Building A Wireless Office

by Gilbert Held

Overview

Sales of IEEE 802.11x compliant wireless LANs are literally exploding. Unfortunately the manuals that accompany the equipment do not address topics such as site selection, equipment interoperability with products from different vendors, how to acquire and configure different firewalls, network address translation, and router software that becomes necessary when connecting to the internet. Building a Wireless Office covers these topics and more.

Written for a wide audience of readers who are either considering the use of wireless LANs or need to learn how to use them more efficiently, the text teaches how wireless LANs operate, the difference between currently available and emerging products, and why new wireless LANs that operate at higher data rates may not be suitable nor cost effective for all organizations. Focusing on key topics associated with the construction of a wireless office this how-to guide explains technical issues in non-technical terms.

The text discusses several areas asociated with wireless security that will minimize the possibility of your communication being read by unathorized parties. Building a Wireless Office provides you with information you can use to efficiently and economically construct a wireless office ranging in scope from two computers sharing information over the air, to the interconnection of hundreds to thousands of wireless products.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780203972717
Publisher:	CRC Press
Publication date:	08/29/2002
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	296
File size:	9 MB

Table of Contents

Introduction to Wireless LANs
Wireless Networking Devices
Wireless LAN Network Adapters
Access Point
Types of Networking
Wireless Bridge
Wireless Routers
Wireless Access Server
Rationale for Wireless LANs
Economics
Adds, Moves, and Changes
Roaming
Disadvantages to Wireless LANs
Learning New Technology
Proliferation of Standards
Security
Applications
Home Use
Hospital
College Campus
Office Support
Portals
Book Preview
Technology and Terminology
IEEE Standards
Basic Wireless LAN Operations
The TCP/IP Protocol Suite
Security
Working with Vendor Products
The Future

Technology and Terminology
Basic Communications Concepts
Frequency
Wavelength
Bandwidth
Modulation Methods
Amplitude Modulation
Frequency Modulation
Phase Modulation
Nyquist Relationship
Quadrature Amplitude Modulation
Differential Modulation
Signaling Methods
Infrared
Types of Infrared Transmission
Limitations
Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum
Rationale for Spread Spectrum
Operation
Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum
Operation
Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing
Evolution
Operation
The Frequency Spectrum and Wireless LANs
ISM Bands
Where Wireless LANs Reside
Measurements
Power Ratios
Bel
Decibel
Decibel Milliwatt
Signal-to-Noise Ratio
Channel Capacity
Antenna Considerations
Radiation Pattern
Beamwidth
Antenna Gain
Wireless LAN Terminology
Architecture
The Station
Network Topologies
Ad Hoc Networking
Infrastructure Networking
Access Point Operation
The Distribution System
The Extended Service Set
Media Access Control
CSMA/CA
The Hidden Node Problem

IEEE Standards
Basic Architecture
Layer Separation
Physical Layer Operation
Infrared
Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum
Modulation
Frequency Channels
Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum
Barker Code
Modulation
Comparison to FHSS
Complementary Code Keying
Code Sets
Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing
Frequency Allocation
Scope of Coverage
Physical Layer Operations
FHSS
DSSS
OFDM
MAC Layer Operations
Layer 2: Framing
Protocol Version Field
Type and Subtype Fields
ToDS/FromDS Fields
More Frag Field
Retry Field
Power Management Field
More Data Field
WEP Field
Order Field
Duration/ID Field
Address Fields
Sequence Control Field
Frame Body Field
CRC Field
Management Frames
The Beacon Frame
The Probe Response Frame
Control Frames
Hidden Nodes
Use of RTS and CTS Frames
RTS and CTS Frame Formats
ACK Frame
Media Access
Time Gaps
DCF Operation
PCF Operation

Basic Wireless LAN Operations
Ad Hoc Networking
Adapter Card Setup
Configuring a Wireless Network Adapter
Ad Hoc Settings
TxRate
WEP
PS Mode
Channel
Network Software
Enabling File and Print Sharing
Assigning Identifiers
Sharing Network Resources
Setting TCP/IP Parameters
The Proof Is in the Pudding
Internet Connection Sharing
Installation
Configuration
Infrastructure Operations
Wireless Router Configuration
Access the Router
Configuring a PC IP Address
Configuring the DNS
Gateway Configuration
Using Your Browser
Accessing the Configuration Setup Utility
Using the Setup Wizard
System Name Assignment
Wireless LAN Setup Parameters
Defining the Wired Connection
Defining Address Assignments
Internet Access via the Router
Site Selection

