Questions about setting up a wireless network

[Guest]

Our office is planning to move to a new building this summer and the boss wants to look into the possibility of setting up a wireless network (pretty much, if it sounds cool, then lets do it but don't spend too much money in the process type of attitude). Our current network configuration works fine and we haven't had any issues, but if we do move and he does want to go ahead with a wireless network, that would be the best opportunity to make the change. I maintain our current network and had some major assistance in setting it up. Before I get our outside IT consulting company to assist us, I have some basic questions about wireless networking. I have never dealt with a wireless network before and I just want to get some basic information to see if it would be feasible for us to do this. Currently we are using Windows 2000. We have a one file server and one exchange server. We are also using a Linux Firewall for people to access files via VPN. All computers are connected to the server through standard networking cables and hubs. Most of our users have desktops, but we may have the senior staff switch to laptops when we move. We have approx 40 computers and 5 printers. Here are a few basic questions that I have.

Are there any benefits of going wireless rather than staying with our current setup?
Can wireless and non-wireless be used together or would it be easiter to have an all or non network setup.
Are all computers compatible with wireless networks? (We use dell optiplex and dimension but some are over 3 years old)
Can the printers be on the wireless network too?
Is there any security issues involved with a wireless network?
Is wireless networking equipment very expensive - especially if we have to switch out network cards for each computer?
We use very large files (excel and access) on a regular basis that are stored on our file sever. Will this have any effect on switching to a wireless network?
Do you know of any links or articles to give me more info on wireless networks?

ANY feedback would be helpful for a wireless network rookie.
Thanks!

 

[David Robbins]

Our office is planning to move to a new building this summer and the boss

wants to look into the possibility of setting up a wireless network (pretty
much, if it sounds cool, then lets do it but don't spend too much money in
the process type of attitude). Our current network configuration works fine
and we haven't had any issues, but if we do move and he does want to go
ahead with a wireless network, that would be the best opportunity to make
the change. I maintain our current network and had some major assistance in
setting it up. Before I get our outside IT consulting company to assist us,
I have some basic questions about wireless networking. I have never dealt
with a wireless network before and I just want to get some basic information
to see if it would be feasible for us to do this. Currently we are using
Windows 2000. We have a one file server and one exchange server. We are also
using a Linux Firewall for people to access files via VPN. All computers are
connected to the server through standard networking cables and hubs. Most of
our users have desktops, but we may have the senior staff switch to laptops
when we move. We have approx 40 computers and 5 printers. Here are a few
basic questions that I have.

Are there any benefits of going wireless rather than staying with our

current setup?

sure, no need to run wires!

Can wireless and non-wireless be used together or would it be easiter to

have an all or non network setup.

yes.

Are all computers compatible with wireless networks? (We use dell optiplex

and dimension but some are over 3 years old)

as long as you can get a pcmcia or pci or usb wireless card for them they
are.

Can the printers be on the wireless network too?

yes, but you will need a wireless print server for them which is a bit more
expensive than a normal wireless card.

Is there any security issues involved with a wireless network?

yes, be sure to read all the stuff you can on wep and related encryption
stuff.

Is wireless networking equipment very expensive - especially if we have to

switch out network cards for each computer?

not really, but you will have to compare the costs of replacing nics and
adding wireless access points to that of just running new wire for the old
machines. it will depend on how big of an area you have to cover, how many
machines, and how much it would cost to wire the new office.

We use very large files (excel and access) on a regular basis that are

stored on our file sever. Will this have any effect on switching to a
wireless network?

depends on what you are used to. if you have 10mbps now then it might be
faster over wireless which can get up to 56mbps. however if you are used to
100mbps wired then it will be slower.

Do you know of any links or articles to give me more info on wireless

networks?

any of the wireless equipment companies has startup info. i think ms had
some info on encryption and security on the web site somewhere, do some
searches for white papers about it on there. places like techtv.com, and
probably most of the on-line computer mags have articles and reviews of
wireless stuff within the last year or so.

 

[Guest]

Excellent info Dave! Thanks very much with the pointers. This give me some ground work to get started with. We are using 100 mbps so that might make a difference in our final decision

Best Regards
Leanne!

 

[DS]

depends on what you are used to. if you have 10mbps now then it might
be faster over wireless which can get up to 56mbps. however if you
are used to 100mbps wired then it will be slower.

You have to remember though that the published 802.11x datarates are the
signalling rates, not the user data throughput rates. 802.11b 11 mbps is
theoretically not possible as a user-data rate. In best case scenarios,
you'll typically see 5-6 megs of user data rate. All of the other is used
up by overhead, re-tries, etc. 802.11a 56 mbps will yield at best 30-40
mbps user data rate...at close range. Everything affects the user data-
rate, number of nodes & AP's, quality of the equipment, walls, other
wireless equipment. Wired 100 mbps is also 'signalling rate' but has less
overhead because it is not processing the RF.

In the companies I've worked for, the 802.11x has always been used as a
supplement to the wired network, for meeting's where people can carry
their laptops into the meeting room for example.

Before you make the decision to go wireless or not, I suggest you read
through the many 'Wi-Fi' performance tests on the web, just so you
understand what to expect. Being in the wireless data equipment industry,
I've found that people have high expectation's without doing the
research, or, try to use a product in a manner inconsistant with what it
was designed to do.

Forty computers on a 'wireless only' LAN is not something I would
suggest, but for the UM with laptops, wireless is a good supplement.


Regards,

DS