WIRELESS LAN

Presented by
Ching-Man Chong Tracy Tien Johnny Wong Zhong Wei Yu

WIRELESS LAN
WIRLESS LOCAL AREA NETWORK

WIRELESS LAN
Introduction Wireless Technology Wireless LAN Configuration Differences between wired LAN vs wireless LAN Cost-Benefit Study Customer Considerations

INTRODUCTION

Data communications system Alternates wired LAN Transmits and receives data over the air Minimize the need for wired connections Become more popular in general-purpose alternative of business customers. Benefited several industries in productivity and mobility

WHY WIRELESS?
Advantages:

MOBILITY INSTALLATION COST SCALABILITY

MOBILITY
Real-time information access from anywhere at any time Increases productivity and flexibility

INSTALLATION
Fast and easy No cable needed No frustration with wiring Go where wires cannot go

COST

Short run
Initial investment is higher than wired LAN

Long run
Long-term costs is essentially lower than wired LAN Long-term cost and benefits are very important in dynamic and ever-changing business environments

SCALABILITY

Can be configured in different topologies to meet the specification of applications and installations Can be easily changed from peer-to-peer networks (small # of users) to full infrastructure networks (thousands of users)

IN THE REAL WORLD

Not a replacement for the wired infrastructure Great complement to what currently exists Examples
Doctors and nurses

more productive in delivering patients information and status instantly access the Internet to consult the catalog of the Library of Congress provide backup for mission-critical applications

Student

Network managers

HOW IT WORKS

Use electromagnetic airwaves to communicate information Data imposed on radio carrier (radio wave)

RF electromagnetic wave can easily pass through ordinary wall, it needs to implement with heavy concrete or metal screening.

WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY

WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY

Satellite-Based System
Geosynchronous Earth Orbiting (GEO) Low Earth Orbiting (LEO)

Land-Based Network Access System

Wireless WAN Wireless LAN

GEO SATELLITES
Circle the earth from a height of 22,300 miles 3 satellites can be used to provide worldwide coverage used for:

television broadcasts, long distance telecommunications, and various science and military applications

LEO SATELLITES
Orbit no higher than 500 miles above the earth Travel the earth in a couple of hours Multiple satellites needed Allow access to very low-power devices

WIRELESS WAN
Provide nationwide or citywide coverage Example: Ricochet Micro-Cell

Coverage in Washington D.C., San Francisco, and Seattle Source: http://dcs.umd.edu

WIRELESS LAN

Wireless LAN Topology

2 main components

Access Points Adapters

Roaming

Wireless LAN Technology

Types Standard Configuration

ACCESS POINTS
Connects to the wired network single access point can support a small group of users within a range of several hundred feet

Wireless Clients Connected to LAN via Access Point

Source: http://dcs.umd.edu

ADAPTERS
Users used wireless-LAN adapters to connect to access points Implemented as :

PC cards in notebook computers ISA or PCI cards in desktop computers Integrated within hand-held computers

ROAMING
Each access point can provide between 50,000 to 250,000 square feet of coverage Example: Hospital Environment

Source: http://dcs.umd.edu

WIRELESS LAN TECHNOLOGY

Narrowband Technology Spread Spectrum Technology

Frequency-Hopping Spread Spectrum Technology Direct-Sequence Spread Spectrum Technology

Infrared Technology

NARROWBAND TECHNOLOGY
Transmits and receives user information on a specific radio frequency keeps the radio signal frequency as narrow as possible Radio receiver filters out all radio signals except the ones on its designated frequency Example: private telephone lines

SPREAD SPECTRUM TECHNOLOGY

Mostly used in wireless LAN system Trades of bandwidth efficiency for reliability, integrity, and security Signal looks like background noise if not turned to the right frequency

FREQUENCY-HOPPING SPREAD SPECTRUM TECHNOLOGY

Uses a narrowband carrier that changes frequency in a pattern known to both transmitter and receiver Maintain a single logical channel

FREQUENCY-HOPPING SPREAD SPRECTRUM TECHNOLOGY (cont)

Source: www.wlana.com

DIRECT-SEQUENCE SPREAD SPECTRUM TECHNOLOGY

Generates a redundant bit (chip) pattern for each bit to be transmitted The longer the chip, the greater the probability that the original data can be recovered To unintended receivers:

Viewed as low-power wideband noise Rejected by most narrowband receivers

DIRECT-SEQUENCE SPREAD SPECTRUM TECHNOLOGY (cont)

Source: www.wlana.com

INFRARED (IR) TECHNOLOGY

Little used in commercial wireless LANs Use very high frequencies Inexpensive, but provide very limited range (3ft) Typically used for personal area networks Used only to implement fixed subnetworks

WIRELESS STANDARD

IEEE 802.11
represent the 1st standard for wireless LAN standardize radio equipment and networks operating system for wireless LAN Addresses for:

Physical (PHY) layer Media Access Control (MAC)

CONFIGURATION
Peer-to-peer network Client and Access point Multiple access points and roaming Using an extension point Using directional antennas

PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK

Wireless adapter cards

Connect 2 PCs

Client access only to each other, not with a central server

Source: http://www.proxim.com

CLIENT & ACCESS POINT (AP)

Access point
Must be wired to the network Extend the range of the network Allow access from clientto-server and among each workstation Real-world: each Access Point can accommodate from 15-50 client devices

Source: http://www.proxim.com

MULPTIPLE AP & ROAMING

In large facility, more than one AP might be needed to coverage the whole area Access Point range:

Indoor = 500 ft; Outdoor = 1,000 ft

Source: http://www.proxim.com

EXTENTION POINT (EP)

EP can be connected to the network without wiring. EP extend the range of the network by relaying signals from a client to an AP or another EP.

