WLAN ( Wireless LAN )

What is Wi-Fi,

In our mobile, laptop everywhere Wi-Fi is supported. Wi-Fi is a wireless networking

technology, by which we can access networks or connect with other computers or mobile
using a wireless medium. In Wi-Fi, data are transferred over radio frequencies in a circular
range.
Wi-Fi, a brand name given by the Wi-Fi Alliance (formerly Wireless Ethernet Compatibility
Alliance), is a generic term that refers to the communication standard for the wireless network
which works as a Local Area Network to operate without using the cable and any types of
wiring. It is known as WLAN. The communication standard is IEEE 802.11. Wi-Fi works using
the Physical Data Link Layer.

The Wi-Fi connection is established from the access point or base station to the client
connection within a specific range the range depends on the router which provides the radio
frequency through Wi-Fi. These frequencies operate on 2 types of bandwidth at present, 2.4
GHz and 5 GHz. 2.4 GHz is the default bandwidth supported by all the devices
History
The concept of Wi-Fi is very old but its implementation is not so old. At first ALOHA System is a
wireless network system that is used to connect Hawaii island via a network in the year 1971.
Where the protocol used for this was ALOHA protocol and the network used packet transfer.
Later it was converted to IEEE 802.11 protocol. Then in 1990, IEEE 802.11 Working Group for
Wireless LANs is established by Vic Hayes, who was known as the “Father of Wi-Fi”. in 1997
the first version of Wi-Fi is released officially

Comparison of WLAN & LAN

Charectoristics 802.11 Wireless LAN 802.3 Ethernet LAN
Physical layer Radio frequency Cable
Media Access Collision avoidance Collision Detection
Availability Any one with a radio NIC in Cable connection required
range of an access point
Signal interference Yes Inconsequential
Regulation Additional regulation by IEEE standard dictates
local authorities
How Wi-Fi works

Wi-Fi is a wireless technology for networking, so it uses Electromagnetic waves to transmit

networks. We know that there are many divisions of Electromagnetic waves according to their
frequency such as X-ray, Gamma-ray, radio wave, microwave, etc., in Wi-Fi, the radio frequency
is used. For transmitting Wi-Fi signal there is three medium,
•Base station network or an Ethernet(802.3) connection: It is the main host network from
where the network connection is provided to the router.
•Access point or router: it is a bridge between a wired network and a wireless network. It
accepts a wired Ethernet connection and converts the wired connection to a wireless
connection and spreads the connection as a radio wave.
•Accessing devices: It is our mobile, computer, etc. from where we use the Wi-Fi and surf the
internet.
Applications of Wi-Fi

1. Accessing Internet
2. Stream or cast audio or video using Wi-Fi
3. Share files, data, Wi-Fi printer
4. Wi-Fi as HOTSPOTS
5. voice-over Wi-Fi. Satellite system
6. Television remote control
7. Wi-Fi
8. Paging system
9. Wi-Max
10. Security systems
11. Cell phones
12. Computer interface devices
13. Bluetooth
14. GPS
15. GSM
How Wi-Fi works
All the electronics devices read
data in binary form, also routers or
our devices, here routers provide
radio waves, and those waves are
received by our devices and read
the waves in binary form. We all
know what a wave looks like, the
upper pick of the wave is known as
1 and the lower pick of the wave is
known as 0 in binary. Like below:
WI-FI Terminologies
Some more terminologies

•SSID (Service Set Identifier): It is a 32-character name that identifies the Wi-Fi network and
differentiates one Wi-Fi from another Wi-Fi. All the devices are attempting to connect a
particular SSID. Simply, SSID is the name of the wireless network.

•WPA-PSK (Wi-Fi Protected Access- Pre-Shared Key): It is a program developed by the Wi-Fi
Alliance Authority to secure wireless networks with the use of Pre-Shared Key(PSK)
authentication. WPA has 3 types, such as WPA. WPA2, WPA3. It is a way of encrypting the Wi-
Fi signal to protect from unwanted users.

•Wi-Fi uses Ad-Hoc networks to transmit. It is a point-to-point network without any interface.

How signals are reached to our devices?

Wi-Fi Terms

The wireless network defines a number of main architectural components including the
following.

STATION: A station is a client device in a Wi-Fi network that has wireless LAN card installed

ACCESS POINT: It provides an interface between STA with which station can communicate
together basically use to connect two or more STA’s

IBSS: When two or more stations connect together without an access point

BSS: When two or more STA connect and communicate together with the help of AP

EBSS: Two BSS connect together with the help of AP

ROOT AP: Used to connect wired n/w to a wireless network

Mesh AP: They are also called remote access points that are typically located on rooftops and
on top of the towers

Adaptive wireless path protocol (awpp) : This protocol used to provide the best path from a
Wi-Fi network to a wired network via the rap

Terms
. of the wireless security network
Mac address filtering: A basic way to protect the wireless network. An administrator can
configure an AP so that it accepts communications only from a specified Mac address

Service set identifier(SSID):most AP broadcast their SSID so that wireless clients can easily
locate and connect to the n/w
MAC Filtering

Steps for Mac filtering –

1.Set a list of allowed devices. Only those MAC addresses which are on the list will be
provided services by the DHCP.

2.Set a list of denied devices. The MAC addresses which are on the denied list will not be
granted server by DHCP.

3.If the MAC address is on both the allowed and denied list then it will be denied the service.
For enabling a list of allowed, denied or both devices follow these steps given below.

1.Go to the DHCP console, right-click the IPv4 node and click properties.
2.Use the current filter configuration details on the filter tab and use an allow list by selecting
enable allow list and use a denied list by selecting enable deny list.

3.Click OK and save changes.

Wired equivalent privacy(WEP): WEP is a very secure encryption protocol. it is used to encrypt
data over the web through TKIP(temporal key integrity protocol) protocol,

Wi-fi protected access(WPA): A group of wireless equipment known as the Wi-Fi alliance
developed a new encryption standard named Wi-Fi protected access.