Title:
Build your own wi-fi network
Personal Author:
Publication Information:
New York : McGraw-Hill/Osborne, 2002
ISBN:
9780072226249
Added Author:
Available:*
Library | Item Barcode | Call Number | Material Type | Item Category 1 | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Searching... | 30000010023457 | TK5105.78 B74 2002 | Open Access Book | Book | Searching... |
On Order
Summary
Summary
This guide explains how professional and home users can take advantage of Wi-Fi to achieve their mobility goals around the house or in the office. It features step-by-step processes, tips, sidebars, illustrations and screenshots to convey information visually. Readers will learn about the components of a wireless network including access points, and network cards. Plus how to choose, install and configure them for use in a new or existing network.
Author Notes
Shelly Brisbin has been writing about technology for fifteen years and is the author or co-author of numerous books. She has also written hundreds of articles for magazines including Macworld, MacUser, MacWeek, NetProfessional, SunWorld, and many others
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments | p. xv |
Introduction | p. xvii |
1 The Wireless Revolution | p. 1 |
Why Wireless Networks Are Cool | p. 1 |
Mobility | p. 2 |
Flexibility | p. 2 |
Cost Savings | p. 2 |
Scalability | p. 3 |
Wireless Technology Overview | p. 3 |
Frequency | p. 4 |
Spectrum | p. 4 |
Current and Future Wireless Networking Technologies | p. 5 |
IEEE 802.11 | p. 5 |
Bluetooth | p. 7 |
HomeRF | p. 8 |
HiperLAN | p. 8 |
How Wi-Fi Fits In | p. 8 |
2 IEEE 802.11 In Depth | p. 11 |
Parts of a Wi-Fi Network | p. 11 |
The OSI Reference Model | p. 12 |
Layers and Sublayers | p. 13 |
The Physical (PHY) Layer | p. 14 |
The Media Access Control (MAC) Layer | p. 15 |
Frequency Spectrum and Wi-Fi | p. 16 |
802.11b and DSSS | p. 17 |
802.11a and OFDM | p. 17 |
FHSS | p. 18 |
Network Topology | p. 18 |
Extended Service Sets | p. 19 |
Supporting 802.11 Standards | p. 22 |
3 Choosing a Wireless Access Point | p. 23 |
Do You Need an Access Point? | p. 23 |
Is One Access Point Enough? | p. 25 |
Access Point Parts | p. 25 |
The Radio | p. 26 |
Connectivity | p. 27 |
Antennas | p. 29 |
Box Design | p. 29 |
Internet Access, Networking, and Administration | p. 30 |
Shared Internet Access | p. 30 |
DHCP Server | p. 30 |
Firewall | p. 32 |
Routing and Bridging | p. 36 |
Security | p. 37 |
Special Features | p. 40 |
Access Point Checklist | p. 40 |
4 Network Adapters and Interfaces | p. 43 |
Anatomy of a Wi-Fi Network Adapter | p. 43 |
Kinds of Network Adapters | p. 45 |
PC Cards | p. 45 |
PCI and ISA Network Adapters | p. 46 |
USB Adapters | p. 47 |
Special Network Adapters | p. 48 |
NIC Drivers and OS-Compatibility | p. 49 |
5 Antennas and Accessories | p. 51 |
Antenna Basics | p. 51 |
Types of Antennas | p. 53 |
Connectors and Cabling | p. 57 |
Home-brew Antennas | p. 58 |
Choosing Antennas | p. 58 |
Bridges and Repeaters | p. 63 |
Software | p. 64 |
6 Choosing Internet Access | p. 67 |
How Wi-Fi Internet Access Works | p. 67 |
The Data Link | p. 68 |
Hardware and Connections | p. 69 |
Nontraditional Setups | p. 69 |
Internet Access Choices in Detail | p. 69 |
Dial-Up Access | p. 70 |
Broadband Options | p. 71 |
Cable | p. 72 |
DSL | p. 73 |
Satellite | p. 74 |
Internet Account Features | p. 75 |
Account Sharing Issues | p. 76 |
7 Setting Up and Configuring Access Points | p. 79 |
Planning Your Network | p. 79 |
Setting Up an Access Point | p. 80 |
Interference | p. 81 |
Connectivity Issues | p. 81 |
Basic Access Point Setup | p. 83 |
Linksys BEFW11S4 Access Point/Router | p. 83 |
Connect the Hardware and Configure the Setup Computer | p. 84 |
Initial Setup | p. 85 |
