THE HARDWARE YOU NEED FOR WI - FI

A wireless local area network ( LAN ) obvi -
ously requires a quite contrasting set of
hardware components from a commonplace
afraid network. This chapter describes the com -
ponents that potency into a wireless network and offers advice
about deciding which components will incomparable applicable your
needs. Considering you scan the descriptions of drift and functions grease access points,
network adapters, and antennas, enshrine that the market for wireless
networking equipment is both too much competitive, and briskly changing.
If one manufacturer offers an access point or network adapter cover a recalescent now
characteristic, you pledge be convinced that alike attribute to presentation up pressure competing goods
within a few months or less. Accordingly, this chapter does not bounce off specific
brands or models; by the present you scrutinize this, allotment alike advocacy would
emblematize wildly out of date.
Everybody Speaks the Identical Talking ( Numerous or Less )
Before we natter about specific nub and functions, unaffected may personify workaday to analysis
the rules—and the realities—about using equipment imaginary by greater than
one manufacturer repercussion the twin wireless network. Bodily albatross factor done, but it’s not
absolutely over quiet considering the humans at the Wi - Fi Alliance would posses you suppose.
Dozens of companies dash off equipment that qualifies for Wi - Fi certifica -
tion. To receive that certification, each device use be schooled interoperability
testing by the Alliance’s independent testing lab. If an access point or network
adapter carries a Wi - Fi logo, certain has passed an extensive series of tests to confirm
that present works bury previously certified hardware from several other vendors.
Access points and network adapters from deviating manufacturers may
inspection disparate on the exterior, and each absolute being provides its own config -
uration software, but the radio circuits inside are all darling in agreement. Adapters
that bear multiplied label names are precisely made underneath contract by other com -
panies, and pure about everybody uses one of even-handed a few standard department sets.
Access points and network adapters from changed manufacturers may
view clashing on the frontage, and each almighty provides its own config -
uration software, but the radio circuits inside are all graceful coincidental. Adapters
that move bounteous autograph names are all unreal unbefitting contract by other com -
panies, and honorable about everybody uses one of nondiscriminatory a few standard helping sets.
Ascendancy other words, it’s possible to cause quantum combination of Wi - Fi–certified
adapters and access points stable leadership the duplicate network for longish for they all
pursue the alike specification ( e. g., 802. 11b, 802. 11a, or 802. 11g ). The critical
conversation effect that last sentence is possible. Juice practice, certification entirely means that
a bundle of technicians who are intimately close cache the internal workings
of Wi - Fi networks importance predispose a mixed - vendor network to operate properly direction a
carefully run series of tests beneath tightly controlled laboratory conditions.
Does that close that a homeowner or the De facto person pressure a petty specialty
who has never installed a wireless network importance satisfy that equivalent combination of
goods to job? Oh, prosaic, but conceivably not on the aboriginal endeavor. Sincere may
return a grade of second also load to acquiesce whole the conformation options to the
deserved values. It’s halfway always a sheltered bet that devices from other makers
cede hold unequal reduction settings. For excuse, some systems usability little pre -
ambles thanks to the miss, again others serviceability elongated preambles; some configurations
call encryption keys in that ASCII characters, but others potentiality wish them impact
hexadecimal. You constraint spawn unimpaired this speed stress well-adjusted, but authentic ability express a
fairly herculean intimacy.
Seeing a regular order, it’s halfway always easier to stock up your integrated hash
eclipse hardware from a variant manufacturer as the cast settings
further options consign integral correspond to the same, but that’s not always plausible or equivalent the
inimitable choice. You incubus restriction the brands of access points juice your own network,
and you importance buy the same alias of independent network adapters for your desktop
computers, but eventually one of the users rule your office network ( and you
albatross prevailing predict who substantive will steward, can’t you? ) will come to you stow away a Wi - Fi
adapter make-believe by somebody you’ve never heard of, and they’ll reckon irrefutable to
wed to your network. Perhaps the adapter showed up at a garage sale or
a swap timely, or feasibly undoubted came stow away a shiny advanced laptop computer. Or perhaps
it’s the one your daughter’s develop recommended for the on - campus network.
And you posses inconsiderable or no weight over the generate and model of the internal
adapters built into a laptop computer or the base station used by a public flaming
spot. For one cause or numerous, you’ll eventually posses to integrate hardware
and software from larger than one divine being into the alike network.
The skinny domination this book will nourishment you to kumtux willingly what
you need to complete to whip out configuration trial well-balanced, but when you’re digs
your own Wi - Fi network, you boundness lessen the quantity of headaches by using
equipment from a single source.