Getting the most from broadband connectivity with wireless networking - Internet

Computer Technology Review, July, 2003 by Tony Stramandinoli

During the past few years, small to mid-sized businesses are building and expanding their networks at record rates. Wireless networking, once a technology used mostly by the traveling executive to connect his notebook computer to the corporate network when at his desk, is playing a larger role today and broadband Internet access sharing is one of the driving factors. Internet connectivity is critical to small to mid-sized business success today. It provides a means for staying in touch with customers and vendors, for accessing important decision-making information and research, and it even provides a window through which to keep an eye on the competition. Access to efficient Internet connectivity-broad-band Connectivity--makes all of these tasks faster and easier. Wireless networking makes sharing broadband connections efficient and inexpensive--in out of the office.

Computing Power

Fueled by recent steep technology price drops, businesses of all sizes accelerated the pace of PC acquisition to make their employees more efficient. A desktop PC that cost $2000 three years ago costs something closer to $500 today, and the cost of portable PCs dropped even more dramatically, so businesses could reasonably provide more employees with computers for travel and work at home. Drilling holes in walls and running cables to add network connections, especially for sporadic use by portables--or in some cases, set ting up an entire network for the first time--still presented an obstacle for many small to mid-sized businesses. Floppy disks and CD-ROM--in some cases, even e-mail over analog dial-up--were often considered adequate, given the mess and expense of the alternative.

Crowded Lines

With each new PC added to the office needing Internet access for e-mail, research and collaborative activities, the numbers don't have to be large before dial-up stops making sense. Overloaded PBXs and busy signals don't make for good business, so using dialup for Internet access is untenable for businesses, even where a local area network (LAN) is already in place, because in an analog modem environment, each computer requires its own, dedicated connection.

The Critical Leap: Shared High-Performance Internet Access

The advent and proliferation of broadband Internet access brought unbelievable performance gains: no more waiting for the dial-in process, faster navigation and quicker downloads. It also brought security concerns. For small businesses, cable and DSL service providers typically installed simple modems for single computer 'always-on' Internet connection, and stressed the need for security precautions to protect the PC and its resident business critical data.

The need for multiple workstation connectivity combined with the need for security pointed directly to the LAN. To add security, businesses would add a firewall/router--the leap from there to networking the office is not a large one, as most routers carry multiple Ethernet ports. By tapping into that router's capability, businesses found that they could both share broadband connections and have the traditional benefits of file and peripheral sharing over a LAN. While the less convenient but viable 'sneaker net' option for file sharing had filled the gap in the past, there was no alternative for shared Internet access: broadband can be shared only with a network and, conversely, broadband is the only method for Internet access that can be shared over a network. The two technologies Iced each others' growth. With broadband subscription rates becoming more affordable, the subscriber base expanded, and with it came a resurgence of interest in networking.

A Whole New Way of Working

The early adopters of broadband Internet connectivity saw value in distributing that connectivity, and the development of the IEEE 802.11b standard for wireless networking brought a whole new way of connecting. With no holes in the drywall or cables to run through the office or across the building, wireless connectivity presented itself as a low-risk proposition, especially for small businesses. Over a very short period of time, price drops in wireless networking solutions contributed to its increasing accessibility. The growing popularity of wireless home networks makes providing employees with portable PCs equipped with wireless network adapters even more compelling--they can be more productive because they can tap into their home networks for off-hours broadband access.

Keeping it Simple and Secure

Today's cable or DSL modem not only brings the broadband connection into buildings, it often has the wireless router built right in. Many also have print servers and integrated switches to accommodate a few wired Ethernet connections in addition to providing wireless access--thanks to wireless networking technology, the cable modem hardware can serve as communications central for the office. Still, security and access control, coverage and ease of installation have been ongoing concerns for businesses considering wireless LANs. Today, sophisticated security is integrated into most wireless routers, providing SPI firewall protection, WEP and the new WPA encryption, MAC address filtering. Some even have integrated content filtering and virus protection software. Range of coverage varies, depending upon the technology used, and that can be extended via antenna, whether between or within buildings. Some individual network adapters even have optional or included antennas.