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Among network designers and administrators, wired Ethernet is a known quantity. Plenty is known about how to build good twisted-pair network infrastructures, how to keep them secure, and how to monitor their excess capacity. Not so for the wireless Ethernet networks (built around the IEEE 802.11x standards)–these hold much more mystery for even experienced network designers. 802.11 Wireless Networks: The Definitive Guide aims to codify the body of knowledge needed to design and maintain wireless local area networks (LANs). The authors succeed admirably in this, covering what installation and administration teams need to know and digging into information of use to driver writers and others working at lower levels.

The only significant detail that’s been excluded has to do with security–a notorious weak point of 802.11x LANs. The authors cover the feeble but widely used Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) authentication protocol in detail and devote another whole chapter to 802.1x, which is an emerging authentication scheme based on Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP). The author has considerable skill in communicating information graphically and does a great job of using graphs to show how communications frequencies shift over time and how conversations among access points and network nodes progress over time. This is indeed an authoritative document. –David Wall

Topics covered: How IEEE 802.11a and 802.11b wireless networks (also known as WiFi networks) work, and how to configure your own. The framing specification is covered well, as are authentication protocols and (in detail) the physical phenomena that affect IEEE 802.11x radio transmissions. There’s advice on how to design a wireless network topology, and how to go about network traffic analysis and performance improvement.

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The definitive guide to performing wireless network site surveys, selecting the right wireless equipment, and installing 802.11 wireless LANs

Prepare for a WLAN installation with this definitive guide Perform a proper site survey to ensure the maximum performance of your 802.11 WLAN Compare and choose the right WLAN technologies to match application and users needs Install WLAN products properly taking the unique needs of the users and environment into account

Performing a wireless LAN (WLAN) site survey before installing a wireless network is the key to any successful WLAN deployment. Yet each location and company have unique needs that must be taken into account. 802.11 Wireless Network Site Surveying and Installation helps you understand the challenges associated with any site survey, including multipath mitigation, reflection, absorption, and radio wave interference, plus the added complexity of user and application demands. This book helps you identify obstacles to a successful deployment and guides your equipment decisions to ensure that your WLAN reaches its maximum potential. Use this complete guide to understand the following components of any thorough site survey: The architecture of the access points, cable routes, and electrical needs The proper site survey technique and usage of appropriate utilities The structural and installation obstacles, including building construction, transmission coverage area, building contents, present cable configuration, area regulations, and building codes The documentation that outlines the necessary parts and equipment, and diagrams exhibiting the proper placement of the equipment

802.11 Wireless Network Site Surveying and Installation begins with an introduction to WLAN architectures and definitions and then moves on to site survey methodologies, helping you assess and address your site’s specific needs. The book delves into the installation process for WLAN equipment, including the rules and regulations to which WLANs must adhere, various obstacles that arise when installing WLAN equipment, and ways to connect WLAN products to the wired network.

802.11 Wireless Network Site Surveying and Installation is your complete guide to performing a WLAN site survey and successfully installing your 802.11 wireless network.

This book is part of the Networking Technology Series from Cisco Press¿ which offers networking professionals valuable information for constructing efficient networks, understanding new technologies, and building successful careers.

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