Uninterrupted Network Connectivity with 24online High Availability (Active-Passive)

It is observed that basic hardware failures like improper power supply, hard disk, or processors failures etc. are one of the main reasons for failure of data-loss and providing continuous connection. In-order to overcome such hardware failures and provide continuous internet connection, 24Online is pushing out a new feature known as – High Availability. This feature allows the user to configure two appliances (cluster) to function as single 24Online appliance that helps in providing high availability. These appliances are configured into primary and auxiliary appliance where in the primary appliance processes the entire traffic and auxiliary appliance monitors the cluster status in standby state. Thus, in-case of failure the auxiliary appliance takes over the primary appliance and processes the entire traffic. This feature helps in avoiding the huge data-loss and providing continuous connection as well as security service. Available on a single platform, 24online is a highly reliable and flexible solution that is easy to install and easy to use.

Complete Mobility with 24online Cross Zone

Franchisees are a necessary means to extend the service provider's area of operations, and providers should be able to create and manage franchisees with ease. They need to ensure that franchisee operations are as smooth as their own. Knowledge of franchisee operations and business processes too is needed to ensure effective franchisee management. 24online Franchise Management can be linked with Zone management. If the service provider has got a large area and network that is difficult to maintain than it can be bifurcated into multiple zones. But, customers need complete mobility by which customers from one zone can easily surf from other networks as well.

Thus, 24online offers a fresh new way to manage multiple zones using Cross Zone Management. With the help of Cross Zone Management, administrator can allow home zone users to access internet from foreign zones. Apart from that administrator can define the ratio of user bill to be added to foreign zone account. Currently this feature is offered to pre-paid users only. Thus, this feature provides an option to the administrator to increase the quality of service, areas of network access as well as source of revenue as well.

Centralized System with 24online POP Management

24online offers an additional feature with its Zone Module, using which large ISPs/hotspots network administrator can merge separate networks running with stand alone NAS providing Internet services can be converted into a centralized network. 24online being highly scalable and flexible solution, the centralized server carries out the maintenance of the users from different POP and authenticates/authorizes as well as performs accounting for the subscribed services. 24online at the same time takes care of the bandwidth QoS and billing of the subscribers as well. Thus, the flow of responsibility for the centralized system becomes much smoother for offering AAA to its configured POP(s) and its subscribers by using centralized billing. POP Management is highly recommended solution for Hotspots and ISPs.

Micros Fidelio integration in process

We are getting inquiries from our existing partners as well as prospective partners to promote 24online in 5 Star and above class of properties. So far Micros Fidelio/Opera was our bottleneck and we were not able to cater to a class of hotels. But now our 24online interface is released by Micros, so once we do one beta installation, we would be able to take leads for the same from worldwide. Already Micros has been approached by one of 24online partners for beta installation from Dubai. Very soon we will be able to overcome this bottleneck and will be ready to take 24online to higher class of hotels worldwide.

24online bags the order of Ramee Group of Hotels in Bahrain

24online penetration in hospitality segment is increasing day by day. Recently we bagged the order of Ramee Group of Hotels in Bahrain for 5 of their properties. Also Fortune Group of Hotels is in our list now after 24online integration with one of the PMS – IDS. Avaya Global Connect a well known name in the industry is also interested in promoting 24online in market and started quoting 24online to their prospective clients.

Another order of HA implementation in SATCOM

We recently received another HA Implementation order from ‘Satcom Networks’-, Tanzania. The solution has to be deployed in their Germany Office. They have purchased four 500i appliances along with User Licenses & Modules. They have said that if this solution works well in Germany, they will implement the same in their Tanzania office as well. So we are keen to provide them the solution at the earliest.

Tile Marine as Partner in Maritime Industry

Tile Marine is an organization working in the Marine field since 1998. They specialize in Marine Telecommunications, Electronics and Tracking solutions, Engine Automation, and Marine Equipment & Spares. Already, they are partners for ‘SingTel’, ‘SeaWave’, ‘Satamatics’ etc. We have also appointed them as our exclusive distributor for Maritime Segment. They have already shown a lot of potential & promise as they have already proposed ‘24online’solution to plenty of companies like ‘C Mobile’, ‘Omni Access’, ‘Speed Cast’, ‘EPAK’, ‘MarLink’, ‘Globe Wireless’ etc. Some of these companies have also shown good interest for our solution as they are eyeing it as an effective & robust solution for Control Mechanism. ‘SingTel’ has already asked for a detailed demo & presentation of ‘24online’ at their premises.

Marine Industry has got a tremendous potential & scope in times to come & let’s hope that we are able to tap this potential together with ‘Tile Marine’, with the help of our robust & flexible solution. Addition of “Tile Marine” in our partners list has opened the doors for 24online to cater to Maritime sector. Tile Marine is exclusively working towards Maritime sector giving IT solutions to ships, cargos etc with VSAT connectivity. They will be promoting 24online to maritime sector along with their VSAT solutions for bandwidth management, reporting and billing purpose. Already Tile Marine has proven their dedication to promote 24online by purchasing advance stock from us.

Elite Core Technologies, BroVis sign Agreement

Elitecore Technologies' product 24online, which is a leading billing & bandwidth management solution, has joined hands with Bro Vis to offer complete Billing and Network management solution catering to the growing market demand.

24online offers its solution to WiMax and Wi-Fi service providers, Broadband and dial up service providers, hotels, hotspots and cafes. It provides time and usage based internet access and to manage subscribers and franchisees.

