TABLE OF CONTENTS The IEEE 802.11 family of standards is on a fast evolutionary track, with announcements made on a seemingly daily basis about improvements in Wi-Fi's ability to meet the business community's needs for performance, security, and manageability. Still, Wi-Fi is a relatively new technology. So despite the market pressures to adopt and deploy wireless capabilities, a pragmatic approach toward the implementation of a wireless networking plan may be best.
Some of the questions an IT professional might pose when considering a WLAN deployment include: How will the various 802.11specifications shake out? What will it cost to support this rapidly changing technology? How will a WLAN map into the organization's top priorities? How does it fit into the current network topology? How does it allow the company to reach its goals?
And don't forget the people factor. High-tech staffers who love to explore new technology will be among the Wi-Fi advocate's most ardent supporters; it will also be the group that will want to "push the envelope," so there may be a need to moderate their wireless initiatives. Other people-related issues that must be considered when planning a wireless network include resource management, training, workflow, and process issues such as troubleshooting, provisioning, and documentation. Thus, in the beginning, a WLAN might actually decrease productivity. But don't let such considerations detour a wireless networking strategy.
Virtual offices, virtual workspaces, and sending documents while on the go are all part...
