Welcome to Chantry Networks



		By Deborah Mendez-Wilson Untethered Utopia "We now live in a world where the Internet is always on and always available," Schuldhaus says. "A new breed of location-based tools is emerging that provides connected people with knowledge of services, products and resources that are most convenient to their current location." Wireless Network Connects Attendees “The race is on for top convention centers and other venues to provide wireless access,” says Chris Taylor, MTCC’s telecommunications manager. “Wireless coverage is the latest must-have event amenity. More than four years ago, we began to view data network services as a new revenue opportunity. With the addition of a wireless network supporting both data and voice, it won’t be long before the wireless network services will not only add revenue but eventually become the top product.” “We wanted to ensure that we could fully leverage our past investments while easily expanding the network’s wireless capabilities,” Taylor says. “In short, we needed a wireless system with a low total cost of ownership and one that wouldn’t require a new switch to be deployed in each closet.” After reviewing all the options, the MTCC team chose the HiPath Wireless set of solutions from Chantry Networks, an affiliate of Siemens Communications. The solution, because it is built on open, industry standards, enabled MTCC to keep and leverage its existing infrastructure of wired LANs. Designed with Layer 3 overlay architecture, the solution also enabled MTCC to structure a centralized management system to control access points, security and user-based policy rules. This gave MTCC the advantage of setting up separate subnets and, at the same time, providing each user group with specific security policies and access privileges–all across the same wireless LAN. by Eric Zeman Making the Dean's List Home to 1,000 of Cornell’s 20,000 students, the Johnson Graduate School of Management knew it had to provide wireless access to its MBA students and faculty. Baradet explains, “Students don’t want to carry wires, whether they be power or Ethernet cables. When 802.11g and 11a came out, we knew we needed to blanket the building. We brought in 10 or 12 Chantry Networks [access points] on a test basis for a year to identify the bottlenecks, fix bugs and tweak the software authentication on the backend.” by Elena Malykhina Shopping Mall Boasts Massive Wi-Fi Network Aug. 1, 2005 West Edmonton Mall features more than 800 stores, 110 eating establishments, and an indoor amusement park with a tropical rain forest, bungee jumping, and a water park. Many visitors stay in the mall's Fantasyland hotel. The entire property is served by a Siemens Communications Inc.-based network, including 55 hot-spot access points, that the mall calls Wemisphere. Mall visitors aren't just riding roller coasters and buying clothes. About 2,000 visitors use Wemisphere, deployed seven months ago, to access the Internet, says Joe Schuldhaus, VP of information technology at West Edmonton. "We're giving people convenience where they want it and when they want it," he says. by Elizabeth Millard The World of Wireless It's not just students and teachers who could benefit from wireless in the future. Administrators will also find creative ways to do their tasks, says Racca. Chantry Networks (acquired by Siemens in January 2005) has been working with the Adams 12 Five Star School District in Colorado to implement point-of-sale units in the cafeteria. The district will give each student a "debit card" that has information about them and is hooked up to an accounting system for billing to parents. Instead of fumbling for money or lunch tickets, students will be able to swipe the card through a handheld reader. The funds will either be deducted from an account that's been prepaid by parents, or a bill can be sent home periodically. by Efrain Viscarolasaga After acquisition, Chantry powers Siemens wireless Tom Racca, vice president of marketing at Siemens and former executive at Chantry acknowledges that the new LifeWorks approach is different from the “add-on” approach that many enterprises are using now. But, he said, the upgrade is what customers have been asking for. “People have deployed earlier generation wireless networks, but they are finding that those infrastructures need to be replaced.” Mathias makes a similar point, indicating that most end users do not want to be network managers. An all-encompassing platform would take them out of that role and put it in the hands of the provider, in this case Siemens, he said. by Kurt Mackie Siemens Unveils WLAN Management Platform A HiPath Wireless Controller automatically provisions the right levels of access and quality of service to manage roaming across networks. While the platform works over any data network, it incorporates innovations that Siemens acquired from Chantry Networks Corp., a provider of wireless LAN equipment for enterprise environments. Ralph Riley, US group manager, product marketing, at Siemens Communications said that the most critical aspect that Chantry added to the HiPath Wireless solution was Chantry's virtualization technology. In addition to the new HiPath Wireless platform, Siemens unveiled a family of Wi-Fi telephones. by Matt Hamblen Sidebar: Wi-Fi, SIP in Spotlight During Interop Rollouts The new HiPath Wireless system is based on technology developed by Chantry Networks Inc., a Waltham, Mass.-based company that Siemens acquired in January. Connor Brosnahan, network manager at South Nassau Communities Hospital Inc. in Oceanside, N.Y., bought a Chantry system consisting of two controllers and 120 wireless access points a year ago. The hospital offers Wi-Fi services to visitors on a separate channel from the one used by its employees, who do a variety of jobs on wireless-enabled tablet PCs and will eventually be given voice-over-Wi-Fi capabilities, Brosnahan said. Siemens releases WLAN portfolio targeting enterprises Siemens Communications announced its new HiPath Wireless portfolio, which it plans to showcase this week at the NetWorld+Interop 2005 conference in Las Vegas. Tom Racca, vice president of marketing at Siemens, said all existing Chantry customers can receive a free upgrade to the new HiPath system. Concurrently, Siemens announced its new optiPoint WL2 professional line of 802.11 WLAN telephones designed for both enterprise and Wi-Fi home use. Siemens Launches HiPath Wireless LAN Solution Siemens' Layer 3 overlay architecture provides for centralized management and coordination of access points, security and user-based policy rules. Rapid subnet roaming supports real-time applications like VoIP without the need for re-authentication and re-keying as a user roams. Virtual wireless subnets are also part of the HiPath Wireless system's architecture, enabling enterprises to dynamically create user access policies for different campus locations