Wi-Fi (802.11) Network Handbook

by Neil P Reid (Conducted by)

Overview

Aims to help you break free with the wireless networking capabilities of 802.11. This guide provides hardware advice, radio frequency fundamentals, performance tips, architecture requirements, and more. It also aims to provide clarity on connectivity issues for laptop computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and peripherals.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780072226232
Publisher:	McGraw-Hill/Osborne Media
Publication date:	12/05/2002
Series:	Networking Series
Pages:	363
Product dimensions:	7.60(w) x 9.08(h) x 0.89(d)

Table of Contents

	Acknowledgments	xiii
	Foreword	xvii
	Preface	xix
Part I	Moving from Wired to Wireless Networks
1	A Brief History of Wireless LANs	3
	Radio, the Foundation of the Wireless LAN	4
	A Founding Mother of Wireless LANs	5
	Wireless Data Acquisition Systems: The Precursors of the Wireless LAN	7
	The First Wireless LANs	9
	802.11: The First Wireless LAN Standard	11
2	A Summary of Common WLAN Standards	13
	Globalization of Standards	14
	Early Technology Adopters vs. Standards	16
	Technological Maturity	17
	Stability of Basic Design	17
	Interoperability	17
	How 802.11 and Other Standards Are Developed	18
	Introduction of New Technology	18
	Relatively High Interest by Developers	19
	Deployment of Technology to Early Adopters	19
	Standards Definition by One or More Technology Providers	20
	Establishment of Standard by Standards Body	20
	Ratification of Standard by Technology Providers	21
	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers	22
	Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance and Wi-Fi	27
	Competing WLAN Standards	28
	The 802.11 Standard	30
	The HomeRF Standard	34
	The BlueTooth Standard	35
3	Understanding Radio Frequency Fundamentals	37
	Frequency Basics	40
	Power Transmission	41
	Frequency Bands	44
	Modulation	44
	Spreading Techniques	50
	Duplexing Techniques	60
	Error Control	61
	Earth Curvature Calculation for 802.11 Bridges	64
4	The RF Physical Layer	65
	The RF Physical Layer--Layer 1	66
	The Fundamental Radio Elements	66
	The Radio	67
	The 802.11 Radio	67
	The Primary MAC Layer Functions	74
	Antennas	78
Part II	Designing Your Enterprise Wireless LAN
5	Performance, Architechtural, and Interoperability Considerations	91
	Wi-Fi Performance	93
	The Data Rates Supported by Wi-Fi	93
	What Really Matters: Throughput	97
	Going the Distance: Range	110
	Interoperability	115
	Checklist	117
6	802.11a and 802.11g: High Performance Wireless LAN Standards	119
	Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing	121
	Different Bands, Different Benefits	123
	Checklist	135
7	Understanding the Regulatory Environment	137
	They're Here to Help: The Regulatory Agencies Applicable to Wi-Fi	138
	Regulatory Domains	138
	The FCC Regulatory Domain	140
	The ETSI Domain	148
	The Japanese Regulatory Domain	152
	Other Regulatory Domains	153
	Checklist	153
Part III	WLAN Equipment and Component Selection
8	Selecting the Right Wireless LAN Equipment Components	157
	Defining the WLAN Requirements	158
	Migrations of the Technology	159
	Defining Your Technology Requirements	161
	Selecting Necessary WLAN Services	164
	Hardware Selection of the Access Point	166
	Single or Dual Radio Architecture	168
	Selecting the Client Product	171
	Summary	172
Part IV	Integrating WLAN into Your Network Infrastructure
9	Wireless LANs in the Enterprise	175
	What Is the Enterprise?	176
	Wi-Fi Deployment in the Enterprise	178
	Designating Areas	178
	Capacity Planning	183
	Coverage Planning: The Site Survey	186
	Wi-Fi Management in the Enterprise	199
	Maintaining the Infrastructure	200
	Monitoring the Infrastructure	202
	Checklist	202
10	Wireless LANs in Small, Branch, and Home Offices	205
	The Primary Issues to Consider When Selecting 802.11 Equipment	206
	How Will the WLAN Be Used?	207
	Which Protocol--11b, 11a, or 11g?	208
	How Many Access Points?	209
	Which Vendor to Select for Access Points and Client Adapters?	209
	Which Antennas to Select for the Access Points and Client Adapters?	213
	What Security Protocol to Use?	214
	Self-Installation or Professional Installation?	215
	Who to Call If the Network Goes Down?	215
	Where to Acquire Training for the Devices for Deployment and Use?	215
	Summary	216
11	Wi-Fi Security Best Practices	217
	Authentication and Encryption	218
	Authentication	218
	Encryption	222
	WEP: When Equivalency Isn't Equal	224
	802.1X Authentication	229
	Dynamic Encryption Keys	231
	The 802.11i Standard	233
	Different Types of Security for Different Applications	239
	Checklist	242
12	QoS in Wireless LANs	243
	Identifying Time-Sensitive Traffic	246
	Prioritizing Traffic	247
	The 802.11e Standard and WME	247
	Enhanced Distributed Control Function	249
	Hybrid Control Function	251
	Checklist	253
Part V	802.11 and the Last Mile
13	Hotspots: Public Access of Wireless LANs	257
	Where's the Wi-Fi?	258
	Business Models for Hotspots	260
	Settlements and Billing	261
	Regulatory Issues	263
	Early Wi-Fi Service Providers	264
	Checklist	265
14	802.11 In the Service Provider Market	267
	U-NII, 802.11a and the Last Mile	268
	802.11 As Final Mile for Fiber Lateral Bypass	280
	802.11 for Extension of DSL and Cable	281
	Practical Considerations for Using 802.11b for Final Mile	281
	Two Notes of Advice for Final Mile and Service Providers	285
	Venture Capital Aspects of Unlicensed vs. Licensed Spectrum	287
A	Audio, Video, Voice, and Data to a PDA over 802.11 at a Nuclear Power Plant	291
	General Site and Industry Considerations	292
	Site Survey Considerations	295
	Hardware	305
	Software	306
	Security	307
	802.11 Network Uses	309
B	Glossary	311
	Index	345