ENTERPRISE WLAN BEST PRACTICES.

This article offers guidelines that information technology project managers and network designers need to know to achieve full coverage in its deployment of a wireless local-area network (WLAN). Because wireless technologies cannot match the bandwidth offered by traditional wired configurations, it is best to overlay the existing network with a new wireless one. The site survey is a hands-on assessment of how many access points and antennas needed, and where to place them. A major goal in any WLAN deployment is to achieve multi-site consistency in network architecture and equipment. A common impediment to roaming is found in overlapping access points. One common mistake in WLAN deployment is installing more access points than needed. The Wi-Fi Alliance, an organization that promulgates wireless network standards, has created security standards known as Wi-Fi Protected Access. Wireless networks should always be based in Wireless Fidelity standards. It is important to use a variety of antennas for various environments.