TCP/IP Protocol Suite
The Internet Protocol
Datagrams and Segments
Datagrams and Datagram Transmission
Routing
The IP Header
Vers Field
Hlen Field
Service Type Field
Total Length Field
Identification and Fragment Offset Fields
Flags Field
Time to Live Field
Protocol Field
Header Checksum Field
Source and Destination Address Fields
IP Addressing
The IP Addressing Scheme
Address Classes
Rationale
Class Addressing Overview
Class A Address
Class B Addresses
Class C Addresses
Class D Addresses
Class E Addresses
Dotted Decimal Notation
Basic Workstation Configuration
Reserved Addresses
Subnetting
Overview
Subnetting Example
Host Restrictions
The Zero Subnet
Internal Versus External Subnet Viewing
Using the Subnet Mask
Multiple Interface Addresses
Address Resolution
Ethernet and Token Ring Frame Formats
LAN Delivery
Address Resolution Operation
ARP Packet Fields
Locating the Required Address
Gratuitous ARP
Proxy ARP
RARP
ICMP
Overview
The ICMP Type Field
The ICMP Code Field
Evolution
The Transport Layer
TCP Overview
The TCP Header
Source and Destination Port Fields
Multiplexing and Demultiplexing
Port Numbers
Well-Known Ports
Registered Ports
Dynamic or Private Ports
Sequence and Acknowledgment Number Fields
Hlen Field
Code Bits Field
Window Field
Checksum Field
Urgent Pointer Field
Options Field
Padding Field
Connection Establishment
Connection Function Calls
Port Hiding
Passive OPEN
Active OPEN
The Three-Way Handshake
Overview
Operation
The TCP Window
Avoiding Congestion
TCP Slow Start
The Slow-Start Threshold
TCP Retransmissions
Session Termination
UDP
The UDP Header
Source and Destination Port Fields
Length Field
Checksum Field
Operation
Applications
The DNS
The Domain Name Structure
The Domain Name Tree
The Name Resolution Process
Data Flow
Time Consideration
DNS Records
Checking Records
Diagnostic Tools
Ping
Operation
Implementation
Using Windows NT Ping
Traceroute
Operation
Using Windows Tracert
Tracing a Route
Applications
NSLOOKUP
Operation
Viewing the SOA Record
Protecting Server Information
Finger
Format
Security Considerations
Applications
Security
Security Risks
Architecture
The Role of the SSID
Insertion Attacks
Monitoring Attacks
Masquerade
Broadcast Monitoring
Denial of Service Attacks
Other Attack Methods
Exploiting File Sharing
SNMP Community Names
Accessing a Management Console
Encryption Attacks
Theft of Hardware
Understanding WEP
Overview
Setup Example
Cipher Operation
RC4
Algorithm Operation
WEP Key Definition
Authentication Methods
Open Authentication
Shared Key
MAC Address 201
Vulnerabilities
The IV
Attack Methods
Using the IV
Enhancing Wireless Security
MAC Address-Based Authentication
Use Dynamic WEP Keys
LEAP Authentication
Using Secure Sockets
The VPN Solution
Bar Code Authentication
The IEEE 802.1x Standard
Overview
Cisco Implementation
Orinoco Implementation
Router Access Control
Shielding
Working with Vendor Products
Agere System's Orinoco Wireless Kit
Client Setup
Installation Software
Client Manager
Adjusting the Configuration
Network Name
Security Setting
Power Management
TCP/IP Behavior
Setting Up the Residential Gateway
The Welcome Screen
RG Identification
Specifying the Internet Connection
Settings Summary
Network Topology
Advanced Features
Card Testing
Link Test
Cisco Aironet
Aironet Client Utility
Configuring the Client
System Parameters Tab
RF Network Tab
Home Networking Tab
Network Security Tab
Advanced Settings
Interesting Product Features
Netgear MR324 Wireless Router
System Settings
System Name
Password
DDNS
LAN Setup
RIP Support
Wireless LAN Setup
Port Forwarding
Static Route
Content Filter
Other Features
SMC Networks Barricade Wireless Router
Router Access
Access Control
Virtual Server
DMZ Host
Remote Administration Host
Administrative Timeout
Discard Ping
Nonstandard FTP Port
Interoperability
WEP Key Considerations

The Future
Evolving Wireless LAN Products
Print Servers
Rationale
Types of Servers
Authentication Server
RADIUS
Token Card
Evolving Wireless LAN Standards
The 802.1x Standard
The 802.11g Standard