WIRELESS LAN

Dr. Pardeep Kumar

 WLAN
2

 A wireless LAN or WLAN is a wireless local area

network that uses radio waves as its carrier.
 The backbone network usually uses cables
 WLAN, like a LAN, requires a physical medium to
transmit signals.
 Instead of using UTP, WLANs use:
 Infrared light (IR)
 802.11 does include an IR specification
 limitations, easily blocked, no real 802.11 products
 Radio frequencies (RFs)
 Can penetrate most office obstructions
 WLAN Types
3 infrastructure network

AP

AP wired AP
network

ad-hoc network
 Common Topologies
4

 The wireless LAN

connects to a wired
LAN
 There is a need of an
access point that bridges
wireless LAN traffic
into the wired LAN.
 The access point (AP)
can also act as a
repeater for wireless
nodes.
 Common Topologies
5

 The physical size of the network is determined by

the maximum reliable propagation range of the
radio signals.
 Ad hoc networks
 Are self-organizing networks without any centralized
control
 Suited for temporary situations such as meetings and
conferences.
 Common Topologies
6

 WLANs use the 2.4 GHz ISM and 5-GHz

frequency bands.
 WiFi
7

 Wi-Fi™ Alliance
 WECA changed its name to Wi-Fi
 Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance
 Wireless Fidelity Alliance
 170+ members
 Over 350 products certified
 Wi-Fi’s™ Mission
 Certify interoperability of WLAN products (802.11)
 Wi-Fi™ is the “stamp of approval”
 Promote Wi-Fi™ as the global standard
 IEEE 802.11
8

 802.11a: 5GHz, 54Mbps

 802.11b: 2.4GHz, 11Mbps
 802.11d: Multiple regulatory domains
 802.11e: Quality of Service (QoS)
 802.11f: Inter-Access Point Protocol (IAPP)
 802.11g: 2.4GHz, 54Mbps
 802.11h: Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) and
Transmit Power Control (TPC)
 802.11i: Robust Security Network
 802.11j: Japan 5GHz Channels (4.9-5.1 GHz)
 802.11k: Measurement
 802.11n: High throughput standard > 100Mbps
 Wireless World
9
 Wireless Requirements
10

 High availability
 Scalability
 Manageability
 Open access
 Security
 Low cost
 How do wireless LANs work?
11

 Wireless LANs operate in almost the same way as

wired LANs, using the same networking protocols
and supporting the most of the same applications.
 How are WLANs Different?
12

 They use specialized physical and data link protocols

 They integrate into existing networks through access
points which provide a bridging function
 They let you stay connected as you roam from one
coverage area to another
 They have unique security considerations
 They have specific interoperability requirements
 They require different hardware
 They offer performance that differs from wired LANs.
 Physical and Data Link Layers
13

 Physical Layer:
 The wireless NIC takes frames of data from the link
layer, scrambles the data in a predetermined way, then
uses the modified data stream to modulate a radio
carrier signal.
 Data Link Layer:
 Uses Carriers-Sense-Multiple-Access with Collision
Avoidance (CSMA/CA).
 Integration With Existing Networks
14

 Wireless Access Points (APs) - a small device that

bridges wireless traffic to your network.
 Most access points bridge wireless LANs into
Ethernet networks, but Token-Ring options are
available as well.
 Integration With Existing Networks
15
 Roaming
16

 Users maintain a
continuous connection
as they roam from one
physical area to another
 Mobile nodes
automatically register
with the new access
point.
 Methods: DHCP,
Mobile IP
 Security
17

 In theory, spread spectrum radio signals are

inherently difficult to decipher without knowing
the exact hopping sequences or direct sequence
codes used
 The IEEE 802.11 standard specifies optional
security called "Wired Equivalent Privacy" whose
goal is that a wireless LAN offer privacy
equivalent to that offered by a wired LAN. The
standard also specifies optional authentication
measures.
 Interoperability
18

 Before the IEEE 802.11, interoperability was based on

cooperation between vendors.
 IEEE 802.11 only standardizes the physical and
medium access control layers.
 Vendors must still work with each other to ensure their
IEEE 802.11 implementations interoperate
 Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA)
introduces the Wi-Fi Certification to ensure cross-
vendor interoperability of 802.11b solutions
 Hardware
19

 PC Card, either with integral antenna or with

external antenna/RF module.
 ISA Card with external antenna connected by
cable.
 Handheld terminals
 Access points
 Hardware
20

CISCO Aironet 350 series Wireless Handheld Terminal

Semi Parabolic Antenna BreezeCOM AP

 Performance
21

 802.11a offers speeds with a theoretically

maximum rate of 54Mbps in the 5 GHz band
 802.11b offers speeds with a theoretically
maximum rate of 11Mbps at in the 2.4 GHz
spectrum band
 802.11g is a new standard for data rates of up to a
theoretical maximum of 54 Mbps at 2.4 GHz. 
 What is 802.11?
22

