CASE STUDY REPORT ON THE EVALUATION OF WIRELESS AND LAN TECHNOLOGIES FOR CYBERTRANS LTD.

Fabola Adeola Ezekiel Bells University of technology, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria College of Information and Communication Technology Department of Information Technology. E mail: dexy101@ymail.com

ABSTRACT The purpose of this paper is to analyze the various technologies available for internetwork operability using Cybertrans ltd as a case study. This paper critically examines the trade-offs between wireless and wired Local Area Networks taking into consideration the cost, ease of use, installation, and security implications of these technologies. Also, the problem statement that this paper tackles indicates a desire for Cybertrans ltd to incorporate VoIP into their network in order to replace the current cabled telephones. Coupled with this is a stated desire to implement technologies that involve the minimum of hard-wired components as Cybertrans ltd will be relocating to another site in two years. As such, this paper attempts to propose suitable technologies, highlighting their merits and demerits based on the needs of the above named company.

Keywords: LAN, WLAN, fiber optics, VoIP, Access Point, QoS.

INTRODUCTION We live in a world where networking and information technology (IT) are becoming indispensable to organizations. Virtually every establishment today has come to realize the importance of incorporating IT into their everyday business. This importance emanates from the need to gain a competitive advantage in the business world, and what better way to do that than to go with the information age? However, it should be understood that unless the company sells IT services, IT is still an expense, not a profit center for the company. So when one talks about the necessity of competitive advantage by the IT divisions it depends on the role that IT plays in the organization. In order for a company to budget money for an "expense" division (networking in this case) the decision makers must understand their Return on Investment (ROI) or else the budget allocation will not be made. Cybertrans ltd is a company with about two hundred and fifty cabled network users and about one hundred and fifty telephone lines. Their current network infrastructure is falling apart, and a new solution needs to be proffered. But in proffering a network solution, there are factors that need to be considered, and these include cost, installation, security, ease of use, location, and logistics to mention a few. There are so many options which can be used to provide a solution for cybertrans, but the most feasible of the new and cutting edge technologies are fiber optic cabling, and Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). An analysis of the trade-offs in implementing these technologies are provided below. 2

BODY Fiber Optics

This is a networking technology that uses a thin, flexible, transparent fiber that acts as a waveguide, or "light pipe", to transmit light between the two ends of the fiber. Optical fibers are widely used in fiber-optic communications, which permits transmission over longer distances and at higher bandwidths (data rates) than other forms of communication. Fibers are used instead of metal wires because signals travel along them with less signal loss and are also immune to electromagnetic interference. Fibers are also used for illumination, and are wrapped in bundles so they can be used to carry images, thus allowing viewing in tight spaces. Specially designed fibers are used for a variety of other applications, including sensors and fiber lasers. Optical fiber typically consists of a transparent core surrounded by a transparent cladding material with a lower index of refraction. Light is kept in the core by total internal reflection. This causes the fiber to act as a waveguide. Fiber optics technology can be applied as part of the network solution for cybertrans ltd, but it will be subject to a number of considerations. First of all, to implement it, the company has the options of either laying their own fiber network along the metropolis, or using the infrastructure of an Internet Service Provider (ISP) (or any other company that specializes in fiber services). Of the two options, the first should not even be considered because of the cost, time required, and riguor of such a project, not to mention that it goes against one of the requirements of the new network solution in the sense that it provides a fixed infrastructure. The second option however, is more feasible but it requires a partnership with another party which ultimately implies outsourcing part of their network to such a party. Furthermore, to ensure the successful completion of the project, it is expedient to identify and analyze the costs, benefits, and risks, as well as the merits and demerits of using fiber optics in a network; starting with the advantages. Fiber optics is useful for long distance communication, for instance in communicating between branches or stations of an organization, as long as the locations of these branches are within the area spanned by the fiber infrastructure. This gives it an edge over other communication media for those with such interest in view. Fiber optics are also known for their very high data rates and bandwidth (hundreds to thousands of gigabits per sec). This clearly proves advantageous for cybertrans ltd in the sense that it can accommodate their network users (about 250) without any bandwidth issues. The great 3

