Videos Archive - Page 273 of 275

David Stiff and Wilson So from Ruckus Networks presented on the 802.11u protocol during their session at Wireless Field Day 2. The primary goal of 802.11u is to enhance the user experience in connecting to Wi-Fi networks, making it as seamless as connecting to cellular networks. Traditionally, users face a cumbersome process to connect to Wi-Fi, requiring them to find an SSID, enter credentials, or navigate through captive portals. With 802.11u, this experience is significantly simplified, enabling devices to automatically connect to available hotspots, thus ensuring a smoother transition between cellular and Wi-Fi networks without user intervention.

The presentation detailed how 802.11u operates, highlighting its dual requirements for access points and clients, as well as its ability to improve network discovery and authentication processes. Stiff and So explained the protocol’s reliance on elements like Generic Advertisement Service (GAS) for clients to query access points and the Access Network Query Protocol (ANQP), which provides essential service information, such as supported authentication methods. This capability not only allows devices to determine which services are available but also enables automatic selection of the most appropriate service based on user preferences and device compatibility, streamlining the connection process.

The speakers also addressed concerns regarding user control and preferences in connection management. While 802.11u seeks to automate connections for convenience, there are worries that this could limit user agency over which networks their devices connect to. Stiff and So indicated that while the protocol allows for enhanced automation, the implementation could vary between device manufacturers, thus impacting user choice. As 802.11u progresses towards certification and broader adoption, potential business opportunities for service integration and roaming hubs emerge, allowing public and private networks to work in tandem to provide superior connectivity options.

Victor Shtrom talks about Ruckus Wireless’ beamforming and antennas

Event: Wireless Field Day 2

Appearance: Ruckus Wireless Presents at Wireless Field Day 2

Company: Ruckus Networks

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Personnel: Victor Shtrom

Victor Shtrom’s presentation at Tech Field Day on January 27, 2012, delved into the intricacies of Ruckus Wireless’ beamforming and adaptive antenna technology, known as BeamFlex. Shtrom began by explaining the fundamental issues with wireless signals, particularly the problem of multipath, where signals bounce off various objects, causing unstable performance. He illustrated this with a simulation borrowed from a geological survey, likening RF waves to water waves created by an earthquake. The core of Ruckus’ technology lies in its ability to dynamically adjust antenna patterns to optimize signal strength and quality for each client, thereby mitigating the effects of multipath and ensuring more stable and reliable wireless performance.

Shtrom emphasized the distinction between traditional chip-based beamforming, which is standardized in 802.11n, and Ruckus’ adaptive antennas. While chip-based beamforming relies on the phasing of signals between static antennas, Ruckus’ BeamFlex technology uses a combination of vertically and horizontally polarized antennas that can independently beamform. This allows Ruckus to dynamically adjust the signal direction on a per-client, per-packet basis, significantly improving throughput and reducing interference. Shtrom explained that this approach not only enhances signal strength but also minimizes the deep fades caused by multipath, ensuring more consistent and higher-quality wireless connections.

The presentation also highlighted the practical benefits of BeamFlex in real-world scenarios, such as high-density environments like stadiums, where reducing co-channel interference is crucial. Shtrom noted that BeamFlex’s ability to focus energy precisely where it is needed and avoid unnecessary signal dispersion helps maximize network capacity and efficiency. This is particularly important in environments with numerous devices competing for bandwidth. Additionally, Shtrom touched on the challenges of implementing similar technology on client devices, citing the constraints of device design and the need for collaboration with manufacturers. Overall, the presentation underscored Ruckus Wireless’ innovative approach to solving fundamental wireless communication challenges through advanced antenna technology.

Rob Haviland continues his discussion of the HP Wi-Fi product line

Event: Wireless Field Day 2

Appearance: HP Networking Presents at Wireless Field Day 2

Company: HP Networking

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Personnel: Rob Haviland

In this presentation, Rob Haviland elaborates on HP Networking’s Wi-Fi product lineup, introducing specific hardware and features that cater to the diverse needs of different market segments. He begins by highlighting the omnidirectional antenna suited for both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, emphasizing the importance of external antennas for specific products such as the 466 indoor access point. Haviland points out potential misunderstandings from customers regarding the necessity of ordering these antennas, stressing that proper training in ordering processes is crucial. He also showcases the MSM 720 controller, a new addition aimed at servicing the mid-sized market efficiently, which includes support for up to 40 access points and a flexible deployment model.

