Extricom uses a similar architecture to Meru to "schedule" packet delivery from a central controller through APs.
The idea isn't new, since a similar method is used in the 802.11 spec to protect "b" only clients from "g" traffic. The use of the term "scheduling" is really not accurate since what they're really doing is queuing, a very linear and rough form of a schedule. It isn't a simple task though. Both vendors remove co-channel interference (and the associate channel planning requirements) by extending the contention umbrella from a single AP (where each AP can only Tx/Rx to one station at a time) to the entire layer 2 network of APs (i.e. each station across your entire network must wait it's turn to communicate, in effect turning your entire network into a single collision domain with a single shared pool of bandwidth). Not a good solution for anyone that is remotely concerned with bandwidth needs. They're only solution to this is to place multiple AP's at every AP location, each transmitting on a different channel (imagine the cost and complexity...) There are other solutions to these problems that do not force you to give up bandwidth. Other solutions that actually offer a substitution choice to wired L2 edge architectures. Jon 303-808-2666 ________________________________ From: Nathan Hay [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2007 7:39 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] Innovative technologies Mark, I just stumbled across the mention of a company named Extricom in the October 29, 2007 issue of Information Week. In the article, "The n Factor" by Dave Molta he says "Vendors like Meru and Extricom, which employ sophisticated scheduling algorithms to allocate capacity to clients..." I've never heard of this company before, but apparently they are doing something innovative like Meru. Has anyone heard anything about them? Their website is http://www.extricom.com Nathan Nathan P. Hay Network Engineer Computer Services Cedarville University www.cedarville.edu <http://www.cedarville.edu/> >>> Mark Berman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 10/29/2007 4:23 PM >>> Hi all, We are using Cisco's WCS and controller infrastructure for our wireless LAN. We've had a number of frustrations with it (most of which have been documented on this list by one or another of you all). We are a small school with limited staff and are finding that managing the Airespace (I mean Cisco) wireless system is taking more staff time than we anticipated. So: With the upcoming advent of 802.11n, which would require replacing all our APs, we are taking the opportunity to revisit our choice of platform. The second place vendor response to our RFP a few years ago was Meru. I was very impressed with their technology but unsure of their longevity as a company. Now they seem to be doing very well and are doing cool things with 11n as well as the older standards. I have two questions: 1) Does anyone know of anyone other than Meru that's doing anything innovative with enterprise wireless? (My take is that Cisco, Aruba, Chantry, Trapeze, etc. are basically the same technology with slightly different feature-sets and interface). 2) Does anyone using Meru have anything negative to say about them? I've talked to several campuses using Meru and they all seem very happy. Somebody must have had a bad experience! What technological gotchas have you run into? What didn't pan out the way you expected from the sales hype? Thanks, - Mark -- Mark Berman, Director for Networks & Systems Williams College, OIT, Jesup Hall Williamstown, MA. 01267 413-597-2092 ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/. ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/. ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/.
