• Microsoft Vista Home Networking Setup and Options
The most daunting part of upgrading to Windows Vista may be trying to figure out where in the layers of menus the networking and file-sharing options are hidden.
• Tips for Securing Your Home Router
Seemingly minor and easily overlooked settings can still have profound security implications. Here are some steps you can take to make sure your wired or wireless home router — and by extension, your network — is as secure as possible.
Most Popular Reviews
• Microsoft Windows Home Server
If you have a home network, you'll welcome the easy file sharing, remote access and the image-based backup features of Windows Home Server.
• Iomega StorCenter Network Hard Drive
Iomega's fourth generation StorCenter Network Hard Drive brings many of the features found in higher-end storage devices down to an attractive price.
• MikroTik's The Dude
This free tool delivers many of the same capabilities that you'd find in pricey network monitoring tools. As long as you don't mind tinkering, The Dude is a decent network utility that should be worth the download.
Use this chart to get some quick information to help you differentiate between the available wireless networking standards and choose which standard might be the right fit for your business. See the links below the chart for further information on wireless networking standards.
Products that adhere to this standard are considered "Wi-Fi Certified." Eight available channels. Less potential for RF interference than 802.11b and 802.11g. Better than 802.11b at supporting multimedia voice, video and large-image applications in densely populated user environments. Relatively shorter range than 802.11b. Not interoperable with 802.11b.
Products that adhere to this standard are considered "Wi-Fi Certified." Not interoperable with 802.11a. Requires fewer access points than 802.11a for coverage of large areas. Offers high-speed access to data at up to 300 feet from base station. 14 channels available in the 2.4GHz band (only 11 of which can be used in the U.S. due to FCC regulations) with only three non-overlapping channels.
Products that adhere to this standard are considered "Wi-Fi Certified." May replace 802.11b. Improved security enhancements over 802.11. Compatible with 802.11b. 14 channels available in the 2.4GHz band (only 11 of which can be used in the U.S. due to FCC regulations) with only three non-overlapping channels.
Commonly referred to as WiMAX or less commonly as WirelessMAN or
the Air Interface Standard, IEEE 802.16 is a specification for fixed
broadband wireless metropolitan access networks (MANs)
Commonly referred to as WiMAX or less commonly as WirelessMAN or
the Air Interface Standard, IEEE 802.16 is a specification for fixed
broadband wireless metropolitan access networks (MANs)
No native support for IP, so it does not support TCP/IP and wireless LAN applications well. Not originally created to support wireless LANs. Best suited for connecting PDAs, cell phones and PCs in short intervals.
Independent network IP addresses for each network. Data is sent with a 56-bit encryption algorithm.
Note: HomeRF is no longer being supported by any vendors or working groups. Intended for use in homes, not enterprises. Range is only 150 feet from base station. Relatively inexpensive to set up and maintain. Voice quality is always good because it continuously reserves a chunk of bandwidth for voice services. Responds well to interference because of frequency-hopping modulation.
Per-session encryption and individual authentication.
Only in Europe. HiperLAN is totally ad-hoc, requiring no configuration and no central controller. Doesn't provide real isochronous services. Relatively expensive to operate and maintain. No guarantee of bandwidth.
Strong security features with support for individual authentication and per-session encryption keys.
Only in Europe. Designed to carry ATM cells, IP packets, Firewire packets (IEEE 1394) and digital voice (from cellular phones). Better quality of service than HiperLAN/1 and guarantees bandwidth.
OpenAir
Pre-802.11 protocol, using Frequency Hopping and 0.8 and
1.6 Mb/s bit rate
Maximizing WLAN Performance: The need for higher data rates and techniques to improve performance of WLANs is becoming crucial to support data-intense applications.
PERFORMANCE
802.11b radios use Direct
Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) technology and HomeRF
uses Frequency
Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS). Each method has
its strengths and weaknesses (this
article has a relatively easy to understand comparison
of the two), but the summary is that Wi-Fi runs
faster, but doesn't go as far (especially while
going faster), and HomeRF runs slower, but has greater
range (and doesn't slow down as much as range increases).
HomeRF is also pretty much unaffected
by microwave oven and 2.4GHz cordless phone operation, where
802.11b networks can be slowed
when you decide to heat up a burrito and temporarily shut
down if you want to talk on your 2.4GHz phone.
Expect the data rate
you get when you use any of these products to be significantly lower than
the stated maximums. WiFi products' best
actual data transfer rates are in the 3.5 to 4.5Mbps range
and HomeRF clocks in at about 800-900kbps.
Note that these standards can co-exist
(although some people might disagree with this statement),
but they can't communicate with each other. You
need equipment using the same standard in order to successfully
build your network!
Wireless manufacturers typically ship their PCI adapters, but you
may need (or want) to do it yourself. Here are some
sources for ISA/PCI to PCMCIA adapters:
You can buy the products in kits, usually for
networking two computers, and in single computer add-on packages. The kits sometimes bundle in some sort of Internet sharing software.
Most of the products are Windows based, but there are alternatives:
Apple has Airport
for Macs primarily, but see this page
for information on use with Windows.
Note: If you use the
MacOS, pay careful attention to the specifications of
the products that you're buying if you need to use the
AppleTalk protocol. Assume
that the product does not support it unless
the product specifically states that it supports the
MacOS. You should be able to use the TCP/IP
protocol with any 802.11b product, however.
Also try this listing
if you're looking for Linux support for wireless cards.
