Windows Vista Virtualization: What You Need To Know To Get Started

By Danielle Ruest and Nelson Ruest

Microsoft's release of Windows Vista and its Service Pack 1 coincides with one of the greatest revolutions in the IT industry: the coming of virtualization technologies. VMware, Oracle, Citrix, Symantec, Sun Microsystems, Thinstall, Microsoft, and others have entered the fray to release products that are oriented towards virtualization.

(click image for larger view) Running Windows Vista through desktop virtualization.

These products fall into two main categories.

• Machine virtualization lets you run complete operating systems within a virtualized layer on top of physical hardware, making better use of hardware resources. This level of virtualization is proving to be a boon to organizations at many levels seeking server consolidation, desktop virtualization, disaster recovery planning, and more.
• Application virtualization lets you "sandbox" applications so that they do not affect the operating system or other applications when deployed to a system. Application virtualization, or AppV, will make it much easier to manage application lifecycles because applications are no longer "installed" on systems, but rather, copied to systems.

Both of these technologies have a significant impact on Vista adoption. Overall, it is a good thing most organizations haven't moved to adopt Vista yet because they will be able to take advantage of virtualization in their deployment. Here's how.

Use Machine Virtualization With Vista

A major barrier to Vista adoption is the hardware required to make the most of its feature set. While the base hardware requirements for Vista are not too unusual, considering the type of hardware that is available now, they are still important. Hardware refreshes are expensive, so whether you have 10 computers or 10,000, you need to plan and budget for hardware refreshes.

The table below outlines two sets of requirements for Vista: Vista Capable and Vista Premium PC configurations. The first allows you to run the base-level Vista editions and the second lets you take advantage of all of Vista's features.

	Vista Capable PC	Vista Premium PC
Processor	At least 800 MHz	32-bit: 1 GHz x86; 64-bit: 1 GHz x64
Minimum Memory	512 Mbytes	1 Gbyte
Graphics Processor	Must be DirectX 9 capable	Support for DirectX 9 with a WDDM driver, 128 Mbytes of graphics memory*, Pixel Shader 2.0 and 32 bits per pixel
Drives		DVD-ROM drive
Accessories		Audio output
Connectivity		Internet access
* If the graphics processing unit (GPU) shares system memory, then no additional memory is required. If it uses dedicated memory, at least 128 Mbytes is required.

If you want to plan for the future, you should really opt for a Vista Premium PC. But what if you didn't have to be too concerned about hardware upgrades and could still have access to Vista's features? That is what machine virtualization can do. In fact, the common term for this process is desktop virtualization.

(click image for larger view) A virtual machine is really just a series of files in a folder.

With desktop virtualization, you run Windows Vista inside a machine virtualization engine on a central server. Then you give users access to a virtual version of Vista through a remote connection. Users can continue to run older Windows operating systems on their actual desktops, but, through the remote session, access and use the new Vista feature set.

It is fairly easy to do this and you don't necessarily need a server to host the virtual Vista instance. Lots of manufacturers now offer machine virtualization technologies. What is even better is that many of these technologies are completely free! For example, Microsoft offers Virtual PC and Virtual Server 2005, VMware offers VMware Server, and Citrix offers XenServer Express, all for free. Others such as Oracle and Sun both offer free virtual machine engines -- Oracle offers Oracle VM and Sun offers xVM -- but their engines are not optimized for Windows operating systems, so you won't gain by using them for this purpose.

Of the three that do run Windows properly, the best choice might be Citrix XenServer Express since it is an operating system in and of itself. With the Microsoft and VMware offerings, you need to first load a supported OS on the host system, then load the virtualization engine. With XenServer, you just load XenServer, then create the virtual instances of the operating systems you need.

This arrangement can offer the best of all worlds. Here's why:

1. When you run Windows Vista on a system, server, or PC, you need a license. All retail Vista licenses only allow one single instance of the operating system to run for each license. The Enterprise Edition, however, offers up to four virtual instances of Windows Vista for each license you own. Note that the only way to acquire the Enterprise license is through a Software Assurance program. This is often out of reach for small to medium businesses.
2. If you use the Microsoft or VMware virtualization engines, you'll need a license for the OS running on the actual hardware system if you choose the Windows version. Then you'll need a license for each instance of Vista you want to run in a virtual instance.
3. With VMware Server, you can choose the Linux version and run a "free" operating system on the hardware system. Microsoft does not offer a Linux version of its virtualization products.
4. If you use XenServer Express, then you just need to load it onto a hardware platform. From then on you can create any instance of Windows Vista. Of course, each instance of Vista will require a license.

