802.11 Wireless Networks: The
Definitive Guide, Second Edition by
Matthew Gast
Artur 'S 802.11 Definitive Guide Review
Among network designers and administrators, wired Ethernet is a known
quantity. Plenty is known about how to build good twisted-pair network
infrastructures, how to keep them secure, and how to monitor their excess
capacity. Not so for the wireless Ethernet networks (built around the IEEE
802.11x standards)--these hold much more mystery for even experienced
network designers. 802.11 Wireless Networks: The Definitive Guide aims
to codify the body of knowledge needed to design and maintain wireless
local area networks (LANs). The authors succeed admirably in this,
covering what installation and administration teams need to know and
digging into information of use to driver writers and others working at lower
levels. The only significant detail thats been excluded has to do with
security--a notorious weak point of 802.11x LANs. The authors cover the
feeble but widely used Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) authentication
protocol in detail and devote another whole chapter to 802.1x, which is an
emerging authentication scheme based on Extensible Authentication
Protocol (EAP). The author has considerable skill in communicating
information graphically and does a great job of using graphs to show how

communications frequencies shift over time and how conversations among
access points and network nodes progress over time. This is indeed an
authoritative document. --David Wall Topics covered: How IEEE 802.11a
and 802.11b wireless networks (also known as WiFi networks) work, and
how to configure your own. The framing specification is covered well, as
are authentication protocols and (in detail) the physical phenomena that
affect IEEE 802.11x radio transmissions. Theres advice on how to design
a wireless network topology, and how to go about network traffic analysis
and performance improvement.
Personal Review: 802.11 Wireless Networks: The Definitive
Guide, Second Edition by Matthew Gast
This book is based on the hack series from O'Reilly so the book is broken
into categorical chapters, each of which cover a wireless networking topic.
There are 7 broad chapters each which average about 12 hacks. The
hacks vary greatly from composition and varying according to platform
(Windows, Mac, Linux), difficulty, and expertise required. All hacks are
covered well with diagrams, examples, explanations, and links for further
reading.
One of the best items about the hacks is that they can be done at home to
improve modest networks. In fact, most are designed to show a home or
SOHO network owner "how to" improve networks of modest means. The
chapter on homemade antennas is particuarly interesting. I was inspired to
build my own out of duct work sheet metal, masking tape, and a coat
hanger after reading "Pringles Can Waveguide" hack. The antenna
actually worked which was the best part.
There are 100 hacks covered so everyone will find something of interest.
For the most part, each hack is a separate chapter in itself so it is not
neccesary to flip back and forth to find information. In general, they are
written in instructional prose and are meant to teach you how to
accomplish each hack.
Other chapters of interest cover wireless network security (many of which
could just be labeled basic network security - wired or wireless), network
discovery, and hardware hacks.
There are also 2 appendices covering wireless standards (the 802.1x's)
and various hardware components that can be used for do-it-yourselfers.
This book is a very good value for network admins, hobbiests, and those
looking to improve home or SOHO wireless networks.
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