Proxim did not confirm whether an upgrade to future wireless standards would be an option for the AP-2000, but the PC Card design would appear to conveniently accommodate future radios.
Installation was a breeze; we plugged the AP-2000 into our network and it immediately picked up an IP address from our DHCP server. We were then able to get into the unit's Web-based management interface to set a static IP address.
Noticeable is the AP's lack of range for its 802.11b module. Our range testing was done without an external antenna, and our poor results prompted Proxim to ask us to test with an external antenna. We did so, but our results did not change dramatically. In contrast, the AP-2000's 802.11a range led the pack.
In testing throughput for each radio, the 802.11b's came to 4.6 Mbps, while we measured 802.11a's throughput at about 21 Mbps. When we tested both modules simultaneously, total aggregate performance amounted to a dismal 23 Mbps.
Still, this AP's versatility is impressive. It supports 802.11b bridging, which lets enterprises connect disparate wired networks where landlines cannot be run. And unique to the AP-2000 is wireless support for the 802.1q VLAN protocol. The device also offers an array of enhanced monitoring and diagnostic tools. These features make it a good fit for enterprises requiring a score of capabilities, and for demanding hot spot environments, but only if you can swing the price.
Orinoco AP-2000 Dual-Mode Access Point, $895. Proxim Corp., (408) 731-2700, (800) 229-1630. www.proxim.com
Intermec MobileLAN WA22
Intermec, no stranger to the enterprise and industrial wireless scene, offers dual-mode coverage in its WA22 AP. The device, second only to Cisco's in price, proved very manageable in our tests, but we were disappointed with its range and performance.
Setup was a joy with Intermec's MobileLAN access utility. We connected the AP to our test network and the utility let us easily assign the IP address. From that point we were able to connect from any network PC to the device's onboard Web-based management configuration pages. The WA22 also supports DHCP once a static address is set and you gain access to the device's Web-based management page. Management difficulties present in many large wireless deployments are alleviated with WA22 installations thanks to Intermec's MobileLAN Manager, an add-on Java-based administration tool.
The WA22 supports SNMP and boasts a feature set, including wireless bridging and load-balancing capabilities for the 802.11b radio, that should more than meet most enterprise needs.
Range results for the WA22 were a mixed bag. The 802.11a half ran neck-and-neck with Linksys and behind only Proxim, but, like D-Link's DWL-6000 and Proxim's Orinoco AP 2000, the 802.11b portion of the WA22 posted lesser range distances than did the 802.11a radio. The reason is difficult to pinpoint because the propagation characteristics of the 802.11b radio should allow for greater range than its 802.11a counterpart. Nonetheless, Intermec acknowledged that these results were in line with its testing. The company added that typical installations of WA22 use higher gain external 802.11b antennas and requested that we try testing the unit with separate Intermec dipole antennas. We tested with the extra antennas to simulate what Intermec says is a real-world installation of the WA22. Although the results were not included in our official range findings, the numbers improved drastically; with the new antennas, range results mirrored Linksys'.
The WA22 posted respectable results in our performance testing. The 802.11a radio came away with just short of 22 Mbps, while the 802.11b radios got 4.75 Mbps. With a total aggregate throughput of 26 Mbps, the WA22 can handle the load of both radios transmitting at the same time.
Intermec also includes a port for a 100-Mbps fiber-optic connection, which lets the unit be linked to a fiber network via an MT-RJ connector. The WA22 can receive power only via PoE. While this can make some deployments easier because AP placement can be decided without power-outlet considerations, Intermec's PoE injector is absurdly large. At roughly six times the size of Cisco's injector, Intermec's PoE block can create space issues, cluttering drop ceilings and wiring closets.
As for security, beyond basic 128-bit WEP keying, Intermec has included support for 802.1x authentication.
MobileLAN WA22, $1,149. Intermec Technologies Corp., (800) 934-3163, (425) 348-2726. www.intermec.com
Intel 5000 LAN Dual AP
Intel's 5000 LAN Dual AP is an 802.11a LAN AP populated with a mini-PCI 802.11b radio. In fact, similar to Cisco's design, Intel intends its 802.11a APs to be user-upgradeable to handle both 802.11a and 802.11b traffic. But because the upgrade process requires that end users open the device, Intel says the FCC has yet to sign off on the legality of such an upgrade kit. For now, administrators interested in dual-mode coverage will need to purchase 5000 LAN Dual APs rather than upgrade an existing Intel 802.11a installation. When we asked about 11g support, Intel neither confirmed nor denied, saying that if possible it will make the 5000 11g-upgradeable, but if not, another product will be released for both 11g and 11a.
Setting up the 5000 was a breeze. We connected directly to the unit via its factory-set static IP address to assign it a new one on our test network (DHCP support was lacking until we got a firmware upgrade). Any PC on our network could then access its Web-based management console.
The 5000's management interface, while easily navigable, does a poor job integrating options for both radios. That, coupled with the fact that Intel offers no central management tools, means administration of larger wireless networks could be a hassle. On the plus side, the unit offers SNMP support.
