Enterprises currently leveraging WLAN (wireless LAN) technology as well as those still window-shopping should take heed of an emerging standard that may send existing systems the way of the dinosaurs.

Businesses are turning to WLAN networks to allow their increasingly mobile workers to access the corporate network and business applications as they roam within a building or throughout a corporate campus, not just when they sit at a desk.

Whereas the current IEEE 802.11b wireless standard supports data rates of 11Mbps, the new 802.11a standard carries wireless data as fast as 54Mbps. The higher-speed 802.11a promises to achieve the business benefits of wirelessly enabling bandwidth-heavy functions such as large file transfers and providing mobile access to streaming video and other types of multimedia content.

In addition, the 802.11a standard operates in the less-congested 5GHz band, cutting down interference.

WLANs will eventually transition to 802.11a because the 54Mbps connectivity speeds will be better suited to corporate applications that require higher-quality service, according to Jason Smolek, research analyst for enterprise networking at International Data Corp. in Framingham, Mass. "There is a lot of buzz about it right now, but I think 802.11a will ramp up because of the higher speed."

However, Smolek thinks it likely will be several years down the road before 802.11a becomes widely available; and mainstream traction could be as far out as 2005.

As vendors such as Cisco Systems Inc. and Atheros Communications Inc. prepare 802.11a chip sets for release later this year and early 2002, enterprises are left questioning whether investing in current 802.11b systems is a wise move.

"Enterprises are caught in a conundrum right now," Smolek says. " 'Should we start a [WLAN] investment with the current technology, 802.11b, or should we wait for the higher-speed standard?' "

WLAN system vendors, including Enterasys Networks Inc., Proxim Inc., and Agere Systems Inc., are rolling out access points designed to support the current 802.11b standard while also providing the ability to upgrade to 802.11a, when it becomes available.

"Dual-card slot systems will ensure a return on investment," Smolek says. "Companies will not have to buy a whole new infrastructure" to tap the benefits of 54Mbps wireless LANs.

With this migration path dilemma in mind, Enterasys Networks recently introduced a wireless access platform with an upgradable architecture capable of supporting multiple wireless LAN technologies.

The RoamAbout R2 supports the current 802.11b wireless technology and features modular slots designed to accommodate cards for high-rate standards, such as 802.11a, HyperLan2, and Bluetooth. The platform will also include routing and switching functionality that will allow it to scale to hundreds of connections, according to Enterasys officials.

Enterasys officials say the company plans to release its 802.11a-enabled products by the end of the year.

"802.11b is out there now, but [802.11a] is on the horizon. We are offering our customers a migration path for higher-bandwidth WLAN networks," says Peter Beardmore, general manager of wireless products at Enterasys, based in Rochester, N.H.

Proxim, another company addressing 54Mbps WLANs, announced that it is incorporating 802.11a support into its Harmony WLAN system. The Harmony system will allow network managers to deploy single-card 802.11a access points without disrupting service in existing 802.11b networks, say officials at Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Proxim.

The single-card access point approach is an attempt to overcome potential problems caused by 802.11a's shorter range of wireless coverage, according to Proxim officials. Although 802.11b covers a range of about 150 feet, 802.11a's range is limited to approximately 50 feet. These issues might throw a wrench in upgrading wireless networks.

Meanwhile, Agere Systems, formerly Lucent Technologies' Microelectronics Group, has released WLAN access servers capable of supporting 802.11a chip sets. The Orinoco Access Server 2000, available now for $1,495, supports 802.11b and is capable of accommodating 802.11a components when they hit the market later this year and early next year, according to officials at Agere, in Allentown, Pa.

Meanwhile, other vendors, including Intel and Symbol Technologies Inc., are pushing efforts to bring handheld devices into the WLAN fold. Santa Clara, Calif.-based Intel Corp., which recently acquired wireless system vendor Xircom Inc., unveiled its Xircom SpringPort Wireless Ethernet module, an 802.11b-compliant module designed to enable WLAN connectivity with Handspring Inc. Visor handheld computers. The Springport is available in May, priced at US$299.

Similarly, Symbol Technologies has rolled out its Compact Flash WLAN adapter, which is designed to connect handheld devices to 802.11b wireless LANS. The Spectrum24 Compact Flash card runs on Windows CE, Pocket PC, and Palm Inc. OSes and also includes security features for uninterrupted roaming, say officials at Symbol, in Holtsville, N.Y.

InfoWorld (US)

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