Semester: Spring 2015

Team: Dr. Arshad Ali & Nadeem Akhtar

CS & IT Department
The University of Lahore
Email: nadeem.akhtar@cs.uol.edu.pk
URL:-https://sites.google.com/site/bcdecsuoledupkwns15/home

Acknowledgment
The contents of these slides are mostly from
the material and slides of the book Wireless
Communication & Networks by William
Stallings

M.Nadeem Akhtar

Wireless LAN and 802.11 WLAN Standard

M.Nadeem Akhtar

A typical LAN

A typical WLAN
Its a hub without wires

M.Nadeem Akhtar

Wireless LAN (WLAN)?

Wireless LAN provides all the features and benefits of
traditional LAN technologies such as Ethernet and Token Ring
but without the limitations of wires or cables
WLAN provides wireless network communication over short
distances
using radio or infrared signals instead of traditional network
cabling like UTP

M.Nadeem Akhtar

Wireless LAN
A WLAN typically extends an existing wired LAN
The access point (AP) is attached to the edge of the wired
network to built a WLAN
a wireless network adopter enables clients to
communicate with the AP
similar in function to a traditional Ethernet adapter
WLANs use the 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz and 5-GHz
frequency bands.
ISM (Industry, Scientific, Medical) license-free
(unlicensed) frequency bands
M.Nadeem Akhtar

ISM Unlicensed Frequency Bands

ISM radio bands (portions of the radio spectrum) are reserved internationally for
the use of radio frequency (RF) energy for industrial, scientific and medical
Short-Wave Radio
FM Broadcast
purposes other than telecommunications
AM Broadcast
Audio

Infrared Wireless LAN

Television
Cellular (840MHz)
NPCS (1.9GHz)

Extremely Very Low Medium High Very Ultra Super Infrared Visible Ultra- X-Rays
Low
Low
High High High
Light violet

902928 MHz
26 MHz
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2.42.4835 GHz
83.5 MHz
(IEEE 802.11)

5 GHz
(IEEE 802.11)
HyperLAN
HyperLAN2
7

Wireless LANs
How are WLANs Different?
They use specialized physical and data link protocols
They integrate into existing networks through access points
which provide a bridging function
They let you stay connected as you roam from one coverage
area to another
They have unique security considerations
They have specific interoperability requirements
They require different hardware
They offer performance that differs from wired LANs

M.Nadeem Akhtar

Wireless network components

Much like a traditional wired LAN a WLAN is a grouping
of computers and peripheral devices that share a common
communications backbone.
A WLAN allows users to connect to the LAN wirelessly
via radio transmission.
WLAN hardware components
Access points
Client adopters
Bridge
Antennas
M.Nadeem Akhtar

Wireless access points

A small box with one or more aerials.
Access points allow wireless networks to join an existing wired
network
Has a connector to attach it to the rest of wired LAN
In home networking, a single access point (or router) possesses
sufficient range to span most residential buildings.
Businesses in office buildings often must deploy multiple
access points and/or routers depending on its range and the

composition of any walls/floors between the access point

and wireless network card.
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10

Wireless access points

operates within a specific frequency spectrum and uses an 802.11 standard
specified modulation technique
informs the wireless clients of its availability and authenticates and associates
wireless clients to the wireless network
coordinates the wireless clients' use of wired resources
Serves as a connection point for wireless users to connect to the wired LAN
half-duplex device
RF medium uses half-duplex communication that allow for only one radio
card to be transmitting at any given time
AP is simply a hub with a radio card and an antenna.
It needs multiple radios to operate in full-duplex mode
Contention-based
The radio card inside an access point must contend for the half-duplex
medium .
Physical/Data Link layer device.
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Wireless access points

It increases the effective range of a wireless network and
provides additional network management and security features
Wireless networks of three or fewer PCs do not require an
access point for ad hoc networking
Access points handle the receiving and transmission of data to
all the wireless devices in their area
They can handle many different connections between different
devices all talking to each other simultaneously,
But the more devices working with an access point, the
slower they will operate.
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Wireless access point example

Servers

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Access point and router

Access Point
is a radio transmitter/receiver that is most widely used to bridge
wireless and a wired (Ethernet) network
it only provides an interface/portal for wireless clients to connect to
existing LAN

This enables computers and devices to connect to a

wired network wirelessly
A Router
is a device that connects a LAN to a WAN provided by ISP
Thus routes traffic between two different networks, usually the
Internet on the WAN side, and your local area network on the LAN
side
It provide DHCP service to assign IP addresses to devices on the LAN
may also provide WiFi access
have a Ethernet switch built in
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14

Access point and router

wireless router
has routing function.
works as a gateway and a wireless access point
wireless access point
is just a wireless switch that has no routing
function.
don't have built-in technology for sharing Internet
connections.
To share an Internet connection, you must plug an
access point into a router or a modem with a builtin router.
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Network interface card (NIC)/

client adapter
A PC or workstation uses a wireless NIC to connect to the
wireless network
The NIC scans the available frequency spectrum for
connectivity and associates it to an access point or another
wireless client
The NIC is coupled to the PC/workstation operating system
using a software driver

