|
Applied Micro Circuits Corp.'s 802.11n enterprise WLAN access point reference design kit for the first time introduces the company's high-performance, low-cost, low-power PowerPC microprocessors into 802.11n access points.
Based on AMCC's PowerPC 405EX processor, the kit has two key elements:
- The Managed Access Point Software product (MAPS) from TeamF1, an industry leader in embedded security and wireless software, and,
- The "Makalu" network appliance hardware reference design platform, developed for AMCC by Senao Networks, a Taiwan-based ODM with extensive experience in enterprise WLAN products.
The Makalu network appliance reference design has a form factor of 151 mm D x 264 mm W x 43.1 mm H and is powered by an AMCC PowerPC 405EX processor operating at a clock frequency of 600 MHz. The processor integrates 256 MByte of DDR2 SDRAM, 64 MByte of NOR flash, two mini PCI Express connectors, two 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports, one USB 2.0 port, one serial port, one JTAG connector, and one trace connector.
The flash image includes Linux 2.6 kernel and U-Boot boot firmware, both provided by Denx Software Engineering, along with a file system that incorporates TeamF1's MAPS firmware.
MAPS is a production-ready software package that combines the latest 802.11 wireless standards with field-proven networking and security components. With MAPS, OEMs can differentiate their Wi-Fi AP products by choosing from a wide range of advanced networking and security modules available from TeamF1 as part of its SMBware platform.
The key features of MAPS include: dual-band, multimode networks (5 GHz and 2.4 GHz) capable of delivering high-performance throughput, Power over Ethernet (PoE); Wireless Distribution System (WDS), advanced 802.11 security standards including WEP, WPA, WPA2, (802.11i) for any generation of wireless security in Personal and Enterprise modes, Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM), which provides improved quality of service over wireless connections for better video and voice performance; and comprehensive management capabilities, with SNMP plus 802.11 MIB support, which enable network administrators to remotely and seamlessly configure, update, and monitor multiple devices.
AMCC provides a fully packaged reference design kit that includes a Makalu reference design board configured with two 802.11a/b/g/n radio cards, an evaluation copy of the TeamF1 MAPS software, a power adapter, all necessary cables and comprehensive user documentation.
Users can set up the reference design, configure a few system settings and achieve a fully-functional enterprise access point within minutes after unpacking the unit. Detailed MAPS and Makalu user's manuals explain all the hardware and software configuration options that are supported and assist customers in fine-tuning the design to meet their specific product needs.
AMCC's enterprise wireless LAN access point reference design kit is available now and may be ordered from AMCC or any authorized distributor using the part number RD-405EX-KIT-01. The suggested distributor resale price is $750.
More information is available at http://www.amcc.com/Sales/.
Customers can license the MAPS software directly from TeamF1. The Makalu hardware design can be downloaded free-of-charge from AMCC's website. Customers can also purchase complete productized versions of the access point in volume quantities directly from Senao.
|