and for different classes of users or applications. The HiPath Wireless Controller automatically provisions the right levels of access and quality of service for roaming users. Siemens To Unveil Enterprise WLAN Equipment Siemens said Thursday it will unveil a line of enterprise-class WLAN management and security hardware and software at next week's Network+Interop 2005 conference. The roll-out of its HiPath line of products leverages Siemens' acquisition of startup WLAN equipment vendor Chantry Networks. The company said the equipment will enable centralized deployment and management of enterprise wireless LANs. It also will work with existing wired networks and voice-over-IP infrastructures. by Carmen Nobel WLAN Voice Support Grows Siemens will share plans for the assets gained in January's acquisition of Chantry Networks Inc. Initially Siemens has simply rebranded Chantry's BeaconWorks line of WLAN controllers, access points and management software. The products will be known as HiPath Wireless Mobility Solutions. At Interop, Siemens will launch a line of professional services around HiPath that include site surveys, network assessment, systems integration and design, and security planning, as well as a variety of life-cycle services, said officials at the Boca Raton, Fla., company. by John Cox Interop: New wireless LAN hardware options abound Siemens Communications, Boca Raton, Fla., will showcase its WLAN switches and thin access points, labeled HiPath Wireless, for the first time. Siemens last year acquired part of the assets of WLAN switch start-up Chantry Networks, and these products are the basis of the HiPath line. HiPath is an umbrella label that also covers Siemens wireline data networking and voice-over-IP products aimed at the enterprise. Siemens is also introducing the OptiPoint WL2 Professional, a WLAN phone that can run on any WLAN that supports Session Initiation Protocol. About the size of a standard cell phone, the new OptiPoint is priced at $495 per handset, with charger, includes a color screen, soft keys, and can access user data in LDAP-based corporate directories. The message-waiting light alerts users to messages on corporate voice mail systems. The phone can work on both 802.11b and 11g WLANs, and will ship in August. Since acquiring the Chantry assets, Siemens has revamped and expanded its portfolio of WLAN design, tech support, help desk, and remote diagnostic and monitoring services for enterprise users. by Eric Griffith Siemens WLAN Switch Focuses on Voice The Chantry wireless switch equipment, formerly known as BeaconMaster, is being rebranded as part of the Siemens HiPath Wireless portfolio, says Tom Racca, vice president of marketing: "HiPath is our comprehensive WLAN solution... it's for converged voice and data," he says. To accompany the new HiPath, Siemens is introducing a family of Wi-Fi-based phone handsets—among the first in the industry to support native 802.11g—called the optiPoint WL2 line. The phones will feature 128x128 pixel color screens, polyphonic ringtones, interfaces for both LAN and USB, and the usual phone needs like speed dialing, speakerphones, and caller ID. The phones will link into existing enterprise LDAP directories and use them to make internal calls. by John Dix Interop: Same topics, new twists Despite the achievement - a compelling example of what SIP can do - convergence vendors at the conference seemed more interested in talking about VoIP over Wi-Fi. Siemens, for example, rolled out HiPath Wireless, a family of wireless LAN products based on its acquisition of Chantry Networks, that it is positioning as ideal for both voice and data. As part of that announcement Siemens also showed a slick, well-designed Wi-Fi phone called OptiPoint that will be available in August for $495. The SIP-based phone apparently will work on any 802.11 infrastructure. Siemens Unveils New WLAN Family Siemens announced its HiPath Wireless portfolio, a centrally deployable 802.11 WLAN system that works in any enterprise environment and on any existing data network or VoIP infrastructure. The solution is supported by a new line of HiPath service offerings and incorporates know-how from Chantry Networks, acquired by Siemens in January. By Kristen Beckman Wireless becoming as common as chalk in classroom "I was surprised to find out we had a good 100 access points already installed when we really got serious about standardizing," said Scott Friberg, manager of network and PC services for the Adams 12 Five- Star School District in Colorado. The district includes four high schools, 10 middle schools and 35 elementary schools as well as other facilities serving more than 36,000 students. The district recently deployed Chantry Networks' BeaconWorks enterprise-class wireless local area network router. In addition to providing mobile connectivity, the district focused first on a point-of-sale application that provides a debit-like service for the schools' cafeterias. by Fred Hapgood Voice of Reason This article on VoIP highlights the WLAN deployment of Chantry customer, the Bernalillo County Metro Court. The Metro Court implemented Chantry's WLAN solution for voice and data. From the March 2005 Issue of Communications News A Wireless Network for CTIA CTIA holds several conventions, including CTIA Wireless I.T. & Entertainment, which focuses on integrating wireless technologies into the enterprise and vertical business markets, such as healthcare, government, automotive and retail. CTIA wanted to not only provide free wireless access for attendees of its fall conference, but also wanted to showcase leading-edge technology to potential adopters. To this end, CTIA approached leading vendors in the wireless space: AirMagnet for wireless intrusion protection; Chantry Networks for a wireless LAN infrastructure to manage both voice and data calls; PowerDsine for power over Ethernet; and SpectraLink for hand-held phones for voice over Internet protocol (VoIP). by Bob Brewin Washington ferry goes wireless Mobilisa uses a Chantry Networks Wi-Fi switch installed at its headquarters in Port Townsend to control all the Wi-Fi access points on the boats, Ludlow said. The boat access points provide service under the 802.11a and 802.11b standards. by Patrick Mannion Siemens acquires WLAN switch vendor Chantry Networks "In the growth area of WLAN, we will also now be able to offer our customers future-oriented solutions," Andy Mattes, a member of the Group Board of Siemens Communications, said in a statement. "With the Chantry team and its BeaconWorks product line we have found just the right partner to optimally supplement our portfolio with wireless voice-data convergence." by Eric B. Parizo News Editor Siemens to Acquire Chantry Networks Michael Disabado, senior analyst with Midvale, Utah-based research firm Burton Group, said Chantry's customers have reason to be optimistic. With the WLAN management market likely