Ubicom adds 802.11 security to IP2022 Net MCU

By Bernard Cole
iApplianceWeb
(01/15/03, 03:10:26 PM EDT)

Las Vegas, Nevada -- Cognizant of the heightened interest in the use of wireless connectivity in many embedded control system, Mountain View, Ca.-based Ubicom, Inc., chose the venue of the 2003 Consumer Electronics Show here to announce the addition of the 8021.11  security protocols to the software modules used to power its 16 bit IP2022 MCU.

The company introduced new evaluation and development kits with 802.1x support that enable OEMs and ODMs to bring enterprise-level security to their 802.11b wireless network equipment at what it claims is less than half the cost of competing solutions.

Unlike competitive systems which offer 802.1x security on wireless access points that sell for approximately $250-500, Ubicom hopes that its software-based approach to adding application specific peripheral support in software rather than hardware will lower the bill of materials (BOM) cost of wireless network equipment to less than half that of competitive solutions.

The new software module for its IP2022 microprocessor is called the d ipAuthenticator and allows 802.1x to operate natively on the Ubicom IP2022 processor. The platform enables an access point to perform authentication pass-through for a Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) authentication server on an 802.11b network. As a result, the network can rapidly identify and verify users to ensure authorized network access. Ubicom's ipAuthenticator module supports all methods of the Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP), including EAP-TLS, EAP-TTLS and EAP-MD5.

    As with any Ubicom ipModule, customers can quickly add 802.1x security to their design with the click of a button, using a unique Configuration Tool that is only available for Ubicom's platform. The tool features a GUI that allows customers to pick and choose from a comprehensive offering of networking features and functions, customizing their design with any combination of Ubicom ipModules. After customers select their desired features, the Configuration Tool automatically builds all of the necessary code, and strips away unused code to conserve memory.

Ubicom's 802.1x security solution is fully upgradeable to the 802.11i and Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) standards currently in development. These standards provide secure encryption capabilities for wireless networks.

According to Bulent Celebi, president and CEO,, Ubicom substantially lowered the BOM cost for wireless devices and networking equipment by taking a ground-up approach to the design of its wireless network processor and software platform. The platform consists of the IP2022 microprocessor and a custom operating system, specialized instruction set, and networking stack software modules. The IP2022 employs a deterministic, memory-to-memory architecture that processes packets directly in memory, reducing instructions and memory size. All communications and control functions are implemented in software. This Software SOC methodology allows the processor to be programmed and reprogrammed to support virtually any networking protocol, according to the company.

A Secure Wireless evaluation kit for $495 is available now and includes an evaluation board, schematics and documentation for creating a secure 802.11b access point. Ubicom is also offering a Secure Wireless Development Kit for $9,995. The kit includes Ubicom's new 802.1x software modules and works in conjunction with Ubicom's recently announced Advanced Wireless Kit (AWK). The AWK includes all of the hardware and software components needed to embed networking connectivity into wireless and device networking products.

Go to http://www.ubicom.com for more information about this product.

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