Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Design

Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) DESIGN

A wireless local area network (WLAN) is a wireless computer network connecting
two or more devices using a wireless distribution method within a limited area such as
school, home office building or computer laboratory (Kennington, Olinick, & Rajan, 2011). It
gives users the ability to move around a local coverage area while still connected to the
network and provides connection to the wider internet. Mostly, modern WLANs are based on
IEEE 802.11standards that are branded by Wi-Fi brand name. The proliferation of devices
such as smartphones and tablets which are used daily by many people has led to many
companies to consider allowing employees to bring their own devices to work due to
perceived cost savings and productivity gains.
The biggest challenge in high density environment is aesthetic and access and a
qualified site survey is required (Rathnakar, Vityanathan, & Raj, 2009). It is best to test AP
while installing making certain that the coverage is defined in the design is what is installed.
If an AP with external capabilities is used, the antennae to be used should be designed for that
AP. Jyh-Cheng Chen, Ming-Chia Jiang, & Yi-Wen Liu, 2005, 802.11n AP or MIMO need
MIMO antennas for it to perform properly. Even if HT rates are not counted, the radio and
the antenna are a systems and the system is designed for performing with all these elements.
There is need to include total number or device capacity of devices and performance
of application in a wireless network plan. The basic concept in designing a WLAN is for the
different devices to communicate with access point between different frequencies within a
wireless network design (“Ground Rules of Wireless LAN Security”, 2016). While using dual
access points, it will allow both 2.4 and 5 GHz users for a successful connection which is an
essential requirement for high density wireless areas. It is necessary to have multiple access

Running Head; WIRELESS LOCAL AREA NETWORK (WLAN) DESIGN

3

points for a single area, and the network design should allow users to seamlessly move from
an overused access point to another with availability.
A network access control should be included as part of the total system which act as a
secure method for registering devices not owned by the company. Boojum Enterprises has
allowed its workers to bring their own devices and the employees should thus be allowed and
given passwords to operate access internet. The method will add more cost but it will be
worth resulting in fewer support calls while giving a piece of mind due to secured wireless
access. The network adapter or firmware driver for their wireless network devices should be
updated. Updates can be accessed through manufactures website or network adaptor vendors
that provide update to their software. A hi-gain USB wireless network adaptor should be used
to provide a computer external hi-gain antenna which is more superior compared to a PC card
based network. Many current laptops have in built wireless cards and don’t require an adapter
upgrades except in rare scenarios.
IEEE 802.11 is a set of physical layer (PHY) and media access control (MAC)
specifications that implement WLAN computer communication network in the 900MHz
together with 2.4, 3.6, 5 and 60GHz frequency bands (Bing, 2008). The 802.11 standard
introduction have a huge impact in the market such that, cell phones, PCs, laptops, mp3
players, tablets, printers and VoIP phones have incorporated the LAN technology. The
802.11 WLAN is the most deployed technology and it is united to the Wireless Fidelity (Wi-
Fi) alliance (Jyh-Cheng Chen, Ming-Chia Jiang, & Yi-Wen Liu, 2005). A typical WLAN
network in this organisation should include; Access Point (AP) in the centre or the middle
and several stations (STAs) should be connected to the central Access Point. Two modes of
communication can be established in this office (Rathnakar, Vityanathan, & Raj, 2009).

Running Head; WIRELESS LOCAL AREA NETWORK (WLAN) DESIGN

4

One is the centralized mode of communication from or to a STA which will be carried
over an AP. Communication can also take place using decentralized method where it takes
place between two STAs directly without requiring an AP which is an ad hoc fashion. The
WLAN will cover 50-100 metres with a Wi-Fi output of 54Mbps targeting the physical layer
(PHY) and medium access control (MAC) and solves many QoS and other security issues.
The 802.11 should utilize three physical layers in the organisation; FHSS (Frequency
Hopping Spread Spectrum), IR (Infrared) and DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum). In
MAC layer, the IEEE 802.11 will use a contention based scheme called Distributed
Coordinated Function (DCF), where the STA will be linked with the AP scans and air
interface for the channels to be available (Jyh-Cheng Chen, Ming-Chia Jiang, & Yi-Wen Liu,
2005). A collision may occur when more than one STA access an AP t the same time or the
interface is busy, the IEEE 802.11 should use Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision
Avoidance (CSMA/CA) that prevents collision. The IEEE 802.11 supports two operating
modes, independent operating mode and infrastructure operating mode (“Ground Rules of
Wireless LAN Security”, 2016).
One IEEE 802.11 AP typically communicates with 30 clients system on 103 metres
radius requires but communication various depending on variables such as height above the
ground, type of antenna, outdoor or indoor placement, operating radio frequency, current
weather and the power output of devices, other electronic devices and nearby obstructions
that may interfere with broadcasting signals (Bing, 2008). The factors will be used to
determine the number of access points. The use of BYOD in Boojum Enterprises will
increase productivity and employee satisfaction while cutting on the organisation cost.
Checkpoint design would be appropriate for the organisation and all areas in the room should
trigger installation and all asset tags should be tracked with RF fingerprinting approach.

Running Head; WIRELESS LOCAL AREA NETWORK (WLAN) DESIGN

5
References

Bing, B. (2008). Emerging technologies in wireless LANs. Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press.
Ground Rules of Wireless LAN Security. (2016). IJSR, 5(3), 1545-1550.
http://dx.doi.org/10.21275/v5i3.nov162196
Jyh-Cheng Chen, Ming-Chia Jiang, & Yi-Wen Liu,. (2005). Wireless LAN security and IEEE
802.11i. IEEE Wireless Commun., 12(1), 27-36.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/mwc.2005.1404570
Kennington, J., Olinick, E., & Rajan, D. (2011). Wireless network design. New York:
Springer.
Rathnakar, Vityanathan, & Raj, P. (2009). Wireless LAN Security – Challenges and
Solutions. IJCEE, 258-265. http://dx.doi.org/10.7763/ijcee.2009.v1.39