Lab 5.4.2.2 Selecting Access Points

Step 1: Identify WLAN requirements

a. Use word processing software to create a new document called “WLAN Diagram.”

b. Use the identified topology and associated equipment to determine WLAN design requirements.

Design requirements for the WLAN include:

• Scalability
• Availability
• Security
• Manageability

c. Brainstorm with other students to identify areas that may have been missed in the initial requirements document.

Step 2: Determine equipment features

Using the list developed from the brainstorming session create a WLAN based on technical requirements

(design only).

a. Begin by creating your design using the existing equipment.

Network equipment includes:

2 x 1841 Routers (FC-CPE-1, FC-CPE-2)

3 x 2960 Switches (FC-ASW-1, FC-ASW-2, ProductionSW)

1 x Network and Business Server

1 x Linksys WRT300N Wireless Router (FC-AP)

1 x ADSL Modem for Internet Access

b. Using the list of equipment, identify the model of wireless router. Identify the features and range of the

device. Identify whether there are upgrades that can be made to extend the range, security, and existing features.

c. Create a list of features and potential upgrades and compare them to other models of wireless router.

Determine the device that can easily meet the technical requirements of the WLAN. (Standalone

Access Points for ease of installation or wireless controllers for security and management)

d. With the previous list estimate the range of coverage available with the existing wireless router.

Determine if the wireless router can provide thorough coverage of the work area. Determine if standalone access points or wireless controllers are needed for the design.

e. Save your WLAN Diagram document.

Step 3: Select WLAN devices

a. Use word processing software to create an addition to the WLAN Diagram document.

b. The identified WLAN diagram will be used to determine the type of wireless device that will be

included into the proposed network.

c. Ensure that the chosen wireless equipment meets the following requirements:

Design requirements for the WLAN include:

• • Scalability
• • Availability
• • Security
• • Manageability

d. Save your WLAN Diagram document.

Step 4: Design the WLAN

a. Use word processing software to create an addition to the WLAN Diagram document.

b. Design a WLAN that provides scalability. Annotate on the WLAN Diagram document how the design

provides scalability.

(Scalability – New lightweight Access Points can be added easily and managed centrally)

c. Design a WLAN that provides availability. Annotate on the WLAN Diagram document how the design

provides availability.

(Availability – Access Points can automatically increase their signal strength if one Access Point fails)

d. Design a WLAN that provides security. Annotate on the WLAN Diagram document how the design

provides security.

(Security – Enterprise-wide security policies apply to all layers of a wireless network, from the radio

layer through the MAC Layer and into the Network Layer. This solution makes it easier to provide

uniformly enforced security, QoS, and user policies. These policies address the specific capabilities of

different classes of devices, such as handheld scanners, PDAs, and notebook computers.

Security policies also provide discovery and mitigation of DoS attacks, and detection and denial of

rogue Access Points. These functions occur across an entire managed WLAN.)

e. Design a WLAN that provides manageability. Annotate on the WLAN Diagram document how the

design provides manageability.

(Manageability – The solution provides dynamic, system-wide radio frequency (RF) management,

including features that aid smooth wireless operations, such as dynamic channel assignment,

transmit power control, and load balancing. The single graphical interface for enterprise-wide policies

includes VLANs, security, and QoS.)

f. Save your WLAN Diagram document.

Step 5: Reflection / Challenge

The design strategies for the FilmCompany WLAN pose many challenges for the designer. What were a few of the more difficult challenges you encountered?

Consider and discuss the identified strategies. Do all of the strategies designed or hardware identified

accomplish the task the same way?

Would one be less expensive or less time-consuming than the other?

Would the current topology allow for future growth and the addition of the WLAN?

• Apakah keterbatasan throughput WLAN?

• Apakah peralatan yang ada mampu menangani lalu lintas jaringan yang diusulkan? Jika demikian, bagaimana? Jika tidak, mengapa?

• Apa perangkat dapat digunakan sebagai pengganti akses poin mandiri?

• Apa kelemahan potensial untuk diagram yang diusulkan?