As Haviland continues, he explains the hardware capabilities of the MSM 720 product, detailing its dual radio functionality and the ability to integrate with various components through advanced networking features such as LACP (Link Aggregation Control Protocol). This controller is positioned to function seamlessly within HP’s Flex Network Architecture, emphasizing a cohesive management experience for both wired and wireless networks. The presentation delves into licensing models and how HP’s approach minimizes the burden on customers, allowing them to purchase licenses in smaller increments, thereby serving smaller clients without requiring them to pay for excess capacity.

Haviland concludes by addressing the issue of mobility within HP’s wireless products, explaining the differentiation between access controllers and premium mobility controllers. The latter is equipped with advanced features such as layer 3 roaming, which does not come with the standard access controller without additional licensing. Throughout the discussion, there is an emphasis on HP’s commitment to innovation within a framework of industry standards, illustrating how the company manages to balance customer needs, licensing strategies, and product functionality within its networking solutions. The interactive session highlights customer queries related to the deployment, capabilities, and licensing approaches of HP Networking’s offerings, fostering an engaging environment that underscores the importance of customer insight in shaping product development.

Rob Haviland introduces HP’s wireless product line

Event: Wireless Field Day 2

Appearance: HP Networking Presents at Wireless Field Day 2

Company: HP Networking

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Personnel: Rob Haviland

Rob Haviland introduced HP’s wireless product line during Wireless Field Day 2, focusing primarily on the new HP Flex Campus mobility solution. The Flex Campus is designed to unify wired and wireless networking within organizational infrastructures, sitting alongside other components of the HP Flex Network architecture, which includes Flex Fabric for data centers, Flex Management, and Flex Branch for branch offices. Haviland emphasized that successful wireless networking is not only about technology but also an art, often influenced by the unique requirements of different environments. The presentation included highlights of HP’s new products, such as the outdoor 466R access point and the MSM 720 mobility access controller, which efficiently manages up to 40 access points, filling a gap in HP’s previous offerings.

During his talk, Haviland underscored the significance of conducting site surveys before implementing wireless solutions. He shared practical insights on how thorough site assessments—predictive, passive, and active—are vital to ensure optimal coverage and performance. The successful installation of wireless systems can hinge on such surveys, especially in larger enterprise settings where coverage can change due to technology upgrades or environmental factors. Haviland also touched on the evolving trend of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) in corporate environments, highlighting the increased demand on access points and the implications on network performance and capacity.

Haviland concluded by discussing the features of the new access points, such as the 430, 460, and 466 series. He explained the advanced capabilities of these new products, including their support for concurrent operations on the 5GHz band, which enhance performance, particularly in high-density user environments. The pressurized introduction of features like band steering, beamforming, and the modular management system was designed to streamline network administration, enabling smoother integration of devices and more efficient use of bandwidth. Overall, HP aims to deliver a high-performance, scalable solution that not only meets the current needs of enterprises but is also attuned to future networking challenges.

Virtual Controller technology and RF management Q&A with Pradeep Iyer of Aruba Networks

Event: Wireless Field Day 2

Appearance: Aruba Presents at Wireless Field Day 2

Company: HPE Aruba Networking

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Personnel: Pradeep Iyer

Pradeep Iyer of HPE Aruba Networking discusses virtual controller-based wireless LANs, a concept developed by Aruba to meet evolving hardware capabilities and network management needs. Historically, Aruba built their platform around controller-based WLANs, but advances in access point hardware—such as significantly increased processing power, memory, and storage—allowed Aruba to embed many controller functions directly into APs. These functions include provisioning, configuration, image management, firewall, role-based access, and adaptive radio management, resulting in the Aruba Instant product. Instead of using a physical controller, one access point acts as the “virtual controller,” coordinating the network based on shared configurations and providing centralized management. The system also supports automatic election and failover, simplifying deployments and reducing points of failure.

