Whitepapers
Mobility
The All-Wireless Workplace Is Now Open for Business: Using 802.11n As Your Primary Network
Wi-Fi technology has been steadily improving for some years, to the extent that many workers now rely on wireless as their primary data connection to the corporate network. Wi-Fi infrastructure for manufacturing and retail organizations, hotels, universities and schools is already a $1 billion market, with annual growth in double digits. Adoption to date in enterprise offices, also known as 'carpeted space'has been slower, as many CIOs and users still regard a Wi-Fi connection as inferior to a wired Ethernet connection. 802.11n is a game changer because when properly deployed it has the potential to displace wired networks to enable a completely all-wireless workplace.
Download this whitepaper (English) »
Download this whitepaper (German) »
Download this whitepaper (French) »
It Tak tes Twoo Tango: Using Wi-Fi and WiMAX to Deliver Broadband Wireless Services to Fixed and Mobile Clients
WiMAX as a technology is ready for takeoff, but various non-technical obstacles have conspired to keep it grounded thus far. Nevertheless, WiMAX offers cutting-edge wireless performance, a 'flat' network architecture ideal for IP-based services and the strong commitment of a pivotal vendor of client hardware. How soon will WiMAX emerge as a successful technology, and in what guise? How could WiMAX be made to work in conjunction with a Wi-Fi deployment? This paper seeks to answer these questions from the viewpoint of a Wi-Fi network manager and, along the way, clears up many misconceptions that have arisen over the capabilities and timelines of WiMAX technology.
WLAN RF Architecture Primer: Single-Channel and Adaptive Multi-Channel Models
In this paper we examine one of the questions central to the technology debate: the advantages and disadvantages of the single-channel RF architecture when compared to the adaptive, cellular-like alternative. The RF model is a significant aspect of WLAN architectures, and as we shall show, the initial selection of a single-channel model drives significant consequences, both good and bad. This article compares the two models in technical detail, allowing the reader to follow the science behind marketing claims, and develop an informed and objective opinion of the merits of vendors’ solutions.
Fixed-Mobile Convergence with UMA for Enterprises
Advances in voice-over-IP (VoIP), and cellular networking technologies are driving opportunities for businesses to improve productivity while saving on telecommunication expenses. One fast-developing area, Fixed-Mobile Convergence (FMC) allows mobile phones to connect to Wi-Fi networks when available, taking advantage of the low cost, high bandwidth and extensive indoor coverage of Wi-Fi networks.
The Indestructible Network: Wireless LANs for Industrial and Outdoor Applications
Many organizations require data and voice communications in industrial and outdoor environments. Historically these needs have been met by a patchwork of copper or fiber-optic cable in the ground, low-bandwidth 900 MHz and 2.4 GHz wireless links, and depending on the particular site, satellite networks too. While wire-line networks can support high data rates with high reliability, it is not always feasible or cost-effective to dig trenches or string overhead wire across chemical plants, container ports or off-shore oil platforms. Manufacturing plants and storage facilities with explosive atmospheres and ignition hazards have specialized installation requirements, raising the installation cost and complexity of wired networks. Consequently many deployments utilize both wired and wireless technologies, often combining licensed and unlicensed spectrum across a number of different frequencies.
Designed for Speed: Network Infrastructure in an 802.11n World
Wi-Fi technology has carved a path of ever-increasing performance from the earliest pre-802.11 standards through 802.11b to 802.11a/g, with peak data rates rising from 2Mbps to 54Mbps. The latest set of innovations is a package known as 802.11n. As 802.11n is a very new technology, this paper should be considered a snapshot of progress in late 2007, rather than a definitive guide.
Rethinking Remote Access: Pervasive Enterprise Mobility
Mobility in the corporate world is increasing at an incredible rate with users traveling around the globe and working partially or fully at home. The ability to move and remain fully connected is the paramount concern. The office connection must be pervasive, and it must be available no matter where the user is on the planet.
