Cisco 802.11 Wireless Networking Quick Reference

The Cisco 802.11 Wireless Networking Quick Reference book by Toby J, Velte, PH.D. and Anthony T. Velte, has pretty much everything you would want to know about wireless networking using Cisco Systems Aironet devices. I was thinking this book would just contain quick commands on configuring access points, configuring Cisco Aironet Wireless cards and so on, boy was I wrong. Cisco 802.11 Wireless Networking Quick Reference has a lot to offer. First off it is a small size book. Can be easily thrown into someone's admin bag and pulled out for reference. Well organized Table of Contents, easy to find a particular topic. This book would be good for a beginner looking to find some useful info on Cisco Aironet products or a expert looking to refresh on a particular topic pertaining to Aironet devices. The first part of the book goes over technique specs, and the second goes over "after installation issues". The first chapter goes over Cisco Wireless Equipment, Access Points, Bridges, WLAN Controllers, and adapters. You will find useful information on the different models of Access Points, adapters and so on. There is a pretty extensive chart showing and comparing the different properties of access points, different antenna and so forth. Very useful information like signal range, noise ratio's etc. There is a chapter dedicated just to antenna's. Which antenna to use for the right application, omni directional, bi directional among others. You will also find a comparison chart with information and specs relating to each antenna. Again, very useful information for a WLAN implementation. Cisco 802.11 Wireless Networking Quick Reference has a very in-depth section on WLAN encryption security and authentication. Shows you examples of configuring filtering, RADIUS server setup and WPA. Initial Setup, cabling sections are very well written as well. This book will help you with integrating a wired LAN and your new WLAN. The figures are well displayed, and there are real pictures of the devices mentioned in the book. I recommend Cisco 802.11 Wireless Networking Quick Reference for a beginner in the WLAN world. Looking for a starting point if they want to pursue a CQS cert in Wireless. As mentioned earlier, it would also benefit a expert as a quick reference when encountering a problem with there existing WLAN or a new implementation. In a rating of 1 to 5, 5 being the highest. This book gets a 5 hands down.

Most quick references are litle cut down booklets that usually just give you enough information to get you in trouble. The Velte's idea of a quick reference run for 288 pages. It's a reference all right, but the amount of data contained in it is enough so you can probably really solve the problem that you are looking up. This is a Cisco book, so the material being discussed is oriented around Cisco products. But remember that Cisco owns Linksys and Aironet, so this book covers the traditional Cisco product line and also those of the other companies. A good bit of the book is on the 802.11 standard itself. This includes such things as frequencies, security procedures, generalized design tips on how to design your network and so on. Cisco has quite a number of certifications that apply to networking and to wireless. There isn't enough information in this book to enable you to pass the certification test (Or at least, there isn't enough for me to pass it.) but there's probably enough to enable you to get your network going.

Hats off to Toby Velte for this awesome refernce book. I currently hold CWNA and CWSP wireless certifications as well as CCNA and CCDA, and I find ths book packed with some great reference material. Usually when you see a "Quick Reference" book means that it has limited information and explanations. Not so with this book. I highly recommend this book to anyone who works on wireless networks or are planning on implementing wireless.