Iyer highlighted the user interface (UI) and management experience engineered into Instant, focusing on operational simplicity and accessibility. The HTML5-based UI supports a range of devices, from iPads to high-resolution monitors, avoiding the use of Flash for performance and compatibility reasons. The design prioritizes tools for monitoring and troubleshooting, aligning with the tasks most frequently performed by administrators. Graphing tools accommodate Wi-Fi’s bursty traffic nature via log scales and synchronized timelines, enhancing the ability to correlate signal strength, throughput, and retries. Internationalization features, including support for multiple languages and local time zones, are automatically configured based on the device’s locale, demonstrating attention to usability and detail.

In addition to management features, the discussion covered advanced RF management and spectrum analysis capabilities typically associated with enterprise-level solutions. Aruba’s Adaptive Radio Management (ARM) is split into ARM 1.0 and 2.0—where 1.0 governs AP behavior (e.g., channel and power adjustments) and 2.0 influences client behavior (e.g., band steering and airtime fairness). These features are available on Instant, matching the functionality found in controller-based architectures. Furthermore, Aruba emphasized innovation at the implementation level rather than relying on proprietary client interfaces like Cisco’s CCX, favoring standard-based adaptability. Aruba’s approach to integrated spectrum analysis balances cost-efficiency with performance by leveraging newer chip technologies capable of running FFT concurrently with client service, allowing continuous RF visibility without dedicated scanning chips.

Carlos Gomez and Cameron Esdaile demonstrate Aruba’s security and policy controls

Event: Wireless Field Day 2

Appearance: Aruba Presents at Wireless Field Day 2

Company: HPE Aruba Networking

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Personnel: Cameron Esdaile, Carlos Gomez

Carlos Gomez and Cameron Esdaile walk through a few use cases for Aruba Networks’ security and policy controls. They talk about visitor self-registration with sponsor approvals, BYOD for employees, pre-registration, and 3rd party integration for Wi-Fi devices.

In their Wireless Field Day 2 presentation, HPE Aruba’s Carlos Gomez and Cameron Esdaile demonstrated the capabilities of Aruba’s AmigoPod platform for managing secure network access and policy enforcement. They began by showing how guests can self-register for Wi-Fi through a captive portal that includes sponsor approval, which both automates provisioning and ensures network security. This process allows a guest to submit their details and receive approval from a designated sponsor (such as a host or IT help desk), with the workflow fully integrated through AmigoPod. The presenters highlighted how this mechanism supports a diverse set of environments such as hospitals where guest access is linked to patient check-in systems, thereby avoiding the need for staff training or manual provisioning.

The presentation then shifted to onboarding for employee BYOD devices, specifically showing how AmigoPod enables seamless installation of 802.1X configuration profiles on Windows laptops without requiring IT involvement. Using a dissolvable agent, users are guided through a fully automated workflow that configures the native supplicant for secure network access, including delivery of certificates and policy settings. This approach not only improves user experience but dramatically reduces help desk load—a benefit seen particularly in large-scale educational deployments. Additionally, the solution intelligently distinguishes user roles, applying differentiated access policies based on attributes like Active Directory group membership, such as providing unthrottled access to executives versus restricted rates for regular users.

Finally, the team walked through Aruba’s certificate-based onboarding for Apple devices using built-in MDM APIs, applying a similarly automated process to enroll iOS and macOS endpoints. AmigoPod acts as a certificate authority or can integrate into an enterprise PKI, enabling flexible policy enforcement based on endpoint characteristics such as device type and serial number. This contextual intelligence enables robust authorization decisions like distinguishing between corporate and personally owned devices on the same network. Aruba’s workflow-oriented design, device fingerprinting, and support for multi-vendor environments position it as a comprehensive, scalable solution for secure wireless access and BYOD challenges.

Keerti Melkote of Aruba Networks suggests wireless as a primary network strategy

Event: Wireless Field Day 2

Appearance: Aruba Presents at Wireless Field Day 2

Company: HPE Aruba Networking

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Personnel: Keerti Melkote

Keerti Melkote, Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Aruba Networks, presents a case for building networks starting with wireless. He discusses the Aruba architecture and strategy, and goes deep into the company’s approach to wireless and networking. Also joining the discussion is Aruba founding engineer, Pradeep Iyer.

