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  • CWNP

Much Ado About Where 2.0 - LBAC

Dang it's nice to be right every once in while. If you didn't read my 1.0 version (dated 10-NOV-08) . I'm referring to that last paragraph about RTLS being the end-game. I believed it then, and I believe it now. Let's talk about what's changed since my 1.0 post. This time... Trapeze brought a gun to a knife fight.  They came up with the coolest new authentication technology since PPSK/DPSK. It's generically called Location Based Access Control (LBAC). It's the first cousin of, and best friend to Role Based Access Control (RBAC). RBAC rocks, but with RBAC/LBAC, it's a whole new ballgame. Welcome to the big leagues folks.

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  • CWNP

Sharkfest!

Last week I had the chance to attend the 'Sharkfest' conference held on the Stanford campus in Palo Alto. Last year I was busy with other work and missed it... this year I had a gig fall through at the last minute. I'm glad it did! Continue reading...

  • CWNP

Protection Mechanisms Run Amuck

I thought since I posted about golf yesterday, I'd throw you a technical blog today.  Enjoy!

There are four HT Protection modes.  There are at least a dozen protection mechanisms.  Dual CTS, Non-HT Duplicate Mode, PCO Mode, RTS/CTS, CTS-to-Self, L-SIG TXOP, Dual Beacon, 40 MHz Intolerance, 20 MHz BSS Width Requests, and others.  It's ridiculous.  Does an analyst have to learn all of this?  I know you're hoping my answer is a big fat NO, but unfortunately...my answer is a big fat YES.  Manufacturers will tell you that their system magically 'handles' and 'optimizes' all of this stuff.  Well, it might be able to do the right thing according to the standard, but that's where the problem lies to begin with.  When it comes to protection mechanisms, modes, and operating methodologies, the standard is hideously bloated and confusing. 

 

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  • CWNP

PHAT APs

Dude.  PPSK.  'nuff said.

Well, actually, I have lots more to say, but you get my point.  My friends at Aerohive would have you believe that their new solution, 'Private PSK' (let's just call it PPSK), was designed to:

1.  Incease security on enterprise-class devices that either don’t support 802.1X/EAP or don’t support it very well (e.g. no fast/secure roaming)

2.  Offer secure hotspot services

While on both counts they are right on the money, the story doesn't end there.  When combined with their Virtual HiveManager (vHM), this stuff becomes the coolest thing since...well, the last Aerohive solution I wrote about: HiveUI.  See my blog article called ‘Collectonomous’ and another cool article from Lisa Phifer here: http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/reviews/article.php/3812366 .  There are SO many things you can do this type of, ‘half way between 802.1X/EAP and PSK’ solution!  vHM is an online WNMS that manages their PHAT APs (my new term for describing the coolest, fastest, smartest APs I've ever seen).  You just connect each AP, let it pull an IP (DHCP), SSH into it using the default un/pw, issue one command - 'hivemanager x.x.x.x' - and then 'save config'.  Poof, you're off and running.  Just log into vHM with your personal login, and you have control of your APs.  SOOOOO simple.  Now, where was I?  Ah yes, PPSK...

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  • CWNP

Are You Smarter Than A Fourth Grader?

Warning: this blog might make you whine...or perhaps weep.

I have twin girls, Abbey and Hannah.  They're in the 4th grade, and just the other day they brought home a graded science exam.  I was in shock when I looked it over.  In so many ways, it was CWNA-level material.  I just couldn't believe my eyes...  I went through each of the questions, making sure I could answer and explain each of them and found myself explaining some of the same concepts to my 4th graders as I explain in seminars and CWNA classes.  Abbey...Abbinator...my OCD rocket scientist child, scored 95.  I was thinking of giving this same 4th grade exam as a pre-class assessment to CWNA students. :-)

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  • CWNP

There's a Bad(ge) Virus Going Around

Holy smokes batman.  Vocera's gear is slick.  Complicated on the back-end...but slick.  Of course, like any good IT system, the complexity is hidden from the end-user.  There's only one button, and the rest is just voice recognition bliss.  We already had a phone system that works fine, but who wants to use that old thing when you have a Star Trek communicator?  Within a week, everyone in the office suddenly wanted a badge.  It's like a virus that everyone wants to catch.  We learned very quickly that it's one serious electronic leash though.

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  • CWNP

Pronunciation of WLAN Terms

OK, I know I'm just being a bit 'picky' here... but I've found a correlation in a variety of industries with respect to how professionals pronounce a 'short-hand' version of an acronym versus the 'layman' way.

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  • CWNP

The False God of dB

In the Wireless LAN (WLAN) world, we have started to worship in front of the False God of dB.

Books, white papers, study guides, and design manuals have touted the value of the RSSI (dB) so much we have used this as a sole way of designing and evaluating our Wi-Fi Networks. dB is a false god and we need to mature and move past having ‘Signal’ be our main goal in WLAN designs!

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  • CWNP

Just The Facts, Ma'am.

I was going to write long, thoughtful emails to all of my Strategic Marketing VP friends and Sr. TME friends individually, but I just don't have the time.  So, this is the next best thing - albeit a bit impersonal.  If you work at a Wi-Fi manufacturer and hold either of these positions, or perahps another similar position where you find yourself speaking with industry analysts and media professionals, please lend an ear.  It'll pay liberal dividends.

I'm not trying to ruffle feathers.  I just want to be helpful to both sides of this equation.  This is just a polite observation.  Do with it as you will.

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  • CWNP

WLAN Professional's Portable Toolkit

Based on an Apple iPod Touch!

OK, before you ‘freak’ and think that I’ve lost my mind… just hold on a minute and read the rest of the article. This is the smallest, lightest, and ‘funnest’ WLAN test kit out there.

For doing a lot of smaller, quicker WLAN troubleshooting, this is a suitable solution. In addition, you get all the benefits of having an Apple iPod – with music, podcasts, videos, and games available as well as the Network Troubleshooting Tools!

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