|
 |
|
General Information
|
Add To My Personal Library |
September 21, 2007
• Vol.29 Issue 38
Page(s) 10 in print issue
|
Add Wireless Access Throughout Your SME
With Careful Planning & The Right Tools, Employees Can Unplug Safely
|
 The pace of business has steadily been driving demand for wireless within an enterprise, as executives seek to use Internet-connected laptops during meetings and employees appreciate the ability to check PDAs and other devices from anywhere within a building.
But, as many IT managers know, adding wireless isn’t simply a matter of buying an armful of wireless access points and plugging them in. Security issues, network optimization, and system maintenance all play a part in creating an effective wireless strategy. Here are some steps to consider when making the move.
 Plan, Plan, Plan
A few years ago, most wireless planning consisted of having a consultant do a site survey to determine where to place access points and then implementing wireless soon afterward. But as enterprises have learned, there’s far more to putting wireless in place than just placement, says Amit Sinha, CTO of AirDefense, a company specializing in wireless LAN security. “Extensive planning is often overlooked,” he notes. “You have to come up with accurate planning models, run optimization programs, and really do your homework.” The companies that rushed into wireless ended up doing constant tweaking to adjust for neighboring signals and factors such as elevators and lobbies.
AirDefense has two products, Survey and Architect, respectively, that provide design and simulation of wireless LANs based on specific environments, Sinha says. With AirDefense Architect, building information can be imported into the software from drawings, scanned images, AutoCAD images, and even freehand scribbles.
AirDefense Survey runs on a laptop or tablet computer for field measurement, so enterprises can gauge what type of interference may make a difference in planning their wireless. “You could implement a wireless strategy and, after you roll it out, find out that the neighbor’s signal is interfering with yours,” Sinha says.
Other vendors also have planning software that helps to plot out a robust, reliable network. For example, Bluesocket has the Wireless LANPlanner, created in conjunction with Motorola (www.motorola.com). With the planner, a company can input building information similar to that for AirDefense Architect and will be able to deploy wireless sensor networks and wireless access points, as well as design multiband systems.
OPNET offers the Modeler Wireless Suite, which is based on the company’s Modeler software, a network planning tool. The suite has a number of simulation capabilities that include hundreds of wired and wireless protocols and vendor device models. Unlike the Bluesocket or Air-Defense applications, which are geared toward physical placement of access points, the Modeler Suite focuses on analyzing potential end-to-end behavior of a wireless network and minimizing interoperability problems with different devices.
These types of tools can be invaluable in planning because they reduce the chances of issues within a structure and the need for tweaking after implementation. Also, vendors are working to make them more effective with every new generation of the software.
Often, IT managers might not even realize how many structural issues are really at play during planning—including adequate capacity, different building materials, poor service areas, and coverage holes—and doing site surveys through simulation can help prevent surprises later.
Plan Ahead For Management & Monitoring
Once all the research has been done, the products and software purchased, and the IT staff ready, the next step is deployment and configuration, which Sinha notes is usually fairly seamless because so much preparation has gone into the effort.
Systems should be configured to be compliant with existing protocols, but beyond that, many companies find it takes anywhere from a few hours to a day, depending on the complexity of the implementation, and smaller buildings often don’t take much time at all.
After the pieces have been assembled, the next step is monitoring and maintenance, but managers shouldn’t consider these only after the wireless LAN is in place. Instead, figuring out how monitoring should be done is part of the planning process, so managers can start doing it as soon as the WLAN is turned on.
“You want to make sure your wireless is living up to its performance,” Sinha says. “Be prepared for any performance issues that may crop up, and look for noncompliant access points.”
A number of software tools can do real-time analysis of a wireless LAN, from companies such as Network Instruments (www.networkinstruments.com), ManageEngine (www.manageengine.com), and many other vendors. The tools are able to track changes in a wireless network and show that data alongside other network assets.
For example, the Observer products from Network Instruments can display metrics for deep packet analysis, while simultaneously monitoring the wired side of the network. The OpManager from ManageEngine similarly provides fault and performance functionality across a wireless and LAN infrastructure.
Make It A Company-Wide Effort
Most SMEs start their wireless strategies with a wireless LAN, says Lou Martinage, director of marketing for MobileAccess (www.mobileaccess.com). But in some cases, the companies are actually running a few different wireless projects because departments may put in their own access points and fund the effort with department funds. “At many places, they end up with a hodgepodge of different wireless projects,” Martinage says. “By combining all of them, it makes it easier to fund and manage.”
In the planning phase, IT managers should spend time in deep conversation with department heads, Martinage advises, to come up with a list of needs for each department, from Voice over WLAN (also called wireless VoIP) to Wi-Fi-based applications specific to one department to device and laptop requirements. For example, maintenance may want wireless capability to control heating and air conditioning from a handheld device, but sales may want to bring in temporary reps who can use their laptops from any cubicle.
“There are a range of applications that might not be at the front of your thinking when you’re first planning,” says Martinage, “but understanding all the components and needs upfront will give you a more strategic perspective on your deployment.” 
by Elizabeth Millard
Software Tools & Devices
AirDefense Architect
Helps to accurately design Wi-Fi networks before deployment of access points, sensors, and wireless devices; demo and free trial available on the company’s Web site
www.airdefense.net
Berkeley Varitronics Systems’ Yellowjacket B/A/G
A wireless test receiver system designed as a passive measurement device that can locate rogue access points and interference
www.bvsystems.com
Bluesocket Wireless LANPlanner
Creates 2D and 3D RF coverage models from CAD drawings, blueprints, or sketches; a 15-day free trial version is available on the Bluesocket Web site
www.bluesocket.com
MetaGeek Wi-Spy 2.4x
A small 2.4GHz spectrum analyzer useful for troubleshooting when interference and bandwidth problems seem to be an issue
www.metageek.net
OPNET Modeler Wireless Suite
Does modeling, simulation, and analysis of wireless networks, with full protocol stack modeling capability and the ability to model all aspects of wireless transmissions, including RF propagation
www.opnet.com |
Top Tips
• Assess the needs of different departments to understand how network traffic will be affected.
• Make sure wireless equipment will interoperate with existing network resources, including monitoring software.
• Get building blueprints and scan them into simulation software to get a better perspective on access point placement.
• Assign one person as the lead for the project and have that individual meet with departments to understand their expectations.
• Develop an employee training program to make the transition to wireless easier.
• Keep security in mind and consider whether to implement a solution such as Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol.
|
|
|
