Aerohive Networks
Former U.S. enterprise networking company known for cloud-managed wireless networking and acquired by Extreme Networks in 2019.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Aerohive Networks was an American computer-networking company founded in 2006 and headquartered in Milpitas, California. It developed wireless local-area-network equipment, cloud-managed network software, and related enterprise connectivity products for medium-sized and larger organizations. Its customer markets included business enterprises, schools, healthcare organizations, retailers, and other institutions operating distributed sites. The company was associated with a cloud-managed and controller-light approach to wireless networking. Rather than relying exclusively on conventional centralized wireless controllers, Aerohive distributed portions of network intelligence across access points and related software while providing centralized administration through its management platform. This model was intended to simplify deployment and ongoing administration across multiple locations, allowing administrators to configure devices, apply policies, monitor network activity, and manage wireless infrastructure through cloud-based tools. Aerohive's principal product families included HiveAP wireless access points and HiveManager, a network-management platform. Its portfolio later expanded into software-defined local-area networking, classroom-oriented applications, and newer wireless hardware supporting the 802.11ax standard. The company also used partnerships and technology alliances to broaden its ecosystem, including relationships involving Apple, Barracuda Networks, Juniper Networks, Dell, and Synnex. Aerohive financed its expansion through venture funding before becoming a public company. It raised approximately $105 million in reported venture capital financing and completed an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange in March 2014 under the symbol HIVE. During its independent period, the company was recognized on The Wall Street Journal's 2012 list of top start-ups and pursued product, channel, and strategic initiatives in enterprise wireless networking. The company acquired Pareto Networks in 2011, bringing cloud-based routing and management capabilities into Aerohive's product strategy. It also participated in education-focused initiatives, including the ConnectED program associated with Apple in 2014, and launched HiveSchool for K-12 classroom use in 2016. In 2018, Aerohive shipped an enterprise 802.11ax access-point family and the ATOM AP630, described as an enterprise-class pluggable wireless access point. On June 26, 2019, Extreme Networks announced an agreement to acquire Aerohive for approximately $272 million. The transaction closed on August 9, 2019. After the acquisition, Aerohive ceased operating as an independent public company, and its products, technology, and customer relationships were incorporated into Extreme Networks' networking portfolio. Aerohive is therefore best characterized today as a former enterprise networking company and acquired technology brand rather than an independent operating business.
History
Aerohive Networks was founded in 2006 by Changming Liu as a networking technology company focused on enterprise wireless connectivity. The company was headquartered in Milpitas, California, and later maintained 17 additional offices worldwide. Its intended customers were medium-sized and larger organizations, including businesses, schools, healthcare providers, retailers, and other institutions requiring managed wireless networks across one or more sites. Aerohive developed a product strategy around wireless access points, network operating software, and cloud-based administration. Its architecture emphasized distributing certain networking and policy functions across access devices while using cloud services for configuration, monitoring, management, and operational control. This approach distinguished the company from older wireless architectures that depended more heavily on dedicated centralized controllers. HiveAP access points and the HiveManager platform became the principal expressions of this strategy. The company financed its early growth through several venture rounds. It raised $4 million in Series A funding in 2006, followed by a $20 million Series B round in July 2007 led by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. In March 2010, Aerohive completed a $23.5 million Series C round to support expansion of sales and marketing. It acquired Pareto Networks in 2011, bringing cloud-based routing and management capabilities into its broader product offering. Aerohive later raised $22.5 million in a Series E round in September 2012 and obtained an additional $10 million in 2013 while preparing for a public offering. Reported aggregate venture funding before the IPO was approximately $105 million. Aerohive's growth and technology positioning also brought external recognition and partnerships. In 2012, it appeared on The Wall Street Journal's list of top start-ups. The company joined the ConnectED initiative associated with Apple in October 2014, supporting wireless connectivity for schools that received Apple products. In 2015, it announced improved interoperability with Barracuda Networks security products and a technology alliance with Juniper Networks. In 2016, it launched HiveSchool, a browser-based learning application intended for K-12 classrooms, entered a Canadian distribution arrangement with Synnex, and announced a strategic partnership with Dell. The same year, Aerohive released SD-LAN, extending its software-defined networking concept to local-area networks. Aerohive became a public company on March 28, 2014, when its shares began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol HIVE. Its later product development included enterprise-class 802.11ax access points, corresponding to the Wi-Fi 6 generation. In August 2018, the company shipped an 802.11ax access-point family and the ATOM AP630, described as an enterprise-class pluggable wireless access point. Aerohive's independent existence ended through its acquisition by Extreme Networks. On June 26, 2019, Extreme announced its intention to purchase Aerohive for approximately $272 million. The transaction closed on August 9, 2019. Reported transaction information also described an enterprise value of approximately $210 million after taking Aerohive's net cash balance into account. Following completion, Aerohive's products, technology, and customer operations were absorbed into Extreme Networks' enterprise networking portfolio. Aerohive is consequently treated as a defunct independent company and an acquired networking brand or technology portfolio. Public material available here does not establish a complete post-acquisition brand architecture, current product names, or a full executive history.
- 2019
Acquisition by Extreme Networks
[1]Extreme Networks announced the acquisition in June and completed it on August 9, ending Aerohive's independent status.
- 2018
802.11ax product generation
[1]Aerohive shipped an enterprise 802.11ax access-point family and the ATOM AP630 pluggable wireless access point.