Whichever solution you choose, you'll gain lots of advantages by running Vista in a virtual machine. First, if you run it from a server, you can provide central backup and control of each machine. Second, because a virtual machine is really nothing but a series of files in a folder, it becomes really easy to create multiple machines; just copy the files and you have a new machine. Third, it becomes so much easier to protect machines because each machine is contained within itself. For example, if a virus attacks a virtual machine and corrupts it, just throw the virtual machine away and restore it from a backup. Voila! You're back to a working machine in no time. And finally, because the resources required to run the virtual machine are on the server or host machine, you don't need powerful resources at the endpoint to run Vista.

There is no doubt that machine, or rather desktop, virtualization is an attractive solution for a Vista migration. It might even be an attractive solution for the home user since you can use it to "sandbox" each Vista session and therefore protect all others. However, this is only really viable for the experienced home user.

You'll also need to keep in mind that the license for Windows Vista Home and Home Premium does not allow home users to run them in virtual machines. If you intend to use Vista in a virtual machine, it must be one of Business, Ultimate, or Enterprise and obviously, the latter wouldn't be available to home users.

Use Application Virtualization With Vista

A second major barrier to Vista adoption is application compatibility. Microsoft has modified several core components of the Windows code with Vista and, in many cases, this breaks applications. (See How to Manage Windows Vista Application Compatibility.)

If you decide that you don't want to centralize all your desktops and intend to deploy Vista on each one of your endpoints, then perhaps you need to take a really close look at application virtualization (AppV). AppV is much like machine virtualization, but instead of capturing an entire operating system installation, it captures each and every application you deploy on your systems. Basically, you "sandbox" each application so that it does not make any actual modifications at all when it runs on a system. This is all done through the use of an application virtualization agent that resides either within the application itself or on the operating system.

The single most powerful advantage AppV gives you is that, once an application is virtualized, it will run on any Windows operating system. Just think of it. Each time you move from one OS to another, you have to test all your applications, repackage them to meet target OS requirements, and then deploy them.

With AppV all that goes away since, once the application is virtualized, it will run on any Windows OS. And, because there are no changes to the target OS, you do not need to install the application, but rather simply copy it to the system. That's because AppV does not capture the application installation process like other systems do, it captures the running state of the application. That's powerful and may even warrant the adoption of AppV even if you don't migrate to Vista.

Like machine virtualization, several vendors have released AppV engines. Microsoft offers Application Virtualization 4.5. Symantec offers Software Virtualization Solution (SVS) through its Altiris division. Citrix offers AppV through Citrix XenApp (formerly Presentation Server 4.5). Thinstall offers ThinstallVS. Of these, only Symantec offers a free or personal edition of its AppV engine. This personal edition of SVS is fully functional and can be run on up to 10 PCs. What's even better is that the download site also includes over 40 pre-virtualized applications.

In many ways, application virtualization is even easier to use than machine virtualization. With AppV, the only thing you need to change is the model you use for application management. Home users can virtualize anything from Internet Explorer to full versions of Microsoft Office. Don't like what a recent Web site visit has done to your browser? Just reset the application and you're back to what you had before. This might just be the answer to what your kids need on the home PC.

Imagine, since Symantec's SVS is free for personal use, home computer manufacturers could pre-load it on their systems. Then, you could carry your applications around with you on a USB keychain. Want to do a bit of browsing, just plug in your USB and launch your favorite applications. Not that's something everyone can get their teeth around.

In the office, AppV is even more powerful. We've worked on a ton of migration and deployment projects and we know for a fact that the most time-consuming effort in any such project is application preparation. With AppV, you completely change the dynamics of any deployment project and put all of the application woes behind you. That's a powerful operating model.

There you have it: two different models that can let you move to Windows Vista at your own pace and on your own terms. Now there's no reason to delay. Move to one of the virtualization models first, then you can move to Vista once you've mastered these new IT operating models.

Resources

• For more information on migrating to Windows Vista, download the free eBook The Definitive Guide to Vista Migration by Ruest and Ruest.
• VMware Server
• Citrix XenServer Express
• Microsoft Virtual Server
• Microsoft Virtual PC
• Oracle VM
• Sun xVM
• Microsoft Application Virtualization
• Citrix XenApp (formerly Citrix Presentation Server)
• ThinstallVS
• Symantec Software Virtualization Solution
• SVS Downloads for Symantec SVS
• Windows Vista Licensing and Virtual Machines

Wireless Network Tips

Office Wireless Network

A wireless network is ideal is an office environment. There is no need to worry about running cables, drilling holes, or having large closets or rooms full of cables for the office. It is cheaper to run a wireless network due to lower start up costs. If employees have laptops, it increases productivity as they can work in several locations and clients can easily hook up to the network. An office will also look more professional due to the lack of cables and wires running across the office floor.