Unwiring the Enterprise: A Fresh Look at the Risks and Rewards of Abandoning Wired Access for WiFi
WLANs are no longer a novelty for tech savvy home users. In recent years, there have been major developments targeted at making WiFi applicable to the corporate world; most notably in the areas of security, speed, interoperability, and QoS. Due to recent IEEE standards such as 802.11i (wireless security), 802.11e (QoS), and 802.11a/g (bandwidth, stability and scale), WiFi is now a more mature technology, able to solve enterprise mobility requirements and offer significant cost savings.
Interoperability Considerations for Today's Wi-Fi Networks
As Wireless LANs (WLANs) have expended rapidly over the recent years, the adoption rate for the IEEE 802.11 technology has seen a tremendous growth. Such market demand for unwiring enterprise networks have created business opportunities for companies to introduce wireless access equipment and client devices to meet such demand.
Enterprise Network Mobility: A TCO Analysis
This paper quantifies the total cost of ownership (TCO) savings achieved by deploying a centrally managed overlay WLAN solution versus a network integrated WLAN solution.
Scaling Enterprise Wireless LAN Deployments
Enterprise wireless LANs (WLANs) have expanded rapidly over the past few years, moving from small hotspot style deployments, to pervasive enterprise-wide deployments spanning the campus, branch office, telecommuters and even nomadic remote offices. As these wireless networks grow, their scalability is primarily determined by the underlying architecture for of the wireless LAN and its interworking with the wired architecture.
Security
Building Global Security for Wireless LANs
As wireless devices become more and more common in today’s enterprise networks, now is a good time for CIOs and IT managers to plan their strategy for overall control, deployment, and management of Security.
Network Access Control for Mobile Networks
While it is unanimously agreed that network access control is a problem, opinions differ about how to address it.
Banning Wireless Doesn’t Stop Users: Understand How to Protect Your Network and Support WiFi Enthusiasts
Despite great strides in wireless LAN (WLAN) technology, many organizations continue to choose a “nowireless” policy causing potential internal threats, where legitimate users compromise the integrity of the network or gain access to privileged confidential data.
A Closer Look at Wireless Intrusion Detection: How to Benefit from a Hybrid Deployment Model
Wireless intrusion detection methodologies have diverged among wireless and security vendors. When selecting a WIDS vendor, it is important to first understand the deployment methodologies supported by each system.
Integrating Wired IDS with Wi-Fi: Using Open-Source IDS to Complement a Wireless IDS/IPS Deployment
This whitepaper will examine the weaknesses and challenges in using traditional WIDS systems to attempt to monitor the upper layers of the OSI model, and will identify techniques used by attackers to exploit weaknesses in WIDS systems.
Six Strategies
for Defense-in-depth: Securing the Network from the Inside Out
An Opus One Whitepaper
Defense-in-depth requires that relationships between network resources and network users be a controlled, scaleable and granular system of permissions and access controls that goes beyond simply dropping firewalls between network segments.
Convergence
Running for Coverage: A Review of Femtocells
This note offers a Wi-Fi infrastructure vendor's view of femtocells. While femtocells differ from Wi-Fi access points in some ways, they seek to solve many of the same problems and are often considered to be competitive solutions. Thus a Wi-Fi viewpoint will be informed by knowledge of many key issues, but with a detachment not shared by many in the cellular infrastructure business.
Aruba’s Mobile Voice Continuity (MVC) Solution
Evidence shows that Enterprises are ready for a dual-mode Wi-Fi - Cellular mobility solution, this interest has prompted Aruba to look at the state of the art in dual-mode handsets, IP PBXs and the different forms of FMC (fixed-mobile convergence) solution available in the market.
Industry Specific
Higher Education
The Whys and Hows of Deploying Large-Scale Campus-wide Wi-Fi Networks
Ubiquitous Wi-Fi across an enterprise or campus is a very positive and exciting experience for your students, faculty, staff and visitors to your institution. Having instant access to email, the internet, and other IT services irrespective of location can dramatically change the way your constituents live, work, study, learn, and play. If wireless coverage is also converged with voice and video, the experience is even further enhanced. And today, everyone who comes to your institution has experienced wireless access to the internet somewhere-at home or work, or in coffee houses, libraries, airports, or hotels. As a result, it is no wonder that when people come to your campus they not only want but most often expect wireless access to all the information and services your institution provides.
