Drexel Upgrades to Aruba Networks Adaptive 80211N Wireless Network

July 15, 2008

Aruba Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARUN), a global leader in wireless LANs and secure unified mobility solutions, today announced that Drexel University has selected and commenced the deployment of Aruba’s adaptive 802.11n wireless LAN and secure mobility solution at its Philadelphia campus. Drexel is replacing its second-generation wireless LAN to gain the improvements in speed and range brought by 802.11n. After a comprehensive technical evaluation, including real-world testing in residence halls, Aruba was awarded the project based on its ability to provide airtime fairness, active interference avoidance, and client load-balancing based on its Adaptive Radio Management (ARM) technology.“Our side-by-side comparison of different wireless LAN solutions highlighted the value of Aruba’s ARM technology to guarantee predictable service levels in spite of changes in external interference,” said Kenneth Blackney, Drexel’s associate vice president of core technology. “ARM simplifies network set-up, provides predictable network access and performance in densely-packed lecture halls, and ensures ongoing interference-free coverage. ARM detects access point cells with excessive loading, and automatically spreads the load over adjacent cells to provide more consistent performance levels to our faculty and students.” Airtime and throughput fairness capabilities give organizations like Drexel the opportunity to guarantee high bandwidth for newer 802.11n clients or equality for all clients, regardless of which 802.11 technology is used. Reliable service for densely-deployed clients in lecture halls and optimization of radio channels to overcome local sources of interference are further benefits of ARM.Drexel installed its first campus-wide wireless network in 2000 and replaced it in 2004 when 802.11g became available. The Aruba-based network, which will see over 1,000 dual-radio access points deployed this fall, will be one of the largest 802.11n campus deployments to date. “The new DragonFly,” as Drexel’s wireless network is known, “will serve over 40,000 wireless devices at launch with support for 802.11a, 11b, 11g, and 11n,” according to Blackney. Drexel will manage this network with Aruba’s Multi-Service Mobility Controllers deployed redundantly in three campus data centers. “Network load will be balanced and reliability will be achieved to the benefit of users, while our IT department will be able to manage the entire distributed infrastructure as a single entity,” according to Blackney. Aruba’s unified mobility solutions are designed to deliver networks to users by integrating adaptive WLANs, identity-based security, remote access, and cellular-to-Wi-Fi solutions into a cohesive, high-performance system. ARM technology delivers follow-me connectivity by automating network set-up, survey, and maintenance tasks, and continuously optimizing network performance to support data, toll-quality voice, and streaming video applications. In addition, ARM reliably supports Intel Centrino, Apple Macintosh, and the broad array of wireless PC clients commonly used by employees and contractors, a capability not found in single-channel technologies. “ARM technology is a competitive differentiator for Aruba because it targets and resolves real-world performance, interference, and reliability issues,” said Lou Serlenga, Aruba’s director of operations for the eastern U.S. region. “In head-to-head tests ARM technology has proven its mettle, and Drexel University is no exception. We’re delighted to welcome Drexel, Philadelphia’s technological university, to our fast-growing roster of higher education customers.”About Aruba Networks People move. Networks must follow. Aruba securely delivers networks to users, wherever they work or roam. Our unified mobility solutions include Wi-Fi networks, identity-based security, remote access and cellular services, and centralized multi-vendor network management to enable the Follow-Me Enterprise that moves in lock-step with users: • Follow-Me Connectivity: Adaptive 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi networks optimize themselves to ensure that users are always within reach of mission-critical information; • Follow-Me Security: Identity-based security assigns access policies to users, enforcing those policies whenever and wherever a network is accessed; • Follow-Me Applications: Remote access solutions and cellular network integration ensure uninterrupted access to applications as users move; • Follow-Me Management: Multi-vendor network management provides a single point of control while managing both legacy and new wireless networks from both Aruba and its competitors. The cost, convenience, and security benefits of our unified mobility solutions are fundamentally changing how and where we work. Listed on the NASDAQ and Russell 2000® Index, Aruba is based in Sunnyvale, California, and has operations throughout the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Asia Pacific regions. To learn more, visit Aruba at http://www.arubanetworks.com.About Drexel University Founded in 1891, Drexel University is a private, comprehensive, doctoral research university widely recognized for its co-operative education program and focus on technology. With an enrollment of more than 21,000 students, Drexel is the 16th largest private university in the nation. Drexel became the first major university to operate a fully wireless campus in 2000. News Media Contacts: Michael Tennefoss, Aruba Networks, Inc. 408-754-8034 or mtennefoss@arubanetworks.comPatty Oien, Breakaway Communications 415-358-2482 or poien@breakawaycom.comNiki Gianakaris, Drexel News Bureau 215-895-6741 or ngianakaris@drexel.edu

Drexel Upgrades to Aruba Networks Adaptive 80211N Wireless Network

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