entering a consolidation phase, Siemens' backing ensures that Chantry's technology will be carried forward. by Jessica Jones Wireless Crossing To improve the ride for the more than 75,000 Puget Sound residents commuting to work or school via ferries during the week, the WSF worked with Mobilisa and Chantry Networks to implement and test the Wireless Over Water (WOW) system, said Jim Long, director of information technology for the WSF. by Gary Krakow A new twist on unwired calls SpectraLink, AirMagnet and Chantry Networks are providing free WiFi and VoIP services for everyone attending CTIA. More importantly, they demonstrated how a VoWiFi phone could connect to a hotel’s wireless network to reach a VoIP modem on another network via the Internet. Finally that other network completed the call. Mt. Allison Uni Picks Chantry Mount Allison University required a wireless solution that could be centrally managed and allow for minimal labor expertise and expense for adding new access points. With BeaconWorks, Mount Allison has a central console for managing all BeaconMasters(TM) (routers) and BeaconPoints(TM) (access points). The management features also include the ability to upgrade these components through the central console. VNSWorks provides a Captive Portal feature, making it easier for the University to manage and administer various subnets. by Julio Ojeda-Zapata Tech trend: Mobile 'hot spots' push limits Wireless Internet services have turned up on mopeds in Third World countries thanks to Massachusetts-based First Mile Solutions; on California and Canadian passenger trains courtesy of Ottawa, Ontario-based PointShot Wireless; on the massive ferry system serving Washington state and British Columbia thanks to Massachusetts-based Chantry Networks; and on commercial airliners courtesy of Tenzing and Connexion by Boeing. Chantry Networks raises $6M from Siemens Waltham-based Chantry Networks Inc. has sold a $6 million equity stake to the venture capital arm of Siemens AG. by Rachel Nielson “Chantry Attaches Another $6M To Series B, Putting Total For Round at $17 M” The additional funding came from Siemens Venture Capital, the corporate venture arm of Siemens AG, the German engineering company. An investment partner with Siemens Venture, Louis Rajczi, has joined Chantry's board. by Susan Rush Siemens Invests In Chantry Networks Chantry Networks has raised $17 million in its latest round of equity financing, with Siemens Venture Capital investing in the company for the first time. As part of the deal, Chantry has named Louis Rajczi, a Siemens investment partner, to its board of directors. by Jeff Miller Siemens adds $6M to Chantry Networks’ VC coffers Thanks to Siemens Venture Capital, Chantry Networks Inc., a Waltham-based company that makes a router-based wi-fi system for large organizations, has added an additional $6 million to the $11 million B-round it closed earlier this year. Asked whether the investment signaled an OEM agreement with Siemens, Chantry chief executive Peter Vicars declined to comment, though he did say that OEM partnerships are an important part of his company’s strategy. by Heather H. Havenstein 5 Wireless Mistakes to Avoid "To prepare for voice over IP, administrators must incorporate support for seamless roaming among access points to avoid jitter and latency delays, said Luc Roy, Chantry Networks' senior director of product management. In addition, officials should consider radios that support both 802.11a for voice and 802.11b for data. Users may be equipped with only 802.11b if voice over IP is not factored into early WLAN planning." by Frances Grigsby Is offshoring a smart financial move? Peter Vicars, CEO of Chantry Networks, says, “We must evaluate how to gain the best advantage in our global economy. Resources you leverage offshore can create jobs and competitive advantage back home.” by Jeff Miller Watch City Watches WLAN Grow Up Waltham is home to three enterprise WLAN startups, and each has taken a different architectural approach. Chantry Networks, the third Waltham WLAN company, is advocating a routed approach. The advantage to using a WLAN router, said Chantry’s vice president of marketing Tom Racca, is that users can maintain an IP address between APs as they roam and that one can easily manage the WLAN from a central point. As long as the two offices are connected to the same Intranet, a manager in Boise, Idaho, could add to her network access points that are managed by a WLAN router in Boston. The company’s initial customers include the six-acre campus of the Toronto Convention Center and Cornell University, whose network spans 400 buildings. Chantry expects to make further customer announcements soon, Racca said. “We’ve been doing pretty well with customer traction,” Racca said. “We got a little slower out of the gate, but we were the first to build an IP-routed solution, and it’s more difficult to build a layer 3 approach.” by William Jackson Jurors get wireless reach outside N.M. courthouse The first phase of wireless networking focused on the jurors, who use it in the assembly room and need less security because they access only the Internet rather than the county’s network. “We orient 100 jurors every week,” Roybal said. “There’s a lot of downtime for them. We decided it would be a public service to let them bring their laptops and get out to the Web.” The county chose a BeaconWorks system from Chantry Networks Inc. of Waltham, Mass., which supports IEEE 802.11a, b and g WiFi. BeaconWorks had enough security and redundancy as well as Layer 3 connectivity, which allows seamless roaming throughout the courthouse. It also provides for quality-of-service levels so that applications such as voice can be prioritized. by Kevin Baradet Cornell University Unplugged Although Cornell had the foresight to predict this surge in wireless network traffic, many large universities face significant challenges with the deployment of wireless networks—including scalability, manageability, security, and the impracticality of placing wireless switches in every wiring closet on campus—a daunting task for roll-out and maintenance. Cornell University opted for a better system—routed wireless networking. After intensive testing of several wireless technologies, The Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University deployed Chantry Networks’ BeaconWorks wireless LAN system in early 2003. The goal of Cornell’s next-generation WLAN deployment was to meet the unique requirements of different wireless user groups; implement a fully integrated network infrastructure that can be centrally managed; lower the cost of ownership and network management; lower the administrative overhead and headaches a switched wireless system can create; and provide greater wireless coverage across campus. by Ed Sutherland Wi-Fi Makes Waves on Washington Ferries Wi-Fi gear developer Chantry Networks and wireless integrator Mobilisa