CiscoWorks 1130 for Wireless LAN Solution Engine, $8,495; CiscoWorks Wireless LAN Solution Engine Software 2.5, no-cost upgrade; Cisco Aironet 1200 Series AP (802.11b/g and .11a), $1,299. Cisco Systems, (800) 553-6387, (408) 526-4000. www.cisco.com
A features chart comparing the above products can be found to the right.Vendors are working on making your WLAN location-aware. But while a few products can pinpoint locations to within a cubicle-sized zone, most of the offerings we looked at gave only tantalizing hints at devices' whereabouts. We expect this location granularity to improve significantly in the coming year as more organizations realize the benefits of a location-aware WLAN.
Many location-tracking uses revolve around keeping tabs on assets and personnel, but the technology can do more. For example, with location-based rights, you can ensure that visitors in your lobby and lounge areas have Web access, and that WLAN access in other locations requires authentication. If malicious devices do get in, location determination can help you dispatch security to the right spot.
Approaches to location tracking fall into three categories, with varying accuracy. The most primitive, and most common, is tracking based on signal strength via RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) to identify the AP (access point) or sensor closest to the 802.11 device of interest. Often, this means that once the monitoring system identifies the nearest AP, it's up to an administrator to track the location with a handheld analyzer. This method offers accuracy only within the closest AP's range. Sometimes, other APs' RSSIs are displayed to help suggest locations.
By adding a little intelligence and a floor plan, monitoring systems can triangulate a location, increasing precision. When a device is heard by APs or sensors, triangulation systems determine approximate location based on several signal strengths. Depending on system specifics, as well as AP or sensor density, triangulation can narrow location down to between 400 and 900 square feet. Although this method may suffice for some apps, it is severely limited because it ignores environment- specific attributes, such as building materials, office equipment and other attenuation, and multipath sources.
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