Juniper Networks has agreed to integrate wireless equipment vendor Aruba’s wireless and mobility products with its own switches and routers.
The partnership will enable both companies to develop new technology that could simplify and manage mobile device access to wired and wireless networks.
It comes as the need for providing mobile device users with better, more seamless access is critical, according to Canalys, with the mobile device market is expected to hit 2.6 billion units by 2016.
Both companies plan API-level integration with their respective switching, routing and WLAN products in three phases, according to Jonathan Davidson, SVP of Juniper’s campus and data centre business unit.
In a blog post, he said phase one will combine Aruba and Juniper network management applications, which will allow customers to use a common set of tools to manage Juniper’s wired switches and Aruba WLAN equipment.
Phase two will involve the integration of policy orchestration, which includes defining and deploying network access rules across Juniper and Aruba networks, while phase three will enable the integration of wired and wireless data planes through a published interface on the Juniper EX series switches and MX series routers.
Dominic Orr, CEO of Aruba Networks, said: "The question on the table is not if employees will bring their own mobile devices into the workplace, but rather how those devices will be supported. There’s an urgent need for IT departments to efficiently handle #GenMobile’s all-wireless requirements and the resulting influx of mobile device traffic.
"The resulting right sized network will help automate and accelerate business operations and deliver an integrated mobility experience on which #GenMobile can depend."
Shaygan Kheradpir, CEO at Juniper Networks, added: "With Aruba we jointly deliver a unique, interoperable wired and wireless solution that will enable customers to realise performance, cost, intelligence and simplified management benefits."
