Computer networking question

[Carp]

Does anyone have any experience with wireless networks? I am thinking of installing an 802.11a newtork acces point in our office, conecting not more than 4 machines thorugh it- proably a d-link unit.

Has anyone got any direct experience with this? Any recomendations? Thoughts?

Thanks

 

[HeavyStick]

yes

Follow onscreen directions provided by the hub manufacturer. go with a hardware firewall and disable sharing except to the printer.


go here

http://www.pcmag.com/

 

[Carp]

Thanks Heavy. I haven't found much joy in PCMag yet, but will keep looking.

Carp

 

[HeavyStick]

if you're using windows 2000 or XP, it'll walk you through the process.

try a search hotwired.com for networking.

 

[The Heretic]

Does anyone have any experience with wireless networks? I am thinking of installing an 802.11a newtork acces point in our office, conecting not more than 4 machines thorugh it- proably a d-link unit.

Has anyone got any direct experience with this? Any recomendations? Thoughts?

Thanks

HS talked about sharing, but I will repeat this just so you don't miss it; explore the security aspects of whatever network you choose. You should look for encryption and other security features and enable them when you install it. About 60+% of wireless networks out there are totally unsecured, and there are significant number of people who will hack in to your network if you leave it open for them.

Also, you should examine frequency allocation, especially if you have neighbors near you who may also be using wireless networks.

 

[Carp]

I am located in an office building in downtown, with condos on the top floors, and ofices on the bottom three floors. I am located on the bottom (basement) floor. Is there any way to determine if there are other wireless networks running close enough to interfere with mine?

 

[Guest]

 

[Tap-Out]

I am located in an office building in downtown, with condos on the top floors, and ofices on the bottom three floors. I am located on the bottom (basement) floor. Is there any way to determine if there are other wireless networks running close enough to interfere with mine?

Oh yeah. Just run around with a laptop with a wireless card and make sure it's set to automatically get an ip address. If you connect to a network that's not your own then you know there is another wireless network near by. Very similer to "war driving" except you're not driving.

 

[The Heretic]

I am located in an office building in downtown, with condos on the top floors, and ofices on the bottom three floors. I am located on the bottom (basement) floor. Is there any way to determine if there are other wireless networks running close enough to interfere with mine?

As Tap-Out suggested, you can go spelunking for wireless networks, but it would probably just be better to ask. Most of these networks use Spread Spectrum modulation tech, so there can be some overlap, but the spectrum can get crowded, and such things as microwaves and 2.4 gHz wireless phones can cause problems.

Sometimes you can install a wireless network without problems, sometimes you can't. Personally, if I could, I would go with a hardwired network unless a wireless network was really called for.

 

[Carp]

As Tap-Out suggested, you can go spelunking for wireless networks, but it would probably just be better to ask. Most of these networks use Spread Spectrum modulation tech, so there can be some overlap, but the spectrum can get crowded, and such things as microwaves and 2.4 gHz wireless phones can cause problems.

Sometimes you can install a wireless network without problems, sometimes you can't. Personally, if I could, I would go with a hardwired network unless a wireless network was really called for.

My reasoning for going with wireless is that we are in a temporary space, and the company is very cash strapped. I thought that by going wireless, when we moved, I would save both the cost of wireing now, and when we move again.

Security is my biggest concern, as is being echoed here. The sense that I am getting from youy folks is that it is an overwhelming concern in your opinion?

Thanks to all.

Carp

 

[Tap-Out]

If you are worried about security you could try buying a wireless router rather than an access point. Then just set all wireless IP addresses staticly (sp?). That way your wireless connections will be on a different subnet than your wired computers, and if there is no DHCP server on your wireless side there will be no way for outside people to get a valid IP address.

 

[Carp]

If I just have a wireless router, will the wireless clients be able to access the rest of the network, or only the internet?

 

[Tap-Out]

Depends on how you have things set up

Internet===>Wireless Router==>Wireless Clients = Internet and client connectivity

Internet=>Wired Router=>Wired Clients=>Wireless Router=> Wireless Clients = access to wireless network clients, and wired clients, but the wired router should provide internet access for both wired and wireless

 

[Ishmael]

Re: Re: Computer networking question

HS talked about sharing, but I will repeat this just so you don't miss it; explore the security aspects of whatever network you choose. You should look for encryption and other security features and enable them when you install it. About 60+% of wireless networks out there are totally unsecured, and there are significant number of people who will hack in to your network if you leave it open for them.

