Designing a Wireless Network

Jeffrey Wheat, Syngress

ISBN:1928994458, Edition: 1, 2001-06-15

Price: $49.95

Table of Contents

Foreword xxv

Chapter 1 Introduction to Wireless: From Past to Present 1
Introduction 2
Exploring Past Discoveries That Led to Wireless 4
Discovering Electromagnetism 4
Exploring Conduction 6
Inventing the Radio 6
Mounting Radio-Telephones in Cars 8
Inventing Computers and Networks 9
Inventing Cell Phones 11
Exploring Present Applications for Wireless 12
Applying Wireless Technology to Vertical Markets 13
Using Wireless in Delivery Services 14
Using Wireless for Public Safety 14
Using Wireless in the Financial World 15
Using Wireless in the Retail World 15
Using Wireless in Monitoring Applications 16
Applying Wireless Technology to Horizontal Applications 16
Using Wireless in Messaging 17
Using Wireless for Mapping 17
Using Wireless for Web Surfing 17
Exploring This Book on Wireless 18
Summary 19
Solutions Fast Track 20
Frequently Asked Questions 21

Chapter 2 Radio Elements and Frequency Spectrums 23
Introduction 24
Transmitting Radio Signals Over EM Waves 24
Anatomy of a Waveform 25
Modulating a Radio Signal 27
Propagating a Strong Radio Signal 34
Understanding Signal Power and Signal-to-Noise Ratio 35
Attenuation 36
Rain Attenuation 39
Bouncing 39
Refracting 41
Line of Sight 42
Penetration 43
Understanding the Wireless Elements 45
Generic Radio Components 45
Antennas 49
Omnidirectional Antennas 50
Directional Antennas 51
Base Stations and Mobile Stations 56
Access Points 57
Channelizing the Frequency Spectrum 57
Channelizing 59
Channel Bandwidth 59
Channel Spacing and Buffer Zones 60
Multichannel Systems and Channel Offsets 61
Extending the Number of Channels (Frequency Reuse) 61
Seven Cell Frequency Reuse 62
Multiple Accessing 63
Regulating Wireless Communications 64
Regulatory Agencies 64
The Need to Know 65
Regulations for Low Power, Unlicensed Transmitters 66
Summary 68
Solutions Fast Track 69
Frequently Asked Questions 71

Chapter 3 TCP/IP and the OSI Model 73
Introduction 74
Exploring the OSI and DoD Models 74
Layer 1:The Physical Layer 75
Layer 2:The Data-Link Layer 75
Layer 3:The Network Layer 77
Layer 4:The Transport Layer 78
Layer 5:The Session Layer 78
Layer 6:The Presentation Layer 79
Layer 7:The Application Layer 80
OSI and DoD Correlation 81
Understanding the Network Access Layer 81
Using Bridging 82
The Ethernet Protocol 85
Understanding the ARP Process 86
Wireless Protocols 87
Other Network Access Protocols 88
Understanding the Internet Layer 88
The Internet Protocol 89
IP Addressing 91
Conserving Address Space with VLSM 93
Routing 95
The Internet Control Message Protocol 101
Understanding the Host-to-Host Layer 101
User Datagram Protocol 102
Transmission Control Protocol 102
Managing the Application Layer 105
Monitoring Tools: SNMP 105
Assigning Addresses with DHCP 105
Conserving with Network Address Translation 106
Summary 110
Solution Fast Track 111
Frequently Asked Questions 113