In his presentation at Wireless Field Day 2, Keerti Melkote describes how Aruba Networks is advocating a shift in enterprise network design: leading with wireless as the primary network medium instead of treating it as a supplement to wired infrastructure. He emphasizes that modern computing trends—particularly the widespread adoption of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)—have changed user behavior and network demands, making wireless central to network strategy. Melkote highlights that new mobile devices, like tablets and smartphones, are entering the enterprise network in increasing numbers and often lack wired ports, rendering traditional wired-first network designs inefficient and outdated. Aruba’s solution involves redesigning networks for wireless capacity rather than mere coverage, optimizing application delivery, and addressing security challenges presented by untrusted endpoints.

To support this shift, Melkote outlines a need for new network architecture that captures user and application context at connection time and enforces security and performance policies dynamically, without relying on traditional VLAN segmentation. He states that Aruba has developed an integrated policy enforcement engine that spans both wired and wireless environments, allowing for user-aware and application-aware traffic control directly at the edge. This approach replaces static ACLs and VLANs with role-based access control that adapts in real time, addressing both security issues and performance concerns like prioritizing video streams or disabling BitTorrent traffic. This is part of Aruba’s broader goal to simplify network management, unify services, and deliver a consistent user experience across access methods.

Melkote also delves into the technical considerations of scaling such architecture, introducing Aruba’s “Instant AP” solution which embeds controller functionality directly into wireless access points. He argues that for small to medium deployments, virtual controllers within access points can manage up to 512 users effectively. However, for large-scale networks with frequent Layer 3 mobility, centralized controllers are needed to avoid performance pitfalls like backhauling wireless traffic between VLANs. The presentation concludes with a discussion on the need for dynamic firewall functionality integrated into the access layer, support for IPv6, and future trends such as personalized networks, location-aware services, and single sign-on integration—all of which are made possible by reimagining the network foundation as wireless-first.

Live demonstrations of Meraki Wi-Fi gear with Pablo Estrada

Event: Wireless Field Day 2

Appearance: Meraki Presents at Wireless Field Day 2

Company: Meraki

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Personnel: Pablo Estrada

Pablo Estrada, Solution Architect at Meraki, demonstrated their cloud controller technology during Wireless Field Day 2, showcasing how Meraki is working with TelMex to implement HotSpot 2.0 and offload cellular data to wireless networks. The presentation focused on live demonstrations of Meraki’s Wi-Fi gear and its sophisticated cloud-managed dashboard, designed to give IT administrators an intuitive and powerful view of their network. Estrada began by navigating the Meraki dashboard, showing real-time analytics like access point status, client connections, and signal strength, and emphasized tools available for troubleshooting, including ping tests and traffic usage histories for both infrastructure components and end-user devices.

Throughout the presentation, Estrada highlighted the depth of telemetry data available through Meraki’s dashboard, such as detailed client device tracking, bandwidth consumption, application usage, and signal metrics. He demonstrated how administrators could troubleshoot individual devices by tracking their data consumption in real time, triangulating their location based on multiple access points, and even analyzing rogue SSIDs. The dashboard’s functionality extended to advanced mobile device management (MDM), which supports monitoring and controlling company-owned devices such as iPads through app installations, usage restrictions, and policy enforcement based on device type or user role. Estrada also covered capabilities around bring-your-own-device (BYOD), showing how automatic policy application ensures network security and bandwidth control without requiring manual intervention.

In the latter parts of the demo, Estrada explored Meraki’s network-wide and site-to-site VPN features, switches, and firewalls, demonstrating how their unified cloud platform manages wired and wireless devices together. He revealed the simplicity of configuring IPsec VPN connections, as well as the ease of distributing firmware updates and network policies. The dashboard’s application-layer traffic analysis tools allowed for bandwidth prioritization of critical applications like VoIP and blocking or throttling of peer-to-peer traffic. The session concluded with examples of Meraki’s use in enterprise and healthcare networks, showing how their scalable infrastructure meets robust management and compliance needs, including support for HotSpot 2.0 and emerging features like IPv6.

