WIRELESS LAN:

BY SANJANA S NAIK
What is LAN:
LAN (Local Area Network) is simply a way of connecting computers together
within a single organization, and usually in a single site.

What is WLAN:
WLAN(Wireless Local Area Network) links two or more devices using a
wireless communication method.
WLAN provides a connection through an Access Point (AP) to the wider
internet.
 This gives users the ability to move around within a local coverage area while
still be connected to the network.
WLAN permits people to use their computers anywhere in the network area.
The major standards for WLANs are IEEE 802.11 and HIPERLAN.
The IEEE 802.11 standards are the most widely used computer networks in
the world.These are commonly called Wi-Fi.
WLAN Specifications:
The IEEE 802.11 specifications were developed specifically for
Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) by the IEEE and include
four subsets of Ethernet-based protocol standards: 802.11,
802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g.
 802.11 operated in the 2.4 GHz range; delivered 1 to 2 Mbps using
a technology known as phase shift keying (PSK) modulation.
 802.11a operates in the 5-6 GHz range with data rates commonly
in the 6Mbps, 12 Mbps or 24 Mbps range.
 The 802.11b standard (also known as Wi-Fi) operates in the 2.4
GHz range with up to 11 Mbps data rates.
 802.11g is the most recent IEEE 802.11 draft standard and
operates in the 2.4 GHz range with data rates as high as 54 Mbps
over a limited distance.
Advantages of WLAN over Wired LAN:
Installation:
Wireless LANs are very easy to install.

There is no requirement for wiring every workstation and every room.
This ease of installation makes WLANs inherently flexible.

If a workstation must be moved, it can be done easily and without
additional wiring, cable drops or reconfiguration of the network.
Portability:

If a company moves to a new location, the wireless system is much easier
to move than ripping up all of the cables that a wired system would have
snaked throughout the building.

Applications of WLAN:
 Doctors and nurses equipped with laptops have faster access to
patient data. Furthermore,in an emergency situations they can
communicate with other departments within the hospital by using
WLAN in order to provide quick diagnostics.
Users can access the internet from WLAN hotspots in
restaurants,hotels,and now with portable devices that connect to 3G
or 4G networks.
 Oftentimes,these types of public access points require no
registration or password to join the network.Others can also be
accessed once registration has occurred or a fee paid.
Ad Hoc networking:An ad hoc network is peer-to-peer network(no
centralized server) set uo temporarily to meet some immediate
need.For example,a group of employees,each with a laptop or
palmtop computer may convence in a conference room for a
business or classroom meeting.The employees link their computers
in a temporary network just for the duration of the meeting.