Wireless Networking

 

Wireless Networking February 2003

Ed Garay UIC Instructional Technology Lab http://www.accc.uic.edu/itl Academic Computing and Communications Center University of Illinois at Chicago

 

Wireless Ethernet LANs    

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Wireless (mobile) applications Technology overview Recommended products ACCC Wireless: a secure wireless campus network Wireless industry watch Wireless thoughts industry watch Random http://www.accc.uic.edu/seminars/wireless Academic Computing and Communications Center 

February 28, 2003

 

Wireless applications Ubiquitous computing  Being connected everywhere and at all times will change your life  Medical and classroom applications  Just-in-time collaboration  Your backpack and the Internet in your pocket 

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Comfortable computing arrives

Academic Computing and Communications Center 

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February 28, 2003

 

Technology overview 802.11b aka Wi-Fi  Wireless Ethernet (LAN) standard  Wi-Fi — Wireless Fidelity certification http://www.wihttp://www.wi-fi.com  WECA — Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance  Maximum throughput of 11Mbps

(shared Ethernet (real: 6Mbps at best) Academic Computing and Communications Center 

February 28, 2003

 

Technology overview How does is work?  Access Points — stationary transceivers  APs act as broadcast and receive base stations for wireless network traffic  APs can offer encryption, security and other services, including access  Radio frequency signal coverage

typically ranges from 100 to 300 feet Academic Computing and Communications Center 

February 28, 2003

 

Technology overview How does is work?  APs are connected to a wired Ethernet network, a bjack, switch, hub, router, or a cable/DSL modem  Once you have an Access Point in

operation, wireless networking is enabled in its vicinity

Academic Computing and Communications Center 

February 28, 2003

 

Technology overview How does is work?  A wireless NIC is needed to access the wireless LAN with a notebook computer, PDA, Tablet PC, WebPad, wireless printer, wireless Webcam, or

other WiWi-Fi Fi-compliant peripherals  Types of Wi-Fi NICs: PC (PCMCIA) cards, Compact Flash cards, PCI NICs and USB Wi-Fi adapters  Academic Computing and Communications Center 

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Academic Computing and Communications Center 

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Academic Computing and Communications Center 

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Academic Computing and Communications Center 

February 28, 2003

 

Academic Computing and Communications Center 

February 28, 2003

 

Academic Computing and Communications Center 

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Overlapping 802.11b Access Points Academic Computing and Communications Center 

February 28, 2003

 

Scaling and aggregating 802.11b AP bandwidth Academic Computing and Communications Center 

February 28, 2003

 

Multiple 802.11b Access Points on multiple floors Academic Computing and Communications Center 

February 28, 2003

 

wireless

Academic Computing and Communications Center 

February 28, 2003

 

An 802.11b 802.11b wire wireles less-r s-read eady y ready ready HP iPAQ iPAQ Poc Pocket ket PC Academic Computing and Communications Center 

February 28, 2003

 

Pocket PC surfing with the Pocket Internet Explorer Academic Computing and Communications Center 

February 28, 2003

 

ACCC Wirele Wireless ss — prelimin preliminary ary schemati schematic c diagram diagram source: Cliff & Co. Academic Computing and Communications Center 

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ACCC W Wireless ireless securit security y — detailed prelimin preliminary ary schematic schematic diagram How will it all works © 2002 University of Illinois, ADN Academic Computing and Communications Center 

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February 28, 2003  

Recommended Wi Wi--Fi products Access Points  Cisco Aironet 350 Access Points ($800) • ACCC (ADN) familiarity • Very good range coverage • Wall mountable, power-outlet friendly and support for external antennas • Cisco lead in 802.1x security 

Linksys EtherFast Wireless AP + Cable-DSL Router with 4-Port Switch ($150) • Good for home use Academic Computing and Communications Center 

February 28, 2003  

Recommended Wi Wi--Fi products Wireless network adapters  Cisco Aironet 350 Wireless LAN (WLAN) PC cards and PCI NICs ($100)  Agere (Lucent), 3Com, NetGear and Linksys PC cards, Symbol or Socket

Compact Flash cards ($50 to $120)  Stay away from D-Link and other clearance items Academic Computing and Communications Center 

