Thomas EdelblutePublic Access Systems Coordinator

Anaheim Public LibraryTEdelblute@anaheim.net

Infopeople Webcast: Technology Tuesday Series

Tuesday, March 1, 200512:00 noon to 1:00 p.m

Library Computing Without Wires

Agenda

1. Definitions

2. Wireless inside the building

3. Wireless technology and your bookmobile

4. Building to building wireless

5. Security

6. Summary of Benefits

7. Q&A

Housekeeping

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Definitions

What is Wireless?

Radio Television Cell phones Some e-mail devices

(Blackberry) Data communications

What I Mean By “Wireless”

Definition a way of connecting computers to your

ILS without cables

Methods Radio waves Lasers

Wireless Inside The Building

Benefits of Wireless Inside Buildings

Easy to implement Inexpensive Solves cabling problems associated

with historic buildings

Inside the Building: Implementation Issues

1. Building structure issues

2. Standards and their significance

3. Equipment

4. Limitations of “WiFi”

WiFi

WiFi = “Wireless Fidelity”

Refers to wireless standards designed to improve compatibility between equipment

WiFi Alliance: non-profit that does much of the testing

WiFi – Key Points

1) Access point (base station) DOES require cable connection

2) “Power over Ethernet” means access point does not need to be plugged into power outlet

3) Equipment has 2-3 year life span

4) More susceptible to security breaches

WiFi Standards

802.11b

802.11a

802.11g

802.11n

802.11b

Maximum speed at close range 11 Mbps Maximum range 300 feet line of site Office environment range 100 - 150 feet Speed at maximum range 1 Mbps Frequency 2.4 GHz

802.11b Site Survey

PDAs with 802.11b

Wireless Markup Language (WML) made for these devices

Innovative Interfaces first on the market with a searchable catalog made for PDAs and cell phone screens

802.11a

Maximum speed at close range 54 Mbps Maximum range 175 feet line of site Office environment range 100 - 150 feet Speed at maximum range 6 Mbps Frequency 5 GHz

802.11g

Maximum speed at close range 54 Mbps Maximum range 250 feet line of site Office environment range 100 - 150 feet Speed at maximum range 2 Mbps Frequency 2.4 GHz

Standard to Choose for Public Access

1) 802.11g is the most common on the marketplace

2) g is backward compatible with b

3) 802.11a is available

Why not get a hybrid that supports all three standards?

WiFi Equipment Required Wireless Access Point

connect to cabled LAN start at $100 price increases for security protections

Wireless Router connect directly to DSL or cable modem under $200

Wireless Network Cards Each device connecting to the wireless

network needs one $100 each

Wireless Network Cards

Desktop computers usually have to purchase separate

wireless network card

Laptop computers many have built in wireless card –

“Centrino” can buy wireless PC Card

Optional WiFi Equipment

Authentication Package Software that permits authorized users to use

your wireless network Statistical Analysis

Software that allows you to keep track of who is using your wireless network

Filtering Software Software that allows you to control what sites are

accessed via your wireless network

Why Not Use Wireless Everywhere?

Cabling will always outperform wireless Latency (response time) slower with

wireless as distance from access point increases

What will you do when the wireless access point fails?

802.11n

May make wireless competitive with wired networks

Ratification of standard expected in 2 years

Promising greater speed and distance

Video streaming in mind

Wireless Technology and Your Bookmobile

1st and 2nd Generation Cell Phones

Text data communication only

Telnet connections

Insufficient bandwidth for client/server graphical applications

3rd Generation Cell Phones

Can support data transfer Citrix or Windows Terminal Services

provide screen shots to laptops in the field.