partnered to bring mobile access to some of the most heavily used ferry routes in the state. Available to passengers using PDAs and laptop computers, the system uses 802.11 radios from Proxim, along with BeaconWorks routers and BeaconPoint APs from Chantry, to create a "mobile hotspot," according to Tom Racca, vice president of marketing at Chantry. "Chantry's BeaconWorks was the only solution available that could service the large number of users, address the need for seamless roaming in complex conditions, make it easy for the passengers to use the system, and provide a simple way to administer the system," said Dr. Nelson Ludlow, CEO of Mobilisa. by Robert Hoskins Wi-Fi Solve Productivity Issues of Prospective Jurors “Our BeaconWorks implementation has helped make Metro Court a shining example of what the future will look like for courthouses around the country,” said Paul Roybal, Chief Information Officer of the State of New Mexico Bernanillo County Metropolitan Court. “Not only have we found a way to strongly mitigate America’s frustration with lost productivity associated with the wait to be selected for jury duty, but we’ve enhanced the building’s security and increased the effectiveness of judges, lawyers and visitors inside the building as well.” by Bob Brewin Washington State Ferries expands ferryboat Wi-Fi service; it expects to offer wireless service on Seattle routes this fall Mobilisa has also outfitted the ferry docks with Wi-Fi BeaconPoints, allowing passengers to use the service while waiting for a boat. The Port Townsend access point also covers restaurants near the ferry dock, Ludlow said. The BeaconPoints are hooked into Chantry's BeaconMaster wireless switch, which allows Mobilisa to control all the BeaconPoints on all the boats from the Mobilisa network operations center in Port Townsend. by Loring Wirbel EE Times WLAN systems to be used in ferry wireless network Mobilisa Inc., a wireless consulting and service company working with both military and civilian customers, has chosen Chantry Networks Inc.'s BeaconWorks network as the basis for a wireless network to be used by the Washington State Ferry System. The network is being implemented in an onboard test network, and in networks in three ferry lines covering a region stretching from Puget Sound to the Canadian border. by Jeff Caruso WLANs get their day in court Chantry Networks this week revealed that the Metropolitan Court of Bernalillo County, N.M., has installed the company’s BeaconWorks WLAN equipment throughout the 10-story courthouse. Chantry points out that security was an important part of the deployment, with reliable authentication needed for everyone using the network, regardless of operating system. The company offers a portal that authenticates users through a Web page. by Ed Sutherland Taking Wi-Fi to Court Chantry Networks and SpectraLink (Quote, Chart) are joining forces to provide "a shining example of what the future will look like for courthouses around the country," according to Paul Roybal, CIO of the State of New Mexico Bernanillo County Metropolitan Court. Not only have we found a way to strongly mitigate America's frustration with lost productivity associated with the wait to be selected for jury duty, but we've enhanced the building's security and increased the effectiveness of judges, lawyers and visitors inside the building as well," said Roybal. Chantry Networks sets up N.M. courthouse with wi-fi system "As the first Layer 3 WLAN, BeaconWorks was engineered to serve as the foundation for highly available voice over wireless phones, tight security and simple centralized management," said Peter Vicars, president and CEO of Chantry Networks, in a statement. "Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court is a tremendously forward-thinking implementation that will take advantage of all of these features, and Chantry Networks is proud to help make it one of the most innovative courthouses in the entire legal system." by Bob Brewin N.M. courthouse, Calif. city pushing Wi-Fi networks Jim McMillan, principle court technology consultant for the National Center for State Courts, in Williamsburg, Va., called Bernalillo a pioneer in the use of Wi-Fi in courts, especially with its use of Wi-Fi VoIP phones. "That's a first," McMillan said, referring to the VoIP phones. He said the Bernalillo courthouse "has to be one of the first" in the country to offer free Wi-Fi service for jurors. Paul Roybal, CIO of the Metropolitan Court in Bernalillo County, which encompasses greater Albuquerque, said the court has just kicked off the second phase of a $150,000 Wi-Fi deployment that will provide both Wi-Fi VoIP and data services throughout the 10-story courthouse. The network hardware includes two BeaconMaster Layer 3 routers and, once complete, will include 65 BeaconPoint 802.11a/b/g access points from Chantry Networks Inc. in Waltham, Mass., Roybal said. June 15, 2004 John P. Mello, Jr. Experts Question Wi-Fi Revenue Models The hot spots are a premium service used to attract customers to their sponsors' locations, explained Roberta Wiggins, an analyst with the Yankee Group in Boston. "At this point, the main money is the hotel being able to sell additional hotel rooms; the coffee shop being able to attract more customers and selling more coffee," she told TechNewsWorld. That's also been the experience of Chantry Networks, an infrastructure builder for wireless LANs based in Waltham, Massachusetts. "All the companies that we've talked to about hot spots already have some kind of streaming revenue," senior director of product management Luc Roy told TechNewsWorld. Chantry Networks and SpectraLink Demonstrate Voice Over Wireless Interoperability with Mitel Networks' 3300 Integrated Communications Platform "Voice over wireless IP will not only provide clear customer benefits, but will also open new revenue streams for telecommunications reseller and partners," said Tom Racca, vice president of marketing, Chantry Networks. "The combination of Chantry, SpectraLink and Mitel is a powerful approach to not only solving customers' requirements, but exceeding them. Voice over wireless IP has some significant technology demands that are only addressed by the solution we are showcasing this week." Chantry was recently recognized as the "Best of Show" award recipient for "Voice over IP Infrastructure" at last week's Wi-Fi Planet Conference & Expo. The award was given to Chantry as a result of its unique Virtual Network Services (VNSWorks(TM)) capabilities for Vo-Fi technology. June 14, 2004 Beth Cohen VoWLAN: The Wireless Voice Future is Here ... Almost A critical component to the success of VoWLAN is sophisticated wireless network management tools. As Myers puts it, "Unlike all previous computer technology, wireless networking, wireless came back into the enterprise from the SOHO and home markets. With a three node network, you don't need management