Meru Networks

Last updated
Meru Networks
Company type Subsidiary of Fortinet
Nasdaq:  MERU
Industry Wireless LAN
FoundedSunnyvale, California, U.S.
(2002)
FounderDr. Vaduvur Bharghavan
Srinath Sarang
Joseph Epstein
Sung-Wook Han
Headquarters
Sunnyvale, California
,
U.S.
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Bami Bastani (CEO)
Larry Vaughan (SVP Sales)Sarosh Vesuna (SVP & GM Enterprise BU)
Products Wireless access points
Wireless LAN Controller
Networking devices
RevenueIncrease2.svg USD 90.5 million (2011) [1]
Decrease2.svg USD 26.7 million (2011) [1]
Total assets Decrease2.svg USD 66.8 million (2011) [1]
Total equity Decrease2.svg USD 32.5 million (2011) [1]
Number of employees
403 (2011) [1]
Website merunetworks.com
Headquarters of Meru Networks MeruHeadquarters.jpg
Headquarters of Meru Networks

Meru Networks was a supplier of wireless local area networks (WLANs) to healthcare, enterprise, hospitality, K-12 education, higher education, and other markets. Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, United States, the company made its initial public offering in March 2010, and was acquired by Fortinet in May 2015. [2] [3]

Contents

History

Meru Networks was founded in 2002 to address issues with legacy wireless networking architectures that support two separate access networks: a wired network for business-specific applications and a wireless network for casual use. This causes problems ranging from co-channel interference to the inability of micro-cellular systems to scale up.[ clarification needed ] [4] Meru Networks develops and markets a virtualized wireless LAN solution that enables enterprises to migrate applications from wired networks to wireless networks and become what Meru refers to as the "All-wireless enterprise." [5] The company uses an approach to wireless networking that employs virtualization technology to create a self-monitoring wireless network that provides access to applications, improved application performance, and a greater ability to run converged applications, such as voice, video and data, over a wireless network. [6] [7]

The company’s current products address the IEEE 802.11ac and 802.11n wireless networking standards, [8] The company focuses on a “Virtual Cell” approach to Wi-Fi. Under a single service assurance platform, it aggregates access points and the controller needed to manage them. This simplifies the management of access points, cuts the number of access points needed on a wireless network, and eliminates bandwidth contention issues. [9]

In 2011, the company was awarded ITP Technology Best Wireless Solution [10] and was listed as a Health Management Technology Coolest Products.[ citation needed ]

Timeline

Main Products and Services

Software

Hardware

Products and services are sold through value-added resellers (VARs) and distributors. [28]

Markets

The company focuses on the education, healthcare and hospitality markets. Approximately three-quarters of its global sales come from the Americas, and among its 12,500 customers worldwide are the CME Group and Hellmann Worldwide Logistics. [29]

While the company’s main emphasis is on the markets noted above, they are not its exclusive focus. In December 2011, for example, Meru announced that it was working with Ayacht Technology Solutions to install a new Wi-Fi network at historic, 37,000-seat Fenway Park, the home of Major League Baseball's Boston Red Sox. [30]

Acquisitions

On September 8, 2011, Meru announced that it had acquired access control specialist Identity Networks. Founded in 2006 and based in Manchester, UK, Identity Networks develops and markets tools that offer provisioning and notification services that give guests access credentials by way of email, or SMS, and also provide reporting, auditing, and policy customization. [31]

Acquisition

On May 27, 2015, Fortinet agreed to acquire Meru Networks for $44M in cash. [32] Fortinet will integrate the Meru Networks team and operations into their organization.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IEEE 802.11</span> Wireless network standard

IEEE 802.11 is part of the IEEE 802 set of local area network (LAN) technical standards, and specifies the set of medium access control (MAC) and physical layer (PHY) protocols for implementing wireless local area network (WLAN) computer communication. The standard and amendments provide the basis for wireless network products using the Wi-Fi brand and are the world's most widely used wireless computer networking standards. IEEE 802.11 is used in most home and office networks to allow laptops, printers, smartphones, and other devices to communicate with each other and access the Internet without connecting wires. IEEE 802.11 is also a basis for vehicle-based communication networks with IEEE 802.11p.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wireless LAN</span> Computer network that links devices using wireless communication within a limited area

A wireless LAN (WLAN) is a wireless computer network that links two or more devices using wireless communication to form a local area network (LAN) within a limited area such as a home, school, computer laboratory, campus, or office building. This gives users the ability to move around within the area and remain connected to the network. Through a gateway, a WLAN can also provide a connection to the wider Internet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wireless network</span> Computer network not fully connected by cables

A wireless network is a computer network that uses wireless data connections between network nodes. Wireless networking allows homes, telecommunications networks and business installations to avoid the costly process of introducing cables into a building, or as a connection between various equipment locations. Admin telecommunications networks are generally implemented and administered using radio communication. This implementation takes place at the physical level (layer) of the OSI model network structure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wi-Fi</span> Wireless local area network