CEO Sanjit Biswas talks about founding and developing Meraki

Event: Wireless Field Day 2

Appearance: Meraki Presents at Wireless Field Day 2

Company: Meraki

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Personnel: Sanjit Biswas

Meraki’s journey began at MIT with a project called MIT RoofNet, which aimed to create a rooftop network covering Cambridge, MA. The project was led by Sanjit Biswas and John Dickett, who were PhD students at the time. They built the network from the ground up, including the radio chipsets, firmware, management, and routing protocols. The network, which eventually covered six square miles with 150 nodes, faced numerous challenges such as self-configuration, mesh routing, and dealing with adverse weather conditions. These experiences laid the foundation for Meraki’s future products and solutions.

The transition from an academic project to a commercial enterprise happened somewhat serendipitously. After presenting their research at Google, Biswas was approached by an enthusiastic individual who wanted to purchase $1,000 worth of their routers, even though the product was still in its conceptual stage. This unexpected interest led to the founding of Meraki in 2006. The company initially focused on wireless networking, releasing products that supported various standards like 11N. Over time, Meraki expanded its product line to include branch routing, security appliances, and most recently, gigabit switches. This comprehensive suite of networking products allowed Meraki to serve a wide range of customers, from small businesses to large enterprises.

Meraki’s cloud-based architecture is a key differentiator, enabling scalable and easy-to-manage networks. The architecture allows for real-time management data to be sent to Meraki’s data centers while keeping the actual network traffic local. This design ensures high availability and reliability, even if a local connection is lost. The cloud management system, known as the dashboard, provides network-wide visibility and control, making it easy to deploy and manage large networks. Meraki’s focus on customer experience is evident in their continuous feature updates, usability tests, and robust support system. This customer-centric approach has contributed to Meraki’s rapid growth and success in the networking industry.

EJ Jackson demonstrates Ekahau RTLS in 10 minutes

Event: Wireless Field Day 2

Appearance: Ekahau Presents at Wireless Field Day 2

Company: Ekahau

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Vimeo: EJ Jackson demonstrates Ekahau RTLS in 10 minutes
YouTube: EJ Jackson demonstrates Ekahau RTLS in 10 minutes

Personnel: EJ Jackson

EJ Jackson gave a brief demonstration of Ekahau’s Wi-Fi Real Time Location System (RTLS). RTLS uses Wi-Fi and infrared beacons to locate tags with sub-1 meter accuracy, and integrates with Site Survey and Vision. In his short but detailed presentation at Wireless Field Day 2, EJ Jackson showcased the different components and capabilities of Ekahau’s RTLS solution. The system operates by conducting a thorough calibration process akin to a traditional site survey, during which tags are introduced to collect environmental data for creating a radio frequency (RSSI) model. This data is then used to estimate locations accurately based on wireless signal strengths and can later be refined with infrared (IR) beacons to achieve sub-room accuracy in environments like hospitals or tightly controlled areas.

The Ekahau RTLS solution comprises three key elements: the wireless infrastructure, an RTLS server running advanced location software, and the various types of tags – such as asset, personnel, patient, and even mobile devices. These tags communicate over the network, sometimes in infrastructure mode, which enables more efficient data transfer and significantly extends battery life. EJ demonstrated how zones can be defined, IR beacons associated with specific areas, and how tags can then trigger alerts or messages when entering or exiting zones. The IR data takes precedence over RSSI to enhance location precision, and extensive testing has shown that the IR signals can penetrate multiple layers of standard hospital materials like blankets or clothing, ensuring dependable performance even in cluttered or shielded environments.

The Ekahau system also includes various business logic capabilities for tracking movement through accelerometers, detecting tampering through optical sensors, and even monitoring environmental conditions like temperature and humidity. These features support an array of use cases, from protecting expensive medical equipment from accidental disposal, to monitoring server room conditions without needing complex cabling. In terms of the backend, Ekahau’s RTLS application is fully web-based and accessible across intranets, and there is ongoing work to deepen integration with Cisco’s Mobility Services Engine. Jackson emphasized that while their Site Survey business is robust, RTLS is the fastest-growing and most lucrative segment, highlighting its strategic importance in Ekahau’s overall business.

