IEEE 802.11

IEEE 802.11
Name	IEEE 802.11
Purpose	Wireless local area network (WLAN)
Developer	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Introduced	1997

IEEE 802.11 is a set of wireless local area network (WLAN) standards developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) LAN/MAN Standards Committee (LMSC), in collaboration with Wi-Fi Alliance, Intel, Cisco Systems, and Microsoft. The standardization of IEEE 802.11 was influenced by the work of Vic Hayes, known as the "father of Wi-Fi", and Bob Heile, who contributed to the development of the Wi-Fi technology. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) played a crucial role in allocating the radio frequency (RF) spectrum for wireless communication systems, including IEEE 802.11. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) also provided guidelines for the development of wireless networking standards, including IEEE 802.11.

Introduction

The IEEE 802.11 standard defines the protocols for wireless local area networks (WLANs), which enable devices to connect to a network without the use of cables. The standard is based on the OSI model, developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and is compatible with various network protocols, including TCP/IP, developed by Vint Cerf and Bob Kahn. The IEEE 802.11 standard is widely used in wireless routers, developed by companies such as Linksys, Netgear, and D-Link, and wireless adapters, manufactured by companies like Intel, Broadcom, and Atheros. The standard has been adopted by various organizations, including the Wi-Fi Alliance, which certifies Wi-Fi products, and the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), which develops Internet protocols.

History

The development of IEEE 802.11 began in the late 1980s, when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) allocated the 2.4 GHz frequency band for use in wireless communication systems. The first draft of the IEEE 802.11 standard was published in 1990, and the final version was approved in 1997. The standard was influenced by the work of Norman Abramson, who developed the ALOHAnet protocol, and Robert Metcalfe, who invented the Ethernet protocol. The IEEE 802.11 standard has undergone several revisions, including IEEE 802.11b, developed by the IEEE 802.11b Task Group, and IEEE 802.11g, developed by the IEEE 802.11g Task Group. The standard has been adopted by various countries, including the United States, Canada, and European Union member states, and is supported by organizations such as the Wi-Fi Alliance and the Internet Society.

Standards

The IEEE 802.11 standard defines several protocols for wireless local area networks (WLANs), including IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, and IEEE 802.11n. Each protocol operates on a different frequency band, including the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, and has different data transfer rates, ranging from 1 Mbps to 600 Mbps. The standard also defines the MAC protocol, developed by the IEEE 802.11 MAC Task Group, and the PHY protocol, developed by the IEEE 802.11 PHY Task Group. The IEEE 802.11 standard is compatible with various network protocols, including TCP/IP, developed by Vint Cerf and Bob Kahn, and UDP, developed by Vint Cerf. The standard has been adopted by various organizations, including the Wi-Fi Alliance, which certifies Wi-Fi products, and the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), which develops Internet protocols.

Technical Specifications

The IEEE 802.11 standard defines the technical specifications for wireless local area networks (WLANs), including the frequency band, data transfer rate, and modulation scheme. The standard operates on the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands, and uses various modulation schemes, including DSSS and OFDM. The standard also defines the MAC protocol, which manages data transmission and reception, and the PHY protocol, which manages the physical layer of the network. The IEEE 802.11 standard is compatible with various network devices, including wireless routers, developed by companies such as Linksys, Netgear, and D-Link, and wireless adapters, manufactured by companies like Intel, Broadcom, and Atheros. The standard has been adopted by various organizations, including the Wi-Fi Alliance, which certifies Wi-Fi products, and the Internet Society.

Security

The IEEE 802.11 standard defines several security protocols for wireless local area networks (WLANs), including WEP, WPA, and WPA2. The standard also defines the 802.1X protocol, which provides authentication and authorization for network devices. The IEEE 802.11 standard is compatible with various security protocols, including TLS, developed by the IETF, and IPsec, developed by the IETF. The standard has been adopted by various organizations, including the Wi-Fi Alliance, which certifies Wi-Fi products, and the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), which develops Internet protocols. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has also developed guidelines for the secure implementation of IEEE 802.11 networks.

Applications

The IEEE 802.11 standard has various applications, including wireless internet access, wireless networking, and wireless communication. The standard is widely used in wireless routers, developed by companies such as Linksys, Netgear, and D-Link, and wireless adapters, manufactured by companies like Intel, Broadcom, and Atheros. The standard is also used in various devices, including laptops, developed by companies such as Dell, HP, and Apple, and smartphones, developed by companies such as Samsung, Apple, and Google. The IEEE 802.11 standard has been adopted by various organizations, including the Wi-Fi Alliance, which certifies Wi-Fi products, and the Internet Society. The standard has also been used in various events, including the Olympic Games and the Super Bowl, to provide wireless internet access to spectators.

Category:Wireless networking