| WLANs and it's acceptance as a secure and | | | | began working. We went through the myriad of |
| robust technology was a tumultuous experience. | | | | devices, EWGs, EEGs, switches, controllers, |
| To me it was the technological conundrum. The | | | | amplifiers, antennas. We debated and discussed |
| mere perception of networking without wires, | | | | encryption schemes, access control |
| being able to transmit data, voice and video over | | | | methodologies,frame types, design, site surveying |
| a transmission media that is not visible, was to | | | | and the OSI model. Today we are witnessing a |
| some protagonists of the wired world, | | | | new phase and once again, a new debate, thrust |
| preposterous and unrealistic. From the onset we | | | | on us through study. The mere concept of "less |
| had debate after debate about security. | | | | wire" networking has demanded a look at |
| Remember, 802.11 started becoming a buzz word | | | | networks from the view of traffic control, |
| around the same time as hacking. Wireless | | | | airtime, co-existence of clients, quality of service |
| technology was initiated into the "hall of flames". | | | | and security. |
| Long ignored and accepted shortcomings of | | | | I was recently introduced to line of products by a |
| networking was mysteriously added to the smell | | | | start up company, Aerohive. Little did I know that |
| test for WLANs. As an instructor I welcomed the | | | | I was delving into a concept of networking that |
| intellectual frenzy because it presented a forum | | | | reverted to the tried and tested rules of data |
| to get back to the foundations of networking. | | | | communications. An article on a lively discussion |
| The questions opened an avenue for teaching | | | | between two CEO's concerning controller based |
| theory.WLANs demands a strong knowledge of | | | | as opposed to non controller-based designs sent |
| networking technology. Competition by | | | | me rummaging through my piles of whitepapers |
| manufacturers created the need for marketing | | | | and books. I finally found two of the best |
| techniques suited to a new breed of | | | | networking technology books in my library, one |
| networkers,"the wireless guys". | | | | by Novell and one by Cisco. I reminisced on the |
| Social networking applications fostered a instant | | | | days when I taught redundancy, bottlenecks, |
| learning environment with debate, discussions, and, | | | | traffic control, single point of failure, maximum |
| whitepapers. Generally, these high quality, | | | | performance but minimum cost. I played in my |
| documents reinforced the concepts of networking | | | | mind the advantages of a distributed design as |
| technology from way back in the old days.1998! | | | | opposed to a centralized. Cost and ROI being |
| The various manufacturers played a major role in | | | | major considerations in today's implementation I |
| assisting the instructor in validating the need for a | | | | was utterly amazed by what the designers at |
| theoretical understanding of concepts, standards, | | | | Aerohive was able to accomplish. The features of |
| algorithms, protocols, design, traffic control, | | | | these products are unbelievable. Cooperative |
| access control, frame types and all the good | | | | Control? QoS? Dynamic Airtime Scheduling? |
| stuff. My classes were learning fountains of | | | | RADIUS support? Best Path Forwarding? |
| papers from Aruba, Cisco, WildPackets, | | | | Co-ordinated Radio Channel? Power Management?I |
| AirMagnet, IBM, just to name a few. WLANs not | | | | quickly determined that this not an everyday |
| only revolutionized networking, but through the | | | | occurence. This is major! Am I witnessing the |
| programs put together by Planet 3, Cisco, | | | | changing of the guard? Being technologically |
| Aruba,Symbol and the many to numerous to | | | | challenged, I downloaded every paper I could lay |
| mention, the curiosity level of the networker was | | | | my hands on. Big mistake! As I studied the theory |
| lifted to unimaginable heights. | | | | presented by AeroHive, I accepted that simplicity |
| As the acceptance of WLANs as a viable, secure | | | | has finally merged with functionality. I had become |
| and robust technology soared, the creative minds | | | | a witness. Sorry Le Bron. |