Jussi Kiviniemi and EJ Jackson present Ekahau’s wireless site survey tools

Event: Wireless Field Day 2

Appearance: Ekahau Presents at Wireless Field Day 2

Company: Ekahau

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Personnel: EJ Jackson, Jussi Kiviniemi

Jussi and EJ demonstrated Ekahau’s wireless LAN tools, with an overview of Ekahau Site Survey capacity planning. Jussi also reveals the Mobile Survey application on Android. EJ demonstrated how to use Ekahau Site Survey and took questions from the audience.

During the session, the Ekahau team gave an in-depth look at the evolution, functionality, and use cases of the Ekahau Site Survey product line. They provided contextual history about how the product grew from a calibration tool for RTLS to a full-fledged Wi-Fi site survey and planning system. The presentation included comparisons to competitive tools like AirMagnet and AirScout, and the participants gave feedback based on extensive hands-on experience in the field. The presenters also showcased the product’s ability to perform planning, active and passive surveys, capacity analysis, and addressed considerations for overlapping and high-density environments, such as multi-floor interference or BYOD impacts.

A major focus was also placed on the newly launched Mobile Survey app for Android, which highlighted a lighter, more portable way to perform onsite troubleshooting and lightweight surveys. This version enabled real-time analysis, active/passive testing from client devices, and even background monitoring features. The app’s ability to reflect end-user experiences—especially by surveying with the actual client devices in use—was emphasized as a powerful advantage. The audience participated actively, posing advanced technical questions about features such as beamforming implications on passive scanning, data merging across surveyors, 802.1X integration, and AP-on-a-stick support. The session highlighted Ekahau’s commitment to usability, scale, and depth in both their software and support for mobile platforms.

Ryan Woodings demonstrates MetaGeek Sputnik, Eye PA, and other cool stuff

Event: Wireless Field Day 2

Appearance: MetaGeek Presents at Wireless Field Day 2

Company: MetaGeek

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Personnel: Ryan Woodings

Ryan Woodings demonstrates MetaGeek Sputnik, Eye PA, and other cool stuff at Wireless Field Day 2.

During his presentation at Wireless Field Day 2, Ryan Woodings introduced Sputnik, a prototype Wi-Fi analysis device by MetaGeek that integrates 802.11n radios, a Wi-Spy DBx spectrum analyzer, a Marvell-based Linux computer, and multiple USB ports. Designed for deployment in campus or remote environments, Sputnik features Power over Ethernet (PoE) and the ability for remote data capture and retrieval. Emphasis was placed on future possibilities such as 4G backhaul support and onboard data recording using SD cards or USB storage. Sputnik’s flexible architecture was showcased in novel ways, including a “pirate box” configuration capable of broadcasting SSIDs while serving spectrum data to nearby clients. The team also demoed Android and iPad apps using the Wi-Spy hardware, showing real-time spectrum data visualization on tablets.

The main spotlight of the session was on Eye PA, MetaGeek’s new packet analysis tool designed to bridge the gap between spectrum analysis and deep-layer packet inspection. Eye PA was created from scratch by MetaGeek’s team, starting from visual design concepts influenced by tools like Daisy Disk. The result is a multilayered circular chart dubbed “tree pie” that visualizes PCAP data by bytes, airtime, and packet count. This intuitive UI lets users drill into access points, clients, and individual frame types, with color-coded visuals indicating data rate, MAC management activity, retry rates, and QoS presence. Demonstrations included real PCAP files showing performance issues like excessive PS-Poll frames at low data rates and high retry rates, providing actionable insights into network performance often obscured in raw packet data.

Eye PA was praised by attendees for its ability to clearly differentiate between legacy and high-speed clients, visualize protocol behavior, and potentially help sell modern infrastructure by exposing airtime hogs. MetaGeek planned to release Eye PA within three weeks of the presentation, priced at $499, with private beta access available. They encouraged feedback from the audience to shape product features such as reporting, remote packet capture integration, and customizable visualization views. The presentation ended with enthusiasm from the audience, acknowledgements of Eye PA’s market potential, and informal sharing of beer labeled “IPA,” matching the product’s name and playful internal naming convention.

