D-LINK now shipping business-class 802.11N WLAN for the SMB

Versatile Dual Band Access Points with PoE Provide Superior Bandwidth and Coverage; Plenum-rated Chassis Option
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. — D-Link, the end-to-end networking solutions provider for consumer and business, today announced its first 802.11n WLAN solutions geared specifically for the small to medium business (SMB). The wireless access points (APs) offer superior bandwidth and coverage, multiple operation modes, flexible management and Power over Ethernet (PoE) capabilities.

Now shipping is a Plenum-rated chassis version of the AirPremier® N Dual Band Access Point (DAP-2590). It offers robust features tailored for the SMB and is housed in rugged metal housing for adherence to strict fire codes for placement in air passageways.

Also available in Q4, 2008 will be the non-Plenum-rated version of the Dual Band Access Point (DAP-2553), a versatile solution for the growing businesses seeking to deploy next-generation 802.11n Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN). It is designed specifically for SMB environments to provide secure and manageable dual band wireless LAN options for network administrators.

For advanced installation, both D-Link® high-speed APs include integrated 802.3af PoE support, allowing the device to be mounted in locations where power outlets may not be readily available.

With three detachable antennas, both new APs provide optimal coverage with maximum wireless signal rates of up to 300Mbps* in either the 2.4GHz or 5GHz wireless band. This, coupled with support for Wi-Fi Multimedia™ (WMM®) Quality of Service features, makes an ideal access point for data, video, and voice applications.

“These new 11n APs provide all the advanced features of the AirPremier Series including multiple operation modes and flexible management,” said A.J. Wang, Chief Technology Officer, D-Link. “They are designed for the SMB looking for the benefits of a selectable dual band access point while maintaining backward compatibility to 802.11a and 802.11g – and are ideal for indoor mounting because they offer the option of a Plenum-rated chassis.”

To help maintain a secure wireless network, the AirPremier N Dual Band Access Points support both Personal and Enterprise versions of WPA and WPA2 (802.11i) with support for RADIUS server backend, and Microsoft Network Access Protection (NAP) that restricts access based on a client PC’s identity and compliance with corporate governance. Additional safety measures include MAC Address Filtering, Wireless LAN Segmentation, Disable SSID Broadcast, Rogue AP Detection, and Wireless Broadcast Scheduling.

Both business-class wireless access points are equipped with multiple operation modes, such as AP, Wireless Distribution System (WDS), WDS with AP, and Wireless Client, so they can be configured to optimize network performance and can be configured to bridge with one another while also providing network access to additional clients.

The D-Link AirPremier N Dual Band PoE Access Points also include advanced features such as Load Balancing for managing traffic volume, and Spanning Tree Protocol. Included at no charge is D-Link’s AP Manager II software that allows management across subnet boundaries. AP Manager II offers ease of management, allowing the user to manage the new DAP-2590 and DAP-2553, but also legacy APs including the DWL-3200AP, DWL-8200AP, DWL-2700AP and DWL-7700AP, providing users with the option to mix and match these models and monitor at a central point.

Price and Availability

Both the DAP-2553 and DAP-2590 802.11n access points will be available from D-Link’s vast network of value-added resellers (VARs), solution providers and distributors, and at the company’s online store, www.dlinkshop.com. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices (MSRP) are $179.99 and $409.99, respectively.