Wi-Fi is a family of wireless network protocols based on the IEEE 802.11 family of standards, which are commonly used for local area networking of devices and Internet access, allowing nearby digital devices to exchange data by radio waves. These are the most widely used computer networks, used globally in home and small office networks to link devices and to provide Internet access with wireless routers and wireless access points in public places such as coffee shops, hotels, libraries, and airports to provide visitors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Voice over WLAN</span> Use of a wireless network for the purpose of voice communication

Voice over wireless LAN (VoWLAN), also voice over Wi‑Fi (VoWiFi), is the use of a wireless broadband network according to the IEEE 802.11 standards for the purpose of vocal conversation. In essence, it is voice over IP (VoIP) over a Wi-Fi network. In most cases, the Wi-Fi network and voice components supporting the voice system are privately owned.

Fortinet is a cybersecurity company with headquarters in Sunnyvale, California. The company develops and sells security solutions like firewalls, endpoint security and intrusion detection systems. Fortinet has offices located all over the world.

Qualcomm Atheros is a developer of semiconductor chips for network communications, particularly wireless chipsets. The company was founded under the name T-Span Systems in 1998 by experts in signal processing and VLSI design from Stanford University, the University of California, Berkeley, and private industry. The company was renamed Atheros Communications in 2000 and it completed an initial public offering in February 2004, trading on the NASDAQ under the symbol ATHR.

A wireless site survey, sometimes called an RF site survey or wireless survey, is the process of planning and designing a wireless network, to provide a wireless solution that will deliver the required wireless coverage, data rates, network capacity, roaming capability and quality of service (QoS). The survey usually involves a site visit to test for RF interference, and to identify optimum installation locations for access points. This requires analysis of building floor plans, inspection of the facility, and use of site survey tools. Interviews with IT management and the end users of the wireless network are also important to determine the design parameters for the wireless network.

Cambium Networks Corporation is a wireless infrastructure provider that offers fixed wireless and Wi-Fi to broadband service providers and enterprises to provide Internet access. An American telecommunications infrastructure company, it provides wireless technology, including Enterprise WiFi, switching solutions, Internet of Things, and fixed wireless broadband and Wi-Fi for enterprises. Publicly traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange, it spun out of Motorola in October 2011.

IEEE 802.11b-1999 or 802.11b is an amendment to the IEEE 802.11 wireless networking specification that extends throughout up to 11 Mbit/s using the same 2.4 GHz band. A related amendment was incorporated into the IEEE 802.11-2007 standard.

IEEE 802.11g-2003 or 802.11g is an amendment to the IEEE 802.11 specification that operates in the 2.4 GHz microwave band. The standard has extended link rate to up to 54 Mbit/s using the same 20 MHz bandwidth as 802.11b uses to achieve 11 Mbit/s. This specification, under the marketing name of Wi‑Fi, has been implemented all over the world. The 802.11g protocol is now Clause 19 of the published IEEE 802.11-2007 standard, and Clause 19 of the published IEEE 802.11-2012 standard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Firetide</span>

Firetide is an American, international provider of wireless mesh network technology. It is a division of UNICOM Global. Based in the Silicon Valley, Firetide designs and sells hardware and software for wireless technology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruckus Networks</span> Networking equipment brand

RUCKUS Networks is a brand of wired and wireless networking equipment and software owned by CommScope. Ruckus offers Switches, Wi-Fi access points, CBRS access points, Controllers, Management systems, Cloud management, AAA/BYOD software, AI and ML analytics software, location software and IoT controller software products to mobile carriers, broadband service providers, and corporate enterprises. As a company, Ruckus invented and has patented wireless voice, video, and data technology, such as adaptive antenna arrays that extend signal range, increase data rates, and avoid interference, providing distribution of delay-sensitive content over standard 802.11 Wi-Fi.

IEEE 802.11ac-2013 or 802.11ac is a wireless networking standard in the IEEE 802.11 set of protocols, providing high-throughput wireless local area networks (WLANs) on the 5 GHz band. The standard has been retroactively labelled as Wi-Fi 5 by Wi-Fi Alliance.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Networking is the Networking Products division of Hewlett Packard Enterprise. HPE Networking and its predecessor entities have developed and sold networking products since 1979. Currently, it offers networking and switching products for small and medium sized businesses through its wholly owned subsidiary Aruba Networks. Prior to 2015, the entity within HP which offered networking products was called HP Networking.

TamoGraph Site Survey is an application for performing Wi-Fi site surveys and RF planning. It supports 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g wireless networks. TamoGraph is developed by TamoSoft, a privately held New Zealand company founded in 1998 that specializes in network analysis software.

Aerohive Networks was an American multinational computer networking equipment company headquartered in Milpitas, California, with 17 additional offices worldwide. The company was founded in 2006 and provided wireless networking to medium-sized and larger businesses.

