Wireless Networking at SLAC
Wireless Networking at SLAC
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Wireless Networking at SLAC
SCCS Networking currently supports
wireless networking for laptop computers at SLAC based on the
IEEE 802.11b standard running at
2.4GHz. A good
source for additional information on wireless networking is
Wireless Networking by Ben
Gross.
802.11b standards provides connectivity at up to a theoretical 11Mbps, depending on distance from the access point, and obstructions such as walls, floors, desks, or even people. One’s available bandwidth goes down as you move further from the access point, and as more nodes share the access point’s domain. As with cell phones today, and with proper design and deployment, it is possible to roam from one access point to another without being disconnected from the network.
What this means is that a laptop user at SLAC with a wireless adapter card installed in his laptop (in place of the RJ-45 type network PC card) can make a wireless network connection to the SLAC visitor network if he is in range of a wireless Access Point. Wireless networking is only available on the visitor network.
Wireless Networking Policy
To
avoid interference with other wireless deployments such as ongoing SLAC research
activities sensitive to wireless networking frequencies, and to insure
interoperability and maintain network security and reliability, anyone
interested in wireless networking technologies must contact SCCS Networking before initiating any wireless access point purchases or starting any SLAC
wireless deployment planning.
Personal access points or access points not managed or authorized by the SCCS Networking group are not allowed at SLAC.
Also, before any test network devices (a test device is a new, to SLAC, network device, or one with pre-production software), including wireless equipment, is connected to the SLAC network, the SCCS Networking group must be notified and approval granted (if appropriate).
For more information on policy covering the visitor network and wireless networking see: Policy and expectations for the SLAC Visitor and Wireless networks
Considerations
When Using Wireless
Anyone near the
wireless access points could “sniff” the network and anyone with a
laptop configured for wireless can connect to the visitor network. To protect any information
you send across the network (especially passwords) you should use
appropriate encryption technology such as SSH, SSL, or one-time password
authentication.
Connection to the visitor network provides no special access to SLAC resources. The visitor network is treated as any other external ISP connection. If you need access to resources made available only to SLAC systems, you will need to use a SSH or VPN tunnel to access those resources.
Warning: Hosts on the
visitor network that are seen as 'scanning hosts', including those that might be
running SKYPE as a supernode, BitTorrent, or some other P2P software will be put
in the 'penalty box'. A scanning host is a host seen opening many TCP sessions
in a very short time. Being in the penalty box reduces
that machines network connection outside the visitor network to a shared
56kbps connection with other machines that are in the penalty box, thus
drastically reducing their network speed and throughput.
See more information on the visitor network penalty box
and how to determine if you are in the penalty box.
Deployment Information
In general, areas targeted for deployment will be those that will benefit
from wireless networking such as:
- Conference rooms and other
meeting areas
- Areas at SLAC where users can or have demonstrated a need for wireless e.g. by
the number of users having laptops with wireless adapter cards or
laptop users willing to purchase adapter cards and use them at SLAC if wireless
was available in the area
All wireless networking at SLAC will be restricted to the visitor network only. Wireless networking is not available on any other SLAC network. See the visitor network web page for registration information.
If you think that wireless networking is needed in your area please contact net-admin@slac.stanford.edu .
Check here for current deployment locations.
Wireless Pre-Meeting PowerPoint Presentation and Wireless Networking Handout
Laptops using wireless networking are increasingly popular at meetings and conferences and one of the biggest problems we have with wireless at SLAC is a misconfigured laptop. Laptops that are not configured correctly can, and have, shutdown wireless networking in conferences in the auditorium and other locations at SLAC.
For meetings and conferences where there are attendees visiting from outside of SLAC we highly urge Conference Coordinators to run the Pre-Meeting PowerPoint Presentation and distribute the Wireless Networking Handout, both described below. Examples would be for the BaBar Conferences, SLAC Summer Institute, etc that take place in the Auditorium, the Redwood Room, the Orange Room, etc. and any location where there large numbers of non-SLAC attendees. The idea is to try to head off any potential problems by making the users aware of them and what they can do to prevent them.
The Pre-Meeting PowerPoint Presentation shows brief screen shots of help information and wireless configurations for WXP, the Mac, and Linux. Show the presentation prior to the beginning of the first session of your conference each day. There are normally computers setup in the conference areas that can project the presentation on large screens. If you have problems or need help with this contact your Group Desktop Admin who is assisting you with the conference.
Wireless Adapter Card Information
SCCS does not have any wireless adapter cards available for sale
or as
loaners.
To order a wireless adapter card for your laptop contact Teri Church, teri@slac.stanford.edu, for pricing and ordering information.
If your order is less than $600.00 you can order them using the Email
Requisition
https://www-bis.slac.stanford.edu/slaconly/bin/rter.asp
sending it to teri@slac.stanford.edu
with the pertinent information filled out.
Linux Wireless Information
Wireless Networking on Stanford Campus
Stanford campus also provides wireless networking. Your
laptop must be registered in the Stanford network database (NetDB). See
the Stanford Wireless
Network web page for more information and details.
Faculty and staff who work at SLAC and want to use
wireless networking on campus should email
ytl@slac.stanford.edu or
jaredg@slac.stanford.edu or
antony@slac.stanford.edu with the
following information:
1) Your full name
2) Your SUNet ID (If you don't have one see
SUNet ID)
3) The mac address of your laptop
- wireless mac address
and/or
- nic mac address
4) The laptop's hostname
(e.g, net bios name...e.g. bozo-laptop)
5) Your SLAC building and office number
6) Laptop Make and Model (e.g. Dell Latitude C640)
7) Laptop OS and version (e.g. WinXP-SP2)
8) Is the machine up-to-date with security patches? It needs to be.
Feedback Would Be Appreciated
We would be interested in your
comments and suggestions concerning SLAC's wireless networking. Please
send your feedback to
net-admin@slac.stanford.edu.
Subscribe To The Wireless Mailing List
You might consider joining the wireless-l mailing
list. Send email to
majordomo@slac.stanford.edu
with the following in the body: subscribe wireless-l
Owner: Ken Martell