Wi-Fi Wireless Local Area Networks Wi-Fi LAN, or

Wi-Fi LAN, or Wi-Fi technology has been available for approximately four years, and has been applied mainly on campuses and in office buildings, though its extension to use by corporations for access from hotels, airports and coffee shops is expected to be the next expansion step (Pappalardo, 2002). Wi-Fi technology is based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11b specification, using the 2.4-GHZ. spectrum to transmit data. This supports data flow rates of up to 11Mbit/sec, but because the access is shared, no one user sees rates this high. To access the services, users sign up with a Wi-Fi service provider and put a Wi-Fi PC card in their laptop to gain access to the Web and email services. At the present time, users have to be fairly close to a hotspot to access Wi-Fi services. Security is the major drawback on Wi-Fi systems, and it is recommended that customers use a VPN client who provides end-to-end encryption.

The IEEE 802.11 Working Group for Wireless and LANS is composed of nearly "400 individuals with voting status who are affiliated with computer, networking and software companies, as well as with consultant organizations and academic institutions" (Kerry and McCabe, 2003). IEEE 802.11 standards are a set of specifications which define how WLAN equipment should be produced so that there is compatibility among equipment made by different manufacturers. The IEEE Standards Association sets s

Related Essays

AT&T Wireless Analysis .... Some wireless local-area network products use the frequency hopping method .... fixed wireless: A perfect ten, Wireless Data News .... SH (2002, May 6), Wi-Fi tips for .... (1821 7 )

Wireless Telecommunications Analysis .... individual to have his own "little local wireless network...within .... com/site/static/ documents/en/US-Wireless-Herperger.doc .... Beyond Wi-Fi: the 5 next big things. .... (7412 30 )

strongest signal. The attacker can let the user log on to his base and extract all the passwords and secret keys, or reject the attempt to logon, but record this data. The second method can be done using standard hardware. One problem for companies investing in Wi-Fi technologies is how to integrate the system with their existing technologies (Fougere, 2003). Unique Wi-Fi security approaches often mean additional security and management devices are needed, heavy network rerouting is necessary, parallel infrastructure is needed, and this can be cumbersome and expensive. Wi-Fi technology, on the other hand, is much in demand by workers on the move and in the field. VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) are widely employed tools for securing data transmissions over untrusted networks, and may provide the necessary adjunct for the expansion of Wi-Fi communications. The server- and client-side infrastructure is already there, and the technology familiar to IT managers. Until the IEEE 802.11i is available, VPNs may be the best choice available. It is expected that the Wi-Fi market will grow substantially once the 802.11g standards become widespread, starting this summer (Vance, 2003). Currently, home use of Wi-Fi is where i

Category: Science - W