Ruckus simplifies Wi-Fi networks optimization to empower mobile devices

The proliferation of mobile devices within organizations of all types is creating new performance and management challenges for IT administrators. But network infrastructure services and devices, such as printers, projectors, digital media receivers and file servers, are becoming mobile with the integration of Wi-Fi - and users are armed with multiple Wi-Fi enabled devices that are much more mobile in nature compared to traditional laptops.

"We are excited and eager to push new technologies and feature-set that address end-user demands," said Nader Baghdadi, Middle East Regional Sales Director. "Now with SmartWay we have a great bridge into Apple Bonjour service - and adding BeamFlex+ feature to the mix will make user's Wi-Fi life even easier."

Real Problems that Need Smarter Answers

New mobile devices such as Apple iPhones, iPads and AppleTV operating on Wi-Fi networks can generate large volumes of traffic as these multicast protocols constantly advertise the availability of the devices. This broadcast traffic is transmitted at lower speeds and spills across the entire wireless local area network (WLAN), slowing down the performance and capacity of WLANs.

With the typical use of mobile devices, users don't always hold them perfectly vertical or horizontal. Consequently, Wi-Fi signals are transmitted and received improperly. This causes a signal imbalance between the communication of Wi-Fi access points (APs) and client devices, resulting in the degradation of Wi-Fi performance. The new Ruckus SmartWay and BeamFlex+ technologies were specifically developed to solve these problems.

Introducing SmartWay:

• Ruckus SmartWay is a new Smart Wi-Fi software technology that not only simplifies the administration and optimization of service discovery traffic, such as Apple Bonjour and UPnP protocols over Smart Wi-Fi networks, it also supports advanced facilities to restrict or "fence" these services to a given access point, group of access points or a particular geographic area.

• Ideally suited for K-12 and higher education environments, SmartWay helps organizations enable users with Apple devices to exploit other resources on their networks. For example, SmartWay makes Apple Bonjour services such as AirPrint, AirPlay, and the Apple Filing Protocol (AFP) used in wireless printers and multimedia devices usable and controllable across subnets.

• Without SmartWay, a teacher for instance can use AirPlay to transmit from an iPad to the Apple TV in the classroom only if both devices are on the same subnet. But now, with SmartWay support for Bonjour, the teacher can access any AppleTV as well as have any student transmit from their iPad (on the student Wi-Fi network) to the Apple TV (on a different Wi-Fi network).

Introducing BeamFlex+:

• Another Smart Wi-Fi innovation, Ruckus BeamFlex+ adds essential technology to Ruckus-patented BeamFlex adaptive antenna arrays. BeamFlex+ is "polarization-agnostic" and automatically adjusts to deliver the best performance, regardless of the way in which client devices are sending Wi-Fi signals.

• As mobile devices change their orientation, BeamFlex+ enables Ruckus access points to ensure the highest possible throughput. Simply altering the orientation of a mobile device or the angle of a laptop can cause dramatic changes in Wi-Fi performance and reliable connectivity. Traditional access points typically don't have the ability to optimize or adapt to these types of changes within new, mobile device-rich Wi-Fi environments.

• BeamFlex+ has the unique ability to control the shape of Wi-Fi signals to increase the probability that multiple data streams can be effectively combined within a given environment, improving Wi-Fi performance.

The software is currently available for purchase.