Xirrus Announces Distributed Spectrum Analysis Solution For Wi-Fi Networks

Westlake Village, CA - Xirrus, Inc., the only provider of high-performance, long-range Wi-Fi products, announced recently an embedded Spectrum Analyzer in its Wi-Fi Arrays. Xirrus' patented Array – which packs four, eight, or 16 radios into a single, compact device along with an onboard Gigabit Switch, Wi-Fi controller, and threat sensor – now includes integrated spectrum analysis, as well.

The Spectrum Analyzer utilizes Xirrus' embedded and dedicated Wi-Fi threat sensor radio to monitor the 2.4 and 5 GHz spectrum of Wi-Fi networks continually – 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Unlike traditional spectrum analyzers, such as Cognio's, that require a user to walk around with a dedicated laptop to monitor a given area, the Xirrus Spectrum Analyzer is embedded in each Array, providing distributed, omni-present spectrum management functionality.

"The introduction of the Spectrum Analyzer extends Xirrus' already significant RF management and monitoring capabilities", said Dirk Gates, CEO of Xirrus. "The presence of a Spectrum Analyzer on each Array enables IT managers to track down and locate sources of interference that could be causing performance degradation in their Wi-Fi networks."

The first phase implementation of the Spectrum Analyzer in Xirrus Arrays allows users to characterize the RF environment of an Array network by monitoring throughput, signal, noise, errors, and interference levels continually per channel. Rather than walking around to track down issues, users can centrally collect data from their desks and monitor the entire network at one time. The Xirrus Spectrum Analyzer monitors all 802.11 channels, not just the ones that are currently being used for data traffic, enabling users to detect outside sources that may cause network problems or pose a security threat.

The Xirrus Spectrum Analyzer solution will be included in every Wi-Fi Array at no cost to the user and will be released in November of 2007. Xirrus will also be demonstrating this enhanced functionality at the upcoming Interop New York trade show, October 24-25, Booth #623.

SOURCE: Xirrus