Also, you should examine frequency allocation, especially if you have neighbors near you who may also be using wireless networks.

It is but isn't a problem. Is that obtuse enough for you?

802.11 falls under FCC part 15 'spread spectrum radio". They are frequency hoppers and use 'chipping' codes. Usually unique to each manufacturer. But as these algorithms are in the form of published tables, that isn't neccessarily true either.

Antennas are the key. Most of the networks out there are running at 2.4GHz. and there are two manufacturers of quality antenna's. CushCraft is one, and I forget the other. Do a search on ISM band antenna's.

Offices can be funny about the hub/concentrator location. Having someone do a survey in not all that expensive. But with only four machines you shouldn't have a prob.

Hacking a wireless is not that easy if you get good equipment to begin with. Don't go cheap.

Ishmael

 

[TranslatorX]

Don't go for wireless

Technology is still flawed

Translation: I want to sound intelligent.

 

[The Heretic]

Re: Re: Re: Computer networking question

It is but isn't a problem. Is that obtuse enough for you?

No actually it is very clear, but I don't necessarily agree - you see I did some of the very early performance research and testing with Spread Spectrum and long distance WANs when I worked on DOD projects some years ago. Spread Spectrum is very nice and it helps a lot with spectrum crowding, but you can still get too many people on frequencies crowded too close together and cause problems. That is all I was trying to say; that said crowding is a factor to be considered.

I haven't done any work with state of the art wireless LANs, but the fundamental principles remain the same regardless of modulation technique. SS isn't a magic bullet - just really cool tech that helps quite a bit.

Oh, and it is chirping not chipping.

 

[The Heretic]

Translation: I want to sound intelligent.

But... but... he is a "computer expert"!

Ex-spurt is more like it.

Have you ever noticed how most of what he says is rarely anything you can pin him down on - just very general BS? But of course you have - never mind, I put him on ignore after the first day I encountered him.

 

[Carp]

I'm gonna bump this back up front so. Gotta run. My knowledge expands to fil space that once was occupied by ignorance, or some such shit.

Thanks

 

[Ishmael]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Computer networking question

No actually it is very clear, but I don't necessarily agree - you see I did some of the very early performance research and testing with Spread Spectrum and long distance WANs when I worked on DOD projects some years ago. Spread Spectrum is very nice and it helps a lot with spectrum crowding, but you can still get too many people on frequencies crowded too close together and cause problems. That is all I was trying to say; that said crowding is a factor to be considered.

I haven't done any work with state of the art wireless LANs, but the fundamental principles remain the same regardless of modulation technique. SS isn't a magic bullet - just really cool tech that helps quite a bit.

Oh, and it is chirping not chipping.

No, it is called chipping. Never have figured out why.

SS is not without it's problems to be sure. I've done installations at some of the worst areas you can imagine. JFK airport in NYC is the absolute worst. Interference from multiple sources.

The trick was always in the antenna's.

It works well in an office environment but as was mentioned you are always suseptible to interference. There are ways to 'shadow' the network, but anyone that went th that trouble could just as easily 'splice the wire'.

The key is the location of the hub radio and the antenna used. Circular polarized antennas eliminate the multi-pathing probs generally found in the office environment.

Ishmael

 

[The Heretic]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Computer networking question

No, it is called chipping. Never have figured out why.

We are both correct - you more than me. It has been a while since I played with this; after that job I went on to work in software engineering. Chipping refers to the code that is mixed with the signal to make it resistant to interference. "Chirp" refers to a pulsed FM gating SS system which is a modulation technique used in some SS and RADAR systems. They called it a Chirp system because it was a short pulse of signal like a bird chirp. It always confused me because sometimes we would be talking about chipping and sometimes we would be talking about chirping.

 

[Ezarc]

I personally don't recomend the d-link to my customers. They are cheaper but you get what you pay for. I do recommend going with the wireless router over an access point. That way you gain more control of the network. Most of the better ones will have improved security features and things such as virus licenses for some if not all of your machines.
Good Luck,
Ezarc

 

[Ishmael]

I personally don't recomend the d-link to my customers. They are cheaper but you get what you pay for. I do recommend going with the wireless router over an access point. That way you gain more control of the network. Most of the better ones will have improved security features and things such as virus licenses for some if not all of your machines.
Good Luck,
Ezarc

Yep.

What was the name of the company up in Cincinatti that Cisco bought about two years ago. They were very much state of the art at the time.

They were pushing a 5.6GHz inter-building link with a BW of 50Mb. Quite impressive.

Ishmael