| Wireless network software is usually bundled along | | | | different hardware components may cripple |
| with the hardware. | | | | networks. Software drivers may be a small part |
| Wireless network software comes in many | | | | of the process but they sometimes may make |
| flavors and designs. The closest to the user is the | | | | or break a network engineer’s day. It is |
| software which consists of the user interface. | | | | not unknown for network specialists to struggle |
| The front end is simple and used to provide | | | | for days to establish a wireless network only to |
| connectivity to the network. With extensive use | | | | realize that they have the wrong version of the |
| of laptops wireless networking has now become a | | | | network drivers. This kind of mishap can make an |
| dire necessity and a must have rather than a | | | | engineer wary of products which are not tried |
| mere status symbol. Connection to the ubiquitous | | | | and tested. |
| internet through mobile networks is a common | | | | Wireless network software is required to provide |
| feature of most laptops. Connectivity may be | | | | the bridge between wired and wireless networks. |
| quite a simple job for the end user but requires a | | | | The operation of a WLAN should be seamless in |
| huge amount of infrastructure held together by | | | | either of the networks. This bridge software |
| the glue of wireless network software. | | | | provides this connectivity. |
| At a deeper level wireless network software | | | | The most important variety of wireless network |
| consists of the drivers and system software | | | | software is the one dealing with wireless security. |
| which are required for the wireless network | | | | It is an open secret that most of the |
| interface card. It is but obvious that each | | | | vulnerabilities in any network occur in the wireless |
| hardware vendor has his own set of software to | | | | portion of the network. It is often a joke that the |
| suit his respective hardware. The end user has no | | | | rogue virus makers have shifted their loyalties |
| inkling of this software and neither is there any | | | | from the Microsoft operating system to wireless |
| need for him to know about it. Actually once the | | | | network software. This is because it is simply too |
| drivers are installed there is a seamless connection | | | | tempting to break into networks with ease. Since |
| within the network and requires no human | | | | somewhere the wireless network meets the |
| interference. Cisco is a popular manufacturer of | | | | wired LAN , an attack through the vulnerable part |
| wireless LAN equipment . | | | | exposes the entire network. Extra caution is |
| In large wireless installations reliability and | | | | therefore required in securing the wireless |
| availability of hardware is an important or even a | | | | network. First and foremost requirement is the |
| critical requirement. Service providers therefore | | | | control over access to the wireless network. |
| tend to prefer tried and tested hardware for their | | | | Providing unauthorized and casual access is a |
| networks. Moreover incompatibility among | | | | dangerous proposition. |