Wireless Local Area Networks

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Scope and Objective Wireless local area networks (WLANs) have the potential to improve the flexibility, productivity, and the quality of work life of an enterprise (Sage Research Staff, 2001). Berean Institute is a typical two year college with about a staff of sixty eight employees and 250 students per semester. Berean teaches cosmetology, barbering and the latest software and hardware technology, which is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Berean currently has two locations in the Philadelphia area and using a Local Area Network (LAN). Berean¡¦s existing network infrastructure is wire line, and uses a T1. Remote users access the network through a dial-up modem pool. Berean¡¦s wire line network model severely limits the accessibility and effectiveness of the Berean network. For example, employees in Berean facilities are unable to access the network easily from meetings, the cafeteria, or anywhere other than their offices. In addition, the effectiveness of remote users is limited by the slow speed of present-day dial-up modem connections. The following introductory sections describe the problem to be investigated and the goal to be achieved. The introduction also provides an analysis of the relevance and significance of the research and a discussion of barriers and issues related to achieving the goal. In addition, the approach and resources to be used in accomplishing the goal are discussed. Finally, a brief summary is provided. Problem Statement and Goal The propose research will address a problem confronting many two year institutions in the present-day (i.e. how to best plan, design, and implement WLAN technologies). While WLAN technologies offer the benefits of mobility, reduced installation time, and decreased cost, many challenges must be met by institutions deploying them (Geier, 2005). These issues are related to security, speed, interoperability, and equipment selection, ease of use, reliability, signal interference, installation, and health risks. In addressing the problem, the proposed research will use the case study method to examine the plan, design, and implementation of WLAN technologies at Berean. At present, the non-wireless local area network (LAN) technologies employed by Berean include 10/100BaseT Ethernet at each desktop. Ethernet ports at the desktop are switch connected to an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) T1 backbone. Berean¡¦s one remote facility connects to the network using switched Frame Relay services along with Internet Virtual Private Network (VPN) connections. These technologies are of limited effectiveness in connecting employees while at work and at home via Berean network. Berean¡¦s infrastructure does not allow employees on the move to leverage the time they spend at meetings, in the cafeteria, and the other location to catch up on e-mail, retrieve information, or perform other work related activities (Sage Research Staff, 2005).

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