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February 28, 2003  

Security for wireless home LANs 

SSID — service set identifier • Do not use the default settings • Change your SSID regularly

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Media Access Control (MAC) address filtering

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WEP — Wired Equivalent Privacy • Use (turn on) 128-bit WEP encryption • WEP may be fine for home use

Academic Computing and Communications Center 

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February 28, 2003  

 ACCC Wireless campus network 

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Cisco Aironet 350 Series Access Points

• A reliable wireless access point • 802.1x (security standards)-compliant • 802.11b Wi-Fi compliant 802.11b Wi-Fi-compliant and 802.1xcompliant wireless cards • all 802.11b cards are 802.1x 802.1x-compliant • Not Compatible cards list at www.funk.com/radius/enterprise/compatibility.asp (click on Wireless LAN Devices)

• 802.11g or 802.11a future support ?? Academic Computing and Communications Center 

February 28, 2003  

 ACCC Wireless campus network 

Odyssey client program • Distributed freely by ACCC (CSO, Web) • Windows Me/98/2000/XP • Pocket PC (ETA: March March-April 2003) • Macintosh — no release date set by Apple yet • Minimal Odyssey client software configuration • Need to specify your UIC netid and password after installation and to access the ACCC Wireless hot spots

Academic Computing and Communications Center

Academic Computing and Communications Center 

February 28, 2003

 

 ACCC Wireless campus network 

Odyssey Radius authentication and security server • Run by ACCC • 802.1x802.1x-compliant • Signs will indicate locations (hot spots) where ACCC Wireless is available • Public areas (BSB and CCC student lounges, cafeterias, computer labs 4th floor of Main Library, etc.) being done first

Academic Computing and Communications Center 

February 28, 2003

 

 ACCC Wireless campus network 

ACCC Wireless at departments • Departments must use 802.1x-compliant Access Points See

www.funk.com/radius/enterprise/compatibility.asp

• Depts (everyone) must use Dynamic WEP • Departmental wireless networks will tie into existing wired infrastructure

Academic Computing and Communications Center 

February 28, 2003

 

 ACCC Wireless campus network 

ACCC Wireless at departments • Departments must allocate/donate subnet IP addresses for their departmental wireless networks wireless networks • Departments buy the APs and wireless cards meeting ACCC Wireless specs • For more information, interested departments should contact the ACCC Networking group — [email protected]   

Academic Computing and Communications Center 

February 28, 2003

 

Wireless industry watch 

802.11a wireless standard • 54Mbps, fullfull-duplex, shorter distances • Multimedia-friendly, e.g. H.323 v/c • Hybrid 802.11a+802.11b APs shipping

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802.11g = 802.11b + 802.11a • Higher speeds using same 2.4GHz freq. • 802.11b backward-compatible • Endorsed by Apple and many OEMs

Academic Computing and Communications Center 

February 28, 2003

 

Wireless industry watch What is Bluetooth?  A personal area network (PAN)  Think of it as infrared communications on 

steroids Wireless wearable fashion show

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BluetoothBluetooth-ready notebook computers, Powerbooks, iPAQs, printers, cell phones, kitchen appliances and 802.11b built into notebooks, WebPads, etc. shipping …

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Academic Computing and Communications Center 

February 28, 2003

 

Random thoughts 

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ACCC Wireless roaming may require rere-authenticating, especially between departments and/or buildings Wireless can replace wired — true or false? Behind a good wireless network, there is always a good wired one Can my iPAQ be connected to 802.11b and and Bluetooth, play MP3 and RealAudio and do HWR, all at the same time?

 

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Academic Computing and Communications Center 

February 28, 2003

 

Related links 

Acceptable Use Policy

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www.accc.uic.edu/policies/netpol.html CDW-G Wireless Reference Guide www.cdwg.com/wirelessguide

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Dell White Paper: Deploying 802.11b (Wi(Wi Fi) in the Enterprise Network www.dell.com/us/en/gen/topics/vectors_200 1 -wireless_deployment.htm Apple Airport http://www.apple.com/airport Ed Garay’s 2/2002 Wireless Ethernet Talk http://www.accc.uic.edu/itl/reach2002