Intel's AP fell significantly short of rivals in performance. With an average throughput of approximately 22 Mbps, 802.11a bandwidth wasn't too far behind, but performance for the 5000's 802.11b module was another story: We were disappointed with the device's 3.5-Mbps speed.
The 5000 fell in the middle of the pack in range testing. The unit trailed Proxim's, Intermec's, Linksys' and Cisco's devices in 802.11a range but fared a little better in our 802.11b tests. The 5000 boasts a software-configurable antenna that can be set to omni or patch configurations, but we saw little impact on coverage distance with the antenna in patch mode.
The 5000 supports up to 128-bit WEP keys and can be set up to work with a RADIUS server using 802.1x.
5000 LAN Dual AP, $649. Intel Corp., (800) 538-3373, (408) 765-8080. www.intel.com
Linksys WAP51AB Dual-Band Access Point
We have mixed feelings about Linksys' WAP51AB AP. The device performed well but is significantly lacking in functionality, seeming better suited for home and small offices than for enterprise deployments. However, at the bargain price of $279, it earns our Best Value nod.
The AP's design mirrors that of other Linksys products, and we expected similarities in ease of setup as well. As anticipated, the installation and configuration process was hassle-free. We connected the AP to our test network and loaded the installation and configuration software on a machine on the same subnet. The installation software quickly discovered the AP and let us configure the IP address, subnet mask, AP name, SSID (service set ID), channel and WEP for both radio modules through a user-friendly interface. One caveat: Because the device cannot receive an address through DHCP, administrators must assign static addresses to all access points--a flaw that will be less noticeable in small deployments.
Considering that Linksys targets the WAP51AB at deployments up to 500 nodes, as well as the hot-spot market, we were surprised by its lack of functionality and features. In addition to the settings we were able to change through Linksys' installation and configuration wizard, the Web-based management interface only let us edit MAC address filters and a few rarely altered wireless settings, such as beacon intervals and RTS (request to send) threshold values. Considering the broad scope of the intended market, such a thin feature set will hamstring administrators who are interested in more than the most basic of wireless deployments.
On the positive side, though, both range and performance put the WAP51AP on par with higher-priced rivals. Our tests showed throughputs of about 20 Mbps for 802.11a and close to 4.5 Mbps for 802.11b. Testing both radios with simultaneous throughput tests, the total average aggregate performance was an acceptable 24 Mbps. We were even more surprised by the range results the Linksys dual AP posted: Second in both radio spectrums, the Linksys device was close behind Cisco in 802.11b and Proxim in 802.11a range.
Linksys says that a firmware upgrade, due out soon, will offer several new features, including many enhanced security options.
WAP51AB Dual-Band Access Point, $279. Linksys Group, (949) 261-1288, (800) 546-5797. www.linksys.com
D-Link DWL-6000 Air Pro Multimode Access Point
The DWL-6000 Access Point posted good performance stats, and with its low price--$299--it provides great value in terms of features and reliability for small installations. However, range issues and the lack of a robust feature set make it a poor choice for enterprise WLAN deployments.
Even though the AP has DHCP client functionality, the default configuration is set to a factory-default static IP, requiring us to connect directly to the device to add it to our test network. Save for a few products that do all basic setup through utilities, most APs with DHCP support are set by default to grab an address via DHCP. If a DHCP server isn't available or the feature doesn't work, the device can be communicated with via its static address. Having the two choices work in this order provides greater flexibility.
In addition, we had difficulty initially logging into the Web-based management console because of a documentation error. The case-sensitive user name and password login kept us out until we determined that the manual incorrectly listed the user name as "admin" rather than "Admin." D-Link has confirmed this issue and promises to address the problem immediately. Otherwise, the AP was easy to configure; all settings could be established locally through the included AP manager software or remotely via the unit's Web interface.
Range was the DWL-6000's main deficiency--we found coverage for both the 802.11a and 802.11b radios almost identical. Although the argument can be made that concentric coverage areas can be a plus in deployment of dual-mode access points, the range was so weak that the D-link offering barely escaped being relegated to the lowest common coverage area of all access points. Overall, it landed dead last.
Performance tests, however, were a brighter spot. The DWL-6000's 802.11a clients showed throughputs of around 20 Mbps, while 802.11b tests posted about 4.5 Mbps averages--all-around respectable marks. We noticed a slight performance decrease when running tests with 802.11b and 802.11a clients concurrently, putting total aggregate throughput at a miserable 22 Mbps.
The DWL-6000 supports strong WEP keying to the tune of 256 bits for the 802.11b radio and 152 bits for 802.11a, though most non-D-Link client cards don't support WEP past 128-bits. Unfortunately the device doesn't support other security protocols.
DWL-6000 Air Pro Multimode Access Point, $299. D-Link Systems, (877) 453-5465. www.dlink.com
Jesse lindeman is a consultant and a research associate at the Center for Emerging Network Technologies at Syracuse University. He has been a systems administrator for a historic roofing firm in Washington. Write to him at jwlindem@syr.edu.
julio caraballo is a technology manager for a Fortune 500 company in the Dominican Republic with more than seven years of IT experience. He is also a systems engineer and freelance writer, contributing a weekly section to Network Computing's Mobile Observer newsletter. Write to him at jcaraballo@nwc.com.
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