IEEE 802.11ah is a wireless networking protocol published in 2017 called Wi-Fi HaLow as an amendment of the IEEE 802.11-2007 wireless networking standard. It uses 900 MHz license-exempt bands to provide extended-range Wi-Fi networks, compared to conventional Wi-Fi networks operating in the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands. It also benefits from lower energy consumption, allowing the creation of large groups of stations or sensors that cooperate to share signals, supporting the concept of the Internet of things (IoT). The protocol's low power consumption competes with Bluetooth, LoRa, and Zigbee, and has the added benefit of higher data rates and wider coverage range.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PowerCloud Systems</span>

PowerCloud Systems was a cloud networking company located in Palo Alto, California. The company designed and manufactured cloud-powered Wi-Fi systems for businesses, carriers and consumers and was a corporate spin-off from the Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), a Xerox company. PowerCloud was purchased by Comcast in July 2014.

IEEE 802.11af, also referred to as White-Fi and Super Wi-Fi, is a wireless computer networking standard in the 802.11 family, that allows wireless local area network (WLAN) operation in TV white space spectrum in the VHF and UHF bands between 54 and 790 MHz. The standard was approved in February 2014. Cognitive radio technology is used to transmit on unused portions of TV channel band allocations, with the standard taking measures to limit interference for primary users, such as analog TV, digital TV, and wireless microphones.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Meru Networks (2012-03-15), FORM 10-K, Washington, D.C.: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission , retrieved 2012-05-21
  2. ↑ "Meru Networks IPO". sec.gov. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  3. 1 2 "Fortinet Announces Agreement to Acquire Meru Networks". Fortinet. 2015-05-26.
  4. ↑ "The Limits of WLAN Capacity". Ken, Novarum Blog. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  5. ↑ "AMA TechTel Company Description: Meru". AMA TechTel. Archived from the original on 2011-11-11. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  6. ↑ "Your Resources at Maximum Efficiency". Innovation Network Technologies. Archived from the original on 2012-03-10. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  7. ↑ "I Need To Run Video Over Wireless LAN". WiFiSecured. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  8. ↑ "802.11n Wi-Fi Standard Finally Approved". Dong Ngo, CNET News. September 11, 2009.
  9. ↑ "Virtual Cells Come to Mainstream Wireless Networks". Michael Vizard, Channel Tech Center. November 7, 2010. Archived from the original on January 4, 2012.
  10. ↑ "2011 ITP Technology Best Wireless Solution". ITP.net. 9 June 2011. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  11. ↑ "Meru Networks Kicks Off '802.11 to the Nth Degree Live!' Tour". Meru Networks. Archived from the original on 2010-12-31. Retrieved 2012-04-02.
  12. ↑ "Venture Choice Industry News" . Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  13. ↑ "InternetAcceleration News Summary". Internet Research Group. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  14. ↑ "Meru Networks Gets $27.6M". Silicontap.com. March 6, 2007.
  15. ↑ "MarketsData: Meru Networks Inc". Financial Times. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  16. 1 2 "Meru Boosts Funding to $87.5M". Silicontap.com. Aug 12, 2009.
  17. ↑ "Meru Networks goes public for $65.8M". IndUS Business Journal. May 7, 2010.
  18. ↑ "SEC Form 8-K". SEC. 2011-05-12.
  19. ↑ "Meru Networks Appoints Bami Bastani New President and CEO". 2012-03-21. Archived from the original on 2012-04-02.
  20. ↑ "Meru Service Director". WiFiSecured.com. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  21. ↑ "Wireless Management Matures". Beth Bacheldor, EDTECH. Oct 7, 2010.
  22. ↑ "Meru Networks, Identity Manager". Zcyko Manufacturers. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  23. ↑ "Meru's Service Assurance Manager Promises 'Proactive Troubleshooting'". CRN. Oct 13, 2009.
  24. ↑ "Meru upgrades E(z)RF Network Management Suite, intros Network Management Appliance". MuniWireless. Sep 7, 2011.
  25. ↑ "New Wi-Fi gear aims to wipe out Ethernet edge switches". John Cox, Network World. May 4, 2011. Archived from the original on September 5, 2012.
  26. ↑ "Meru Program Relates Corporate Wi-Fi Confidence To Private Devices". DataCenter Management. Oct 24, 2011. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
  27. ↑ "Meru packs diagnostic security features into Wi-Fi management software". John Cox, Network World. May 26, 2010. Archived from the original on April 30, 2013.
  28. ↑ "SYNNEX Offers Meru's vWLAN Through Reseller Network". MobileEnterprise.com. Feb 28, 2011.
  29. ↑ "Meru Networks, Inc. Company Profile". Hoovers, A D&B Company. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  30. ↑ "The Boston Red Sox Gear Up to Support Record Crowds and Wi-Fi Demand at Fenway Park with Meru". Yahoo Finance. December 20, 2011.
  31. ↑ "Meru Networks Acquires Access Control Specialist". Chad Berndtson, CRNs. September 9, 2011.
  32. ↑ "Fortinet Announces Agreement to Acquire Meru Networks". Archived from the original on 29 May 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.