Source: http://www.proxim.com

DIRECTIONAL ANTENNAS
Extend the wireless networks between buildings Antenna must be connected to an AP of the network

Source: http://www.proxim.com

PHYSICAL LAYER

MEDIUM ACCESS CONTROL

A collision may occur when 2 stations transmit data simultaneously Detects the collision and ignores the message Each station that wants to transmit waits a random amount of time and then attempts to transmit again The random transmission delays reduce the probability that the stations will transmit simultaneously again.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
WIRED LAN AND WIRELESS LAN

WIRED vs. WIRELESS LAN

Wired
Link clients, printers, and network equipment using cables

WIRED

WIRELESS

Wireless

Basic building block is the Cell Source: www.breezecom.com

WIRE vs. WIRELESS (cont)

Bridging
Wired

Access point connects to the backbone of a wired Ethernet LAN via a simple cable can be mounted back-to-back with an access point Able to link buildings that are miles apart

Wireless

Source: www.breezecom.com

WIRED vs. WIRELESS (cont)

Cells
Linked Cells (Wired)

user can walk from Cell A to overlap Cell B without interrupting a work session Position Access Points at different locations in the coverage areas with their directional antennas

Multi-cells (Wireless)

Source: www.breezecom.com

WHEN DO YOU NEED WIRELESS LAN TECHNOLOGY?

WHEN?
When you truly need mobility When you plan to move or remodel soon When set up a portable buildings for temporary use When you dont have time to configure and maintain a wiring scheme When running cable is too expensive

Cost-Benefit Study

COST-BENEFIT STUDY

89% successful implementation

92% of respondents believe the definite economic and business benefit after installation 92% continue to deploy wireless technology in their network Payback was less than 1 year across all industries surveyed.
Source: www.wlana.com

COST/BENEFIT STUDY (cont)

Economic Benefits
Payback

Source: www.wlana.com

COST/BENEFIT STUDY (cont)

Broad cross-section of the representative industries with successful implementation of wireless LAN
Education: 23% Healthcare: 23% Manufacturing/Warehouse: 21% Retail: 15% Financial/Office Automation: 18%
Source: www.wlana.com

Wireless LAN Market

WIRELESS LAN MARKET

Customer considerations
Range and coverage Throughput Compatibility Interoperability Interference and Coexistence Licensing issues Simplicity Security Cost Major vendors Scalability

Customer Considerations

CUSTOMER CONSIDERATIONS

Range and coverage

Mostly use Radio Frequency because it can penetrate most indoor walls and obstacles Range varies from under 100 feet to more than 300 feet Coverage can be extended

CUSTOMER CONSIDERATIONS (cont)

Throughput
Actual throughput is product and set-up dependent Affecting factors:

# of users Range and multipath Type of wireless LAN system used

CUSTOMER CONSIDERATIONS (cont)

Compatibility with existing network

Most wireless LANs provide industrystandard interconnection with wired networks such as Ethernet or Token Ring. Wireless LAN nodes are supported by network operating systems through uses of appropriate drivers.

CUSTOMER CONSIDERATIONS (cont)

Interoperability of wireless devices

Different vendors might not be interoperable

Three reasons
System based on spread spectrum frequency hopping (FHSS) will not communicate with direct sequence (DSSS). Different frequency bands will not interoperate even with same technology. Differences in implementation.

CUSTOMER CONSIDERATIONS (cont)

Interferences and Coexistence

Unlicensed wireless transmitting energy in same frequency spectrum can provide interference. (ex. Microwave oven) Co-location of multiple wireless LANs: more wireless LANs, more interferences.

CUSTOMER CONSIDERATIONS (cont)

Licensing
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Wireless LANs operate in portions of radio spectrum: end user does not require license. Manufacturer must ensure certification by agency in that country to distribute the use of wireless LANs. In US: broadcast over ISM (Instrumentation, Scientific, and Medical) bands.

Bands: 902-928MHz, 2.4-2.483 GHz, 5.15-5.35 GHz, 5.725-5.875 GHz.

CUSTOMER CONSIDERATIONS (cont)

Simplicity
Wireless is transparent to users. Applications is same with wired LANs. Only access points is require cabling. Portable from place to place after configured.

CUSTOMER CONSIDERATIONS (cont)

Security
Complex encryption techniques is used. Individual nodes must be security enable before they are allowed to participate in network traffic.

CUSTOMER CONSIDERATIONS (cont)

Cost
Infrastructure costs

Wireless access points. Number of access points deployed ($1,000 to $2,000). Coverage region/type of users serviced.

User costs

Wireless LAN adapters. Price range from $300 to $1,000.

CUSTOMER CONSIDERTAIONS (cont)

Cost of Installation and Maintenance

Lower direct cost

Eliminates direct costs of cabling, labor associated with installing and repair. Reduce indirect costs of user downtime and administrative overhead as it simplify moves, adds, and changes

Lower indirect cost

CUSTOMER CONSIDERATIONS (cont)

MAJOR VENDORS
6 major vendors for the wireless LAN

Aironet AMD Digital Equipment Corporation Harris Semiconductor Intermec Technologies Corporation Lucent Technologies

CUSTOMER CONSIDERATIONS (cont)

Scalability
Adding access points: to extend coverage.

SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT

More to discover about wireless LAN Wireless is very popular and exciting Much knowledge was gained through this project

References

dcs.umd.edu/telecom/library/paper.html www.biz.uiowa.edu www.blackbox.com www.breezecom.com/TechSupport/brztov.htm www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Orbit/2694/wlanl. htm www.k12.hi.us.htm www.proxim.com www.wirelesslan.com www.wlana.com

Take Me Home