Cutting Costs Through Convergence for Higher Education Institutions
Convergence, or the collapsing of multiple, disparate infrastructures into a single, homogeneous communications utility is changing the face of network infrastructure design. This once overpromised, under-delivered concept has finally found technology in the Internet Protocol (IP) that lives up to its claims.
Dartmouth College: Realizing a Campus-Wide Video and Voice Network
Over the past five years at Dartmouth College, the CIO of Dartmouth College developed the industry’s first totally converged wireless IP network. This paper is intended to provide some insight into the vision behind its deployment and to provide a collection of “best practices” learned from that experience.
K-12 Education
Connect Every K-12 Laptop... Wirelessly, Effortlessly, Securely
The increased use of laptop computers in K-12 schools has created a unique opportunity to dramatically improve the quality of teaching and learning. The integration of audio, video and graphics animation, coupled with interactivity, has enabled new teaching paradigms that expand the learning opportunities for all students. In addition, the Internet and other communications networks have opened access to a plethora of information never before available, taking students well beyond their classroom resources. Every laptop now includes Wi-Fi connectivity, which when used in conjunction with next-generation wireless access infrastructure from Aruba Networks, can deliver secure, high-speed network access to every latop at a price that enables ubiquitous deployment of this new, effective teaching tool.
Lessons in Wireless for K-12 Schools
The networks in Primary and secondary (K-12) educational institutions are unable to satisfy today’s requirements. The necessary sharing of resources and the mobile nature of students, teachers and administrators make the network requirements even more challenging.
Healthcare
Medical-Grade, Mission-Critical Wireless Networks
Designing an Enterprise Mobility Solution in the Healthcare Environment.
By Steven D. Baker and David H. Hoglund
Healthcare WLAN Applications: North American Hospital Survey Results
In addition to productivity enhancements, wireless capability is viewed as a critical component of an overall strategy to reduce medical errors and save lives.
Hospiltality
The WLAN in the Hospitality Industry
While the earliest Wi-Fi application deployed by hotels was guest “hotspot” access, limiting the WLAN to supporting this application squanders many opportunities to increase productivity, and enhance services.
Retail
In-Store Mobility – Realize Your Vision
Mobile applications in retail are not new. Over the years, barcode scanning enabled mobile applications in the retail storefront, in the back room and in warehouse locations have helped retailers reduce operating costs by improving productivity and greater supply chain visibility. Mobile applications such as inventory tracking, shelving, labeling, etc. started as competitive differentiators and now have become an integral part of how retailers conduct their business.
Technology Advances in Retail
Wireless technology has increased revenue and decreased costs by making improvements in areas such as supply chain management, inventory management, customer experience, and loss prevention.
PCI v1.1 Primer: How Does PCI Apply To Wireless LANs? How to Address PCI Compliance Requirements
In an effort to curb the sharp rise and strikingly large impact of credit card theft, the top five payment card brands - American Express, Discover Financial Services, JCB, MasterCard Worldwide and Visa International - have formed the Payment Card Industry (PCI) standards council. This council has defined security guidelines in the form of the PCI Data Security Standard or the PCI DSS that applies globally to all merchants and service providers who store, process and transmit credit card data.
Government
Secure Enterprise Mobility for Government Telework
Government Telework initiatives are increasing with many Federal agencies and Congress supporting programs to allow federal employees traveling around the globe or working from home to access their agencies’ network. The ability to remotely connect to all resources in a reliable and secure manner is of paramount concern. Regardless of location, teleworkers connection to federal resources must be highly secure and meet policy objectives such as NIST FIPS 140-2 and HSPD-12.
Developing a Sound Security Policy for Mobility at the Department of Defense
As mobility becomes more prevalent in DoD operations, there has been an aggressive stance taken to mandate security of these networks. While the DoD represents a typical enterprise network in many respects, it also has unique requirements that set it apart from commercial deployments. Due to the nature of information that these networks transport and the stringent availability requirements for many mobile applications, an aggressive security posture has been established, one that only the most capable networking vendors have been able to comply with.
Requirements for Building Effective Government WLANs
With governments just now beginning the adoption of wireless LANs as a key component of their network connectivity strategy, the purpose of this White Paper is to enumerate the issues and solutions now available that lead to successful government WLAN installations.