AT&T activearc unified IP data solution

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1 Solution Brief AT&T activearc unified IP data solution Flexible IP networking options to fit your needs What is the AT&T activearc solution? The AT&T activearc solution is a wired and wireless Ethernet network infrastructure solution designed to reduce client contention while increasing efficiency and application delivery. The solution is software driven, meaning it leverages a variety of software capabilities in concert with each other to create an environment of more usable bandwidth. The increase in usable bandwidth enables the utilization of more solutions, greater stability, and when used in concert with other system tools, expands the flexibility of the whole ecosystem. Why would businesses want such a solution? Leverage new network architecture driven by software capabilities. It is not a new concept that the evolution of content demand, type of content used, and availability of cheap broadband pushes LAN (Local Area Network) network performance to its limits. The AT&T activearc solution not only addresses the connectivity side of the LAN network in a new and highly configured manner, it also enhances how software is used to ensure delivery of the content as it transfers over the LAN ecosystem. Connectivity: The AT&T activearc solution is like a Swiss Army knife that uses singular platforms that can be configured for multiple purposes based on the client requirements. Flexibility reduces service provider operational expenses by reducing inventory management and liability, deployment complexity and configuration requirements, training and certification costs, as well as simplifying the sales and bid process. One network to manage One environment for all IP data processing, policy, data management, and content control Tools for Providers Expanded technology to allow remote policy control of the environment Unified Platform An integrated wired/wireless ecosystem to unify IP data processing to increase efficiency Advanced Tools Features typically not seen in certain market segments nor used by certain clients Software: The solution uses software driven concepts to configure, manage, route, control IP content, set policy management and security, and contains other tools designed to ensure network cohesiveness. The solution also leverages its own control system to manage content by utilizing these various tools to ensure content delivery and reduction of contention within the LAN. Much like an intelligent traffic cop compared to a static traffic signal, the system balances content across its wired and wireless environments to ensure a more stable LAN network. 1

2 Reconfigure networks based on client requirements. Administrators can shift the configurations of the LAN network at its core based on the client s need to shift business objectives. IT can shift between concepts previously thought impossible to change without a forklift upgrade. Clients can move between central and distributed configurations. Management can be cloud/private cloud or configured based on onsite, offsite, or remote requirements. Deployments can include full control systems to just APs (access points) over NAT (Network Address Translation) and deliver cost effective means to control the client environment. Deliver features, policies, and management on-demand Fotolia. Used under license. Service providers enable and disable enterprise features on an as-needed basis for each client. For example, the client can launch without Wireless Intrusion Detection System (WIDS) and later decide they only need two versions (Rogue AP and Blacklisting). By leveraging the AT&T activearc solution, the provider can deploy those features and immediately begin adding additional monitoring revenue to their bottom line. With up to 11 different fully customizable WIDS parameters to enable/disable, providers can now depend on a single infrastructure when providing a complete on-demand and Networking-as-a-Service model. What is the problem? A solution to a growing problem The AT&T activearc solution is a unified and intelligent IP data communication system designed for use by managed service providers. The system allows service providers a variety of data control and configuration options not seen before in a flexible IP data networking platform. The multi-personality, software driven ecosystem enables service providers the ability to control, change, ensure security, migrate IP forwarding patterns, and access a number of other data control features. This flexibility provides clients with an enhanced user experience while migrating through their business environments. The AT&T activearc solution gives service provides a single tool from which to create a variety of IP data networks; reducing OpEx (Operating Expense) and Capex (Capital Expenditure) cost while increasing revenue opportunities to properly monetize client acquisition. Businesses in the small and medium range will be forced to deal with the growing content demand as well as employee solutions for Bring Your Own Device (BYOD). BYOD is expected to balloon from $67.21 in 2011 to $ billings by These businesses fuel the continued explosion for communication over the internet. The use of cloud service will grow the segment from $1.18 Billion to Billion dollars by (Analysis Mason Enterprise Cloud Services Worldwide Forecast, and EdgeStrategies, SMB Business in the Cloud 2012 ) When married to the growth for wireless and other mobile forms of communication, these forces continue to change how and why traditional LAN network environments must change. The AT&T activearc solution meets this challenge by focusing connectivity, content delivery, unified wired and wireless capabilities, as well as a distributed architecture that can be leveraged by the smallest to the largest of organizations. The solution fits a service provider s client needs regardless of whether they have 2 or 2,000 employees, 2 or 2,000 locations, or 20 or 20,000 devices by leveraging the power of the software driven capabilities and Source: Infosyslimited May 07, 2013 features on top of industry-leading hardware. The AT&T activearc solution brings all facets of the connectivity and communication requirements together in a single, multifaceted solution. The software driven controls are at the center of this advanced solution. Combined with flexible hardware that easily fits in a data center, or medium or enterprise data networks, the AT&T activearc solution s intelligent software creates a more flexible LAN ecosystem to handle today s constantly changing requirements. This level of flexibility ensures that service providers can deploy an intelligent solution across their data networks. Additionally, every part of that deployment can be centrally managed. Data can be monitored for delivery, and maximum redundancy can be ensured for every client. 2