tools." When rolling out enterprise wide wireless, especially VoIP, the need for prioritized data streams, transparent access point handoffs, and seamless security are essential. Chantry offers a management package that is designed to specifically address these issues. Chantry Networks Named Best of Show at Wi-Fi Planet for Innovative Wireless Virtualization Chantry Networks, the leading innovator of routed wireless networking technology, received the award for "Best of Show" last week at the Wi-Fi Planet Conference & Expo in Baltimore for the category of best "Voice over IP (VoIP) Infrastructure." The award was given to Chantry as a result of its unique Virtual Network Services (VNSWorks(TM)) capabilities for Voice-over-Wi-Fi (Vo-Fi) communications. During the event, Chantry Networks demonstrated the benefits of its routed IP-based infrastructure for wireless voice, data and application traffic, giving attendees hands-on experience with BeaconWorks(TM) 2.0, the latest version of its WLAN solution designed to fully support VoIP and Vo-Fi technology. Chantry Networks Presents Case for Wireless Services beyond Basic Access "Basic wireless access can be equated to 'dial-up' Internet access," said Racca. "It solves a fundamental problem, but rather inelegantly and not as adequately as needed for true business use. Virtualization, or the ability to segment users and their wireless traffic based on the requirements determined by the organization, is like high-speed access: a more strategic approach to leveraging technology." by Robert Hoskins May 20, 2004 Chantry Networks' BeaconWorks 2.0 Provides Features for Voice and Data Wireless Communications, Campus or Branch-Wide Chantry's Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder, Robert Myers states, "We developed BeaconWorks with the specific goal of being able to provide top notch quality of service regardless of the type of traffic handled by the wireless network. As a result, BeaconWorks has key features that address users' requirements for today's wireless networks, while also providing a standards-based foundation for tomorrow's wireless requirements. BeaconWorks satisfies both the technical needs of wireless users and the business needs of low cost of ownership and investment protection." by Jim Rendon, News Writer May 17, 2004 “WLAN CEOs look to the future” Peter Vicars, CEO of Waltham, Mass.-based Chantry Networks Inc., and one of the panelists last week at Networld+Interop 2004 agreed that ubiquitous Wi-Fi coverage was likely to happen in the near future. Children today are growing up with wireless access in their schools. Now that they are coming to expect that kind of constant connectivity, he said, the market is likely to deliver it. May 12, 2004 Chantry Gets Opsec OK Security is the most critical issue facing enterprises deploying wireless technology in their networks today," said Upesh Patel, director of business development for Check Point Software Technologies. "OPSEC certification for the BeaconWorks wireless LAN solution provides our joint customers with a comprehensive and secure wireless solution that integrates into their existing network security infrastructure." May 10, 2004 Chantry Partners With Funk "Wireless networks will only be successful and pervasive if they can adapt to users' needs," said Tom Racca, vice president, marketing, Chantry Networks. "The most significant demand users have is quality of service - wireless voice and data traffic must feel just like 'wired' traffic does to the end user. However, these usability requirements do not negate the need for robust security. Chantry's integration with Funk Software's solutions eliminates the 'either or' proposition and delivers both high quality service and comprehensive security." Chantry Networks Integrates Funk Software's WLAN Security Solutions with BeaconWorks for Secure, Seamless Roaming for Voice And Data "Wireless networks will only be successful and pervasive if they can adapt to users' needs," said Tom Racca, vice president, marketing, Chantry Networks. "The most significant demand users have is quality of service - wireless voice and data traffic must feel just like 'wired' traffic does to the end user. However, these usability requirements do not negate the need for robust security. Chantry's integration with Funk Software's solutions eliminates the 'either or' proposition and delivers both high quality service and comprehensive security." May 4, 2004 Chantry Networks' BeaconWorks 2.0 Provides Features for Voice and Data Wireless Communications, Campus or Branch-Wide Chantry Networks, the leading innovator of routed wireless networking technology for IP-based networking, announced today the immediate availability of BeaconWorks 2.0, a routed infrastructure for wireless voice, data and applications traffic. BeaconWorks 2.0 now provides customers with QoS-based seamless Layer 3 roaming for wireless multimedia traffic, providing virtually zero latency when roaming. This means the wireless network will "sound and feel" just like the traditional wired telephone system and far superior than cellular networks; this technical feature is the key requirement for widespread deployment of VoFi. by Joanie Wexler May 3, 2004 Today's focus: N+I to mark one-year birthday of many WLAN start-ups Start-up Chantry Networks brought wireless IP routing to the table for further configuration flexibility when it entered the industry last April. by Bob Myers May 3, 2004 Virtualization: A Top Wireless Priority In a nutshell, virtualization is the separation of the physical structure of a given object and what can be done with it. In the case of networking, the physical structure of the network is usually quite simple -- client devices and network elements (like routers and Ethernet switches) connected together, with a given topological and geographic relationship among them. In general, any data can be sent from any node to any other node. However, although networks can allow any device to access any data, this is seldom required or even desired. Rather, a key element of network management is to define which traffic flows are legitimate, and which must be prevented. The most common technique for this is network policy management, which defines the sets of network services or policies available to given groups of users. In many cases, however, these capabilities are simply defined by the network address, location or point of interconnect of a given client. by Carmen Nobel May 3, 2004 Cisco Catalyst Goes Wireless Cisco is not alone in its WLAN moves. Also at N+I, Cisco competitor Chantry Networks Inc. plans to introduce Version 2.0 of its BeaconWorks WLAN switching software, which also supports a Layer 3 architecture. BeaconWorks 2.0 includes support for voice over Wi-Fi, specifically SpectraLink Corp.'s SVP (SpectraLink Voice Priority) protocol. However, BeaconWorks goes SpectraLink one better by enabling Layer 3 roaming