Applications of Wireless LANs in Access Function
Do you still remember when first generation of computers were built? At that time only big corporations and large universities are the parties that have privileges to own such a massive and expensive electronic device. But now computers have become common devices, you can easily find 4 or 5 of them in the house of your neighbors. The history of Wireless LANs is also taking the same path with large research companies implementing Wireless LAN for the first time. Now the technology has been successfully adapted by home and office networking consumers. The winning point for the development of this technology is as the technology become mature the price become lower. Wireless LANs technology has fast adoption rate due to the many advantages they offer to a variety of situations
Wireless LANs are commonly involved in access function or access role. In this network role level, Wireless LANs are served as entry point to a wired network. This role which in the past has been utilize by cabling, dial-up, ADSL, wire and wireless, Ethernet, Token Ring, ATM, Frame Relay, etc. This is actually a different approach for end user to access network. Wireless LANs are the Data Link layer like previous access method that has been listed above.
But why Wireless LANs has not been implemented in core function networks? There are several limitation in Wireless LANs which are drawback to function networks, but the most obvious is due to the lack of reliability and speed which are crucial in this level. But new wireless LANs technology are coping with this deficiency to reach the speed and reliability needed for distribution networks function.
Naturally, in small networks, we not distinguish between the core layer, distribution layer, or access layers network. The core layer of a network must have a very stable connection and having the capability to carry of a large amount of traffic with little difficulty and no time lag. Distribution network layer has to be quick, flexible and reliable. Wireless LANs generally do not cope with these requirements for a business solution.
As we can see from above, yes we must admit that Wireless LANs are still having some limitation, but there are one point where it can give one edge advantage: mobility. Undoubtedly, wireless LANs clear out certain problems for home users and businesses alike. Most of these problems suggest the need for freedom from fix location due to data cabling’s restrain. Wireless cellular solutions have existed for some time, extends users’ ability to roaming and mobile while connected at low speeds but come at hefty prices. Wireless LANs put up the flexibility, without the disadvantages. The connection offered by Wireless LANs is fast, cheap and can be transferred and installed at any location.
When you are considering to implement wireless LANs for your network, remember that the best result will be achieved if you keep wireless LANs to its main purpose. Administrators who want to carry out Wireless LANs in the distribution or core function level, need to understand that the full performance will not be achieved as the ideal condition. The only distribution function in a corporate network that is suitable for wireless LANs is the in the role on bridging building to building. In this scenario, wireless could be a role in the distribution layer, but most of the time it will depends on how the wireless bridge segmentation are implementing in the network.
Even though the ideal role of Wireless LANs is at access function level, some WISPs or Wireless Internet Service Providers are using Wireless LANs in licensed wireless frequency that are intended for a distribution role. We do not know what is the real motivations of some of wireless operator, but perhaps they are expecting that with the new technology years ahead, Wireless LANs can give stability, reliability and speed that are needed in this network function level.