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Wireless Local Area Networks

The document discusses IEEE 802.11 wireless local area networks (WLANs). It describes the basic service set (BSS) and extended service set (ESS) architectures defined by 802.11. A BSS can operate as an independent network or connect to an ESS through access points. The document outlines some benefits of WLANs like mobility and installation flexibility, but also notes challenges like potential security issues, interference, and lack of standard roaming protocols.

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R.Swetha
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57 views19 pages

Wireless Local Area Networks

The document discusses IEEE 802.11 wireless local area networks (WLANs). It describes the basic service set (BSS) and extended service set (ESS) architectures defined by 802.11. A BSS can operate as an independent network or connect to an ESS through access points. The document outlines some benefits of WLANs like mobility and installation flexibility, but also notes challenges like potential security issues, interference, and lack of standard roaming protocols.

Uploaded by

R.Swetha
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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IEEE 802.

11 Wireless Local Area


Networks (RF-LANs)
Wireless Networks
 Wireless communication is one of the fastest-growing
technologies.
 The demand for connecting devices without the use of
cable is increasing everywhere.
 Wireless LANs can be found in on college campuses, Bus
stations, Railway Stations, Airport, in office buildings, and
in many public areas.

2
IEEE 802.11
 IEEE has defined the specifications for a wireless LAN, called
IEEE 802.11, which covers physical and data link layers.
 Architetcure:
 The standard defines two kind of services: BSS and ESS.

 Basic Service Set(BSS):

 IEEE 802.11 defines a BSS as the building blocks of

wireless LANs.
 A BSS is made of stationary or mobile wireless stations

and an optional central base station called, Access


Point.

3
 The BSS without an AP is a stand-alone network and cannot
send the data to other BSSs. It is called an ad-hoc
architecture.
 In this architecture, stations can form a network without the
need of an AP, they can locate one another and agree to be
part of a BSS.
 A BSS with an AP is sometimes referred to as an
infrastructure network.

4
Externded Service Set
 An Extended Service Set is made up of two or more BSSs with
APs.
 In this case, the BSSs are connected through a distributed
system, which is usually a wireless LAN.
 The distributed system connects the APs in the BSSs.
 The ESS uses two types of stations: mobile and stationary.
 The mobile stations are normal stations inside a BSS.
 The stationary stations are AP stations that are part of a wired
LAN.

5
Types of Wireless LANs
 Infrastructure (BSS and ESS)
 Ad-hoc (BSS)

6
IEEE 802.11 Architecture
 IEEE 802.11 defines the physical (PHY), logical link (LLC) and
media access control (MAC) layers for a wireless local area network
 802.11 networks can work as Network
 basic service set (BSS)

802.11
LLC
 extended service set (ESS) MAC
 BSS can also be used in ad-hoc FHSS DSSS IR PHY
networking

DS,
ESS
LLC: Logical Link Control Layer
MAC: Medium Access Control Layer
PHY: Physical Layer
FHSS: Frequency hopping SS
DSSS: Direct sequence SS
SS: Spread spectrum
IR: Infrared light
BSS: Basic Service Set
ESS: Extended Service Set ad-hoc network
AP: Access Point
DS: Distribution System 7
Hidden and Exposed Terminal Problems

Hidden Terminal Problem

• Station B has a
transmission range shown
by the left oval and every
station in this range can
hear any signal transmitted
by station B.
• Station C has a • Station C is outside the
transmission range shown transmission range of B;
by the right oval and every similarly, station B is outside
station in this range can the transmission range of C.
hear any signal transmitted • Station A can hear both the
by station C. transmission of B and C. 8
Hidden Station Problem

9
Hidden Station Problem

10
Exposed Terminal Problem

11
Exposed Terminal Problem

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Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision
Avoidance
1. Before sending a frame, the
source station senses the
medium by checking the
energy level at the carrier
frequency.
a) The channel uses a
persistence strategy with
back-off until the
channel is idle.
b) After the station is found
to be idle, station waits
for a period of time
called the distributed
inteeframe space (DCF),
then station sends a
control frame called the 13
request to send (RTS).
14
Figure CSMA/CA and NAV 15
WLAN benefits
 Mobility
 increases working efficiency and productivity

 extends the On-line period

 Installation on difficult-to-wire areas


 inside buildings

 road crossings

 Increased reliability
 Note: Pay attention to security!

 Reduced installation time


 cabling time and convenient to users and difficult-to-

wire cases

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WLAN benefits (cont.)
 Broadband
 11 Mbps for 802.11b

 54 Mbps for 802.11a/g (GSM:9.6Kbps,

HCSCD:~40Kbps, GPRS:~160Kbps, WCDMA:up to


2Mbps)
 Long-term cost savings
 O & M cheaper that for wired nets

 Comes from easy maintenance, cabling cost, working

efficiency and accuracy


 Network can be established in a new location just by

moving the PCs!

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WLAN technology problems
 Date Speed
 IEEE 802.11b support up to 11 MBps, sometimes this is not

enough - far lower than 100 Mbps fast Ethernet


 Interference
 Works in ISM band, share same frequency with microwave

oven, Bluetooth, and others


 Security
 Current WEP algorithm is weak - usually not ON!

 Roaming
 No industry standard is available and propriety solution are

not interoperable - especially with GSM


 Inter-operability
 Only few basic functionality are interoperable, other vendor’s

features can’t be used in a mixed network


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WLAN implementation problems
 Lack of wireless networking experience for most IT
engineer
 No well-recognized operation process on network
implementation
 Selecting access points with ‘Best Guess’ method
 Unaware of interference from/to other networks
 Weak security policy
 As a result, your WLAN may have
 Poor performance (coverage, throughput, capacity,

security)
 Unstable service

 Customer dissatisfaction

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