Advanced Access Point Configuration | p. 93 |
Running Your Own Internet Server | p. 93 |
Outbound Filtering | p. 97 |
Keyword Filtering | p. 100 |
Enhanced Security | p. 101 |
Routing | p. 104 |
Logging and Monitoring | p. 106 |
8 Setting Up Computers for Wi-Fi | p. 109 |
Wi-Fi Gear and Operating System Compatibility | p. 110 |
Windows 2000 and XP | p. 110 |
Windows 95, 98, and Me | p. 111 |
Linux | p. 111 |
Mac OS X | p. 112 |
Mac OS 8 and 9 | p. 112 |
Installing Adapters and Drivers | p. 113 |
A Brief Terminology Reminder | p. 113 |
Installing the D-Link Card Holder and Network Adapter Under Windows XP | p. 114 |
Installing the Agere/Orinoco USB Adapter Under Windows 2000 | p. 121 |
Installing the Agere Orinoco Silver Card Under Red Hat Linux | p. 124 |
Enabling Support for a PRISM-2 PC Card Under Linux | p. 127 |
Installing the Linksys PC Card Under Mac OS X | p. 129 |
Installing the Linksys PC Card Under Mac OS 9 | p. 131 |
9 Ad-Hoc Wi-Fi | p. 135 |
The Techie Side of Ad-Hoc Wi-Fi | p. 135 |
Uses of Ad-Hoc Networks | p. 137 |
Drawbacks to Ad-Hoc Networks | p. 138 |
Ad-Hoc Network Setup | p. 138 |
Set Up an Ad-Hoc Network Under Windows XP | p. 139 |
Set Up an Ad-Hoc Network Under Windows 2000 | p. 143 |
Set Up an Ad-Hoc Network Under Mac OS X | p. 145 |
Set Up an Ad-Hoc Network Under Red Hat Linux 7.3 | p. 147 |
Test Your Connection | p. 147 |
Using an Internet Gateway with an Ad-Hoc Network | p. 149 |
Gateways Step-by-Step | p. 149 |
Windows XP Gateway Setup | p. 150 |
Windows 2000 Gateway Setup | p. 151 |
Mac OS X Gateway Setup | p. 152 |
10 Security | p. 153 |
Why Security Is Crucial for All Networks | p. 153 |
Understanding Wireless Security Issues | p. 155 |
How Signals Can Be Tracked in the Air | p. 156 |
What Is at Risk? | p. 156 |
Assessing Your Risk | p. 160 |
How Are You Connected to the Internet? | p. 162 |
What Information Is Unsecured? | p. 163 |
Who Has Access? | p. 163 |
What Security Measures Are in Place? | p. 164 |
Wi-Fi Security Methods | p. 164 |
WEP | p. 165 |
Firewalls | p. 170 |
Access Control | p. 173 |
Common Sense Hacker-Proofing Techniques | p. 174 |
Security Tools | p. 176 |
SSH Tunneling | p. 176 |
IPsec VPNs | p. 178 |
Security Analysis and Cracking Tools | p. 178 |
Security and Emerging Wireless Standards | p. 181 |
802.1X | p. 181 |
802.11i | p. 183 |
11 Wi-Fi Applications | p. 185 |
File Sharing | p. 185 |
Think Before You Share | p. 185 |
Cross-Platform File Sharing | p. 187 |
Printing | p. 188 |
Setting Up an Access Point Print Server | p. 189 |
Wireless Print Servers | p. 191 |
Network Gaming | p. 192 |
Streaming Video | p. 192 |
12 Building a Better Network | p. 193 |
Planning Your Network | p. 194 |
Requirements' Gathering | p. 194 |
The Site Survey | p. 198 |
Network Topology and Design | p. 200 |
A Closer Look at Wi-Fi Range | p. 204 |
Putting It All Together | p. 207 |
Installing the Network | p. 208 |
13 Advanced Wireless Settings and Network Analysis | p. 209 |
Tuning Access Points | p. 210 |
Network Analysis | p. 212 |
Packet Analysis | p. 213 |
Packet Analysis Software | p. 214 |
Appendix A Glossary | p. 215 |
Appendix B Wi-Fi Resources | p. 221 |
Ad-Hoc and Mesh Networking | p. 221 |
Antenna-Related Information | p. 221 |
Antenna Equipment | p. 221 |
Broadband Connectivity | p. 222 |
Community Wireless Projects and Information | p. 222 |
Equipment Retailers (APs and Network Adapters) | p. 222 |
Equipment Vendors (APs and Network Adapters) | p. 223 |
Linux and Wi-Fi | p. 223 |
Macintosh and Wi-Fi | p. 223 |
Mailing Lists | p. 224 |
News, Tutorials, and Reviews | p. 224 |
Organizations | p. 224 |
Security | p. 224 |
Software | p. 225 |
Standards, Regulations, and Technology | p. 225 |
Windows and Wi-Fi | p. 225 |
Index | p. 227 |