Meru Networks

{{multiple issues|

}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Meru Networks

| type = Subsidiary

| traded_as = {{NASDAQ was|MERU}}

| foundation = {{start date and age|2002}}, in {{Nowrap|Sunnyvale, California, U.S.}}

| founder = Dr. Vaduvur Bharghavan
Srinath Sarang
Joseph Epstein
Sung-Wook Han

| location_city = Sunnyvale, California

| location_country = U.S.

| area_served = Worldwide

| key_people = Bami Bastani (CEO)
Larry Vaughan (SVP Sales) Sarosh Vesuna (SVP & GM Enterprise BU)

| industry = Wireless LAN

| products = Wireless access points
Wireless LAN Controller
Networking devices

| revenue = {{Nowrap|{{Increase}} USD 90.5 million (2011)}}{{Citation | author = Meru Networks | date = 2012-03-15 | title = FORM 10-K | location = Washington, D.C. | publisher = U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission | url = https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1167294/000104746912002760/a2207994z10-k.htm | accessdate = 2012-05-21}}

| net_income = {{Decrease}} USD 26.7 million (2011)

| assets = {{Decrease}} USD 66.8 million (2011)

| equity = {{Decrease}} USD 32.5 million (2011)

| num_employees = 403 (2011)

| parent = Fortinet

| homepage = {{URL|http://www.merunetworks.com/|merunetworks.com}}

}}

File:MeruHeadquarters.jpg

Meru Networks was a supplier of wireless local area networks (WLANs) to healthcare, enterprise, hospitality, K-12 education, higher education, and other markets. Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, United States, the company made its initial public offering in March 2010, and was acquired by Fortinet in May 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1167294/000119312509255979/ds1.htm |title=Meru Networks IPO |publisher=sec.gov |accessdate=2012-01-04}}

History

Meru Networks was founded in 2002 to address issues with legacy wireless networking architectures that support two separate access networks: a wired network for business-specific applications and a wireless network for casual use. This causes problems ranging from co-channel interference to the inability of micro-cellular systems to scale up.{{clarify|date=February 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.novarum.com/novarum_blog/2009/03/the-limits-of-wlan-capacity.html |title=The Limits of WLAN Capacity |publisher=Ken, Novarum Blog. |accessdate=2012-01-04}} Meru Networks develops and markets a virtualized wireless LAN solution that enables enterprises to migrate applications from wired networks to wireless networks and become what Meru refers to as the "All-wireless enterprise."{{cite web |url=http://www.amatechtel.com/meru.htm |title=AMA TechTel Company Description: Meru |publisher=AMA TechTel. |accessdate=2012-01-04 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111162931/http://www.amatechtel.com/meru.htm |archivedate=2011-11-11 }} The company uses an approach to wireless networking that employs virtualization technology to create a self-monitoring wireless network that provides access to applications, improved application performance, and a greater ability to run converged applications, such as voice, video and data, over a wireless network.{{cite web |url=http://innetworktech.com/technologies/network/meru/ |title=Your Resources at Maximum Efficiency |publisher=Innovation Network Technologies. |accessdate=2012-01-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310033056/http://innetworktech.com/technologies/network/meru/ |archive-date=2012-03-10 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.wifisecured.com/technology-briefs-vidwlan.asp |title=I Need To Run Video Over Wireless LAN |publisher=WiFiSecured. |accessdate=2012-01-04}}

The company’s current products address the IEEE 802.11ac and 802.11n wireless networking standards,{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10351215-94.html |title=802.11n Wi-Fi Standard Finally Approved |publisher=Dong Ngo, CNET News. |date=September 11, 2009}} The company focuses on a “Virtual Cell” approach to Wi-Fi. Under a single service assurance platform, it aggregates access points and the controller needed to manage them. This simplifies the management of access points, cuts the number of access points needed on a wireless network, and eliminates bandwidth contention issues.{{cite web |url=http://channeltechcenter.com/s/a/251.virtual-cells-come-to-mainstream-wireless-networks/ |title=Virtual Cells Come to Mainstream Wireless Networks |publisher=Michael Vizard, Channel Tech Center. |date=November 7, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104041150/http://channeltechcenter.com/s/a/251.virtual-cells-come-to-mainstream-wireless-networks/ |archivedate=January 4, 2012 }}

In 2011, the company was awarded ITP Technology Best Wireless Solution{{cite web|url=http://www.itp.net/585033-network-me-innovation-award-winners-2011?tab=photos&img=18|title=2011 ITP Technology Best Wireless Solution|date=9 June 2011 |publisher=ITP.net.|accessdate=2012-01-04}} and was listed as a Health Management Technology Coolest Products.{{Citation needed|date=December 2018}}

