Customer Reviews

Wireless LANs (2nd Edition)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is a virtual requirement for anyone attempting to take the Certified Wireless Network Professional exams. I was able to pass the Certified Wireless Network Administrator exam (cwne.com) with the information presented in the book. It covers IEEE 802.11 wireless network physical and data link layers in extensive detail. The text is written in an easy to follow format, without omitting the important technical issues. The author effectively uses real world examples, and step by step wireless LAN implementation guides. Included in this version of the book is expanded coverage of the new 802.11a standard and the OFDM physical layer. Bluetooth and 802.11b interference is also covered to some degree.

This is a good book if you're a member of a corporation planning a wireless network deployment; it spends a significant fraction of its time talking about the administrative structures that should be built up around a rollout.

If you're a tech-head trying to learn more about the technology, prepare to wade through pages and pages of management jargon (complete with the same simplified diagrams you'd expect to see in a business seminar PowerPoint presentation.) This book will not help you much in constructing a home or community wireless network; it is oriented to project managers.

If you're management, buy this book - but have your engineers buy something else.

very theoretical. don't expect practical considerations. but very thorough in its description. good compliment if you already have a good wireless understanding.

I have 23 years in IT and needed to understand wireless. You will know I did not start with this book. First Bedel, then Rhoton and then it was easy to read. Other reviewers wrote that this book omits important parts. Probably this book happened before the WEP scandal. It is clear that it must be updated but you can always find the information on the Internet. This book gives the introduction for you to understand.

A good book for all who want to know more about the 802.11 standard: Almost all protocol details are clearly explained and even deployment issues are covered in the project section. But I'd expected some information about the (currently) most important WLAN problems: interference with other ISM technologies (e.g. Bluetooth) and security (TGi, 802.1x, Radius, Kerberos..). Overall I found the book disappointing: If you own the first edition of Geier's book, don't buy the second. And: If you have either of the books, go through the Usenet discussions and read the studies about 802.11 security (Borisov, Fluhrer, Stubblefield) to get a complete view.

While this book is focused more on administrative deployment and less on the actual functionality of 802.11, the reality is that this allows it to continue being valuable even though 802.11 networks have changed dramatically over the years.

If you want to understand 802.11 networks at a moderate level - technically - I would acquire the Wireless# official study guide when it becomes available from McGraw-Hill. If you want to understand 802.11 networks at an in-depth level, I would get the official CWNA study guide from McGraw-Hill and Matthew Gast's 802.11 Wireless Networks, 2nd Edition. When you want to master 802.11 security, go with the CWSP official study guide and the Cisco Wireless LAN Security book (not just for Cisco - believe me). From a management perspective, this book still has some value, however, Matthew Gast's book has an excellent chapter on this as well.

The book is the bible for building WLANs. It provides all the nitty-gritty details that are required.

Found the book very good on 802.11 some sections very technical for those that are. A general good read. Tended to focus more on 802.11b. I would add this to your collection of books. He is a player in the wireless field. He also is a contirbutor to educating the public on wireless. Check out his articles on-line and website. His NOTES in the book are priceless. I liked it. I would have liked to see a little more on 802.11 A and G especially on charts and comparsions. Hopefully we'll see a 3rd edition covering those areas a little more since this book was published in 7/2001.