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16

Network interface card (NIC)/

client adapter
wireless adapters are incorporated as a built-in feature of
the system in all newer laptop computers
but with desktop PCs you may need to install one

This adopter acts as the radio receiver/transmitter for a

specific computer

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17

Bridge
used to connect multiple LANs (both wired and wireless) at the
Media Access Control (MAC) layer level
Used in building-to-building wireless connections,
wireless bridges can cover longer distances than APs (IEEE
802.11 standard specifies 1 mile as the maximum coverage range
for an AP)

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18

Antenna
It radiates the modulated signal through the air so that wireless
clients can receive it
Characteristics of an antenna are defined by
propagation pattern (directional versus omnidirectional),
Antenna gain

The relative increase in radiation at the maximum point

expressed as a value in dB above a standard
For example: the basic antenna, a -wavelength dipole
by which all other antennas are measured (standard)
The reference is known as 0dBD (zero decibel
referenced to dipole)
An antenna with the effective radiated power of twice
the input power would therefore have a gain of
10*log(2/1) = 3dBD. transmit power, and so on.
Antennas are needed on both the AP/bridge and the clients
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Campus Antenna
Example

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Wireless LANs: Characteristics

Advantages
very flexible within the reception area
Ad-hoc networks without previous planning possible
(almost) no wiring difficulties (e.g. historic buildings,
firewalls)
more robust against disasters like, e.g., earthquakes, fire

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21

Wireless LANs: Characteristics

Disadvantages
typically very low bandwidth compared to wired networks
many proprietary solutions, especially for higher bit-rates,
standards take their time (e.g. IEEE 802.11)
products have to follow many national restrictions if working
wireless, it takes a vary long time to establish global solutions
like, e.g., IMT-2000, IMT-Advanced

IMT-2000 (International Mobile Telecommunication)

a family of technologies for 3rd Generation mobile
communications defined by ITU
The objectives: an assurance of global roaming and
interoperability between the various technologies
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IEEE 802.11 Standards

Original IEEE 802.11 standard
Published in 1999
Reaffirmed in 2003
Revised publication in 2007 incorporates the amendments
into 1999 version
IEEE Std 802.11a-1999
IEEE Std 802.11b-1999 and IEEE Std 802.11b
1999/Corrigendum 1-2001,
IEEE Std 802.11d-2001,
IEEE Std 802.11g-2003,
IEEE Std 802.11h-2003,
IEEE Std 802.11i-2004,
IEEE Std 802.11j-2004 and
IEEE Std 802.11e-2005
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IEEE 802.11 Standards

The current Revised publication in 2012 incorporates the following
amendments into the 2007 version
IEEE Std 802.11k-2008: Radio Resource Measurement of Wireless LANs
(Amendment 1)
IEEE Std 802.11r-2008: Fast Basic Service Set (BSS) Transition (Amendment 2)
IEEE Std 802.11y-2008: 36503700 MHz Operation in USA (Amendment 3)
IEEE Std 802.11w-2009: Protected Management Frames (Amendment 4)
IEEE Std 802.11n-2009: Enhancements for Higher Throughput (Amendment 5)
IEEE Std 802.11p-2010: Wireless Access in Vehicular Environments (Amendment 6)
IEEE Std 802.11z-2010: Extensions to Direct-Link Setup (DLS) (Amendment 7)
IEEE Std 802.11v-2011: IEEE 802.11 Wireless Network Management
(Amendment 8)
IEEE Std 802.11u-2011: Interworking with External Networks (Amendment 9)
IEEE Std 802.11s-2011: Mesh Networking (Amendment 10)

After this revision, all of the previously published amendments and revisions
stand retired

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IEEE 802.11 Standards

Amendments to IEEE 802.11 2012
IEEE Std 802.11aa-2012: MAC Enhancement for Robust Audio
Video Streaming (Amendment 2)
IEEE Std 802.11ad-2012: Enhancements for Very High
Throughput in the 60 GHz Band (Amendment 3)
IEEE Std 802.11ae-2012: Prioritization of Management Frames
(Amendment 1)
IEEE Std 802.11ac-2012: Enhancements for Very High Throughput
for Operation in Bands below 6 GHz (Amendment 4)
IEEE Std 802.11af-2012: Television White Spaces (TVWS)
Operation (Amendment 5)

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IEEE 802.11
In IEEE 802.11 std, the addressable unit is station (STA)
Station (STA): a device that has the capability to use the 802.11 protocol
STA may be fixed, mobile or portable

According to IEEE 802.11-2007 : A STA is any device that

contains an IEEE 802.11-conformant media access control (MAC)
and physical layer (PHY) interface to the wireless medium (WM).
One requirement of IEEE 802.11 is to handle mobile as well as
portable STAs.
A portable STA is one that is moved from location to location, but
that is only used while at a fixed location.
Mobile STAs actually access the LAN while in motion.
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Components of IEEE 802.11 architecture

The basic service set (BSS) is the basic building block of an IEEE 802.11
LAN.
Each of BSS1 and BSS2 has two STAs that are their members of the BSS.
Think of the ovals as coverage area of a BSS within which the member STAs
may remain in communication.
This area is called the Basic Service Area (BSA).
If STA moves out of its BSA, it can no longer directly communicate with other
STAs present in the BSA.

