Wireless Local Area

Network
INDEX
 INTRODUCTION AND
HISTORY
OF WLAN
• What is WLAN?
 WLAN stands for Wireless Local Area Network.
 Sometimes it is also called Local Area Wireless Network (LAWN).
 Norman Abramson, a professor at the University of Hawaii,
developed the world’s first wireless computer communication
network, ALOHA net (operational in 1971).
 WLAN is a wireless computer network that links two or more
devices (using-spectrum or OFDM radio) within a limited area such
as a home, school, computer laboratory, or office building.
 WLAN is a marketed under the Wi-Fi brand name.
 Wireless LANs have become popular in the home due to ease of
installation and use.
ADVANTAGES OF WLAN

 Installation flexibility.

 Reduced cost-of-ownership.

 Mobility

ADVANTAGES[Conti…]
Installation speed and simplicity
 • No cable to pull.
• Few transmitters/receivers for multiple for users.
Reduced cost-of-ownership
• Mobile devices are less expensive than computer
workstations.
• No need to build wiring closets. Mobility
• Access to real-time information.
• Provides service opportunities.
• Promotes flexibility.
• Supports productivity.

DISADVANTAGES OF WLAN

Cost
Environmental Conditions

Less Capacity

DISADVANTAGES[Conti…]
Cost
• Wireless network cards cost 4 times more than wired
network cards.
• The access points are more expensive than hubs and wires.
Environmental Conditions
• Susceptible to weather and solar activity.
• Constrained by buildings, trees, terrain. Less Capacity
• Slower bandwidth.
 TYPES OF WLAN

Infrastructure

Peer-to-peer

Bridge

Wireless distribution system

 TYPES OF WLAN[Conti…]
Infrastructure
• Most Wi-Fi networks are deployed in infrastructure mode.
• In infrastructure mode, a base station acts as a wireless
access point hub, and nodes communicate through the hub.
The hub usually, but not always, has a wired or fiber network
connection, and may have permanent wireless connections
to other nodes.
• Wireless access points are usually fixed, and provide service
to their client nodes within range.
• Wireless clients, such as laptops, smart phones etc. connect
to the access point to join the network.
 TYPES OF WLAN[Conti…]
Peer To Peer

Two PCs equipped with wireless adapter cards can be set up

as an independent network whenever they are within range
of one another.
A peer-to-peer network allows wireless devices to directly
communicate with each other.fff
 TYPES OF WLAN[Conti…]

Bridge

• A bridge can be used to connect networks, typically of

different types.
• A wireless Ethernet bridge allows the connection of devices
on a wired Ethernet network to a wireless network.
• The bridge acts as the connection point to the Wireless LAN.

TYPES OF WLAN[Conti…]
Wireless distribution system
• A Wireless Distribution System enables the wireless
interconnection of access points in an IEEE 802.11 network.

PRACTICAL USE OF WLAN

Corporate
Education

Finance

Healthcare

PRACTICAL USE[Conti…]

Corporate
• Mobile networking for e-mail, file sharing, and web
browsing.
 Education
• Connectivity to the University Network for
collaborative class activities.
• Ability to access research sources without requiring a hard
point.

PRACTICAL USE[Conti…]
Finance
• Traders can receive up-to-the-second pricing information.
• Facilitates electronic payments for goods and services.
• Improve the speed and quality of trades.

Healthcare
• Emergency medical information readily available.
• Access to schedule information.
Thank You