What is Wi-Fi

Wi-fi is a wireless technology that uses radio frequency to transmit data through the air

What do you need to do Wi-fi?

Existing wired network/services (Infrastructure Mode) DHCP/DNS Access point Antennas and bridges Wireless adapter

Why Wi-Fi?
Setup Cost Reduced cabling required Flexibility Quick and easy to setup in temp or permanent space Scaleable Can be expanded with growth Freedom You can work from any location that you can get a signal Lower total cost of ownership Because of affordability and low install cost Additionally Mobile Users Can access the Corporate network from any public hotspot using VPN

Disadvantages

Planning Depending on the goal Security Greater exposure to risks Access Compromising Data Denial of Service Speed Slower than cable Range Affected by various medium Travels best through open space Reduced by walls, glass, water, etc

Range and Performance

Performance decreases as distance increases 802.11a Indoor 40-300 feet Outdoor 100 to 1000 feet 802.11b Indoor 100-300 feet Outdoor 400 1500 feet Interference - doors, walls, furniture, ceiling 253 maximum number of client per AP, but 15-20 recommended

WiFi Networking Architecture Types of links

Wireless networks can be arranged in one of these three logical configurations:

Point-to-Point Point-to-Multipoint Multipoint-to-Multipoint

Point-to-Point
The simplest connection is the point-to-point link.

Point-to-Multipoint
When more than one connection communicates with a central point, this is a point-to-multipoint network.

Multipoint-to-Multipoint
When any node of a network may communicate with any other, this is a multipoint-to-multipoint network (also referred to as an ad-hoc or mesh network)

Radio modes
802.11 cards can be operated in one of these modes:

Master (AP) Managed (Client) Ad-hoc Monitor

Radios may only operate in one mode at a time*

Typical (intended) use

Master mode
Master mode (also called AP or infrastructure mode) is used to create a service that looks like a traditional access point. The wireless card creates a network with a specified name (called the SSID) and channel, and offers network services on it.

Wireless cards in master mode can only communicate with cards that are associated with it in managed mode.

Managed mode
Managed mode is sometimes also referred to as client mode. Wireless cards in managed mode will join a network created by a master, and will automatically change their channel to match it. Clients using a given AP are said to be associated with it. Managed mode cards do not communicate with each other directly, and will only communicate with an associated master.

Ad-hoc mode
Ad-hoc mode creates a multipoint-to-multipoint network when there is no master or AP available. In ad-hoc mode, each wireless card communicates directly with its neighbors. Nodes must be in range of each other to communicate, and must agree on a network name and channel.

Montior mode
Monitor mode is used by some tools (such as Kismet) to passively listen to all radio traffic on a given channel. This is useful for analyzing problems on a wireless link or observing spectrum usage in the local area. Monitor mode is not used for normal communications.