* Dr. Internet columnist Steve Blass discusses dealing with iPhones in the network * Help Desk columnist Ron Nutter discusses what’s needed to build a wireless network
* Apple iPhones in the network
By Steve Blass
Q: The first Apple iPhones are showing up in our network. They seem to find the wireless network and acquire a DHCP address pretty easily. Some people are already using them with our e-mail system. It is only a matter of time before questions start coming to us in the IT support group. What do we need to watch out for and is there any way to filter iPhones by their DHCP requests and block them from the network?
A: When joining the wireless network, iPhones can cause broadcast problems in networks that forward unicast ARP packets back into the wireless network, since an iPhone may send such a network request to see if it can still find the last network gateway that it was connected to.
To read Steve’s response in its entirety, please click here.
* Building a wireless network
By Ron Nutter
Q: I want to setup a wireless LAN in an area of about 500 square meters. I will need to be able to connect to about 200 computers (desktop/laptop). I would like the network to have connection so that all the computers can get connect to the Internet. To get this done, how many access points should i have? Is it possible to share folders/drives on the network? Will I be able to connect to the local server and access a local database on the server?
A: What you are asking is possible. I will give you a basic overview of what you will need to think about doing. Even if you had sent me detailed drawings of your building, I wouldn’t be able to give you an exact number of access points due to several potential constraints, including: How much metal is in the building, how the building supports, such as columns, are arranged, how much open space is in the building not taken up by walls, etc. Let me put this in perspective: You could put a given number of access points in the building and have excellent coverage. As you add people, furniture and fixtures, you would probably start to notice a decline in coverage and would start finding “dead” spots in the network. Adding additional access points or changing antennas to increase coverage will then be needed to get the coverage back to uniform quality.
To read Ron’s response in its entirety, please click here.