speeds inherent in fiber optics technologies can also support the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) applications that the company wishes to deploy. These great speeds can accommodate streaming and transmitting of voice packet data without packet loss or delay talk about efficiency. Also, since fiber optics works by transmitting light along cables, it is immune to electromagnetic interference, and thus suffers little or no attenuation unlike other forms of cabling like copper cat 5. This makes it better in all performance regards than regular ethernet cables, especially when you consider the fact that it is flexible, thinner, weighs less, and is more flexible thus ensuring economics of space within a building. Fiber optics may sound like a suitable solution, but it is not without disadvantages. To start with, fiber optics technology is relatively new and this gives rise to a number of issues, the most salient is that fiber optic components are expensive. This would generally raise the installation cost of putting such a technology in place. This would make cybertrans ltd think twice about carrying out fiber optic installation, especially considering the fact that it involves a considerable amount of fixed infrastructure. The relative newness of fiber optics technologies obviously implies a lack of enforced standard, and just like most technologies in the IT world without an enforced standard, the use of fiber optics has been greatly limited. Another issue that arises from the newness of fiber technologies is the dearth of skilled personnel required to administer the network. If cybertrans ltd (for example) chooses to implement a fiber optics network, they either have to employ skilled personnel to manage the network (resulting in an increase in staff count thus indirectly raising the maintenance costs), or they will embark on a long-term escalation arrangement with an organization that specializes in fiber technologies (resulting in time-intensive resolutions to issues that may arise). Also, fiber optic technology does not give room for expansion, or migration for that matter. This is another huge disadvantage of implementing fiber as seen from the perspective of cybertrans ltd because the new network solution should consider the migration that is imminent. What's more is that the office users will be physically confined to certain locations where the outlets are situated hence they will not be allowed to roam and use mobile devices on their LAN. An expansion will literarily mean the drawing (or laying as the case may be) and splicing of more optical fiber to the areas where connectivity is needed just like a new installation. But perhaps the greatest disadvantage of fiber optics technology is that it makes subscribers vulnerable; fiber optics is known for great speeds and efficiency and for this reason, most people see no reason to implement a backup or fail-over solution in the event that the primary one goes down. Most of the time they dont need to because the optical fiber is sufficient, but at times, this decision comes back to haunt them. Fiber optics failures seldom occur, but when they do, the results are somewhat catastrophic and require a great deal of time and effort to restore service. In 4

today's corporate world such downtimes are simply unacceptable. Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) A wireless local area network (WLAN) links two or more devices using some wireless distribution method, and usually providing a connection through an access point to the internet. This gives users the mobility to move around within a local coverage area and still be connected to the network. Wireless LANs have become popular due to ease of installation, and the increasing popularity of laptop computers. As wireless LANs (WLANs) continue to grow in popularity, particularly in enterprise networks, the ability to do away with massive amounts of cabling is one very obvious advantage, and there are many more. Mobile, ubiquitous access to enterprise IT systems throughout the global enterprise yields a more productive and efficient workforce, allowing employees to access resources without being tethered to a traditionally static wired network connection. The architecture of a WLAN varies depending on the manner in which it is deployed but basically it is made up of the following components. Stations: These are the components that connect into the wireless medium. They all have wireless Network Internet Cards (NICs) that facilitate communication among them. There are two types of stations; access points (usually wireless routers) which transmit and receive radio frequencies, and clients (usually laptops, mobile phones, PDAs and so on) which connect to these access points using those radio frequencies. Basic service set: The basic service set (BSS) is a set of all stations that can communicate with each other. There are two types of BSS: Independent BSS (also referred to as IBSS), and infrastructure BSS. Every BSS has an identification (ID) called the BSSID, which is the MAC address of the access point servicing the BSS. An independent BSS (IBSS) is an ad-hoc network that contains no access points, which means they cannot connect to any other basic service set. An infrastructure can communicate with other stations not in the same basic service set by communicating through access points. Extended service set: An extended service set (ESS) is a set of connected BSS. Access points in an ESS are connected by a distribution system. Each ESS has an ID called the SSID which is a 32-byte (maximum) character string. Distribution system: A distribution system (DS) connects access points in an extended service set. The concept of a DS can be used to increase network coverage through roaming between cells. DS can be 5

wired or wireless. Current wireless distribution systems are mostly based on WDS or MESH protocols, though other systems are in use. Virtually almost all requirements of cybertrans ltd indicate the need for WLAN deployment as the preferred means of implementing their new network solution but before this is done, an adequate analysis of the benefits and pitfalls needs to be carried out; and it is subject to the following advantages. WLAN provides connectivity where it may be difficult to lay cables. This implies that in certain cases where cabling cannot be carried out as a matter of convenience, the wireless solution prevails. This makes wireless suitable in areas where people cannot lay cables, or where it is difficult like in certain buildings like factories and mills. This also ensures that the only cost incurred during installation is the cost of devices and equipment. There is no extra cost incurred on cables, or deconstruction and reconstruction of matter for cables to be passed. This also makes the installation of a WLAN relatively easy. The installation involves the placement and configuration of the Access Points (APs) and there is no need to run or pass cables through ducts, trunks or walls. This may not seem like a big deal, but imagine a large organization that needs internet access in all the offices in its ten - storey building. A WLAN will be by far quicker to install than a wired LAN. WLANs are also free from certain hazards associated with LANs, like many points of failure seeing as the network can fail at any connection point or cut in the cable, and certain electrical issues like Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) and signal attenuation. WLANs can also be used to provide connectivity between two or more detached buildings used by an organization, once again overcoming the need to run cables through the ground or over poles in the air. As a big plus to cybertrans ltd, WLANs can be deployed in situations where migration is imminent. As stated earlier, a typical WLAN installation involves setting up access points (usually wireless routers), and then client stations can connect to them. To relocate the network, the access points can simply be unmounted and moved to the new location to be setup again. This definitely suits the needs of cybertrans ltd in the sense that it involves a minimum of hard-wired components. A wireless LAN solution also meets the positional requirements of the company because clients can roam about the premises and change locations while remaining connected to the network. As a consequence, clients are not restricted to the use of desktop PCs, and can therefore use mobile devices like phones Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), smart books, laptops and other devices. This usually results in increased productivity as a by-product (which has been statistically proven). Wireless LAN technologies also facilitate easy expansion of the network. All that needs to be done is to provide a higher capacity to cater for the data needs of the users. In most cases, an additional Access Point (AP) 6