Trent Cutler of MetaGeek demonstrates Wi-Spy at WFD2

Event: Wireless Field Day 2

Appearance: MetaGeek Presents at Wireless Field Day 2

Company: MetaGeek

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Personnel: Ryan Woodings, Trent Cutler

Ryan Woodings introduces the history of MetaGeek, and Trent Cutler demonstrates the latest developments in their wireless capture product line.

At Wireless Field Day 2, Ryan Woodings opened the presentation by sharing the origin story of MetaGeek and the development of its first Wi-Spy product in 2005. Originally a hobbyist project during his time at a large corporation, Wi-Spy became the foundation of MetaGeek as a self-funded company. The company has since experienced significant growth, moving into a new Boise office and expanding to 21 employees. MetaGeek’s product line has evolved substantially, offering much more advanced and user-friendly software than its early days. Ryan introduced Trent Cutler, who oversees tech support and customer education, to walk through the live demonstrations of MetaGeek’s tools.

Trent showcased the redesigned Insider network scanning software, highlighting new filtering options for SSIDs, channels, and security types, greatly enhancing usability in dense Wi-Fi environments like New York City. He also discussed plans for expanding to macOS and Android platforms, acknowledging the demand for broader compatibility. The main focus then shifted to their Channelizer software, populated in real time with wireless activity as attendees joined the room. Channelizer’s new color-by-utilization feature offers improved visualizations of spectrum usage, replacing the term “duty cycle” for clarity. Users can tune their threshold levels and even analyze the performance over specific time windows. The software’s historical capture and playback capabilities were also showcased, enabling users to review past spectrum data alongside current activity and compare between different hardware configurations.

The presentation wrapped up with demonstrations of real-world case studies involving wireless interference from baby monitors, Sonos devices, and professional audio equipment, underscoring the importance of spectrum analysis in identifying and resolving performance issues. Visualizations enabled attendees to see how these interference sources occupied significant portions of the spectrum, often unnoticed by traditional surveys. The team also introduced their directional antenna and device finder tool, which uses amplitude-based tracking to locate high-utilization signals. Though less applicable to packet-based Wi-Fi identification, this approach proves effective in tracing persistent interference sources. The session concluded with interactive lab time, allowing attendees hands-on experience with the tools and techniques discussed.

Aerohive demos at Wireless Field Day 2

Event: Wireless Field Day 2

Appearance: Aerohive Presents at Wireless Field Day 2

Company: Aerohive

Video Links:

Vimeo: Aerohive demos at Wireless Field Day 2
YouTube: Aerohive demos at Wireless Field Day 2

Personnel: Paul Levasseur

Aerohive’s Paul Levasseur demonstrates Secure Guest Access, Branch on Demand, and “Value on Demand”, configuring the BR100 branch routers on the fly.

During the Wireless Field Day 2 presentation, Paul Levasseur detailed several of Aerohive’s innovative features, beginning with Secure Guest Access. This approach aimed to improve security and reduce reliance on open networks by allowing guests to self-register through a captive web portal and receive private pre-shared keys (PSKs). The network could dynamically assign access credentials based on guest information, with policies further set up according to user profiles and device types. Aerohive also showcased a network-based mobile device management (MDM) approach where policies are applied at the access point level, leveraging user agents and domain logins to control network behavior based on device type or user identity.

Levasseur next demonstrated the Branch on Demand solution, using BR100 routers that can be rapidly deployed across branch sites. These devices come pre-registered with Aerohive’s redirector service, enabling them to auto-configure and find the correct HiveManager regardless of location. Aerohive’s routers support LTE connections for primary or backup access and can switch autonomously in the event of a WAN failure. These routers also act as firewalls, NAT devices, DHCP servers, and local RADIUS servers, integrating easily with external web security solutions like WebSense and Barracuda. The system allows centralized policy creation, including SLAs, user-based whitelisting, and dynamic route provisioning without requiring traditional routing protocol overhead.