of voice-over-Wi-Fi handsets among subnets, said officials at Chantry, in Waltham, Mass. These features are available now. In addition, at the end of this month, Chantry will introduce the ability to bridge traffic locally between access points, while maintaining central authentication, eliminating the tromboning, officials said. The software will be available as a free upgrade to current Chantry customers. by Bob Myers May 1, 2004 Put voice on your wireless LAN The best way to evaluate the merit of the roaming performance is by understanding the architecture of the solution. What to look for is everything associated with scalability–scalability of roaming (limited to controller or certain size), scalability of configuration (manual or dynamic), the likelihood of jitter and latency when roaming to an access point associated with a different controller, and the likelihood of dropping calls, just to name a few. When deploying VoWLAN, think and evaluate mobility, availability, security, coverage, resource management and QoS. To minimize risk and maximize success, an IT manager should consider these requirements, while understanding that the architecture of the WLAN solution will be indicative of its VoWLAN feasibility and merits. by Tom Racca April 15, 2004 As wireless centers become the norm, how do you control the conference? Today, businesses have perfected wired networks for 24-7 access and high performance levels. A convention center’s wireless network must offer the same performance level people expect from their wired networks. These are simple questions to ask before determining if a convention center can meet basic access needs. For a more sophisticated approach, look at the specifics of wireless service. This article highlights some questions to ask the facility’s telecommunications manager. April 12, 2004 Chantry Networks Secures $11M in Equity Financing Ted Anderson, senior vice president, Ventures West said, “In a short amount of time, Chantry Networks has eclipsed established players in the industry with an IP Layer 3 router-based solution that has proven its superiority in the most critical areas for enterprise WLAN purchasers: scalability, security, manageability, flexibility and seamless mobility.” He added, “The Company’s technical leadership is complemented by a management team with superb vision. Chantry is well positioned to capture a significant portion of the surging wireless data and voice communications platform market.” by Dan Jones, Site Editor April 12, 2004 Chantry Grabs Another $11M Chantry's CEO Peter Vickers says that the firm will be particulary focused on developing its presence in the emerging voice-over-WLAN (VOWLAN) market. The firm -- like nearly every other hopeful startup in this space -- has a deal with wireless LAN handset and software developer SpectraLink Corp. (see Chantry, SpectraLink Roam). Now Vickers says that the company will look to add "location and other voice-oriented services" to its product offerings, probably through additional partnerships. By VentureWire Staff Reporters April 12, 2004 Chantry Secures $11M in Series B Financing For Partnerships, Sales Mr. Vicars said the new funding will be used to ramp sales and marketing and to support partnerships. Chantry has announced partnerships with companies such as publicly traded SpectraLink Corp., a provider of wireless telephones for the workplace, and Blue Ridge Networks, a start-up developing virtual private networking and other security technology for mobile networking. by John Cox April 5, 2004 WLAN protocol being pitched to smooth interoperability Two wireless LAN companies this week will unveil a protocol for controlling WLAN access points and ask the IETF to consider it for a standard. The scheme being introduced this week is called the CAPWAP Tunneling Protocol (CTP), and it is currently in beta test. The backers are Chantry Networks, a WLAN switch vendor, and Propagate Networks, which has software that runs on WLAN gear to create self-organizing radio networks. CTP covers a broader spectrum than LWAPP, which focused on 802.11, says Bob Myers, Chantry co-founder and CTO. "We want to support different radio technologies at the edge of the net," he says. By Peter Judge, Techworld April 5, 2004 CTP to break standards deadlock? Two wireless LAN companies hope to revive standards efforts with a protocol for controlling access points. Chantry Networks and Propagate are proposing a protocol called CTP to the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) - the standards group that handles network standards for routing and other issues. by Robert Hoskins April 5, 2004 Chantry Networks and Propagate Networks Partner to Propose an Alternative Standard to Expired LWAPP Protocol Chantry Networks, the leading innovator of routed wireless networking technology for IP-based networking, and Propagate Networks, provider of AutoCell, a self-organizing network for 802.11 access and clients, announced today a new protocol, CAPWAP Tunneling Protocol (CTP), for interoperability between wireless access points. This protocol will be proposed to the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) as a superior alternative to the expired LWAPP protocol. April 5, 2004 Vendors Propose LWAPP Alternative Two wireless networking vendors Monday released an alternative to the proposed Lightweight Access Point Protocol (LWAPP) for managing how lightweight APs and wireless switches interoperate. Chantry Networks and Propagate Networks released their CAPWAP Tunneling Protocol (CTP), which the companies said in a statement is a stronger tool for interoperability between lightweight access points, which are controlled by wireless switches. by Peter Vicars March 25, 2004 WIRELESS SECURITY: Keep out of the hot seat with hot spots Choosing the best wireless LAN solution is a challenge in itself. After determining the level of integration into existing networks and scalability requirements, companies need to look at “wiring closet” issues. These include the 100-meter limitation placed on dedicated wiring between the access points and the WLAN switch, the need to put a switch on every floor of every building, and the amount of disruption this places on the existing infrastructure. Once those issues are solved, then the company can tackle the question of wireless security. by Robert Hoskins March 18, 2004 Chantry Networks Champions Routed Wireless Networking Technology Traditional WLAN architectures, based on a network of interconnected access points, suffered from the high expense required to acquire and manage a wireless network. This situation motivated the development of switched WLANs which, in turn, introduced concerns about reliability, management, scalability and security. Switches still live at the edge of the network, and managing a large number of switches is almost as challenging as managing distinct access points. During this panel debate, Chantry's