Wireless LAN Basics, Wireless LAN Networking & uses terms

Wireless LAN Basics

A wireless LAN (WLAN) is a grouping of network components connected by electromagnetic (radio) waves instead of wires. WLANs are used to augment or replace wired computer networks, adding flexibility and freedom of movement within the workplace. Wireless LAN clients enjoy great mobility and can access information on the company network or even the Internet from the warehouse, boardroom or throughout the campus without relying on the availability of wired cables and connections.

Why choose a Wireless LAN?

Why choose a Wireless LAN?
Today's businesses rely heavily on the ability to share information and resources.  A wide variety of industries have discovered the benefits a WLAN can bring to daily tasks and to the balance sheet:

· Mobility - WLANs allow users real-time access to information from anywhere in their organization, without having to find a place to connect to the network with a cable or wire, thereby increasing productivity
· Reliability - Fewer wires and connectors mean fewer problems for users and network managers
· Ease of Installation - WLANs do not require expensive and time-consuming cable installations, which is especially useful in difficult-to-wire areas – no drilling or dropping cables through walls and ceilings
· Affordability - WLAN installation and product life costs can be significantly lower than those incurred with wired networks, especially in environments that require frequent moves and changes
· Scalability - WLAN systems are easily configured and rearranged to accommodate a variety of office settings and number of users, from small to extensive.

How a Wireless LAN works
In a typical WLAN configuration, a transmitter/receiver device, or access point, connects to the wired network from a fixed location using standard Ethernet cable. The access point receives, buffers and transmits data between the components of the WLAN (laptops, printers, handheld devices and other wireless equipment) and the wired network infrastructure. A single access point can support a small group of users and can function within a range of less than 100 to several hundred feet. The access point can be installed anywhere in the facility as long as good radio coverage is achieved.
Users equipped with handheld devices or notebook computers can transmit data to the access point "on campus." These user devices are equipped with WLAN adapters, usually in the form of radio network interface cards (NICs), installed in notebook computers, ISA or PCI adapters in desktop computers, or devices integrated into a handheld unit. These adapters provide a means of communication between the network operating system and the airwaves.

Who uses Wireless LANs?

According to industry analysts Cahners-Instat, the wireless LAN industry will grow from $1.1 billion in 2000 to $5.2 billion by 2005, with significant growth potential for the future. The Dell 'Oro Group, also industry analysts, says the 802.11 WLAN market (including 802.11a and 802.11b technologies) grew 21 percent from the third quarter of 2001 to the fourth quarter, with revenues of $363.3 million. The benefits afforded by WLANs are generating this growth, and within a wide variety of industry segments. WLANs are increasingly popular in such environments as:

· Corporate Information Systems - Network managers can move employees, set up temporary offices, install printers and other equipment without the cost and complexity of wires and cables. Executives can access vital company information from the boardroom through handheld devices equipped with WLAN cards
· Retail - Store owners can equip employees with handheld devices to maintain real-time pricing and inventory information
· Hospitality - Hotels and resorts can process guest reception information, process room service orders and track guest baggage
· Education - Wireless communications among buildings reduces the cost and labor of wiring campuses. Students and teachers can communicate anywhere on campus. No need to visit the computer lab or dorm room to download assignments
· Warehousing - Warehouse workers are able to exchange vital inventory control information without crossing the warehouse floor
· Health Care - Hospital staff can use handheld devices to deliver patient information, track pharmaceuticals, manage assets

WLAN Speed
The speed at which a WLAN performs depends on the products within the network and configuration of those products. The number of users, the distance between network components, the type of WLAN system used and the efficiency of wired network components all influence the overall speed and performance of the WLAN.
Wired network speeds differ as well, but most commercial wired LANs operate at around 10 megabits per second (10BaseT) to 100 Mbps (100BaseT). WLAN components that use the 802.11a high data rate standard perform at speeds as high as 54 Mbps, a nearly five-fold increase from the 802.11b standard. 
802.11 refers to a family of specifications developed by the IEEE for wireless LAN technology. 802.11 specifies an over-the-air interface between a wireless client and a base station or between two wireless clients. 802.11b is an extension to 802.11 that provides 11 Mbps transmission (with a fallback to 5.5, 2 and 1 Mbps) in the 2.4GHz band.
The 802.11a standard, also an extension of 802.11, operates on a new, wider band of the frequency spectrum – between 5.15 and 5.35GHz – that experiences considerably less contention than the 2.4GHz band. The combined results of faster speeds and cleaner air space translate into increased capacity for large file transfers, streaming video and other types of bandwidth-intensive content.

WLAN Security
By their very nature, wireless networks have the potential to provide access to any party in range of the system. That includes potential eavesdroppers outside the physical security perimeter of a network, whether in a parking lot, an adjacent floor or office or the next building. Although the range of wireless networks is limited, wireless signals can be received at distances of several hundred feet beyond the physical perimeter of a facility. In larger facilities that use multiple wireless LAN access points to interconnect wireless users with wired networks, each access point is a potential point of entry inside the firewall.
The WLAN industry recognizes that security is a significant challenge to wireless LAN growth, particularly in the commercial enterprise and government sectors. A number of security standards and tools are available today to ward against potential breaches. Industry groups and companies that make wireless technologies are working together to continually increase the security of wireless communications.
Wireless users recognize the benefits of the technology and need to know how to protect their business-critical data. These users, as well as those who hesitate to deploy wireless technology because of security concerns, stand to benefit from understanding the security options available to them already, even as the industry moves aggressively to provide even more secure protocols. By working with an experienced wireless vendor fully versed in security issues, a company can dramatically enhance the security of its wireless communications system.

Intermec is at the forefront of this issue, working with industry groups to develop and implement wireless security standards. It is committed to supporting and implementing technologies that protect wireless communications. Intermec WLAN products currently include IEEE 802.1x, 802.1a and 802.1b standards, as well as dynamic key rotation, and EAP/TLS and EAP/TTLS security standards, providing a high level of security for wireless LANs running on any platform. (For more information on these and other WLAN terms, see Intermec's Wireless glossary.)

WLAN Costs
WLAN deployment typically involves the cost of access points and adapters, as well as software, installation labor and some IT training. But because worker mobility translates to substantially increased productivity, corporate investments in WLAN equipment and software tend to deliver rapid return on investment. Installation and repairs are less labor-intensive, because cabling is not involved. Moves, additions and modifications likewise are simpler, further reducing labor costs. And the user mobility afforded by going wireless adds to overall productivity – meaning more time to generate profits.

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