Chapter 4 Identifying Evolving Wireless Technologies and Standards 115
Introduction 116
Fixed Wireless Technologies 117
Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service 117
Local Multipoint Distribution Services 119
Wireless Local Loop 120
Point-to-Point Microwave 121
Wireless Local Area Networks 122
Why the Need for a Wireless LAN Standard? 123
What Exactly Does the 802.11 Standard Define? 125
Does the 802.11 Standard Guarantee Compatibility across Different Vendors? 128
802.11b 130
802.11a 131
802.11e 132
Developing WLANs through the 802.11
Architecture 133
The Basic Service Set 133
The Extended Service Set 135
Services to the 802.11 Architecture 135
The CSMA-CA Mechanism 138
The RTS/CTS Mechanism 138
Acknowledging the Data 139
Configuring Fragmentation 140
Using Power Management Options 140
Multicell Roaming 140
Security in the WLAN 141
Piconet 1 Piconet 2
Developing WPANs through the 802.15
Architecture 143
Bluetooth 144
HomeRF 147
High Performance Radio LAN 147
Mobile Wireless Technologies 148
First Generation Technologies 150
Second Generation Technologies 150
2.5G Technology 150
Third Generation Technologies 151
Wireless Application Protocol 151
Global System for Mobile Communications 153
General Packet Radio Service 155
Short Message Service 155
Optical Wireless Technologies 156
Summary 157
Solutions Fast Track 159
Frequently Asked Questions 163

Chapter 5 Designing a Wireless Network 165
Introduction 166
Exploring the Design Process 166
Conducting the Preliminary Investigation 167
Performing Analysis of the Existing Environment 168
Creating a Preliminary Design 169
Finalizing the Detailed Design 169
Executing the Implementation 170
Capturing the Documentation 171
Identifying the Design Methodology 172
Creating the Network Plan 173
Gathering the Requirements 173
Baselining the Existing Network 175
Analyzing the Competitive Practices 176
Beginning the Operations Planning 176
Performing a Gap Analysis 176
Creating a Technology Plan 177
Creating an Integration Plan 178
Beginning the Collocation Planning 178
Performing a Risk Analysis 179
Creating an Action Plan 179
Preparing the Planning Deliverables 180
Developing the Network Architecture 180
Reviewing and Validating the Planning Phase 181
Creating a High-Level Topology 181
Creating a Collocation Architecture 182
Defining the High-Level Services 182
Creating a High-Level Physical Design 183
Defining the Operations Services 183
Creating a High-Level Operating Model 184
Evaluating the Products 184
Creating an Action Plan 185
Creating the Network Architecture Deliverable 186
Formalizing the Detailed Design Phase 186
Reviewing and Validating the Network Architecture 186
Creating the Detailed Topology 187
Creating a Detailed Service Collocation Design 188
Creating the Detailed Services 188
Creating a Detailed Physical Design 189
Creating a Detailed Operations Design 190
Creating a Detailed Operating Model Design 190
Creating a Training Plan 191
Developing a Maintenance Plan 192
Developing an Implementation Plan 192
Creating the Detailed Design Documents 192
Understanding Wireless Network Attributes from a Design Perspective 193
Application Support 194
Subscriber Relationships 196
Physical Landscape 197
Network Topology 200
Network Security 201
Summary 203
Solutions Fast Track 204
Frequently Asked Questions 206

Chapter 6 Designing a Wireless Enterprise Network: Hospital Case Study 209
Introduction 210
Applying Wireless in an Enterprise Network 210
Introducing the Enterprise Case Study 211
Assessing the Opportunity 211
Evaluating Network Requirements 213
Assessing the Satellite Buildings’ Physical Landscape 214
Evaluating the Outside Physical Landscape 214
Evaluating the Current Network 216
Evaluating the Hospital Conference Room Networking Landscape 216
Designing a Wireless Solution 217
Project 1: Providing Satellite Building Access 218
Project 2: Providing Wireless Technology to the Conference Rooms 219
Project 3: Providing Building-to-Building Connectivity 220
Describing the Detailed Design of the Building Links 222
Implementing and Testing the Wireless Solution 224
Project 1: Implementing the Satellite Building LAN Access 224
Project 2: Implementing the HospitalConference Room 224
Project 3: Implementing the Building-to-Building Connectivity 225
Reviewing the Hospital’s Objectives 227
Lessons Learned 228
Summary 229
Solutions Fast Track 230
Frequently Asked Questions 232