BroVis ("Broadband Vision") Wireless Networks is a next generation Broadband Wireless Infrastructure Systems Manufacturer providing complete infrastructure solutions for Service Providers and Enterprises globally using WiMAX (802.16e) and WiFi (802.11 a/b/g/n) standards

According to Mr. Nikhil Jain, COO and Director, Elitecore , "Network Management Solutions from BroVis would prove to be a complementary component for the overall solution. It will be particularly prominent in Wi-Fi and Hotspot segments" He further adds, "By integrating the NMS, we would be in a position to provide single interface for hospitality admin, subscribers' management, billing, Wi-Fi and network management."

Excited about the symbiotic tie-up Mr. Muthu Logan, CEO, BroVis said, "Getting associated with a reputed brand as this would take us a long way. Moreover, the tie-up will help BroVis in expanding their service offerings and will lay a solid foundation for 24online by leveraging the well established networking facilities."

24online Offers Secured and Smooth Wifi connection at Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit 2009

Background

Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit 2009 is a biennial global investor’s summit organized by the state government of Gujarat. This event is organized and materialized with an idea of bringing business leaders, investors and policy/opinion makers in the market, under single platform to explore and understand the necessities of best business opportunities. The Global Investors Summit was started by the Chief Minister of Gujarat state Shri Narendra Modi with the glorious Navratri festival in the year 2003. With more than 8500 MoUs signed worth $241 billion in 2009, it offers a booming growth to the industrial development.

Core community of the industrial family from all over the world gathered here for resounding success in 2009. The summit witnessed more than 20000+ visitors per day along with 600-800 foreign delegates. The exhibition was spread over an area of 19, 200 sq. mt and designed in form of five different domes, holding more than 232 stalls from eminent companies of India along with facilities for Internet at conference halls and hotspots for visitors and clients.

The Challenge

24online’s partner client Aster Networks which specializes in integrating WAN & Voice/Video products, multi-vender for security & VPN appliances, enterprise-wide networks and providing continues training, support and value added services. Aster networks deployed its complete solution in the hugely popular even Vibrant Gujarat. The network setup was designed in way that all the domes and conference halls needed smooth and uninterrupted Internet Wifi connection.

And for that highly flexible and scalable solution was required, which could act as DHCP and should be deployable without interrupting the current network set-up. The DHCP will be responsible for leasing of IP address, maintaining the log of leased IP, authentication and bandwidth allocation. The Wi-Fi connection offered to the guests/clients/visitors at the exhibition was zero cost, the solution was expected to be capable of creating pre-paid walk-in vouchers by which customers can directly authenticate themselves with the username/password and start surfing. So, the solution was also responsible for creating package/plans and session building for billing & accounting for all the pre-paid vouchers as well as hold captive portal capabilities as a process of authentication for all the walk-in customers.

Thus, in-order to fulfill the requirement, Aster Networks believed 24online as the best alternative for qualitative and quantitative service.

Solutions

Understanding the network configuration and requirements of partner client Aster Networks as well as the viewing the challenge of multiple role based solution, 24online planned to offer a secured DHCP server with Walk-in pin module. 24online was configured accordingly with 500 concurrent user licenses to offer smooth connectivity of multiple users at the same time. 24online was connected through fiber-optic cables with the WAN network. And at the other end, 24online was connected with multiple L2 switches placed at different locations at the exhibitions where Internet connection was needed. Further, these L2 switches were connected with multiple access points placed at different locations like conference halls, hotspot, company stalls etc.

Administrator is allowed to create multiple packages/plans as per the requirement of the guests/visitors/clients etc. expected in the exhibition using 24online. Packages can be created on hourly, weekly, monthly or yearly basis. These package/plans are offered to the guests with the help of walk-in pin modules.

24online pin module enables these package/plans to be converted into pre-paid pins in printable formats, which can be easily available for purchase at the exhibition counter as pre-paid vouchers. The walk-in pin is provided to end user/walk-in customer with general details about the username, password and accounting details. Walk-in pins enable instant subscriber registration for walk-in customers and allows Internet access. This gave an additional mode for the client to generate revenue using 24online solution.

When 24online DHCP leases IP address to the guest while entering the network, it also displays captive portal web-page requesting username & password for authentication. The captive portal page is also configured accordingly that the administrator can brand themselves to their potential users. Administrator is free to add the company logo and messages on the captive portal web page, and modify as per their choice. Every customer was allowed surfing only after following the captive portal authentication process. After receiving accurate system generated username & password from customer, 24online DHCP server allocates the bandwidth to the customer and allows surfing as per the package/plan purchased by him. With the help of authentication at the user login, 24online restricts and avoids unauthorized Internet access which can incur malicious threats to the network.

24online easily managed multiple login of users and afforded equal distribution of bandwidth to all the customers without any interruption, as per their package/plan selection. Several file sharing, downloads and online presentations were delivered with ease. Administrator was also allowed to create multiple MIS reports on the basis of usage of the guest/visitor/client surfing, usage and IP address. Pulse based rating and pre-paid pins offered immediate access to the customers. Thus, 24online delivered smooth, smart and scalable solution for the promising exhibition in Gujarat.

“With the deployment of 24online, we could achieve smooth and easy distribution of bandwidth, an option to generate revenue and the most important - a secured wi-fi network using pin authentication of the users.Its a highly flexible and scalable product, and we are looking forward to use the product in our upcoming projects with various clients..!”- Mr. Mansukh Bhesania , Managing Director ,Aster Networks