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Semtech, a provider of analog and
mixed-signal semiconductor products, wanted to deploy a Wi-Fi solution that
would enable its 650 employees located in 13 facilities worldwide to
collaborate efficiently in real time. The company had an existing Wi-Fi
network, but it lacked the capacity and coverage needed to deliver the
required bandwidth for its corporate headquarters.
Semtech’s primary goal was to deploy a Wi-Fi network that would allow its
more than 150 mobile users to easily connect to corporate services while
traveling throughout the 100,000-square-foot corporate
headquarters–increasing the collaboration and efficiency of the employees.
The company’s 802.11b/g network lacked the radio-frequency strength to
penetrate throughout the facility, created interference problems on all
three non-overlapping 802.11b/g channels (1, 6 and 11), and lacked the clean
spectrum and increased capacity of 802.11a.
Wireless users continually experienced problems and slow data rates
accessing the network, which led to growing frustration and calls to the IT
department. Making matters worse, the network lacked user authentication and
rogue access point detection, creating a security hole and liability for the
company.
“We needed a powerful wireless network that would stand on its own,
providing the bandwidth needed for our corporate applications and making it
easier for me to manage,” says Mike Panesis, vice president of IT for
Semtech. The choice came down to wireless products from Xirrus.
“With Xirrus’ central-management system console, I can oversee where
everyone is logged on and control the wireless deployment from a central
location,” explains Panesis. “We first began with two of the Xirrus arrays
and have since expanded, which has resulted in complete coverage throughout
the buildings at our headquarters. We like that the solution can accommodate
large groups, including our quarterly sales group meetings where our usage
increases up to 400%.”
Semtech required ease of use for connecting traveling users to corporate
services, access to corporate IT resources when collaborating on projects
and enough bandwidth to accommodate 150 users over a 100,000-square-foot
area. Additionally, it needed complete 802.11a/b/g coverage throughout the
corporate facility, multilevel security to address user authentication,
rogue access point detection, encryption and policy management.
Semtech chose to use one Xirrus XS-3900 and four XS-3700–WLAN arrays,
providing more than 2.5 Gbps of Wi-Fi bandwidth. The arrays provide seamless
connectivity for traveling users throughout the facility, improved
collaboration and increased productivity among employees.
To test the system’s coverage, Panesis deployed one WLAN array in the lobby.
The entire first floor, approximately 50,000 square feet, was covered,
providing more than 800 Mbps of Wi-Fi bandwidth and capable of supporting
more than 1,000 users.
To provide the growing number of Wi-Fi users with sufficient bandwidth,
Semtech deployed one XS-3900 and two XS-3700 WLAN arrays upstairs and two
XS-3700 WLAN arrays downstairs, delivering more than 2.5 Gbps of Wi-Fi
bandwidth to support as many as 3,072 users.
Semtech also now has the latest in Wi-Fi security, including: physical
(chassis), radio layer, MAC (Layer 2), user layer and network-wide.
“This solution was the most cost-effective method of providing Wi-Fi to our
buildings,” offers Panesis. “We know we will start to see ROI since the
solution requires less support time and zero troubleshooting. Although, at
the moment, none of our other offices are large enough to deploy the
solution, we will deploy more of its arrays, as needed, to account for the
growth in our company.”
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