Timeline

February 2002: Meru Networks founded by Dr. Vaduvur Bharghavan, Srinath Sarang, Sung-Wook Han, Joe Epstein,{{cite web|url=http://www.merunetworks.com/corporate/press_releases/index.php?articleID=092309|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231191014/http://www.merunetworks.com/corporate/press_releases/index.php?articleID=092309|title=Meru Networks Kicks Off '802.11 to the Nth Degree Live!' Tour|archivedate=2010-12-31|publisher=Meru Networks|accessdate=2012-04-02}}
June 2005: Company receives $12 million in Series C funding{{cite web|url=http://www.venturechoice.com/news.htm |title=Venture Choice Industry News |accessdate=2012-01-04}}
May 2006: Company receives $25M in Series D funding{{cite web|url=http://www.irg-intl.com/newsletter-archive/email-5-5-06.htm |title=InternetAcceleration News Summary |publisher=Internet Research Group. |accessdate=2012-01-04}}
January 2007: Company receives $27.6M in unattributed funding{{cite web|url=http://www.silicontap.com/meru_networks_gets__7_6m/s-0007866.html |title=Meru Networks Gets $27.6M |publisher=Silicontap.com. |date=March 6, 2007}}
January 2009: Company adds Ihab Abu-Hakima as President and CEO{{cite web|url=http://markets.ft.com/research/Markets/Tearsheets/Directors-and-dealings?s=MERU:NMQ |title=MarketsData: Meru Networks Inc. |publisher=Financial Times. |accessdate=2012-01-04}}
April 2009: Company receives $30M in Series E funding{{cite web|url=http://www.silicontap.com/news/090812.html |title=Meru Boosts Funding to $87.5M |publisher=Silicontap.com. |date=Aug 12, 2009}}
August 2009: Company receives an additional $57M in Series E funding
March 2010: Company goes public with stock symbol NASDAQ:MERU{{cite web|url=http://www.indusbusinessjournal.com/ME2/Audiences/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=74488BAE651C4CE98D22BAD6DE372BBF&AudID=F1B696626A8943B7B50052A323677014 |title=Meru Networks goes public for $65.8M |publisher=IndUS Business Journal. |date=May 7, 2010}}
May 2011: Dr. Vaduvur Bharghavan founds another company,{{cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1167294/000119312511139079/d8k.htm |title=SEC Form 8-K |publisher=SEC |date=2011-05-12}} becomes Advisory CTO
March 2012: Bami Bastani appointed as President and CEO{{cite web |url=http://www.merunetworks.com/press-releases/2012/meru-networks-appoints-bami-bastani-new-president-and-ceo.html |title=Meru Networks Appoints Bami Bastani New President and CEO |date=2012-03-21 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402220736/http://www.merunetworks.com/press-releases/2012/meru-networks-appoints-bami-bastani-new-president-and-ceo.html |archivedate=2012-04-02 }}
May 2015: Fortinet acquires Meru Networks{{cite web|url=https://www.fortinet.com/corporate/about-us/newsroom/press-releases/2015/fortinet-announces-agreement-to-acquire-meru-networks.html |title=Fortinet Announces Agreement to Acquire Meru Networks |publisher=Fortinet |date=2015-05-26}}

Main Products and Services

=Software=

Meru System Director Operating SystemRuns on all Meru controllers and access points, implementing its virtualized wireless LAN technology. As an operating system, System Director runs other applications to deal with the specific requirements of the enterprise. Each application module is integrated with System Director, using its low-level control over the radio frequencies.{{cite web|url=http://www.wifisecured.com/system-director.asp |title=Meru Service Director |publisher=WiFiSecured.com. |accessdate=2012-01-04}}{{cite web|url=http://www.edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2010/10/wireless-management-matures |title=Wireless Management Matures |publisher=Beth Bacheldor, EDTECH. |date=Oct 7, 2010}}
Meru Identity ManagerAllows businesses to provide access to thousands of Wi-Fi devices in the “bring your own device” (BYOD) workplace.{{cite web|url=http://www.zycko.com/manufacturers/meru-networks/identity-manager/ |title=Meru Networks, Identity Manager |publisher=Zcyko Manufacturers. |accessdate=2012-01-04}}
Meru Service Assurance ManagerProvides network-wide operations monitoring and diagnostics for wireless networks and the applications that run over them.{{cite web|url=http://www.crn.com/news/networking/220600702/merus-service-assurance-manager-promises-proactive-troubleshooting.htm;jsessionid=SogK3WcIk6OBtceJX-HlgA**.ecappj03 |title=Meru's Service Assurance Manager Promises 'Proactive Troubleshooting' |publisher=CRN. |date=Oct 13, 2009}}
Meru E(z)RF Network ManagerManages multiple controllers and thousands of access points providing real-time location tracking and location firewall.{{cite web|url=http://www.muniwireless.com/2011/09/07/meru-upgrades-ezrf-network-management-suite/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927064150/http://www.muniwireless.com/2011/09/07/meru-upgrades-ezrf-network-management-suite/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=September 27, 2011 |title=Meru upgrades E(z)RF Network Management Suite, intros Network Management Appliance |publisher=MuniWireless. |date=Sep 7, 2011}}
Meru Spectrum ManagerA spectrum analysis solution.

