Chapter 8

Wireless LAN
IEEE 802.11
IEEE has defined the specifications for a wireless LAN, called IEEE 802.11, which covers the
physical and data link layers.

Topics discussed in this section:

Architecture
MAC Sublayer
Physical Layer

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Note

A BSS without an AP is called an ad hoc network;

a BSS with an AP is called an infrastructure network.

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Basic service sets (BSSs)

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Extended service sets (ESSs)

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WLAN Topology
Same as Ethernet
Use the same radio • Physical star
frequencies, so • Logical bus
take turns using
the network

10Base-T or
100Base-T

Uses a NIC that

transmits radio A wireless Access Point (AP)
signals to the AP connected into an Ethernet Switch

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 Components of WLANs
• Network Interface Cards

– Available for laptops as PCMCIA cards

– Available for desktops as standard cards

– Many laptops come with WLAN cards built in

– About 30 -153 meters max transmission range

• Access Points (APs)

– Used instead of hubs; act as a repeater

• Must hear all computers in WLAN

– Message transmitted twice

» Sender to AP, then AP to receiver

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 More on the APs and NICs
• 3 separate channels available for 802.11b (1, 6 & 11)
– All devices using an AP must use the same channel
• WLAN functions as a shared media LAN
– Reduces the interference
– Users can roam from AP to AP
• Initially NIC selects a channel (thus an AP)
– Based on “strength of signal” from an AP
• During roaming, if NIC sees another AP with a stronger signal, attaches itself to this
AP
• Usually a set of APs installed to provide geographical coverage and meet traffic needs
– NICs selects a less busy channel if its current channel becomes busy (too many users)

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 Antennas used in WLANs
• Omni directional antennas

– Transmit in all directions simultaneously

– Used on most WLANs

• Dipole antenna (rubber duck)

– Transmits in all direction (vertical, horizontal, up, down)

• Directional antennas

– Project signal only in one direction

• Focused area; stronger signal; farther ranges

– Most often used on inside of an exterior wall

• To reduce the security issue

– A potential problem with WLANs

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CSMA/CA and NAV

DIFS (Distributed InterframeSpace)

SIFS (Short Interframe space)

RTS frame - the duration of time that it needs to occupy the channel.
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How CSMA/CA works?
• DIFS (Distributed Interframe Space) - After the station is found to be idle, the station
waits for a period time (DIFS)

• RTS (Request to send) – The station sends a ctrl frame RTS.

• SIFS (Short Interframe space) – After receiving the RTS and a waiting period of time.

• CTS (Clear to send) – Destination station send ctrl frame RR.

• The source station sends data send data after waiting an amount of time equal to SIFS.

• The destination station, after waiting an amount of time equal to SIFS sends an
acknowledgement.

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How NAV (Network Allocation Vector) works?
• When a station sends RTS frame, it includes the duration of time that it needs to occupy
the channel.

• The stations that are affected by this transmission create a timer called NAV that shows
how much time pass before these stations are allowed to check for the channel for
idleness.

• Each time a station accesses the system and send RTS frame, other stations start their
NAV.

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Example of repetition interval

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Frame format

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Subfields in FC field

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Control frames

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Values of subfields in control frames

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Hidden station problem

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Note
The CTS frame in CSMA/CA handshake
can prevent collision from
a hidden station.

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Use of handshaking to prevent hidden station problem

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Physical layers

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Industrial, scientific, and Medical (ISM) band

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 Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a wireless LAN technology designed to connect devices of different functions
such as telephones, notebooks, computers, cameras, printers, coffee makers, and so on. A
Bluetooth LAN is an ad hoc network, which means that the network is formed spontaneously.

Topics discussed in this section:

Architecture
L2CAP

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 Architecture
• Two types of architectures: Piconet and scatternet

• Piconet/Smallnet – Can have up to 8 stations. One – Primary and the rest are secondary's.
One to many relationship.

• Scatternet – Piconets can be combined to form scatternet.

• A secondary station in piconet can be primary in another piconet. This station can receive
message from the primary in the first piconet(as a secondary) and acting as a primary,
deliver them to secondaries in the second piconet. A station can be a member of two
piconets.

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Piconet

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Scatternet

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Single-secondary communication

In slot 0 – the primary sends and secondary receives.

In slot 1 – the secondary sends and primary receives.

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Single-Secondary Communication
• Bluetooth hops 1600times per second. Therefore each devices changes its modulation
frequency 1600 times per second.

• A device uses a frequency for only 625µs (1/600s) before it hops to another
frequency.

• If the piconet has only one secondary, TDMA operation is very simple. The time is
divided into slots of 625µs.

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Multiple-secondary communication

In slot 0 – the primary sends and secondary 1 receives.

