Introduction

As you saw in Chapter 2, the wireless local area network (WLAN) is exactly what it sounds like, a network that is connected primarily through wireless technology. It provides all of the features of a conventional wired LAN (such as Ethernet) without the need to have wired connections to each device. But that is only half of the story; WLANs have the potential to revolutionize how network connectivity is viewed. Using wireless technologies, individual users can connect to the network without the need for cabling to be pulled to their desks. This not only gives the users the ability to move around with their laptops and personal digital assistants (PDAs), it also allows for easy migration of desktop machines during the inevitable office "reorganization." Beyond the local user level, wireless technologies also offer the capability to connect a remote workgroup without the need to trench and install cabling or order carrier services such as a T1. If conditions are correct, the Cisco WLAN technology set can connect this remote workgroup at speeds up to 11 Mbps even if they are located miles away.

In addition to the potential of providing long-term infrastructure benefits and cost savings, you can also use WLANs to quickly bring up connectivity in the event of a disaster or unexpected move. For example, if your company's office space was flooded, but the warehouse was spared, you can install Cisco's WLAN technologies in the warehouse and move the PCs into this space, thus giving access to...