- 2016
HiveSchool and SD-LAN launches
[1]Aerohive introduced the HiveSchool classroom application and released its SD-LAN software-defined networking offering.
- 2014
New York Stock Exchange listing
[1]Aerohive completed its IPO and began trading on the NYSE under the HIVE symbol on March 28.
- 2014
ConnectED partnership
[1]Aerohive joined Apple's ConnectED education initiative to support wireless connectivity in participating schools.
- 2012
Start-up recognition and further financing
[1]Aerohive appeared on The Wall Street Journal's top start-up list and raised a reported $22.5 million Series E round.
- 2011
Pareto Networks acquisition
[1]Aerohive acquired Pareto Networks to add cloud-based routing and management capabilities.
- 2007
Series B financing
[1]Aerohive raised $20 million in Series B funding led by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.
- 2006
Aerohive is founded
[1]Changming Liu founded Aerohive Networks, which began developing enterprise wireless networking products and raised its first reported venture financing.
Products and positioning
Cloud-managed enterprise wireless networking and distributed network-management solutions for organizations with medium-sized, large, or multi-site deployments.
Enterprise wireless access points
HiveAP
HiveAP was Aerohive's family of enterprise wireless access points. The devices formed the physical edge of the company's distributed networking architecture and were intended for deployment in business, education, healthcare, retail, and other organizational environments. They operated with Aerohive networking software and management services, allowing administrators to configure wireless infrastructure, apply policies, monitor devices, and support multi-site deployments without relying exclusively on traditional centralized wireless controllers.
Cloud-managed network management
HiveManager
HiveManager was Aerohive's network-management platform for administering distributed wireless infrastructure. It provided centralized tools for provisioning, configuration, policy administration, monitoring, and operational oversight of access points and related network equipment. The platform was a central part of Aerohive's cloud-managed positioning and was designed to reduce the complexity of managing wireless networks deployed across multiple locations.
Software-defined networking · 2016
SD-LAN
SD-LAN was Aerohive's software-defined networking offering for local-area networks, announced in 2016. It extended the company's cloud-management and policy-oriented approach beyond wireless access points into broader LAN operations. The product represented Aerohive's effort to provide software-directed configuration and administration across local network infrastructure rather than limiting its proposition to wireless connectivity alone.
Education software · 2016
HiveSchool
HiveSchool was a learning application introduced for K-12 classroom environments in 2016. It was designed to run through the Google Chrome browser and to function across networks and computers, reflecting Aerohive's interest in education technology beyond access-point hardware. The application complemented the company's education networking business by addressing classroom use and digital learning workflows.
Pluggable enterprise wireless access point · 2018
ATOM AP630
The ATOM AP630 was an enterprise-class pluggable wireless access point shipped by Aerohive in 2018. It was associated with the company's 802.11ax product generation and represented an effort to bring newer wireless performance and deployment flexibility to enterprise environments. The device was part of Aerohive's final independent-era hardware expansion before the Extreme Networks acquisition.
Marketing campaigns
- 2014ConnectED education initiative
United States · K-12 education
Aerohive partnered with Apple in the ConnectED initiative and provided wireless connectivity for schools receiving Apple products. The initiative positioned Aerohive's networking capabilities within a broader effort to support technology-enabled education.
Outcome. The partnership expanded Aerohive's visibility in the education market and associated its wireless infrastructure with participating school technology deployments.
Brand decisions
2019
Accept acquisition by Extreme NetworksM&ABackground
Extreme Networks sought to expand its enterprise networking portfolio with Aerohive's wireless networking and cloud-management capabilities.
Action taken
Extreme Networks announced an agreement to acquire Aerohive for approximately $272 million and completed the transaction on August 9, 2019.
Aftermath
Aerohive ceased to operate as an independent public company, while its products, technology, and customer operations were incorporated into Extreme Networks.
Aggregate purchase price. Approximately $272 million (Announced June 26, 2019; acquisition closed August 9, 2019)
2018
Ship 802.11ax access pointsGeneration changeBackground
The enterprise wireless market was transitioning to the 802.11ax generation, later widely associated with Wi-Fi 6.
Action taken
Aerohive shipped an enterprise-class 802.11ax access-point family and the ATOM AP630 pluggable access point.
Aftermath
The products represented Aerohive's late independent-era hardware generation before the company was acquired.
2016
Launch SD-LANProduct launchBackground
Aerohive was extending its cloud-managed networking proposition from wireless access into broader local-area-network administration.
Action taken
The company released SD-LAN, a software-defined networking product for local-area networks.
Aftermath
SD-LAN broadened Aerohive's product scope beyond wireless LAN equipment, although the available material does not establish its later commercial scale.
2014
Complete public offeringOtherBackground
After raising venture financing and preparing for public ownership, Aerohive pursued a stock-market listing to support its independent growth.
Action taken
Aerohive listed its shares on the New York Stock Exchange under the HIVE ticker on March 28, 2014.
Aftermath
Aerohive operated as a publicly traded networking company until its acquisition by Extreme Networks in 2019.
2011
Acquire Pareto NetworksM&ABackground
Aerohive sought to strengthen its cloud-managed networking capabilities and broaden its product technology beyond wireless access equipment.
Action taken
The company acquired Pareto Networks, a provider of cloud-based routing services.
Aftermath
Pareto's cloud-management technology was integrated into Aerohive's existing networking offerings.
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