Luc Roy will discuss how using a router in place of a switch allows a WLAN to be a full member of an enterprise network and leverages investments already made in an IP-based infrastructure. By David Strom March 8, 2004 VARBusiness Wi-Fi Technology Roundup: New Technologies Drive New Products "Chantry's BeaconWorks family of products looks at a wireless network as a collection of routers that are centrally managed and can handle scalability and reliability issues. The main advantage to their approach is automatic failover and self-healing networks,as one access point fails or takes a power hit, the others can continue to provide service." March, 2004 Enterprise Networks & Servers Chantry Networks Introduces Extended Family of Wireless LAN Solutions “BeaconWorks provides wireless connectivity directly over IP (Internet Protocol). This allows out-of-the-box compatibility with leading wired network infrastructure and provides the foundation for wireless voice over IP (VoIP). The entire line of BeaconWorks products includes Chantry's VNSWorks technology for intelligent wireless subnets that enable differentiated provisioning and policing between different types of user groups over one physical network.” By Luc Roy February 17, 2004 IT Business Edge Consumer Wireless Gear OK for SOHO "Our product is really tailored to the smaller business that is anticipating growth -- they may need four or five access points now, but they can foresee going to 10 or 15, some of which may be in remote locations. The solution is IP-enabled, so the thin access points can be administered from the central location without direct human interaction with a remote location. You can also ensure that the remote location's users don't misuse the equipment -- which is a big risk -- with the centralized management abilities." By Lindsay Bruce and Peter Judge February 10, 2004 Techworld Chantry Breaks Wi-Fi into Edible Chunks "We've heard loud and clear that enterprise customers are looking at a phased deployment," said Tom Racca, vice-president of marketing at Chantry. "They want to start smaller and grow. Rather than having to buy a larger-scale system today and grow into it, we are saying, buy into the right size that you need today and upgrade when you are ready." Business Wire via NewsEdge Corporation Chantry Networks Introduces Extended Family of Wireless LAN Solutions for Cost-Effective, State-of-the-Art Wireless Networks Chantry Networks, the leading innovator of routed wireless networking technology, has extended its BeaconWorks product suite with IEEE 802.11 a/b/g compliance and multiple controller and access point configuration options. These new product enhancements allow enterprise customers of all shapes and sizes to deploy sophisticated WiFi technology cost effectively without sacrificing the benefits of centralized management, high availability and secure seamless mobility. by: Lindsay Bruce February 9, 2004 IT World Canada Chantry Network Extends its Wireless Family Craig J. Mathias, a principal at Farpoint Group in Ashland, Mass., said that when establishing a product family, it's easier to start big and go small than it is to start small and try to get big. It's pretty difficult to build big systems, but if you can build a big one than you can build a little one," he noted. Mathias added that when implementing wireless technology it is very important for businesses to do as little disruption or modification to the wired infrastructure as possible. He noted that whatever a company is doing on a wired network, "we just want to build on that." "We don't want to come in with an entirely different solution and say 'okay, all this wired stuff has to be changed, you've got to redefine your VLANs (virtual LANs).' It just doesn't work. IT managers are very conservative people and they view any disruption to their current operation as an opportunity for unscheduled overtime and that's to be avoided," Mathias said. By Marie Lingblom Feb 09, 2004 CRN Chantry Chimes In With SMB-Focused WLAN Controllers “Dennis Dinsmore, president of Integrisys Systems, a Portsmouth, N.H.-based solution provider, said Chantry's Layer 3 approach to the wireless network is getting the attention of his customers. The approach also works well with existing infrastructure. Plus, he said, the new SMB series represents a solid opportunity for Integrisys. "What excites me about this is the scalability of it," Dinsmore said. "Now we can go into the medium- and small-size organizations and get them started for less than $10,000, as opposed to $40,000 or $50,000. That's huge." By Loring Wirbel Feb 09, 2004 EE Times Chantry Extends Routed Wireless LAN family "Chantry Networks Inc., the Boston startup that launched full Layer 3 routing support for wireless LANs last April, has expanded its range of BeaconMaster routers with two supporting dual Gigabit Ethernet uplinks. The company has developed two models of Gigabit Ethernet routers, the BM1100 and 1200, which support 100 and 200 ports respectively. Perhaps more important from a scaling perspective is the expansion of smaller routers that handle 10 and 100 Mbit/sec Ethernet traffic. Users can scale from 5 to 60 ports in increments of 5, 15, 30, and 60 ports." Chantry Extends WLAN Family BeaconWorks solutions are now optimized for all enterprise WLAN deployment scenarios: - Large-scale campus wide environments - Branch office, multi-site, centrally managed WLAN applications - Phased deployment strategies - Mixed vendor environments to ease a transition to new standards and centralized management - Mid-sized enterprise networks that require the security and control of a large infrastructure by Adam Stone Is Cellular Handoff Nigh? Call it fast roaming. Call it seamless handoffs. Call it the next evolution in wireless as we know it today. Either way, it's coming, and it will almost surely change the business of wireless access. The new standard in question is being developed through the IEEE's 802.21 working group. The idea is to solve a problem that plagues wireless users today. "If you have a device which has multiple interfaces -- one that is capable of hooking up to more than one network time -- today if you disconnect from one network and switch to another, everything stops," explained Intel's (Quote, Chart) David Johnston, interim chair of the IEEE 802.21 Working Group. "We will definitely need to provide this handoff capability," predicted Luc Roy, senior director of product management at Chantry, a producer of wireless LAN hardware and software. "Look at the way you work and play. If I am working in the office and I go get coffee somewhere else, I want a way for my connectivity to be maintained as I go from one environment to another." By Terry Sweeney. . .With Norm Meisner, vice president of worldwide sales, Chantry Networks. 