If you already have an established company network you can quickly and easily expand it with wireless technologies to accommodate new needs or even temporary needs. In addition to providing you with flexibility and inter-office mobility, the cost of creating a wireless LAN is minimal. You can extend your current wired network for as little as a few hundred dollars.
All it takes is four simple steps to extend your wired network to include wireless connectivity. When you are done, your network will look like this:
Step 1: Connect a wireless access point to your network.
A wireless access point is the link between your wired and wireless networks. The access point connects to the wired network and then broadcasts a signal wirelessly to all of your wireless-enabled computers instead of requiring them to be hardwired to your network. To make the extension, simply connect a wireless access point to any Ethernet plug on the network with a Cat-5 Ethernet cable and it will be ready to broadcast your Internet connection.
Step 2: Ensure all of your computers are wirelessly equipped.
For computers to communicate over a wireless network, they will need to support the wireless LAN protocol called Wi-Fi (or 802.11). Many of today's business computers come fully equipped with integrated Wi-Fi, so they are ready to access your wireless network as soon as you get your access point up and running.
If your computers and handhelds don't have built-in Wi-Fi support, you can quickly and easily install a Wi-Fi adapter. Adapter cards slip quickly and easily into PCI slots on a desktop case or the PC card slot on a notebook, Tablet PC, or handheld and give your computer wireless access just as if it were built in.
It is important that the wireless radios on your computers are compatible with your access points. 802.11b and 802.11g are compatible technologies, so a notebook with support for 802.11b can communicate with an access point that supports 802.11g. However, 802.11a devices are only compatible with other 802.11a devices, so you can't mix and match them with 802.11b or 802.11g devices.
Once you have your access point and your computers configured, you can begin sending and receiving information over your wireless network.
Step 3: Configure the SSID on your access points and wireless computers.
Wi-Fi access points use a special value called a SSID (Service Set Identifier) to distinguish wireless networks from one another. Access points often arrive preconfigured with defaults set by the manufacturer. If you don't change these values (which are well known), it's easy for outsiders to detect and attempt to access a wireless LAN. You should always immediately reset your SSIDs following the normal rules for strong passwords (not easy to guess, mixture of letters, numbers, and other characters, and so forth). See the documentation that came with your access point and wireless card for details on how to set SSIDs on your network.
Step 4: Configure your access point and cards for maximum security.
After you have all of your hardware up and working, but before you begin using your wireless network to communicate sensitive data, be sure to carefully review the security options and configurations available to you. HP offers the latest in wireless security, including data encryption and user authentication, but it's up to you to take advantage of it. We designed our wireless products to be simple to set up, security included, so all you need to do is take a few moments to review the documentation that came with your access point to benefit from its full security support.
These tips and tricks can make your network setup and installation easier:
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Data transfer rates decrease as your distance from an access point increases, so
place your access point in as central of a location as possible.
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To minimize any interference with your wireless network, keep your access point away
from microwaves, televisions, cordless phones, and computers. Also, place your access point in a central
location in your office, meeting room, or other work area for the best coverage.
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Rather than cobbling together a network of components from several vendors, choose
equipment from a single vendor for better overall performance and ease of use. Among wireless vendors,
HP is uniquely positioned to provide you with end-to-end wireless solutions. HP offers you wireless
expertise, having mobilized over one million people, a complete line of wireless products, and service
and support options to make owning and maintaining your wireless network easy and affordable. |
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Will I need more than one access point?
If your wireless network needs to support more than 40 or 50 users, if your offices are spread across multiple floors, or if your office layout places some users very far away from the access point, you may need more than one access point. If you meet any of the above criteria, review the HP ProCurve networking wireless LAN planning and site assessment guide before you begin constructing your wireless network.
Can I replace my wired network with a wireless one?
Absolutely. You can make the move from wired to wireless gradually, replacing wires with access points and wireless-enabled computers in one section of your office at a time. Or, if you are moving to a new office space or otherwise reorganizing your office layout, consider taking the opportunity to move to wireless at the same time. HP Financial Services makes it easy to take your entire office wireless by offering a complete range of leasing and financing products. Learn more about going 100% wireless in the Setting up a wireless network solution guide.
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