Wireless LANs: Different, Slower, Kinda Cheaper Jim Gogan Director, ITS - Networking
What They Are Not n Not wireless MANs (but…) n Not wide-area data transmissions over cellular or packet radio n Overlap with point-to-point LAN-LAN bridging n Overlap with PANs (the few feet surrounding a user’s workspace) n NOT a substitute for wired LANs!!!
How They Are Connected n Configured with transmitter/receiver (“access point”) that is usually connected to the “wired” network n Accessed by end users with wireless LAN adapters (usually built-in to newer laptops or PCMCIA cards for older notebook computers)
Evolution n Sept b (“Wi-Fi”) extension standardized by IEEE; provides for 11 Mb/sec using DSSS technology in 2.4 GHz band n IEEE also ratified a: uses 5 GHz band to support data rates from 6 Mb/sec to 54 Mb/sec; shares the same wireless LAN MAC protocol as Wi-Fi, but equipment not compatible. n Other standards enhancements completed or underway (more later)
Issues: Coverage n Distance: u function of product design and propogation path (radius: less than 100 ft - more than 300 ft) n Throughput: u b: 1, 2, 5.5, 11 Mb/sec (highest throughput we’ve seen 4-6 Mb/sec) u SHARED bandwidth! n Scalability: u number of clients on each access point depends on number and nature of transmissions (between clients)
Roaming microcells: similar to cellular telephone system; users get “handed off” thru wired net as they roam limited part of standard
Issues: Interoperability n goal is to allow interoperability at Physical layer n Roaming still an issue n Interference from/coexistence with other WLANs (implications of Bluetooth)
Issues: Other n Security: u many security options/provisions included by vendors u provides for optional encryption feature (WEP: Wired Equivalent Privacy - encrypts data portion of packet) n Cost: u varies - wildly
Issues: Other (cont.) n Battery life on notebooks: u at present, can reduce 3 hour battery life to 2 hours u special techniques from different vendors to maximize battery life u Issues with “stand-by”/hibernate power saving n Safety: u less output power than cell phone
Organizations n WLANA - Wireless LAN Alliance u u includes all previous vendors plus a few others n WECA - Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance u
Newer/Developing Standards n majority of stuff to-date: b n a – different frequency (5GHz band); 54 Mb/sec (27 Mb/sec?) n g – 2.4GHz range/compatible with b; 54 Mb/sec (27 Mb/sec? 8 Mb/sec?) n e – traffic prioritization and bandwidth provisioning (coming) n i – security (ties in with WPA – Wi-Fi Protected Access) n r – non-proprietary roaming (2006) n n – 100 Mb/sec (MIMO)