Cwna Guide to Wireless Lan

CWNA Guide to Wireless LANs, Second Edition
Chapter Six
Planning and Deploying a Wireless LAN

Objectives
• • • • Explain the steps for planning a wireless network Tell how to design a wireless LAN Describe the steps in deploying a wireless network Explain the ways in which to provide user support

CWNA Guide to Wireless LANs, Second Edition

2

Planning for a Wireless Network
• “If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail” • Some steps involved in planning wireless networks similar to planning wired network
– Many steps significantly different

• Basic planning steps:
– Assessing needs – Weighing benefits – Calculating costs

CWNA Guide to Wireless LANs, Second Edition

3

Assessing Needs: The Need for Mobility
• Two significant changes in business world over last 15 years:
– Workers have electronic tools to access information and accomplish significantly more – Restructuring of organizational hierarchies
• Organizations are “flatter” • Teamwork is essential

– Together, can result in decreased productivity
• Hinders ability to collaborate and make timely decisions

• “Mobile office” needed
CWNA Guide to Wireless LANs, Second Edition 4

Assessing Needs: The Need for Mobility (continued)
• A solution to need for mobility is WLANs
– Expand productivity zone of knowledge workers – Improve quality and productivity of meetings – Work can be performed in more locations at more times

• WLANs have been shown to add one to two hours a day of productive time per worker
– Enabling worker to respond to customers, partners, and colleagues more quickly

• WLANs too often viewed as optional add-on to computer networks
CWNA Guide to Wireless LANs, Second Edition 5

Assessing Needs: Examining the Business Entity
• Determine if business case exists for bringing wireless networking into corporate environment
– What is the purpose or mission of the organization? – Is the current mission expected to change in the future? – What is the... [continues]

Read full essay