Aruba Networks has released AirWave OnDemand (AoD), a network management and monitoring service, deployed using the software as a service (SaaS) model.
The company said that the subscription-based service, housed at a secure Aruba data centre, uses virtual instances of its multi-vendor AirWave Wireless Management Suite (AWMS) to remotely manage and monitor enterprise wireless LANs. The full suite of AWMS features, including multi-vendor network management, is available through AoD.
The company said that the new service allows subscribers to monitor and change wireless LAN settings, generate compliance reports, locate users and Wi-Fi devices, and diagnose problems from any internet connection. It also provides new business opportunities to service providers and resellers by allowing them to build managed wireless LAN services on top of AoD.
According to Aruba, the new service offers users same management, monitoring, and reporting capabilities as AWMS but on a subscription basis. It includes network management and monitoring of devices from vendors including Aruba, Cisco, HP, and Motorola; status and reporting including PCI compliance assistance reports; location services to track the position and movement of wireless devices; network and device diagnostics and performance assessment; help desk support; wired and wireless rogue detection; and wireless intrusion detection.
Bryan Wargo, general manager of AirWave group at Aruba, said: AoD was built from the ground up to make it simpler and less costly to deploy, maintain, and monitor a wireless LAN. The service is user friendly and very easy to learn. An automated sign-up process launches the subscription, and the cost of support is built into the subscription fee. No other cloud-based management or monitoring service comes close to matching the convenience, features, or flexibility we’ve built into AoD.
The service supports compatible Fat APs and controller-based wireless LANs. It is in early customer deployment phase and is expected to be available in December 2009.
