Wireless / Mobile Networking Update

1. Wireless / Mobile Networking Update Chad Burnham, Shannon Valerio & Byron Early University Technology Services April – 2002 – CHECO Spring Conference

2. DU’s Laptop Learning Model: • Undergraduate Laptop program in place since Fall ’99 • Students learn to utilize technology WHILE learning educational content • ‘01-’02: All undergrad & MBA students required to have laptops with wired 10/100 Ethernet card. • Laptops showing up with 802.11b cards built in. Students are asking about where & how on campus. • ~5000+ student laptops on & off DU network • ~150-200 faculty use laptops via departments, grants (some self funding)

3. The Ricks CenterDU’s private K-8 school • First wireless system was proprietary infrared technology: Summer 2000 • NOT VERY SUCCESSFUL. • Recently moved to: • 4 x 802.11b Access Points • 72 Laptops Provided by Center • Next Year: • Recommending 7-8th Grade bring own • Group & individual research flexibility • Web Publishing application • E-mail • Lower bandwidth type applications

4. Rick Center: Continued • Purchased mobile Dell Cart to secure units

5. Penrose Library • 10 802.11b Access Points Installed • Redefining the library…. • Provides for wireless access for students, staff and faculty in library • VPN must be used – Summer ‘02

6. Laptop Technology in DU’s Curriculum • Wireless network access is an overlay network service designed to provide physical flexibility in: • Open Areas – “Hot Spots” (inside & outside) • Wired Classrooms • Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) • Academic grants used as incentives for divisions to ‘convert’ to digital media. • DU’s Blackboard On-line Class Implementation • Homework, Syllabus, Class Notes, PowerPoint Slides, quizzes.

7. Wireless Technology Concerns @ DU • Bandwidth limitations: • Slower performance than wired 10/100 mpbs switching • Privacy & Security • Encryption & Authentication • Network Snooping – Separate VLANs for Wireless networks (not ‘on-top’ of existing) • Technical Support: • Card Installs: its all about the “DRIVERS”  • VPN Software: Installation/configuration • User password issues (Single Sign-on) • AD / LDAP / Kerberos?

8. Wireless Technology Concerns @ DU - Continued • Evolving/changing wireless technologies & PC operating systems: • Incompatibilities with installed base • Upgrade costs • Rouge Access Points – Dept Installed • Security Issues – Network Access • Performance Issues (Duplex) • CDW ad: “I can do wireless”, “what is wireless”? • Top Level policy needed

9. Wireless Network Benefits for DU • Convenience • Places you cannot wire • Historical buildings • Access problems • Cannot get fiber uplink to • Flexibility physical group learning models • New type of “smart-classroom”

10. So now you want to build a wireless network?

11. “The RF Site Survey” • Can use outside firm or do in-house • ~$100 per/hr per/person • DU tried 2 different firms – limited use now • Dictates # of APs and placement of APs • Direct driver of total cost of ownership

12. Site Survey Recommendations • Use 3 people to do the surveys: • 1 person @ proposed base area with AP & various antenna types • Changing Antennas type/position/location • Documenting results • 2 people on wireless laptops (w/802.11x radio) & handheld radios • Documenting SNR (in software) – to be overlaid on to maps/floor plans. • Do not do survey from blue-prints • New buildings: with furniture and people present

13. Antenna Placement • Do not place antennas near metal objects • Wave degradation issues • Railings, I-Beams, Lath, Etc. • Separation important • Think 3D (patterns vary by antenna type) • Away from wall if possible • Keep coax / LMR waveguide to minimum length • Move the data cable & AP before making coax longer • Inside buildings: choose antenna patterns that confine RF signal (unless desired)

14. Wave Guide / LMR COAX • Cabling from Antenna to Access Point • LMR 200/400/600/800, etc. = Size & Loss Properties • LMR have very low signal loss properties • Times Microwave is industry leader in cable, prep tools, and connectors. Others in market space under other names • Newer Balun (75 <-> 50 Ohm) & Amplifier combo units available to deliver over cheaper RG-6 Coax • Every Db matters in link budget!

15. Antenna Variables to look for: • Beam Coverage: • Horizontal & Vertical (in degrees) • Antenna gain: rating in Dbi. • Size/Shape • Aesthetics • Remember: must have line of sight! • Cost • 2.4 GHz rated (802.11b)

16. RF: Its all in the Antenna…. • Parabolic Grid Antennas • Radome-Enclosed Yagi Antennas • Omni Directional Antennas • Patch Antennas (Bow-Tie) • Planar Array Panel Antennas • Heavy-Duty Panel Antennas • Mobile Antennas • Indoor Ceiling-Mount Antennas • "Rubber Duck" Antennas

17. A. Parabolic Grid Antennas • Reflector grid antenna designed for long-range operation (line of sight & <7 mile) and can be configured for either vertical or horizontal polarization. UCONN Story. • Heavy-duty yet lightweight construction and a UV-inhibited powdercoat finish. • Know your “Beam Pattern” or “Coverage” • Horizontal/Vertical discussion

18. B. Radome-Enclosed Yagi Antennas • Radome-enclosed yagi antennas combine high gain and wide beamwidth in a compact package. • Solid aluminum boom and elements enclosed within a white UV-inhibited radome for all-weather operation • “Pringles-Can” / War Driver article…

