Aerohive updates its 802.11n WLAN software

Aerohive Networks this week released new wireless LAN software, with new mobile device management and spectrum analysis features.

The changes are being rolled out in the version 4

The changes are being rolled out in the version 4.0 release of HiveOS, for the company's 802.11n Wi-Fi access points, and of HiveManager, its network management applications. Aerohive, based in Sunnyvale, Calif., is unparalleled among WLAN vendors, creating intelligent access points that share information and functions as a general rule done by separate wireless controllers.

Aerohive is as well offering a kind of "service provider" network, adding to capabilities based on its Pareto Networks acquisition announced early in 2011: a cloud offering that its resellers can use to demo, evaluate and deploy Aerohive access points to enterprise clients. Resellers can as well use the cloud service to offer managed services to their own end-clients.

The 4.0 software release expands guess access capabilities, especially with regard to mobile devices with Wi-Fi radios, just as smartphones and tablets. Now, guests can use a Web browser and the HiveAP Web portal to register for Wi-Fi access, and receive Aerohive's in a class by itself pre-shared key.

Aerohive executives say the new features eliminate the need for separate stand-alone management applications, of which there are many including products from Good Innovation, Mobile Iron, Sybase, Zenprise and other vendors. Nevertheless many of those products offer features not found in the Aerohive software, including application and device provisioning features. 

- Individual radios in the HiveAP now can run as an access radio for customers and as a backhaul radio linking to other HiveAPs to form a mesh network.