 A family of wireless LAN (WLAN) specifications

developed by a working group at the Institute of
Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE)
 Defines standard for WLANs using the following four
technologies
 Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS)
 Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS)
 Infrared (IR)
 Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM)
 Versions: 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11e,
802.11f, 802.11i
 802.11 - Transmission
23

 Most wireless LAN products operate in unlicensed

radio bands
 2.4 GHz is most popular
 Available in most parts of the world
 No need for user licensing
 Most wireless LANs use spread-spectrum radio
 Resistant to interference, secure
 Two popular methods
 Frequency Hopping (FH)
 Direct Sequence (DS)
 Frequency Hopping Vs. Direct
24
Sequence
 FH systems use a radio carrier that “hops” from frequency to
frequency in a pattern known to both transmitter and receiver
 Easy to implement
 Resistance to noise
 Limited throughput (2-3 Mbps @ 2.4 GHz)
 DS systems use a carrier that remains fixed to a specific frequency
band. The data signal is spread onto a much larger range of
frequencies (at a much lower power level) using a specific encoding
scheme.
 Much higher throughput than FH (11 Mbps)
 Better range
 Less resistant to noise (made up for by redundancy – it transmits at
least 10 fully redundant copies of the original signal at the same time)
 802.11a
25

 Employs Orthogonal Frequency Division

Multiplexing (OFDM)
 Offers higher bandwidth than that of 802.11b, DSSS
(Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum)
 802.11a MAC (Media Access Control) is same as
802.11b
 Operates in the 5 GHz range
 802.11a Advantages
26

 Ultra-high spectrum efficiency

 5 GHz band is 300 MHz (vs. 83.5 MHz @ 2.4 GHz)
 More data can travel over a smaller amount of bandwidth
 High speed
 Up to 54 Mbps
 Less interference
 Fewer products using the frequency
 2.4 GHz band shared by cordless phones, microwave ovens,
Bluetooth, and WLANs
 802.11a Disadvantages
27

 Standards and Interoperability

 Standard not accepted worldwide
 No interoperability certification available
for 802.11a products
 Not compatible or interoperable with 802.11b
 Legal issues
 License-free spectrum in 5 GHz band not
available worldwide
 Market
 Beyond LAN-LAN bridging, there is limited interest for
5 GHz adoption
 802.11a Disadvantages
28

 Cost
 2.4 GHz will still has >40% cost advantage
 Range
 At equivalent power, 5 GHz range will be ~50% of 2.4
GHz
 Power consumption
 Higher data rates and increased signal require more
power
 OFDM is less power-efficient then DSSS
 802.11a Applications
29

 Building-to-building connections
 Video, audio conferencing/streaming video,
and audio
 Large file transfers, such as engineering
CAD drawings
 Faster Web access and browsing
 High worker density or high throughput scenarios
 Numerous PCs running graphics-intensive applications
802.11a Vs. 802.11b
30

802.11a vs. 802.11a 802.11b

802.11b
Raw data Up to 54 Mbps Up to 11 Mbps
rates (54, 48, 36, (11, 5.5, 2, and
24,18, 12 and 6 1 Mbps)
Mbps)
Range 50 Meters 100 Meters

Bandwidth UNII and ISM ISM (2.4000—

(5 GHz range) 2.4835 GHz range)
Modulation OFDM technology DSSS technology
 802.11g
31

 802.11g is a high-speed extension to 802.11b

 Compatible with 802.11b
 High speed up to 54 Mbps
 2.4 GHz (vs. 802.11a, 5 GHz)
 Using ODFM for backward compatibility
 Adaptive Rate Shifting
 802.11g Advantages
32

 Provides higher speeds and higher capacity requirements

for applications
 Wireless Public Access
 Compatible with existing 802.11b standard
 Leverages Worldwide spectrum availability
in 2.4 GHz
 Likely to be less costly than 5 GHz alternatives
 Provides easy migration for current users of 802.11b
WLANs
 Delivers backward support for existing 802.11b products
 Provides path to even higher speeds in the future
 802.11e Introduces Quality of Service
33

 Also know as P802.11 TGe

 Purpose:
 To enhance the 802.11 Medium Access
Control (MAC) to improve and manage
Quality of Service (QoS)
 Cannot be supported in current chip design
 Requires new radio chips
 Can do basic QoS in MAC layer
 802.11f – Inter Access Point Protocol
34

 Also know as P802.11 TGf

 Purpose:
 To develop a set of requirements for Inter-Access
Point Protocol (IAPP), including operational and
management aspects
 802.11b Security Features
35

 Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) – A protocol to

protect link-level data during wireless transmission
between clients and access points.
 Services:
 Authentication: provides access control to the network by
denying access to client stations that fail to authenticate
properly.
 Confidentiality: intends to prevent information compromise
from casual eavesdropping
 Integrity: prevents messages from being modified while in
transit between the wireless client and the access point.
 Authentication
36