Aerohive’s demo culminated in a live, from-scratch setup of a fully functioning corporate router and wireless environment on 14 sites using an iPad. Within 15 minutes, Levasseur configured IPsec VPNs, dynamic routing (OSPF), multi-level user access, web filtering integration, and more. Audience members participated in hands-on tests using private PSKs and self-registration portals. The GUI-driven HiveManager Pro interface allowed seamless management across wireless and wired ports. Emphasizing simplicity and scale, Aerohive presented a compelling case for its distributed, controllerless architecture as a robust and efficient alternative to traditional wireless solutions.

Aerohive at WFD2 Part 1: Devin Akin, Matthew Gast, Founders

Event: Wireless Field Day 2

Appearance: Aerohive Presents at Wireless Field Day 2

Company: Aerohive

Video Links:

Personnel: Devin Akin, Matthew Gast

Devin Akin introduces the company and panel content, then Matthew Gast walks through his vision for Wi-Fi. Next up is Aerohive founder and CTO, Changming Liu. Finally, Abby Hassel Strong presents a review of Aerohive’s progress in 2011 and gives a special gift to Chris Lyttle.

At Wireless Field Day 2, Aerohive showcases their latest innovations by highlighting the evolution of wireless technology and their unique architectural approach. Their presentation covers the company’s direction, developments from the past year, and insight into the future of gigabit wireless networks, especially in relation to 802.11ac. Key executives, including Devin Akin, Matthew Gast, and company founder Chia-Ming Liu, discuss the technical progress and strategic vision driving Aerohive’s distributed controller-less architecture forward.

During the presentation, Matthew Gast delves into both the technical progression of the wireless industry and challenges that new standards bring. He cleverly compares traditional wireless controllers to dinosaurs—relics of the past—as 802.11ac and beamforming technologies reshape the landscape. Gast explains critical limitations in existing security protocols such as CCMP and suggests GCMP as a necessary evolution due to higher data rates and the need for parallel encryption. He emphasizes the importance of having up-to-date hardware capable of meeting the advancing specifications. Additionally, he discusses the complexities of 256 QAM modulation, the need for clean radio design, and improvements in performance through features like multi-user beamforming.

Founder Chia-Ming Liu reflects on the vision behind Aerohive’s architecture, conceived to handle gigabit Wi-Fi well before 802.11ac formally arrived. Inspired by a 2005 IEEE demo of fast wireless speeds, Liu deliberately steered away from centralized controller-based designs, opting instead for a distributed model similar to Ethernet’s evolution. Acknowledging the technical challenges posed by distributed architecture, particularly with roaming and RF management, he credits his engineering team for overcoming these hurdles. Wrapping up the session, Aerohive discusses their 2011 product launches, such as the BR100 branch router, Cloud VPN gateway, new access points, and enhanced management software, along with support for features like rogue mitigation, spectrum analysis via iPad, and student management integrations.

Ash Ashutosh Introduces Actifio at TFD4

Ron Bianchini of Avere Talks About TFD4

Craig Thompson of Aprius Talks About TFD4

Joshua Konkle Discusses NetApp Object Storage

Val Bercovici Discusses the NetApp TFD4 Agenda

David Stiff and Wilson So demonstrate 802.11u at Ruckus Wireless

Victor Shtrom talks about Ruckus Wireless’ beamforming and antennas

Rob Haviland continues his discussion of the HP Wi-Fi product line

Rob Haviland introduces HP’s wireless product line

Virtual Controller technology and RF management Q&A with Pradeep Iyer of Aruba Networks

Carlos Gomez and Cameron Esdaile demonstrate Aruba’s security and policy controls

Keerti Melkote of Aruba Networks suggests wireless as a primary network strategy

Live demonstrations of Meraki Wi-Fi gear with Pablo Estrada

CEO Sanjit Biswas talks about founding and developing Meraki

EJ Jackson demonstrates Ekahau RTLS in 10 minutes

Jussi Kiviniemi and EJ Jackson present Ekahau’s wireless site survey tools

Ryan Woodings demonstrates MetaGeek Sputnik, Eye PA, and other cool stuff

Trent Cutler of MetaGeek demonstrates Wi-Spy at WFD2

Aerohive demos at Wireless Field Day 2

Aerohive at WFD2 Part 1: Devin Akin, Matthew Gast, Founders

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