Vantage Clients Over Wireless Networks

Yahoo Archive
1
We are currently running an 802.11b connection between 2 buildings. If
you have the resources (funds) available, spend the money to upgrade
equipment to 802.11g - the increase in speed alone would help justify
the costs. Unfortunately, we were unable to spend the money at the time
for 802.11g hardware in both locations. Although Vantage (5.2) runs a
little slow over that connection - compared to the dial up solution the
building used to have - it is much better.

In short, spend the money now, or you will be kicking yourself in the
near future.

As for security, I found WEP to be enough of an encryption package for
our needs. If someone REALLY wants to find out what we are sending
across a wireless connection, they will, regardless of the encryption
level of the signal. On top of WEP, CISCO products offer a range of
other access restrictions (MAC, IP, etc) that we use as well.

All in all, we are satisfied with the wireless connection, and Vantage
runs smoothly as long as the signal stays up. Headaches don't start
until the signal starts dropping for no apparent reason - but that is
another topic in itself.



Brandon R Murch
Supervisor of Information Technology
WindStone Medical Packaging
406.259.6387
bmurch@... <mailto:bmurch@...>

-----Original Message-----
From: bakerprovan [mailto:bfindlay@...]
Sent: Thursday, June 02, 2005 4:31 AM
To: vantage@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Vantage] Vantage Clients Over Wireless Networks

I am wondering what the experience is out there running Vantage
clients over wireless networks.

We are about to roll out the Vantage 6.1 plant floor module and were
planning to do so over an existing Netgear based 802.11b network
however operation appears to be a bit flaky.

While Plant Floor will fire up in about 20 seconds over a 100 Mb
wired system it takes a minimum of 90 seconds over the wireless
network. If the network is going through one of its cranky periods
when it drops back to 5, 2 or even 1 Mb for seemingly no reason
start-up may take over 3 minutes. Once up and running response
seems a little sluggish but acceptable most of the time but
occasionally performance degrades to unacceptable with the
occasional hang.

All the clients are running 802.11g capable hardware. Would
upgrading the router to 802.11g be a sensible option?

Other options I see are running plant floor on terminal services or
running wires. Both are money & time I could usefully use elsewhere.

While I am here, I hear that WEP encryption can now be cracked in a
matter of minutes. Has anyone come across a cost effective mans of
moving to WPA? We have W2k servers





Useful links for the Yahoo!Groups Vantage Board are: ( Note: You must
have already linked your email address to a yahoo id to enable access. )
(1) To access the Files Section of our Yahoo!Group for Report Builder
and Crystal Reports and other 'goodies', please goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/files/.
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/files/>
(2) To search through old msg's goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/messages
(3) To view links to Vendors that provide Vantage services goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/links



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2
I am wondering what the experience is out there running Vantage
clients over wireless networks.

We are about to roll out the Vantage 6.1 plant floor module and were
planning to do so over an existing Netgear based 802.11b network
however operation appears to be a bit flaky.

While Plant Floor will fire up in about 20 seconds over a 100 Mb
wired system it takes a minimum of 90 seconds over the wireless
network. If the network is going through one of its cranky periods
when it drops back to 5, 2 or even 1 Mb for seemingly no reason
start-up may take over 3 minutes. Once up and running response
seems a little sluggish but acceptable most of the time but
occasionally performance degrades to unacceptable with the
occasional hang.

All the clients are running 802.11g capable hardware. Would
upgrading the router to 802.11g be a sensible option?

Other options I see are running plant floor on terminal services or
running wires. Both are money & time I could usefully use elsewhere.

While I am here, I hear that WEP encryption can now be cracked in a
matter of minutes. Has anyone come across a cost effective mans of
moving to WPA? We have W2k servers
3
From my experience with wireless, 802.11g makes a huge difference in signal
quality and range. It is definitely noticeable to me when I switch from a b
network to a g. Previously, I had an 802.11b access point. In certain
locations I was getting Fair or Poor signal strength. Simply replacing it
with an 802.11g access point, I went to Good or Excellent. The client
network card was a g.

As far as security... Who knows? The new 802.11n access points should be
available sometime this year. The 802.11n protocol provides strong end to
end encryption of the wireless connection. Security and encryption are
important, but WEP usually keeps all but the most determined hackers out.
If someone is really determined to crack your network (willing to expend
large amounts of time, make trips to your site and use social engineering),
it is pretty difficult to stop them.


--
Chris


Christopher Gitzlaff, MSCIS
Manager - Information Systems & Technology
Major Industries, Inc.
Phone: 715.842.4616 ext. 323
Email: cgitzlaff@...



-----Original Message-----
From: bakerprovan [mailto:bfindlay@...]
Sent: Thursday, June 02, 2005 5:31 AM
To: vantage@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Vantage] Vantage Clients Over Wireless Networks


I am wondering what the experience is out there running Vantage
clients over wireless networks.

We are about to roll out the Vantage 6.1 plant floor module and were
planning to do so over an existing Netgear based 802.11b network
however operation appears to be a bit flaky.

While Plant Floor will fire up in about 20 seconds over a 100 Mb
wired system it takes a minimum of 90 seconds over the wireless
network. If the network is going through one of its cranky periods
when it drops back to 5, 2 or even 1 Mb for seemingly no reason
start-up may take over 3 minutes. Once up and running response
seems a little sluggish but acceptable most of the time but
occasionally performance degrades to unacceptable with the
occasional hang.

