WLAN (Wireless LAN)
A wireless local-area network (WLAN) is a network of computers or terminals connected by radio frequencies. Unlike traditional LANs, WLAN users are free to move about while staying connected to the network. Because of this mobility, WLANs offers business great flexibility when implementing a new network or when looking for new office space. You can implement a wireless LAN in a building not set up for traditional networking, saving the time and expense of making a new space business-ready.
WLANs typically connect users to a corporate network, but they can also connect physically separated buildings. This implementation is referred to as a building-to-building bridge system.
The following are the advantages of WLANs over traditional LANs:
- With LANs, PCs must plug into Ethernet jacks. On WLANs, PCs can access the network from anywhere on the campus.
- With LANs, temporary networks are difficult to set up. With WLANs, temporary networks are easy to set up.
- Users on LANs typically share data files after work sessions due to a lack of connections. On WLANs, users can easily share data and files during work sessions.
Wireless LANs present network administrators with some new isues:
- Unlike fixed Ethernet, WLANs must trade off between throughput and the power consumption of mobile devices on battery power.
- One of the advantages of WLANs is mobility. Therefore, WLANs must employ schemes that allow users to remain connected as they move about a building or campus.
- WLANs present new security issues such as access control and data privacy.
Wireless LANs are meant to complement existing wired networks. Wireless access points (similar to a traditional Ethernet hub) provide access to devices that have wireless network interface cards. The access points connect to an Ethernet switch and are typically configured on their own VLAN. Wireless bridges can provide wireless connectivity as well. This setup allows for longer distance connectivity between buildings, for example. The current wireless standards include 802.la, 802.lb, and 802.lg.
In general, wireless LANs cannot achieve speeds as fast as wired networks. The size of the antenna and the transmission power setting of the interface card determine the distance, speed, and area between the transmitter and receiver. If you must achieve greater distance must be achieved, you can reduce the data rate. Tradeoffs occur between greater distance and faster transmission speeds.
As a user moves from one part of a building to another, the network must be able to switch which access point is associated with the user. This roaming happens automatically, invisibly to the user.
Security is a significant concern with wireless networking. Anyone with a wireless card can walk by a company building and possibly gain access to the corporate network. For example, a teleworker might be running a virtual private network (VPN) from her house to the corporate network and running wireless. Someone could easily access the corporate network with a wireless card from outside that person’s house.
Wireless security consists of authentication and privacy. Authentication ensures that only authorized persons can access the wireless LAN. Privacy provides a means to securely encrypt the traffic on the wireless LAN so that it cannot be intercepted. These means are effective in preventing unauthorized access to the wireless network.