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Components of IEEE 802.11 architecture

Two type of BSS: Independent and Infrastructure BSS

Every BSS has an id called the BSSID, it is the MAC address of

the access point servicing the BSS
Independent BSS (IBSS) is simply comprised of one or more Stations
which communicate directly with each other (ad-hoc network)
They contain no Access Points.
they can not connect to any other basic service set

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Components of IEEE 802.11 architecture

In Infrastructure BSS, STAs communicate with each other through
Access Points.
Infrastructure BSS can communicate with other stations not in the
same basic service set by communicating to each other through
Access Points

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Components of IEEE 802.11 architecture

An Extended Service Set (ESS) is a set of connected BSS
Access Points in an extended service set are connected by a
distribution system. Each ESS has an ID called the SSID

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Components of IEEE 802.11 architecture

Distribution system (DS)(ESS) connects Access Points in an
extended service set.
A distribution system is usually a wired LAN but can be a wireless
LAN
The architectural component used to interconnect infrastructure
BSSs is the DS
Portal bridge to other (wired) networks

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Components of IEEE 802.11 architecture

Portal bridge to other (wired) networks
A portal is the logical point at which MSDUs (MAC service data units) from an
integrated non-IEEE-802.11 LAN enter the IEEE 802.11 DS
In other words, All data from non-IEEE-802.11 LANs enter the IEEE 802.11 architecture via a portal

It is possible for one device to offer both the functions of an AP and a portal (IEEE
802.11 2012)
The portal logic is implemented in a device such as bridge or router, that is part of
the wired LAN and that is attached to the DS

802.11 Architecture: infrastructure network

802.11 LAN

STA1

802.x LAN

BSS1

Portal

Access
Point

Distribution System
Access
Point

ESS
BSS2

STA2

M.Nadeem Akhtar

802.11 LAN

STA3

Station (STA)
terminal with access mechanisms
to the wireless medium and radio
contact to the access point
Basic Service Set (BSS)
group of stations using the same
radio frequency
Access Point
station integrated into the wireless
LAN and the distribution system
Portal
bridge to other (wired) networks
Distribution System
interconnection network to form
one logical network (EES:
Extended Service Set) based
on several BSS
5.33

802.11 Architecture: ad-hoc network

Direct communication within a limited
range
Station (STA):

802.11 LAN
STA1
STA3

IBSS1

terminal with access

mechanisms to the wireless
medium
Independent Basic Service Set
(IBSS):

STA2

group of stations using the

same radio frequency without
a controlling access point

IBSS2
STA5
STA4

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802.11 LAN

5.34

IEEE standard 802.11

fixed terminal

mobile terminal
server

infrastructure network
access point
application

application

TCP

TCP

IP

IP

LLC

LLC

LLC

802.11 MAC

802.11 MAC 802.3 MAC

802.3 MAC

802.11 PHY

802.11 PHY

802.3 PHY

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802.3 PHY

35

IEEE 802.11 Services

IEEE 802.11 defines services that need to be provided by the
WLAN in order to provide functionality equivalent one which is
inherent to wired LAN
The service provider can be either the STA or DS
MAC Service Data Unit (MSDU) delivery Service
MSDU is block of data passed down from the MAC user to the MAC
layer
If MSDU is too large to be transmitted in a single MAC frame,
it may be fragmented and transmitted in a single MAC frame

Distribution of Messages Within

a DS
Distribution service
Used to exchange MAC frames from station in one BSS to
station in another BSS
Integration service
Transfer of data between station on IEEE 802.11 LAN and
station on integrated IEEE 802.x LAN
Integrated refers to a wired LAN physically connected to
DS and whose stations may be logically connected to an
IEEE 802.11 LAN via the integration service

Transition Types Based On Mobility

No transition
Stationary or moves only within BSS

BSS transition
Station moving from one BSS to another BSS in same ESS
Delivery of data to the station requires that the addressing
capability be able to recognize the new location of the
station

ESS transition
Station moving from BSS in one ESS to BSS within another
ESS

Association-Related Services
Association
The identity of address of a STA must be known before it can
transmit or receive frames on a wireless LAN
Establishes initial association between station and AP within a
particular BSS
The AP can then communicate this information to other APs
within ESS to facilitate routing and delivery of addressed frames
Reassociation
Enables transfer of association from one AP to another, allowing
station to move from one BSS to another
Disassociation
Association termination notice from station or AP
A STA gives notification before leaving ESS or shutting down
MAC management facility protects itself against STAs that
disappear without notifications

Access and Privacy Services

Authentication
Establishes identity of stations to each other
Deathentication
Invoked when existing authentication is terminated
Privacy
Prevents message contents from being read by unintended
recipient
The standard provides for the optional use of encryption to
assure privacy