In slot 1 – the secondary 1 sends and primary receives – other secondaries
are silent.
In slot 2 – The primary sends a frame to secondary 2.
In slot 3 – only sec. 2 sends a frame to primary because the previous frame
Was addressed to sec. 2. Other sec. are silent.
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 Best Practice Recommendations

• Adopt 802.11g
– Will replace 802.11b and .11a
– Prices of .11g NICs and APs coming down
• Wireless vs. Wired
– 802.11g ~ 10Base-T
• Similar data rates for low traffic environment
• When mobility important  802.11g
• Using WLAN as overlay network (over wired LAN)
– WLANs installed In addition to wired LANs
– To provide mobility for laptops, etc.,
– To provide access in hallways, lunch rooms, etc.,

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 Physical WLAN Design
• More challenging than designing a traditional LAN

– Placement of APs: Locations chosen to:

• Provide coverage

• Minimize potential interference

• Begins with a site survey to determine

– Feasibility of desired coverage

• Measuring the signal strength from temporary APs

– Potential sources of interference

• Most common source: Number and type of walls

– Locations of wired LAN and power sources

– Estimate of number of APs required

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 Physical WLAN Design
• Begin locating APs

– Place an AP in one corner

– Move around measuring the signal strength

– Place another AP to the farthest point of coverage

• AP may be moved around to find best possible spot

• Also depends on environment and type of antenna

– Repeat these steps several times until the corners are covered

– Then begin the empty coverage areas in the middle

• Allow about 15% overlap in coverage between APs

– To provide smooth and transparent roaming

• Set each AP to transmit on a different channel

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WLAN Security
• Especially important for wireless network

– Anyone within the range can use the WLAN

• Finding a WLAN

– Move around with WLAN equipped device and try to pick up the signal

– Use special purpose software tools to learn about WLAN you discovered

• Wardriving – this type exploration

• Warchalking – writing symbols on walls to indicate presence of an unsecure

WLAN

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 Types of WLAN Security
• Service Set Identifier (SSID)
– Required by all clients to include this in every packet
– Included as plain text Easy to break
• Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)
– Requires that user enter a key manually (to NIC and AP)
– Communications encrypted using this key
– Short key (40-128 bits)  Easy to break by “brute force”
• Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP)
– WEP keys created dynamically after correct login
• Requires a login (with password) to a server
– After logout, WEP keys discarded by the server
• Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) – new standard
– A longer key, changed for every packet

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Improving WLAN Performance

• Similar to improving wired LANs

– Improving device performance

– Improving wireless circuit capacity

– Reducing network demand

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Improving WLAN Performance
• Similar to improving wired LANs
– Improving device performance
• If 802.11g widely deployed, replace 802.11b cards with .11g cards (may be the cause
for slow performance)
• By high-quality cards and APs
– Improving wireless circuit capacity
• Upgrade to 802.11g
• Reexamine placement of APs
• Check sources of interference (other wireless devices operating in the same
frequencies))
• Use different type of antennas
– Reducing network demand

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Improving WLAN Device Performance

– If 802.11g widely deployed, replace 802.11b cards with .11g cards

• May be the cause for slow performance

– By high-quality cards and APs

• Better design

• Stronger signals,

• Longer ranges

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Improving Wireless Circuit Capacity
• Upgrade to 802.11g

• Re-place APs

– Fewest walls between AP and devices

– Ceiling or high mounted to minimize obstacles

– On halls, not in closets

• Remove sources of interference

– Other wireless devices operating in the same frequencies

• Bluetooth devices, cordless phones, etc.

• Use different type of antennas

– Directional antennas in smaller range to get stronger signals (faster throughput)

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Reducing WLAN Demand

• Never place a server in a WLAN

– Doubles the traffic between clients and server

• Since all communications is through the AP

– Locate the server in the wired part of the network (ideally with a switched LAN)

• Place wired LAN jacks in commonly used locations

– If WLAN becomes a problem, users can switch to wired LAN easily

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Implications for Management
• WLANs becoming common place

– Access to internal data, any time, any place

• Better protection of corporate networks

– Public access through WLAN hotspots

• Competition with cell phone technologies

– New cell phone technologies (faster, longer ranges)

– Drastic price drops of WLAN devices

• Widespread Internet access via multiplicity of devices (PDAs, etc,)

– Development of new Internet applications

• New companies created; some old ones out of business

– Drastic increase in the amount of data flowing around

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References

These slides are taken from Copyright 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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 Sub Point #1
Wireless LAN
Architecture

Sub Point #4
Implication for KEY Sub Point #2
Addressing
Management
POINTS Mechanisms

Sub Point #3
Wireless LAN
Security

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 End of Lecture

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