Wireless Networking for Librarians

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Wireless Networking for Librarians
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Wireless how can it help us?

• Wireless networking can
• Expand delivery of library services
• Improve access to library resources
• Increase options for instruction
• Bring Internet to areas difficult to wire
• Provide convenience for patrons
• Improve outreach services

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Eccles Library Wireless

• Wireless throughout the library
• Authentication (sign-on) required
• Allows patrons to work in quiet carrels
• Access outside around the building
• Any area can become a classroom

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Wireless Access Anywhere

• Access to library services from areas difficult
  to wire
• Expands access to many device types PDAs,
  laptops, Tablet PCs
• Wireless in remote locations provides easy
  access to library services

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Wireless Check out equipment

• Check out wireless laptops and TPCs to patrons
• Use anywhere in the library
• Check out wireless cards for patrons with laptops
• Work anywhere in the library

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Wireless Education Building

• New Health Sciences Education Building
• Wireless throughout the building
• Allows for teaching and learning in new
  dimensions
• Small informal groups
• Class participation
• Solitary study

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Wireless Mobile Classroom

• Wireless classrooms for instruction on location
• Portable and flexible, instruction to-go!

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Wireless Outreach

• Full service outreach at any site
• Bring training to remote locations
• Teach on site around the state

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Wireless Bookmobiles

• Add wireless to the bookmobile to bring Internet
  off the paved roads!
• Access information anywhere!

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What do you need to know?

• What is a wireless network?
• Wireless networks allow data to be transmitted
  and received through radio frequencies
• Many different types of wireless networks

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Peer-to-Peer Wireless Networks

• Also called ad-hoc or computer-to-computer
• Several Wi-Fi equipped computers talking to each
  other without using an access point
• Most Wi-Fi equipment supports this type of
  wireless set-up
• Can be useful for transferring data between
  computers or sharing an Internet connection among
  a few computers in a room

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Wireless Personal Area Network

• WPAN Bluetooth
• Short range, cable-replacement technology
• Designed to connect individual devices to each
  other
• Bluetooth is ideal for mobile professionals
• Work at home, on the road, in the office
• Link notebook computers, mobile phones, PDAs,
  printers, and other devices

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Benefits of Bluetooth

• Range of 30 feet
• Convenience of automatic synchronization from
  device to device
• Consistent data across devices
• Low cost of ownership
• Fewer cabling and networking appliance needs
• Ease-of-use
• Compatible data, devices, and technologies based
  on the Bluetooth standards

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Wireless Local Area Networks

• WLANS - WiFi
• Refers to wireless networks using the IEEE
  standards, or the 802.XX protocols
• WiFi stands for Wireless Fidelity
• WiFi can use a variety of frequency bands
• Can split into dozens of channels
• Less likely to experience interference
• Dozens of WiFi cards can talk simultaneously

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Benefits of WiFi (WLANS)

• Higher capacity 11 54 Mbps
• Longer range
• 130 ft _at_ 11 Mbps
• 350 ft _at_ 1 Mbps
• Many devices can share the bandwidth
• Security options to protect data

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Wireless Security

• WEP Wireless Equivalent Privacy
• SSID Service Set Identifier
• MAC Media Access Control address filtering
• WPA WiFi Protected Access
• NAT Network Address Translation

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Wireless Standards The 802.11 family

• 802.11b
• Very common standard for WLANs
• Transmits at 2.4 GHz at 11 Mbps
• Standards compliant, compatibility across
  hardware
• Requires an access point or router
• Wireless card required for each device
• Typical range 130 ft _at_ 11 Mbps, 350 ft _at_ 1 Mbps

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Wireless Standards The 802.11 family

• 802.11a
• Operates at 5 GHz and can handle up to 54
  megabits per second.
• 802.11g
• Operates at 2.4Ghz (giving it the cost advantage
  of 802.11b)
• Handles 54 megabits per second speed of 802.11a

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Wireless Standards The 802.11 family

• 802.1X
• An IEEE port-based authentication standard that
  works on both wired and wireless LANs.
• 802.1X prevents devices from utilizing a network
  until they have successfully authenticated to the
  network

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Wireless Network Issues

• Integration with existing networks
• Printing
• Roaming
• Security
• Interoperability
• Hardware
• Performance

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Using Wireless on Tablet PC

• Identify available wireless networks
• Click Wireless icon in Sys Tray

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Using Wireless on Tablet PC

• Click the Connect button

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Using Wireless on Tablet PC

• Click the Wireless Network icon in the SysTray to
  view the Wireless Network Connection Status

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Using Wireless on Tablet PC

• Enter necessary security code
• Username and password
• WEP key
• May require using a browser or VPN

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Finding Wireless Anywhere!

• WiFi 411 - http//www.wifi411.com/
• Wi-Fi Free Spot - http//www.wififreespot.com/
• WiFi Location Directories
• Search thousands of unique free and commercial
  WiFi HotSpots Worldwide.
• Browse for details of hundreds of WiFi Internet
  Service Providers (WISP)

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What To Do Before Calling for HELP!

• Is your wireless card on?
• Is there a wireless network?
• Do you have necessary security code?
  (username/password or WEP Key)
• Check your Power Options settings if operating
  off of battery

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Demonstration and Exercises

• Demonstrate wireless access
• Use wireless card to find network
• Connect to wireless network
• Use browser to access the Web

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Lunch

• See you at 100 p.m.
• PDAs next