Xirrus XD4 access point incorporates four high-speed 802.11ac Wi-Fi radios, addressing exploding wireless usage
Wireless network provider Xirrus has announced Xtreme Density (XD) Wi-Fi, high-density Wi-Fi Access Points (APs) that aim to deliver some of the fastest Wi-Fi available in the industry.
Designed to address the Internet of Things (IoT), Xirrus XD4 is a 4-radio all 802.11ac AP and aims to support more users, reduce the amount of equipment deployed, and decrease total cost of ownership.
Gartner estimates 4.9 billion Internet of Things units installed by 2015, increasing to 25 billion by 2020. This exceptional growth in the number of devices, and more importantly the increased volume of application traffic, has already severely stressed Wi-Fi networks.
Next page: How Xirrus XD could help improve network connectivity
Xirrus XD intends to help networks easily scale to provide the connectivity required to deliver an exceptional user experience in the age of IoT.
While discussing the impact of mobile device proliferation in the May 19, 2014 research report, “Mobile Device Proliferation Is Forcing Network Leaders to Redesign Enterprise Wireless LANs” Gartner Analysts Christian Canales and Bjarne Munch state: “The shift from wired to wireless connectivity means that, instead of assuming one computing device per user, network planners must now plan for at least three mobile devices and, possibly, four to five per user. Network leaders should design WLANs (with) quadruple access point density.”
Four 802.11ac radios
Built to address the changing landscape of Wi-Fi, the new XD4 is an AP that integrates four 802.11ac capable radios and optimizes performance with automated RF configuration. The XD platform, paired with Xirrus’ XMS cloud management system, delivers performance and simplicity. The platform automatically chooses the best available bands and power level without IT intervention and customizes client connectivity for the best performance based on the capability of each device, delivering a zero-touch experience.
Introducing TurboXpress
In addition, the company announced today that it is shipping TurboXpress on all Xirrus XD access points. TurboXpress allows administrators to configure every radio on the AP for high-speed 802.11ac operation, with the click of a mouse, providing an instant Wi-Fi performance boost of up to 6x.
“Ensuring our students have the fastest Wi-Fi access is no longer a nice to have, it is a requirement. Learning happens everywhere on our campus and we need to have the fastest and best coverage available to meet the demands of our students, faculty and staff,” says Dee Benson, Director of Technology at Guthrie Public Schools. “We were excited about the new Xirrus XD4 AP and are very impressed with the powerful services and ease of management it delivers compared to other solutions. TurboXpress gives us the flexibility to grow our Wi-Fi network over time, ensuring we achieve our educational objectives well into the future.”
Eliminate the controller
With many traditional wireless solutions, a central controller oversees the operation and maintenance of tens to hundreds of APs at once. In these networks, a single controller failure will impact the operation of all connected APs and their users. However, as businesses add capacity to their network, they also need to add more controllers at significant expense and complexity. XD Wi-Fi integrates the controller function into every AP, reducing system costs and improving overall system reliability.
To learn more about XD Wi-Fi and Xirrus cloud-managed solutions, visit:
http://www.xirrus.com/products/wireless-lan/high-density-access-points/
http://www.xirrus.com/products/cloud-managed-networks/.
Material from a press release was used in this report.
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