will suffice. So in the event that cybertrans needs to expand their network to accommodate more than the two hundred and fifty (250) users that they currently have, it can be done without much ado. Also, VoIP technologies can easily be integrated with wireless technologies and in fact facilitates the use of wireless IP phones hence they can roam within the premises of the building. But it is important to note that adequate bandwidth must be provided for the voice applications to prevent loss of packets thus making the IP phones unsuitable for use. Up to this point, the wireless LAN technology sounds like the perfect solution for cybertrans ltd, but it is pertinent to consider some of its pitfalls. WLAN works by transmitting signals of certain frequencies which pass through free space; hence they are hampered by objects (or matter composition) in their path. As a result the transmission of wireless signals is greatly disturbed by physical obstacles in their path causing a huge deal of signal degradation, thus making the network less effective. If Wireless technologies must be used in places where there are physical obstacles, then efforts must be made to provide the adequate antennas that span the required directions and areas. This has the unfortunate consequence of elevating the installation cost. Coupled with the problem of physical obstacles, is the issue of distance limitations. Depending on the wireless standard implemented, there are certain maximum distances spanned by Access Points (APs), and certain data rates associated with them. This implies that the bandwidth available to a given user depends on his distance from the Access Point hence data rates vary among users. Although Wireless technologies are been embraced by many organizations these days, security concerns remain high. Security is the first issue that anyone considering deploying wireless technologies should consider. In most wired LANs the cables are contained inside the building, so a would-be hacker must defeat physical security measures (e.g. security personnel, identity cards and door locks). However, the radio waves used in wireless networking typically penetrate outside the building, creating a real risk that the network can be hacked from the parking lot or the street. Most current wireless products use spread spectrum technology and as studies have shown, it is easy to demodulate the signals. Since all radios and access points within a network use the same SSID, all you have to do is steal a Service Set Identifier (SSID) - the ID attached to packets sent over WLANs that functions as a password for joining a network. In analyzing benefits and pitfalls of various networking technologies, we would observe that there is no such thing as a one size fits all. Consequently, the perfect solution is that which suits most appropriately, the needs for which the network is being put in place. 7

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION This paper has discussed various technologies that can be used to implement todays network solutions. It also provided an analysis of the benefits and pitfalls of these various technologies using cybertrans ltd as a case study. Based on findings, the most suitable and feasible solution for cybertrans ltd is a Wireless LAN with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phones replacing the old telephone lines. The WLAN will comprise of Access Points (most preferably wireless routers) strategically situated in the building such that it covers all areas and is not subject to signal degradation as a result of physical obstructions. A site survey must be conducted to ensure a successful completion of the project. The site survey (SS) is of paramount importance to the success of the WLAN implementation. A SS can provide details about coverage and bandwidth performance at different locations within a cell. It also indicates where access points should be located. A great deal of information can be obtained from a SS: even more important is how that information is analyzed to support cell planning, range and throughput, interference/delay spread, bandwidth management for applications like voice over IP, access point density, and load balancing. Voice places a number of demands on WLANs that data does not, and since WLANs and the standards behind them were originally designed to be data-only networks, one must carefully plan for the addition of voice. To integrate voice effectively, there are certain issues that need to be considered. Normally, the ratified WLAN standards are 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g. By selecting 802.11g, network managers get the advantage of greater range and legacy support, since 802.11g networks are designed to accept 802.11b clients. 802.11a, on the other hand, operates in a cleaner spectrum band (the 5 GHz band, rather than the crowded 2.4 GHz band) and it offers as many as 20 available channels, as opposed to the three channels offered by 802.11b/g. 802.11b/g offers a much greater range than 802.11a, while 802.11a is designed in a manner better suited for high density environments. That's a trade-off one can make in data networks. However, when voice is added to a WLAN, there is a need to design for both coverage and capacity. This is easier said than done, especially in 802.11b/g networks. Since adjacent APs can interfere with each other, and since those on the same channel can cause co-channel interference, Radio Frequency (RF) planning gets pretty tricky. One approach to combat the problem is to segregate time-sensitive applications like voice and video from traditional data traffic and place them on different channels. In data networks, more capacity is provided by adding more APs. Aside from interference issues, this is also a design that's not well suited for voice. 8

In conclusion, the voice networks should be designed such that coverage areas should be large enough to limit client handoffs, and the infrastructure providers equipment must offer broad coverage without sacrificing Quality of Service (QoS.

REFERENCES 1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WLAN 2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_fiber 3. http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/secu/article.php/954791 4. http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials/article.php/953561 5. http://www.cioupdate.com/trends/article.php/3506426/Five-Long-Steps-Towards-VoIPWLANConvergence.htm

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