19. C. Omni-Directional 10db / 14 db Antennas

20. D. Patch/Panel Antennas • Patch antennas are suitable for indoor and outdoor use. They are designed to be compact and aesthetic. • Narrow and wide beam avail. • Point to Point vs. AP • “Bow-tie” beam pattern • Low Price

21. E/F. Planar Array Panel Antennas • Offers an attractive solution (aesthetics) for fixed subscriber and base station applications, • High performance alternative to Yagi-style antennas • Low Price • Indoor/Outdoor

22. G. Mobile Antennas • Feature a variety of gain, radiation pattern and physical mounting options. • Moving Vehicle Applications

23. H. Indoor Ceiling-Mount Antennas • Ceiling-mount antennas are high performance, aesthetic and nearly invisible against a suspended ceiling. • ~3db gain

24. I. "Rubber Duck" Antennas • Perfect for portable applications and as replacement antennas for many popular access points • Laptops with built-in antenna $1100-$2000 price range today

25. Active Ethernet (PoE) • Active Ethernet eliminates 110v AC outlet installation @ AP. • “Injects” DC power onto the Ethernet (CAT5/5e/6) cable on Pins 7&8 (unused by Ethernet . • 19” Rack Mount - 12 / 6 / 1 Port Available. • Cisco WS-3524-PWR - WILL NOT support this feature with out “Injector” hardware. (prop scheme) • Watch for 802.3ae!! 3COM 1st out of gate.

26. D.U.’s Implementation:Agere/Orinoco & Cisco VPN

27. Wireless LAN / WAN - 802.11b • Today’s predominant wireless ethernet IEEE Standard • 2.4 GHz Carrier Frequency • Uses “Direct Sequence” Radio Scheme • Signals @ 4 speeds:11, 5.5, 2 & 1 Mb/sec • 14 Channels/frequencies within 2.4 GHz • Only 3 channels do not overlap (1, 6 & 11) • Largest market share today • Uses: for Pt-Pt, Pt-MPt & LAN Applications

28. 802.11b: Security & AccessOSI Layers 1 & 2 • ESS (Network) ID: Text Constant Variable • Standardized names by Summer ’02 • Users can’t match name to location…. • Moving from current 5 names to 1 standard • Orinoco Implements an Open / Closed setting: Windows XP uses to help configure network. • CLOSED = Does not broadcast ESSID • OPEN = ESSID Broadcasted = **DU USING NOW**

29. 802.11b: Security & AccessOSI Layers 1 & 2 – Cont. • MAC Address Registration (on APs) • Cumbersome & high management overhead • Must re-enter if card is swapped out • DU tried on 3 networks…...it’s over • Not using L2 WEP Key encryption

30. 802.1X - EAPLayer 2 Authentication • Drafts 7,8 & 10 on table – None Approved Today. • WEP works WITH 802.1X • Solution for Wired Network: • Cisco CAT OS 6.x+IOS 12.1+

31. Encryption Options: • Layer 2 – WEP (hardware based) • Easily deciphered with sniffing software • WEP Key is “Static” • Dynamic WEP – Solves static key problem • Evolving standard – proprietary methods today • DU transitioning to VPNs (IP Sec) now

32. 802.11b: Encryption & Access Using VPNs • VPNs: DU using Cisco 3030s to terminate VPNs • Configured for IPSEC-3DES – 168Bit • VPN Client software leverages a back-end USER database for AAA functionality • RADIUS: Radiator on Solaris 8 • Cisco / DU Branded VPN Software for: • Windows (98/ME/NT4/2K/XP) • MAC OS 10 • Solaris • Linux

33. Physical Network Topology • DU Data Backbone • Wireless is several Internal VLANs / Subnets

34. VLAN 110

35. VLAN 111

36. VLAN 114

37. Typical Proposed Wireless

38. Future Wireless LANStandards to Watch

39. IEEE - 802.11g • Doubles bandwidth with same RF characteristics • Extends 802.11b (2.4 GHz) to 22 M bit/sec. • Intended to be backwards compatible w/ 802.11b • Approved. • 1st Products expected 2002

40. IEEE - 802.11a • Uses 5 GHz Carrier Frequency • 6M–54M Bit /sec rates (54-100!) • Different Radio A.P. Design Criteria (4x rule): • 802.11b = ~250-300 Feet • 802.11a = ~90 Feet • Harder to get through walls, furniture, etc.. • PC Cards will use more power – (Laptops) • Products available today • Total Cost of Ownership increases!

41. IEEE - 802.11e - Draft • AKA Whitecap2 – Cirrus Logic • Earliest incarnation of IEEE 802.11e • New standard proposal will add: • QoS Features • Multimedia Support to 802.11a & 802.11b • Major improvements in overall “channel robustness”

42. 802.11e – Cont. • Mechanisms for dealing with adjacent subnets operating on the same channel • Baseline Approved in November 2000 • Final Draft expected in Late 2002 • Final Approval is after Draft

43. Product Links • Agere = AP2000/1000/500 • http://www.lucent.com/micro/ • Avaya = AP-3 = Agere AP-2000 • Cisco = AP350 • http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/cc/pd/witc/ao350ap/ • Antenna Resale • http://www.hyperlinktech.com/web/antennas_2400.html

44. Other Good Articles & Links • http://standards.ieee.org/ • http://www.wi-fi.com/ • http://www.wireless-integration.com • http://www.80211-planet.com • This Presentation: • CHECO WEBSITE – SOON!

45. Questions and Answers