"In situations like this, upstarts like San Jose-based Aruba resemble nothing so much as a crop of ``Survivor: All-Stars'' contestants -- veteran risk takers who know that only one or two will make it as stand-alone companies. And it will take all the experience and energy of experienced leaders like LeBeau and his contemporaries to change the mindset of potential customers and outwit larger rivals.

The idea LeBeau is selling this time is a WiFi switch -- a smarter corporate version of the home wireless computer network, which controls security and other functions from a central computer. Several companies are clamoring for attention in this field. Aruba today is announcing two large buyers: e-commerce company Ariba, which has 200 active users, and Dartmouth College, which plans to add 1,000 access points to its campus.