All the clients are running 802.11g capable hardware. Would
upgrading the router to 802.11g be a sensible option?

Other options I see are running plant floor on terminal services or
running wires. Both are money & time I could usefully use elsewhere.

While I am here, I hear that WEP encryption can now be cracked in a
matter of minutes. Has anyone come across a cost effective mans of
moving to WPA? We have W2k servers





Useful links for the Yahoo!Groups Vantage Board are: ( Note: You must have
already linked your email address to a yahoo id to enable access. )
(1) To access the Files Section of our Yahoo!Group for Report Builder and
Crystal Reports and other 'goodies', please goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/files/.
(2) To search through old msg's goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/messages
(3) To view links to Vendors that provide Vantage services goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/links
Yahoo! Groups Links
4
Quick answers as far as I am aware.
Don't run Vantage over .11b networks, it's way slow as you note. .11G is
much better. G also has a much further reach. Most hardware that is G
compatible will handle WPA(PSK) with a firmware or driver update. This
could be considered reasonably secure, but does add some overhead that makes
it tough on slower computers. Investigate routers and antennas for your
coverage. Often times the right antenna can make a world of difference with
a "simple" single Access Point installation.
You can also secure things by MAC address and make things just a little
tighter. Another thought is to leave the b access point up but not
connected to the network as a distraction for would be intruders.
Good luck,
Aaron Hoyt
Vantage Plastics

-----Original Message-----
From: vantage@yahoogroups.com [mailto:vantage@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf
Of bakerprovan
Sent: Thursday, June 02, 2005 6:31 AM
To: vantage@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Vantage] Vantage Clients Over Wireless Networks


I am wondering what the experience is out there running Vantage
clients over wireless networks.

We are about to roll out the Vantage 6.1 plant floor module and were
planning to do so over an existing Netgear based 802.11b network
however operation appears to be a bit flaky.

While Plant Floor will fire up in about 20 seconds over a 100 Mb
wired system it takes a minimum of 90 seconds over the wireless
network. If the network is going through one of its cranky periods
when it drops back to 5, 2 or even 1 Mb for seemingly no reason
start-up may take over 3 minutes. Once up and running response
seems a little sluggish but acceptable most of the time but
occasionally performance degrades to unacceptable with the
occasional hang.

All the clients are running 802.11g capable hardware. Would
upgrading the router to 802.11g be a sensible option?

Other options I see are running plant floor on terminal services or
running wires. Both are money & time I could usefully use elsewhere.

While I am here, I hear that WEP encryption can now be cracked in a
matter of minutes. Has anyone come across a cost effective mans of
moving to WPA? We have W2k servers





Useful links for the Yahoo!Groups Vantage Board are: ( Note: You must have
already linked your email address to a yahoo id to enable access. )
(1) To access the Files Section of our Yahoo!Group for Report Builder and
Crystal Reports and other 'goodies', please goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/files/.
(2) To search through old msg's goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/messages
(3) To view links to Vendors that provide Vantage services goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/links
Yahoo! Groups Links
5
I can't believe that you considered 11.b, it's way to slow. I'm running
11 Plant Floor stations on 11.g WAPs in two buildings, 90K sq feet. The
worst one in the back of the building is getting a 36 MB signal. I'm on
6.0 and all works well. They will occasionally drop signal but I found
this complaint went away after I personalized the login screen by
removing the EXIT button.

________________________________

From: vantage@yahoogroups.com [mailto:vantage@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf
Of bakerprovan
Sent: Thursday, June 02, 2005 3:31 AM
To: vantage@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Vantage] Vantage Clients Over Wireless Networks


I am wondering what the experience is out there running Vantage
clients over wireless networks.

We are about to roll out the Vantage 6.1 plant floor module and were
planning to do so over an existing Netgear based 802.11b network
however operation appears to be a bit flaky.

While Plant Floor will fire up in about 20 seconds over a 100 Mb
wired system it takes a minimum of 90 seconds over the wireless
network. If the network is going through one of its cranky periods
when it drops back to 5, 2 or even 1 Mb for seemingly no reason
start-up may take over 3 minutes. Once up and running response
seems a little sluggish but acceptable most of the time but
occasionally performance degrades to unacceptable with the
occasional hang.

All the clients are running 802.11g capable hardware. Would
upgrading the router to 802.11g be a sensible option?

Other options I see are running plant floor on terminal services or
running wires. Both are money & time I could usefully use elsewhere.

While I am here, I hear that WEP encryption can now be cracked in a
matter of minutes. Has anyone come across a cost effective mans of
moving to WPA? We have W2k servers





Useful links for the Yahoo!Groups Vantage Board are: ( Note: You must
have already linked your email address to a yahoo id to enable access. )
(1) To access the Files Section of our Yahoo!Group for Report Builder
and Crystal Reports and other 'goodies', please goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/files/.
(2) To search through old msg's goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/messages
(3) To view links to Vendors that provide Vantage services goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/links



________________________________

Yahoo! Groups Links


* To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/

* To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
vantage-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<mailto:vantage-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com?subject=Unsubscribe>

* Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of
Service <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> .




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]