3 The components include: The AT&T activearc active500em is the central operational brain that can be positioned close to the core of a network. It supports full Layer three 24 performance gigabit and 4 combo SFP ports. This enables efficiency in a data center, distributed campus environment, multi-location deployment, and even in enterprise environments. Featuring dynamic Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) management and IP Forwarding control of content, users in retail, hospitality, and food industries can route client confidential data to a secure corporate locations while routing other data locally to ensure performance. In addition to the flow of data within the LAN and over the WAN, the solution ensures complete data packet controls. The unified wired and wireless architecture keeps a complete view and monitors both sides of the network to ensure all policies are enforced with no break in the system. The ARC Series of access points (APs) are performance IEEE802.11a/b/g/n APs in either single or dual band configuration. Used either as a stand-alone device (FAT) or with the active500em in FIT mode, these Smart APs provide high performance, security, and redundancy for any LAN. How does it work? Traditional data networking vendors focus on connecting point A to point B. They deploy different methods to accomplish this task and their objective is to sell more hardware in a myriad of different packages, accessories, licenses, and services. Once these vendors have reached the end of the technology capability, they simply increase the amount of hardware needed or tell clients to transition to a new hardware-based solution. Therefore, performance in their world isn t directly related to efficient use of bandwidth or control of content, but to the continued upgrade cycle of the client. The AT&T activearc solution technology ensures connectivity and deploys a variety of methods such as special RF modules to ensure point A and point B have the best connection. The solution is valued by service providers because it concentrates on the content to ensure delivery, performance, and the maximum use of throughput possible. Service providers are empowered to ensure service level agreements. They are able to support more users and deploy more services without incurring more hardware costs. This is accomplished in two ways: First, the solution ships standard with a full list of enterprise features designed to protect IP packets as they flow through a data network. These include multimedia protocols, load balancing, various tunneling for voice and video, rate limiting, and a variety of multicast optimizations which, via the AT&T activearc solution s unified software control, work in unison to ensure that content flows through the system efficiently. Second, the system deploys a traffic cop type of intelligence to dynamically control content flows based on user roles, QoS, adaptive optimization of multicast/ broadcast rates, AP (access point) balancing, and enforcement algorithms designed to prevent LAN network congestion. Through the dynamic use of content controls, the system reduces contention, retransmissions, and flooding while enabling the user to reach near-theoretical bandwidth maximums. One solution with many options 3

4 Why is flexibility critical? Service providers understand that for every client, there s a different LAN network architecture required for deployment. Each client may require a different list of products, modules, licenses, and deployment timelines. For the first time, the AT&T activearc unified data solution provides service providers one solution that can be morphed and customized to the network architecture the customer demands. Wireless Intrusion Detection Unified solution delivery Service Classes for Video, VoIP, and Data Route data to secure networks Service providers have one solution for the various network architecture requirements their customers demand. This includes requirements related to hosted, onsite, and remote management, multi-location, cloud managed, or the deployment of just APs. This flexibility empowers service providers to offer a multitude of LAN network configurations with minimal cost exposure to themselves or their clients. Service providers can more quickly monetize and increase the return on investment (ROI) by reducing truck rolls, training, inventory management and purchasing complexity. Remote or On-site to reduce cost Flexible software and hardware for any need 100% managed Software-driven with fewer physical parts to deploy and more features to use Flexibility allows continued support of the client as requirements change. For example, if a client needs a centrally controlled system during their initial growth cycle but, subsequently, decides to change to a more IP based solution requiring a distributed platform, there s no forklift hardware vendor change, but a simple service option and billing change. If the customer wants specialized IP Forwarding of data in or to multiple locations while still complying with PCI requirements, there s no additional deployment, only additional support and service options. The AT&T activearc solution helps service providers expand service options over a longer period of time while maintaining a client for longer cycles between upgrades. It enables a service provider to retain a client over a longer extended time, reduce client upgrade cycles, and continually add service options for higher revenue opportunities 4

5 What about the long term? Demand for content will continue to expand for many years to come. Therefore, forklift upgrades every few years, are not a cost-effective solution when dealing with exploding demands. Flexibility, software driven, and enterprise tools from the AT&T activearc solution provide options for better and more efficient ecosystems. The real value to service providers isn t a hardware change every few years, but the per client charges they can manage over a longer period of time. Those charges are not limited to human connections, but include the growing demand for machine to machine communication which is many times larger than with smart TVs, appliances, etc. The increase in mobility expands the communication boundaries. Machine to Machine (M2M) communication is expected to grow beyond 25 billion devices during the coming years. ( The Internet of Things and Change - Will You Be Ready For The M2M World? Robert Wang, Forbes Magazine 7/23/2012) Add that to the over 15 billion devices currently used by people, and it s easy to see how the slow bottlenecking of the IP data networks can t simply be resolved with more bandwidth. There s a theoretical limit to wired and wireless speed by creating more streams and a larger cost impact as demand continues to expand. The explosive expansion of demand for content will fuel growth in both wired and wireless IP connectivity. The AT&T activearc solution allows Managed Service Providers to capitalize on this growth with a unified IP data platform designed to maximize performance in both environments. AT&T activearc Model active500em ARC1000MAP ARC2000MAP ARC3000MAP Product Description 24 Port Unified Controller w/up to 32 AP Support IEEE802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz Single Band FIT/FAT Managed Performance Access Point IEEE802.11a/b/g/n 2.4GHz and 5GHz Dual Band FIT/ FAT Managed Performance Access Point IEEE802.11a/b/g/n 2.4GHz and 5GHz Dual Band FIT/ FAT Enhanced Signal Managed Performance Access Point Contact: Phone: 855.MYARC11 ( ) sales@activearc.att-mail.com support@activearc.att-mail.com Web: International Communications Corporation, Inc. All Rights Reserved. AT&T and the AT&T logo are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property licensed to International Communications Corporation, Riverside, California. Printed in USA. Issue 1.2 AT&T 4/25/14. activearc is the registered trademark of International Communications Corporation, Inc. Swiss Army is the registered trademark of Wenger S.A. Corporation.