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Written by OJ Jonasson
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Tuesday, 06 November 2007 |
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Network architects and administrators now have another option that can be far less costly and complex for network moves, adds and changes (MACs) with the advances in Wi-Fi technology. Rather than ordering up more CAT5 runs, network administrators can now install a wireless card in desktops (if not already equipped) and connect to the enterprise wirelessly. No cabling headaches, no location restrictions, no spare Ethernet ports in the switch to worry about nor the usual delays for related construction work. Just instant gratification. This not to suggest the wholesale replacement of your existing copper forest with wireless links. Rather, it’s an opportunity to make sensible use of the right link layer technology to satisfy the requirements of the MAC request, i.e. necessary bandwidth, security requirements, service delivery time, network reliability, temporary versus permanent, potential environmental factors such as building restrictions and, of course, cost. It’s not a matter of which technology is best, rather it’s making the right choice in the circumstance. Wi-Fi simply adds one more option for LAN connection. A major and complementing factor, 2005 was the first year that notebooks outpaced desktop shipments and virtually all notebooks today ship with 802.11 capability built in. Fortuitously, it is the notebook user that Wi-Fi appeals to since they are typically transient or mobile workers who need portability and network connectivity on the run. Access to the corporate network for e-mail, viewing the contents of personal folders, running applications as well as Internet access can all be securely delivered through a Wi-Fi link. While speed and distance have been an issue, the advent of 802.11n has helped overcome these limitations with distances now up to 70 meters and speeds up to 300 Mbps. Far and away a significant improvement over the older 802.11b distance and speed limitations of 35 meters and 11 Mbps. While the 802.11n is still in draft form, the Wi-Fi Alliance has certified more than 95 vendor products to the 802.11n Draft 2.0 level. An abundance of choices to satisfy even the most discerning buyer, i.e. the vendor biased versus the need for guaranteed interoperability. From the user perspective, Wi-Fi means freedom. Users are able to roam from their private offices to a conference room or even move from floor-to-floor without the need to log off the network – a very nice convenience and with a genuine productivity gain. For the enterprise Wi-Fi offers enhanced flexibility, increased worker productivity and improved customer service that can potentially lead to increased revenues. Wi-Fi is not just another wrench in the network admin’s tool box, it’s an option with major, tangible benefits across the entire enterprise. Some final words of advice: i.) be sure to properly architect and plan out your Wi-Fi network needs before any deployment; and ii.) utilize only Wi-Fi Alliance certified equipment that is industrial strength and . Contact the Author: OJ Jonasson, CMC, CISSP, CWSP, SCSE is an independent Information Technology expert. OJ can be reached by e-mail and his web site.
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Written by OJ Jonasson
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Thursday, 06 September 2007 |
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Trying to get my 4 different Windows boxes (1 - XP Pro/HP notebook, 1 - XP Home/ Dell tower, 1 - XP Home/Dell Inspiron notebook and 1 - Vista Ultimate/Acer Aspire Tower all interconnected with a D-Link DI624 wireless router) to work together, i.e. share printers, files & support Internet access was consuming enormous amounts of my time to no avail.
After spending days & weeks setting and re-setting dozens of Windows parameters and registry settings, some functions would seem to work and then suddenly, for no apparent reason, print sharing, file sharing or whatever would stop working. After months of effort and total frustration, I accidently discovered a product called "Network Magic" from Pure Networks Inc. that solved the majority of these problems. The product is not yet bulletproof as I still have occasional problems with file & printer sharing that seem to come and go - with a little fiddling it's restored to normal - clearly and far & away much better than without the product.
The product is competitively priced ($39 US) for three computers. As well they offer a trial or evaluation version to try before you buy. It has a collection of other very useful features and utilities. Accordingly, if you have a small, local network of Windows-based boxes and your not an MCSE, I highly recommend you give it a road test.
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Written by Jim Geier
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Friday, 23 March 2007 |
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A help desk provides first level support for users. It's the first stop for users having difficulties with the network. Thus when a problem arises, a user should know how to reach the help desk.
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Written by Jim Geier
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Friday, 23 March 2007 |
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A company having a wireless LAN should establish a reengineering function that assesses needs for changes and defines corresponding solutions. Engineering of course is a critical task when initially designing a WLAN, but it's also very important to have available on an ongoing basis. Engineering and maintenance plays together in a way that lengthens the life of a WLAN.
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Written by Jim Geier
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Friday, 23 March 2007 |
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When deploying a wireless LAN, be certain to have a plan for fixing problems if they arise after the network becomes operational. In fact, even try to proactively find trouble spots and mend them before they affect users. This reduces downtime, which certainly makes users much happier.
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