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
‹ Wireless (mobile) applications
‹ Technology overview
‹ Recommended products
‹ ACCC Wireless: a secure wireless campus
network
‹ Wireless industry watch
‹ Random thoughts

‹ 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
‹ Comfortable computing arrives s
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 Technology overview
802.11b aka Wi-Fi
‹ Wireless Ethernet (LAN) standard

‹ Wi-Fi — Wireless Fidelity certification

http://www.wi-fi.com
‹ WECA — Wireless Ethernet

Compatibility Alliance
‹ Maximum throughput of 11Mbps

(shared Ethernet (real: 6Mbps at best)

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 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

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 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

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 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 Wi-Fi-compliant peripherals
‹ Types of Wi-Fi NICs: PC (PCMCIA)

cards, Compact Flash cards, PCI NICs

and USB Wi-Fi adapters s
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 Overlapping 802.11b Access Points
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Scaling and aggregating 802.11b AP bandwidth
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Multiple 802.11b Access Points on multiple floors
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 wireless

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An 802.11b wireless-ready ready HP iPAQ Pocket PC
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Pocket PC surfing with the Pocket Internet Explorer
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 ACCC Wireless — preliminary schematic diagram
source: Cliff & Co.
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ACCC Wireless security — detailed preliminary schematic diagram
How will it all works © 2002 University of Illinois, ADN s
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 Recommended 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
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 Recommended 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 s

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 Security for wireless home LANs
‹ SSID — service set identifier
• Do not use the default settings
• Change your SSID regularly
‹ Media Access Control (MAC) address
filtering
‹ WEP — Wired Equivalent Privacy

• Use (turn on) 128-bit WEP encryption

• WEP may be fine for home use s

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 ACCC Wireless campus network
‹ 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 802.1x-
compliant wireless cards
• Not all 802.11b cards are 802.1x-compliant
• Compatible cards list at
www.funk.com/radius/enterprise/compatibility.asp
(click on Wireless LAN Devices)
• 802.11g or 802.11a future support ??

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 ACCC Wireless campus network
‹ Odyssey client program
• Distributed freely by ACCC (CSO, Web)
• Windows Me/98/2000/XP
• Pocket PC (ETA: 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

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 ACCC Wireless campus network
‹ Odyssey Radius authentication and
security server
• Run by ACCC
• 802.1x-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

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 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

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 ACCC Wireless campus network
‹ ACCC Wireless at departments
• Departments must allocate/donate subnet
IP addresses for their departmental
wireless networks

• Departments buy the APs and wireless

cards meeting ACCC Wireless specs
• For more information, interested
departments should contact the ACCC
Networking group — network@uic.edu s

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

‹ 802.11g = 802.11b + 802.11a

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

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 Wireless industry watch
What is Bluetooth?
‹ A personal area network (PAN)

‹ Think of it as infrared communications on

steroids
‹ Wireless wearable fashion show

‹ Bluetooth-ready notebook computers,

Powerbooks, iPAQs, printers, cell phones,
kitchen appliances and 802.11b built into
notebooks, WebPads, etc. shipping … s

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 Random thoughts
‹ ACCC Wireless roaming may require
re-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
Bluetooth, play MP3 and RealAudio and do
HWR, all at the same time? s

Academic Computing and Communications Center February 28, 2003

 Related links
‹ Acceptable Use Policy
www.accc.uic.edu/policies/netpol.html
‹ CDW-G Wireless Reference Guide
www.cdwg.com/wirelessguide
‹ Dell White Paper: Deploying 802.11b (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

Academic Computing and Communications Center February 28, 2003