Ev-DO (Evolution Data Optimized)

Pioneered by Verizon in San Diego and Washington DC

Spreading through the United States

Check with the provider for the rates covering your area

Ev-DO PC Card

Bookmobile to ILS Connection

Upcoming Cellular Options

AT&T, Cingular, and T-Mobile pursuing technologies to compete with Ev-DO called GSM, GRPS, and Edge

Faster connection speeds (100-130 kbps) At least a year away from implementation

Building to Building Wireless

Also known as “Municipal Area Networks” (MAN)

Wireless Alternatives to T-1 and Fiber Optic Connections

T-1, leased lines and fiber are more expensive than wireless options

Wireless can be almost as fast Options are:

1. 802.11

2. Free Space Optics

3. Spread Spectrum Radio

4. Future Technologies

Option One: 802.11

Require special antennas to boost the signal across town

Too many residential wireless networks to compete with.

Too many sources of interference

Option Two: Free Space Optics

Short range laser beams Low cost alternative to fiber Connect one building to another Range of 1 or 2 km (depending on model).

Connectivity Using Free Space Optics

Weather Considerations

Fog and snow scatters the laser light

Attenuation: decrease in signal strength

Compensated by more focused beam

Auto-Tracking

The ability to maintain target link.

Essential due to building sway, vibration, wind effects and temperature fluctuations.

Option Three: Spread Spectrum Radio

So named for its ability to hop frequencies Hard to intercept Resists jamming Popular with military Now in commercial applications Products claim 10 mile range

Option 4: Future Technologies

Two new wireless standards Connecting buildings across a city 802.20 favored by Flarion and Arraycomm 802.16 aka WiMAX

Favored by Intel and Fujitsu Products by 2006?

WiMAX

1. Does not rely on line of site

2. 75 Mbps over several miles

3. Some believe…• all cellular base stations will have WiMAX

support• WiMAX chips may appear in laptops for mobile

computing• may be able to reach areas where DSL, cable

and T-1 services are not abundant at 3 Mbps

Security Considerations

Security Threats War-drivers

use your Internet bandwidth advertise the availability of free Internet

access to others Malicious hackers trying to steal or alter

data inside network People launching attacks outside of your

network from within your network (denial of service attacks)

Security Solutions

1. Lock down network

2. MAC address authentication

3. Encryption: WEP/WPA/WPA2

4. Monitoring

5. Virtual Private Network (VPN)

Lock Down Network

Vendors sloppy with security Don’t assume defaults are acceptable Ask vendor…

can administrator name and user be changed or disabled?

can telnet be disabled?

MAC Address Authentication

Security system based on defining computers that are allowed on the wireless network based on their MAC Address

MAC address is unique identifier of the network card in a computer e.g. 00-10-DC-CB-89-1A MAC = Medium of Access Control

beware: MAC addresses can be inpersonated (spoofed)

Encryption WEP

“Wired Equivalent Privacy” first encryption standard for wireless uses RC4 encryption algorithm fallen out of favor due to its weakness

WPA WiFi Protected Access strong encryption standard recommended to protect data from evil forces that lurk

WPA2 a stronger level of encryption security check for certified products at

http://www.wi-fi.org/OpenSection/certified_products.asp?TID=2

Rogue Access Point Detection

Rogue access point: an access point that is illegally made available on your network

How they work: smart sensors analyze network traffic prevent unsecured back door to secured network block rogue communications over the airwaves identify location of rogue

Comprehensive Security Solutions

Consist of several components: distributed sensors monitor all activity provides authentication rogue access points intrusion detection enforce network policy

Example: Cisco Air-Defense

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

VPNs use the Internet for transporting data but rely on security and encryption to ensure that only authorized users can access the internal network

Important to use VPN for all communications that come into library system from the Internet remote connections to ILS bookmobile

Summary of Benefits

Improve Operations for Staff

Mobile workstations Instant inventory updates Roaming Reference connection Movable circulation points out onto the floor

Connect Your Bookmobile To Your Circulation System

Connect ‘live’ to circulation system Instant updates for your patron records

while out in the field. Instant ability to see place and receive

holds.

Save Money

Replace Expensive T-1 Lines Eliminate ongoing “leased line” costs Eliminate costs associated with new

cable runs

Library Wireless List

For more information on wireless, subscribe to the libwireless list

http://people.morrisville.edu/~drewwe/

wireless/libwireless.html

Q&A