Do You Need a Wireless Network?

After comparing wireless 802.11b networking to cabled network technologies, how do you decide which is best for you? A number of factors should be considered .

A large enterprise with hundreds, or perhaps thousands, of computers will obviously need a large wired network, with LANs connected by ATM, Frame Relay, and other switched network technologies. Deciding where to use Access Points at some locations is a choice to be made by

• The need for wireless networking at that point

• Distance limitations

• The security considerations associated with the placement of the Access Point

In Chapter 24, "Other Wireless Technologies," you will find a discussion of the security implications of using a wireless network, and how encryption and authorization mechanisms can be used to make the network secure.

Some small businesses will get along just fine with an ad hoc wireless network, or one that uses an Access Point. Some will require the most stringent security requirements, using other technologies that are discussed in Chapter 24, as well as virtual private networks, covered in Chapter 50, "Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and Tunneling."