Chapter 7 Designing a Wireless Industrial Network: Retail Case Study 233
Introduction 234
Applying Wireless Technology in an Industrial Network 235
Introducing the Industrial Case Study 235
Assessing the Opportunity 236
Defining the Scope of the Case Study 238
Reviewing the Current Situation 238
Designing and Implementing the Wireless Network 239
Creating the High-Level Design 239
Creating a Detailed Design 240
Obtaining a Physical Map 242
Determining User Density 247
Identifying Constraints 248
Conducting the Walk-Through 249
Identifying RF Interface Sources 249
Plan the RF Pattern for the Network 249
Planning the Equipment Placement 250
Determining Where to Place the Access Points 251
Determining the RF ChannelOptimization 254
Identifying IP Addresses 255
Implementing the Wireless Network 255
Selecting the Hardware 256
Installing the Wireless Components 258
Setting Up IP Information 258
Installing the Access Points 258
Install the AP Manager Software 260
Installing the PC Card in Shipping Receiving 260
Testing the Wireless Network 260
Reviewing the Client’s Objectives 261
Lessons Learned 262
Summary 263
Solutions Fast Track 264
Frequently Asked Questions 266

Chapter 8 Designing a Wireless Campus Network: University Case Study 269
Introduction 270
Applying Wireless Technology in a Campus Network 270
Introducing the Campus Case Study 271
Assessing the Opportunity 271
Defining the Scope of the Case Study 272
Designing the Wireless Campus Network 273
The Design Approach 273
Determining the Functional Design Requirements 273
Tracking the Administration Needs 274
Tracking the Athletic Needs 275
Tracking the Academic Department Needs 276
Tracking Student Union Needs 277
Tracking Student Needs 277
Constraints and Assumptions 277
Identifying the Assumptions 279
Identifying the Constraints 281
Planning the Equipment Placement: Detailed Design Requirements 283
Providing Detailed Administration Requirements 283
Providing Detailed Athletic Department Requirements 285
Providing Detailed Academic Department Requirements 288
Department Requirements 290
Providing Detailed Student Requirements 291
Implementing the Wireless Campus Network 292
Implementing the Physical Deployment 293
Implementing the Logical Deployment 294
Lessons Learned 295
Summary 296
Solutions Fast Track 297
Frequently Asked Questions 299

Chapter 9 Designing a Wireless Home Network: Home Office Case Study 301
Introduction 302
Advantages of a Home Network 302
Advantages of a Wireless Home Network 304
Introducing the Wireless Home Network Case Study 305
Assessing the Opportunity 305
Defining the Scope of the Case Study 306
Designing the Wireless Home Network 306
Determining the Functional Requirements 307
Determining the Needs of Management 307
Determining the Needs of the Family 308
Talking to the IT Department 308
Creating a Site Survey of the Home 309
Assessing the Functional Requirements 310
Analyzing the Existing Environment 310
Identifying Current Technology Options and Constraints 312
Investigating Costs 313
Weighing Costs and Benefits 313
Assessing the Existing Environment 314
Developing a Preliminary Design 315
Choosing Vendor Solutions 317
Developing a Detailed Design 318
Implementing the Wireless Home Network 319
Assembling the Network Components 319
Determining Broadband Configuration 320
Installing the Hardware 321
Installing and Configuring the Software 322
Installing and Configuring the Software for the Home Firewall 322
Installing and Configuring the Software for the Wireless Access Point 324
Testing the Network 326
Designing a Wireless Home Network for Data, Voice, and Beyond 326
Current State of the Home Wireless Marketplace 327
A Proposed Solution for the Future 329
Lessons Learned 330
Summary 332
Solutions Fast Track 332
Frequently Asked Questions 335
Designing a Wireless Network Fast Track 337

Index 357