3 Questions: Thin access points push functionality toward network core Fat access points were not created to provide pervasive wireless connectivity throughout the enterprise. APs may be the answer. by: Lindsay Bruce January 7, 2004 IT World Canada Metro Toronto Convention Centre goes wireless "For others planning to implement a similar WLAN within their organizations, Taylor advised them to do their homework and get familiar with the different products available on the market. He added that Chantry Networks' BeaconWorks technology did in one product what many other vendors he had researched did by bundling two or three products together." by: David Strom June 2, 2003 VARBusiness Accounting For All Access Points "If I could pick and choose the best features from each product and design my own wireless management system, it would have the policy-management features of AirWave, the discovery and scanning properties of AirMagnet, and the reliability and scalability deployment features of Chantry". by: David Strom May 07, 2003 VARBusiness Managing Wireless Networks "Chantry, with its BeaconWorks family of products (www.chantrynetworks.com), looks at your wireless network as just a collection of routers that are centrally managed and can handle scalability and reliability issues. The main advantages to its approach is automatic failover and self-healing networks. They also support non-Chantry APs as well to allow users to roam across the entire campus (the non-Chantry products don't do the failover, however)". jopojpoj oudou pojpoj by: Ephraim Schwartz May 16, 2003 InfoWorld Wireless strategies: Making the right move "Chantry's answer has been to centralize the management of both wired and wireless networks. Not content to do this at the switch level, Chantry brings wireless and wired together at L3 (Layer 3) with a router technology it calls Beacon Master. The APs are wired to the IP network and are then routed to the Beacon Master, which is complementary to a Cisco router. "Routers allow access points wherever your IP network goes. It gives IT the freedom of placing APs wherever your people need them," Meyers says." by: Jim Rendon, News Writer May 12, 2003 SearchMobileComputing.com Startup's WLAN approach appeals to Ivy League school "That consolidated architecture is what appealed to Cornell University. The university already has a 150-access point wireless system in place. Jason Rhoades, Cornell's director of network and communication services, said that those access points need to be configured individually, which can be very time consuming for his small IT staff. The university plans to expand the wireless network across its entire 750-acre campus, and that expansion will require a network of more than 1,000 access points. So Rhoades began looking for a way to centralize management while also taking advantage of his existing infrastructure." by: Matthew L. Sheahan Apr 28, 2003 Private Equity Week Chantry Seeks B Round To Fuel Growth "Joel Liederman, a vice president with Primaxis, says that Chantry's market space is flourishing despite a depressed economy. "We like a market that's growing and robust. And despite the dismal showing of the technology sectors, one of the areas of light remains wireless," he says. "While spending in most sectors has been disappointing, clearly there is spending going on in the 802.11 market. It's a growing market." by: David Ewalt April 28, 2003 Information Week Wireless Networks Add Enterprise Features "Chantry Networks Inc. has a different approach, which it describes as the first large-scale wireless LAN system based on IP routing technology. Its BeaconWorks line of products puts the smarts of the system in a box that resides in a company's central server farm. Access points are then plugged into an existing IP network, where they communicate directly to a single controller. Chantry's system costs between $20,000 and $35,000". by David M. Ewalt April 21, 2003 Information Week Chantry Networks has launched what it says is the world's first wireless LAN based on IP-routing technology. "One benefit of this architecture is increased stability, says Brian Collie, executive VP of product operations. Whereas a single switch can only have a limited number of access points connected to it--limited by geography, among other factors--a wireless LAN router can support thousands of access points". by: John Cox April 21, 2003 Network World Fusion Start-up unveils WLAN router "BeaconWorks, from Chantry Networks, is a Layer 3 router that uses a proprietary protocol to tunnel over the wired IP network to connect to a flock of companion access points. As a router, the box can bypass failed nodes and find new pathways to keep a network up and running". by: Jeff Miller April 21, 2003 Mass High Tech Legra, Chantry have plans for WLANs that differ "Chantry is developing a gateway that would sit near the core of the corporate network. Access points would then hook directly into the company's Ethernet-based wired LAN". April 21, 2003 Unstrung Chantry Claims 'Routed' WLAN "BeaconWorks leverages an organization's existing wired infrastructure, has no limitations on distance or network topology, and can be scaled dynamically simply by adding additional access points and controllers". by: Patrick Mannion April 21, 2003 EETimes Startup takes router route to enterprise "By opting for Layer 3 Internet Protocol routing instead of Layer 2-based switching, WLAN control can be placed anywhere in an IP network, thereby avoiding wiring-closet disruptions while providing the high availability of IP-based router networks, the company said". by: Carmen Nobel April 21, 2003 EWeek Chantry Taps IP for WLANs "We have ... 288 buildings and more than 23,000 active Ethernet ports," said Jason Rhoades, director of network and communication services at Cornell University, in Ithaca, N.Y., which plans to grow its WLAN. "With the Chantry system, we can keep the existing architecture in place and keep it all over our existing IP network." By Eric Griffith April 21, 2003 802.11 Planet Chantry: The Routed WLAN "Connecting the products on an IP network brings "true scalability," with features like dynamic configuration around failed nodes and no distance limitations from the central intelligence to the network edge where the access points sit". by: Patrick Mannion April 17, 2003 CommsDesign Switches and chips feed WLAN frenzy "Shortly, Chantry Networks will also emerge as an enterprise WLAN player, differentiated by a routing architecture rather than simply switching technology". by BOB BREWIN APRIL 22, 2003 WLAN Wars: With N+I coming, wireless products abound Boston-based Chantry believes its router- and IP-based WLAN hardware provides even better and cheaper wireless LAN management than other products on the market, since it doesn't require wiring switches into the network, according to Peter Vicars, the company's president. Vicars said Chantry's router-based technology allows IT managers to control a network of thousands of its dumb APs from a central location.