanced transmit power and receive sensitivity and packaged in a 30% smaller form factor.
The Access/One product line is available now. Visit the Strix System Web site for further information.Author: EITPlanet Staff
Read article at Internet.com site