A FIELD GUIDE TO WIRELESS LANS FOR ADMINISTRATORS AND POWER USERS PRENTICE HALL SERIES IN COMPUTER NETWORKING AND DISTRIBUTED SYSTEMS,.

Finally -- an 802.11 deployment guide for business and home use that demystifies the alphabet soup of IEEE standards and explains the features and benefits of each with regards to speeds and feeds. Wireless LANs are very popular with business users, and enterprising companies have begun setting up wireless "hot spots" in places where business users congregate, such as airports, hotels, and conference centers. Another ideal usage scenario for wLANs is at home, since most houses do not have networking jacks in every room of the house. This book explains not just how to configure a wireless LAN but will explain how the technology works in an accessible manner. The author demonstrates Windows and Linux configurations and covers various forms of 802.11 cards, including PCs with integrated802.11, PC Cards, and PCI cards. Moreover, the author tackles head on one of the major headaches in wireless LAN use - security and explains what can be done to secure a wireless LAN in a manner that does not require a PhD in computer science. Whether you are a savvy home user or an administrator, this book is designed to save you time in configuring your wireless LAN and getting the most out of it.