Trapeze Networks Drives New Solution for Access Point Interoperability in IETF CAPWAP Working Group.PLEASANTON, Calif. -- As part of its Open Access Point Initiative (OAPI OAPI Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle ) announced last month, Trapeze Networks(TM), award winning provider of the wireless LAN (WLAN See wireless LAN. WLAN - wireless local area network ) Mobility System(TM), is driving a proposal within the IETF See Internet Engineering Task Force. IETF - Internet Engineering Task Force that will provide a very simple way for an access point (AP) and an access controller, such as a WLAN switch, to interoperate. The proposal is based on early discussions led by Trapeze in the CAPWAP CAPWAP Control and Provisioning of Wireless Access Points (LETF) working group. The protocol, known as the Simple Light Access Point Protocol (SLAPP SLAPP abbr. Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Partnerships ), does not make any assumptions about network architecture or AP design. It defines how an AP discovers an access controller, authentication mechanisms, and a procedure for negotiating a control protocol to use for subsequent communication. SLAPP is extensible to include existing and emerging protocols for control of 802.11 APs, and other protocols that may be needed in the future for other wireless technologies such as passive RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) A data collection technology that uses electronic tags for storing data. The tag, also known as an "electronic label," "transponder" or "code plate," is made up of an RFID chip attached to an antenna. and WiMax. In this regard SLAPP is conceptually similar to EAP (the Extensible Authentication Protocol Extensible Authentication Protocol, or EAP, is a universal authentication framework frequently used in wireless networks and Point-to-Point connections. It is defined by RFC 3748. ), a widely deployed standard. SLAPP has a number of advantages. It offers a very simple method for AP vendors to interoperate with an access controller. This will motivate a groundswell of AP development that will increase customer choice. This in turn will drive a cycle of AP innovation. At the same time SLAPP offers switch vendor's options for protocol support, again increasing choice and driving innovation. The common denominator is customers voting on which AP features are important. SLAPP also does not exclude any future standards or innovations. "This is about growing the market by doing the right thing for the customer," said Dan Simone, CTO at Trapeze. "It's always tempting to build the ultimate protocol to solve some new problem in networking. But experience has shown that simplicity and extensibility are nearly always favored in the market. Our objective with this proposal is to make it simple for APs and switches to interoperate and leave options open for the future. This will allow the market to vote on exactly which features are valued and which are not." About Trapeze Networks Trapeze Networks delivers the power of business applications and services to the mobile enterprise workforce. The company's wireless LAN Mobility System enhances productivity, introduces new efficiencies and accelerates business response time by delivering secure mobility for roaming users and sophisticated services for both users and IT, all while offering the lowest total cost of ownership of any WLAN infrastructure provider. Trapeze announced a partnership with 3Com Corporation (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on : COMS COMS 3Com Corporation (stock symbol) COMS Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist COMS Continuous Opacity Monitoring Systems COMS City of Manchester Stadium (UK) ) in August, 2004 and a partnership with both D-Link and Nortel (NYSE/TSX: NT) in March 2005. Trapeze has also been the recipient of eight industry awards, including InfoWorld's Technology of the Year award for the best WLAN Solution in 2004, in recognition of its product and technology strength. Founded in March 2002, Trapeze has raised $67.5 million in venture funding to date and is headquartered in Pleasanton, Calif., U.S.A. For more information, please visit www.trapezenetworks.com. Trapeze Networks, the Trapeze Networks logo, the Trapeze Networks flyer icon, Mobility System, Mobility Exchange, MX, Mobility Point, MP, Mobility System Software, MSS, RingMaster, AAA AAA: see American Automobile Association. (Triple A) A common single-cell battery used in a myriad of electronic devices of all variety. Like its double A (AA) cousin, it provides 1.5 volts of DC power. When used in series, the voltage is multiplied. Integration and RADIUS Scaling, ActiveScan, AIRS, Bonded Auth, FastRoaming, Granular Transmit Power Setting, GTPS GTPS Government Telephone Preference Scheme (British system for limiting outgoing calls from landlines if the network is overloaded during an emergency) GTPS Gigatransfers Per Second GTPS Ghorasal Thermal Power Station , GuestPass, Layer 3 Path Preservation, Location Policy Rule, LPR, Mobility Domain, Mobility Profile, Passport-Free Roaming, SentryScan, Time-of-Day Access, TDA, TAPA, Trapeze Access Point Access Protocol, Virtual Private Group, VPG, Virtual Service Set, Virtual Site Survey and WebAAA are trademarks of Trapeze Networks, Inc. Trapeze Networks SafetyNet is a service mark of Trapeze Networks, Inc. All other products and services are trademarks, registered trademarks, service marks or registered service marks of their respective owners. (C) 2005 Trapeze Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion