Upgrading and Repairing Networks

Do You Need a Wireless Network?

After comparing wireless 802.11 networking to cabled network technologies, how do you decide which is best for you? A number of factors should be considered.

A large enterprise with hundreds, or perhaps thousands, of computers will obviously need a large wired network, with LANs connected by ATM, Frame Relay, and other switched network technologies. Deciding where to use Access Points at some locations is a choice to be made by

• The need for wireless networking at that point

• Distance limitations

• The security considerations associated with the placement of the Access Point

In Chapter 23 you will find a discussion of the security implications of using a wireless network, and how encryption and authorization mechanisms can be used to make the network secure.

If a wireless network is needed strictly for peripheral or folder sharing in a small business, an ad hoc wireless network (no AP is needed) is sufficient. However, if the wireless network must be connected to an existing wired network or to the Internet, an AP must be added to the network. You can use an AP with an integrated router and 10/100 Ethernet switch instead of a separate AP, Ethernet switch, and router.

Some businesses require the most stringent security requirements, using other technologies that are discussed in Chapter 24, "Overview of the TCP/IP Protocol Suite," as well as virtual private networks, covered in Chapter 46, "Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and Tunneling."