 Means:
 Based on cryptography
 Non-cryptographic
 Both are identity-based verification mechanisms
(devices request access based on the SSID –
Service Set Identifier of the wireless network).
 Authentication
37

 Authentication techniques
 Privacy
38

 Cryptographic techniques
 WEP Uses RC4 symmetric key, stream cipher
algorithm to generate a pseudo random data
sequence. The stream is XORed with the data to be
transmitted
 Key sizes: 40bits to 128bits
 Unfortunately, recent attacks have shown that the
WEP approach for privacy is vulnerable to certain
attack regardless of key size
 Data Integrity
39

 Data integrity is ensured by a simple encrypted

version of CRC (Cyclic Redundant Check)
 Also vulnerable to some attacks
 Security Problems
40

 Security features in Wireless products are frequently

not enabled.
 Use of static WEP keys (keys are in use for a very long
time). WEP does not provide key management.
 Cryptographic keys are short.
 No user authentication occurs – only devices are
authenticated. A stolen device can access the network.
 Identity based systems are vulnerable.
 Packet integrity is poor.
 Other WLAN Security Mechanisms
41

 3Com Dynamic Security Link

 CISCO LEAP - Lightweight Extensible Authentication
Protocol
 IEEE 802.1x – Port-Based Network Access Control
 RADIUS Authentication Support
 EAP-MD5
 EAP-TLS
 EAP-TTLS
 PEAP - Protected EAP
 TKIP - Temporal Key Integrity Protocol
 IEEE 802.11i
 WLAN Migration – Cutting The Cord
42

 Essential Questions
 Choosing the Right Technology
 Data Rates
 Access Point Placement and Power
 Antenna Selection and Placement
 Connecting to the Wired LAN
 The Site Survey
 Essential Questions
43

 Why is the organization considering wireless?

Allows to clearly define requirements of the
WLAN -> development plan
 How many users require mobility?
 What are the applications that will run over the
WLAN? Helps to determine bandwidth
requirements, a criteria to choose between available
technologies. Wireless is a shared medium, not
switched!!!
 Choose the right technology
44

 Usually IEEE 802.11b or 802.11a

 802.11b offers interoperability (WECA Wi-Fi
Certification Program)
 802.11a offers higher data rates (up to 54 mbps) ->
higher throughput per user. Limited
interoperability.
 Data rates
45

 Data rates affect range

 802.11b 1 to 11 Mbps in 4 increments
 802.11a 6 to 54 Mbps in 7 increments
 The minimum data rate must be determined at
design time
 Selecting only the highest data rate will require a
greater number of APs to cover a specific area
 Compromise between data rates and overall system
cost
 Access Point Placement and Power
46

 Typically – mounted at ceiling height.

 Between 15 and 25 feet (4.5m to 8m)
 The greater the height, the greater the difficulty to
get power to the unit. Solution: consider devices
that can be powered using CAT5 Ethernet cable
(CISCO Aironet 1200 Series).
 Access points have internal or external antennas
 Antenna Selection and Placement
47

 Permanently attached.
 Remote antennas connected using an antenna cable.
 Coax cable used for RF has a high signal loss,
should not be mounted more than a 1 or 2 meters
away from the device.
 Placement: consider building construction, ceiling
height, obstacles, and aesthetics. Different
materials (cement, steel) have different radio
propagation characteristics.
 Connecting to the Wired LAN
48

 Consider user mobility

 If users move between subnets, there are challenges
to consider.
 OSes like Windows XP and 2000, Linux support
DHCP to obtain the new IP address for the subnet.
Certain applications such as VPN will fail.
 Solution: access points in a roaming area are on the
same segment.
 The Site Survey
49

 Helps define the coverage areas, data rates, the

precise placement of access point.
 Gather information: diagramming the coverage
area and measuring the signal strength, SNR
(signal to noise ratio), RF interference levels
 Site Survey
50
 Vendor Information
51

 CISCO Systems Wireless

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/44/jump/wireless.shtml
 3Com Wireless
http://www.3com.com/products/en_US/prodlist.jsp?
tab=cat&pathtype=purchase&cat=13&selcat=Wireless+Products
 Breeze Wireless Communications
http://www.breezecom.com
 Lucent Technologies
http://www.wavelan.com
 Symbol Technologies http://www.symbol.com
 References
52

 CISCO Packet Magazine, 2nd Quarter 2002

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/about/ac123/ac114/ac
173/ac168/about_cisco_packet_issue_home.html
 3Com University – Wireless LANs A Technology
Overview www.3com.com/3comu
 National Institute of Standards and Technology
Wireless Network Security
http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/drafts/draft-sp800-
48.pdf