Chapter-10 Wireless Networking
Chapter-10 Wireless Networking
Chapter-10 Wireless Networking
Objective:
Describe wireless transmission techniques used in LANs. To study the benefits of wireless LANs
10.1 Introduction:
Increased uses of laptop computers within the enterprise, and increase in worker mobility have fuelled the demand for wireless networks. Up until recently, wireless technology was a patchwork of incompatible systems from a variety of vendors. The technology was slow, expensive and reserved for mobile situations or hostile environments where cabling was impractical or impossible. With the maturing of industry standards and the deployment of lightweight wireless networking hardware across a broad market section, wireless technology has come of age. Wireless technologies have become increasingly popular in our everyday business and personal lives. Personal digital assistants (PDA) allow individuals to access calendars, e-mail, address and phone number lists, and the Internet. Some technologies even offer global positioning system (GPS) capabilities that can pinpoint the location of the device anywhere in the world. Wireless technologies promise to offer even more features and functions in the next few years. An increasing number of government agencies, businesses, and home users are using, or considering using, wireless technologies in their environments. Agencies should be aware of the security risks associated with wireless technologies. Agencies need to develop strategies that will mitigate risks as they integrate wireless technologies into their computing environments. This document discusses certain wireless technologies, outlines the associated risks, and offers guidance for mitigating those risks.
wireless networking. The current buzzword however generally refers to wireless LANs. This technology, fuelled by the emergence of cross-vendor industry standards such as IEEE 802.11, has produced a number of affordable wireless solutions that are growing in popularity with business and schools as well as sophisticated applications where network wiring is impossible, such as in warehousing or point-of-sale handheld equipment.
2. Each computer with a wireless interface can communicate directly with all of the others. A wireless network can also use an access point, or base station. In this type of network the access point acts like a hub, providing connectivity for the wireless computers. It can connect (or "bridge") the wireless LAN to a wired LAN, allowing wireless computer access to LAN resources, such as file servers or existing Internet Connectivity.
There are two types of access points: Dedicated hardware access points (HAP) such as Lucent's WaveLAN, Apple's Airport Base Station or WebGear's AviatorPRO. (Figure 2). Hardware access points offer comprehensive support of most wireless features, but check your requirements carefully. Software Access Points which run on a computer equipped with a wireless network interface card as used in an ad-hoc or peer-to-peer wireless network. (See Figure 3) The Vicomsoft InterGate suites are software routers that can be used as a basic Software Access Point, and include features not commonly found in hardware solutions, such as Direct PPPoE support and extensive configuration flexibility, but may not offer the full range of wireless features defined in the 802.11 standard. With appropriate networking software support, users on the wireless LAN can share files and printers located on the wired LAN and vice versa. Vicomsoft's solutions support file sharing using TCP/IP. Figure 2: Hardware Access Point: Wireless connected computers using a Hardware Access Point.
Figure 3: Software Access Point: Wireless connected computers using a Software Access Point.
Installation in Difficult-to-Wire Areas: o Networking obstacles: rivers, freeways o Old building o Hazard materials (such as asbestos particles) when drilling. o Right-of-way restrictions in some city to dig ground. Reduced Installation Time: It may take months to receive right-of-way approvals. Increased Reliability: cable may be damaged for many reasons: accidental cut, storm, rusting Long-term savings: never need re-cabling
Pros/Cons This specification has been extended into 802.11b. Products that adhere to this standard are considered "Wi-Fi Certified." Eight available channels. Less potential for RF interference than 802.11b and 802.11g. Better than 802.11b at supporting multimedia voice, video and large-image applications in densely populated user environments. Relatively shorter range than 802.11b. Not interoperable with 802.11b. Products that adhere to this standard are considered "Wi-Fi Certified." Not interoperable with 802.11a. Requires fewer access points than 802.11a for coverage of large areas. Offers highspeed access to data at up to 300 feet from base station. 14 channels available in the 2.4GHz band (only 11 of which can be used in the U.S. due to FCC regulations) with only three nonoverlapping channels. Products that adhere to this standard are considered "Wi-Fi Certified." May replace 802.11b. Improved security enhancements over 802.11. Compatible
OFDM
OFDM above 20Mbps, DSSS WEP & with CCK below WPA 20Mbps
with 802.11b. 14 channels available in the 2.4GHz band (only 11 of which can be used in the U.S. due to FCC regulations) with only three non-overlapping channels