=Hardware=

Access Points. Built from the radio layer up to support virtualized wireless LANs and, with Meru software, to allow enterprise IT groups to replace wired Ethernet switches at the network edge.{{cite web |url=http://www.networkworld.com/news/2011/050411-meru-wifi.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905112856/http://www.networkworld.com/news/2011/050411-meru-wifi.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 5, 2012 |title=New Wi-Fi gear aims to wipe out Ethernet edge switches |publisher=John Cox, Network World. |date=May 4, 2011 }}
Controllers. Supporting from five to thousands of access points, Meru WLAN controllers synchronize these points to avoid interference and govern all traffic on the network to support more users and backhaul capacity.{{cite web |url=http://www.datacentremanagement.org/2011/10/meru-software-applies-corporate-wi-fi-security-to-private-devices/ |title=Meru Program Relates Corporate Wi-Fi Confidence To Private Devices |publisher=DataCenter Management. |date=Oct 24, 2011 |access-date=February 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304062628/http://www.datacentremanagement.org/2011/10/meru-software-applies-corporate-wi-fi-security-to-private-devices/ |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=dead }}
Appliances. The Meru Services Appliance family is an extensible platform that provides a set of applications for management of 802.11x networks. The appliance collects a range of data from Meru access points, storing it in a common database, where it is used by the higher-level management applications.{{cite web |url=http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/052610-meru-wifi-security-features.html |title=Meru packs diagnostic security features into Wi-Fi management software |publisher=John Cox, Network World. |date=May 26, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130430154008/http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/052610-meru-wifi-security-features.html |archivedate=April 30, 2013 }}

Products and services are sold through value-added resellers (VARs) and distributors.{{cite web|url=http://mobileenterprise.edgl.com/news/SYNNEX-Offers-Meru-s-vWLAN-Through-Reseller-Network70947 |title=SYNNEX Offers Meru's vWLAN Through Reseller Network |publisher=MobileEnterprise.com. |date=Feb 28, 2011}}

Markets

The company focuses on the education, healthcare and hospitality markets. Approximately three-quarters of its global sales come from the Americas, and among its 12,500 customers worldwide are the CME Group and Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.{{cite web|url=http://www.hoovers.com/company/Meru_Networks_Inc/rtsfyhi-1-1njea3.html |title=Meru Networks, Inc. Company Profile |publisher=Hoovers, A D&B Company. |accessdate=2012-01-04}}

While the company’s main emphasis is on the markets noted above, they are not its exclusive focus. In December 2011, for example, Meru announced that it was working with [http://www.ayacht.com/ Ayacht Technology Solutions] to install a new Wi-Fi network at historic, 37,000-seat Fenway Park, the home of Major League Baseball's Boston Red Sox.{{cite web|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/The-Boston-Red-Sox-Gear-Up-iw-2741085740.html?x=0 |title=The Boston Red Sox Gear Up to Support Record Crowds and Wi-Fi Demand at Fenway Park with Meru |publisher=Yahoo Finance. |date=December 20, 2011}}

Acquisitions

On September 8, 2011, Meru announced that it had acquired access control specialist Identity Networks. Founded in 2006 and based in Manchester, UK, Identity Networks develops and markets tools that offer provisioning and notification services that give guests access credentials by way of email, or SMS, and also provide reporting, auditing, and policy customization.{{cite web|url=http://www.crn.com/news/networking/231601155/meru-networks-acquires-access-control-specialist.htm |title=Meru Networks Acquires Access Control Specialist |publisher=Chad Berndtson, CRNs. |date=September 9, 2011}}

Acquisition

On May 27, 2015, Fortinet agreed to acquire Meru Networks for $44M in cash.{{cite web|title=Fortinet Announces Agreement to Acquire Meru Networks|url=http://www.merunetworks.com/press-releases/2015/Fortinet-Announces-Agreement-to-Acquire-Meru-Networks.html|accessdate=27 May 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529192107/http://www.merunetworks.com/press-releases/2015/Fortinet-Announces-Agreement-to-Acquire-Meru-Networks.html|archivedate=29 May 2015}} Fortinet will integrate the Meru Networks team and operations into their organization.