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Wireless Network and Your Health

There have been no scientific studies to indicate that wireless signals can affect your health in a negative manner. A wireless network uses radio waves to transmit information and transmit less then an average cell phone.

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Wireless Network: WLAN vs. LAN

A LAN is also known as a local area network. A WLAN is a wireless local area network. If your home or office currently uses a LAN, it can easily be converted over to a wireless network, or a wireless network can be added onto the LAN to increase portability, functionality and productivity.

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Running Windows XP on a Wireless Network

If you are running Windows XP and having issues with your wireless network connection, check to see what service pack you are running. Most problems can be fixed by upgrading to service pack 2. Service pack 2 addressed an issue with it’s Wireless Zero Configuration, which affects your wireless network connection ability.

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Peer to Peer Wireless Network

A peer to peer network is a network where computers talk directly to one another for the purpose of sharing files and resources. This form of network is also known as an ad hoc network. This can be set up on a wireless network without the use of an access point or router. All the computers and devices will need to have a wireless internet card and be configured to run on an ad hoc basis. You will not be able to share an internet connection on a peer to peer network.

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Wireless Network Equipment

Setting up a wireless network is simple, and the equipment you will need depend on the kind of wireless network you decide to set up. For a peer to peer network, you will simply need wireless network cards for all the computers. If you are also sharing a network connection, you will need a wireless router and maybe a wireless hub, depending on the amount of devices on the network. You will also need an access point, which can be a dedicated piece of hardware, or a computer with specific software.

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Benefits to a Wireless Network

There are several benefits to a wireless network, the main focus being portability. It is common for notebook computer users to use a wireless network card, which will allow them to access the internet, other computers on the network, devices, etc from anywhere within the range of the wireless network. Wireless network management can be simpler then a wired network, because adding new systems does not require wiring of an office or home, plus there are no unsightly cables to troubleshoot.

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Trouble Shooting Wireless Network Problems

If your wireless network is acting sluggish or not working properly, check to make sure that all batteries are charged and working properly in your wireless devices. This includes laptop computers as well. Next, check to make sure you are within range of the access points and/or wireless router and that it is not covered with unnecessary objects. Check to make sure that all configurations are set properly and that there are no objects, such as cordless phones or microwaves in the area that can interfere with the signal.

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Wireless Antenna

A wireless antenna is used to boost the increase the range of a wireless network. However, be sure to check the hardware of the wireless router or access point that you have, because not all are compatible with a wireless antenna. An alternative to boost the range is to add additional access points to the network.

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Wireless Network without a Laptop

Even if you do currently own a laptop, there are benefits to considering a wireless network in your home or office. It is easy to expand and add additional computers and devices without having to special wire cables. There are no unsightly cables to look at or trip over. If you ever do purchase a laptop, it will be easy to add into the network. There are no holes to drill, no cables to string, and a wireless network can potentially be less expensive to start up and maintain then a wired one.

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Switching to Wireless Network

There are several benefits to running a wireless network. You do not have the costs of running and maintaining cables and you do not need to worry about cables when designing the layout of an office area. Wireless network equipment is comparable in cost to wired equipment. Changing from a wired to a wireless network will give your employees greater freedom and can increase productivity. Clients can stop by the office and access the network, making transfer of files and data easier. Finally, wireless network management can be less complex and costly then that of a wired network.

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Trouble with Access Point on Wireless Network

If you are sure that you have configured the wireless access point/wireless router exactly as stated per manufactures instructions, there is a chance the hardware is defective. While this does not happen often, make sure you save all receipts and contact customer service and tech support of the manufacture to attempt to fix the problem.

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Wireless Network: Access Point Definition

An access point is a station that broadcasts wireless internet to other computers in the wireless network. An access point can be a router, computer, or special access point equipment. It can also be called a base station or hot spot.

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Wireless Network: Hot Spot

A hot spot is essentially the same as an access point, but is usually found in restaurants, stores, etc, where people with Wi-Fi laptops can access the internet. Sometimes this service is free, but sometimes it is a paid service.

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Wireless Network Kits

There are several wireless network kits available for setting up computers on a wireless network. These kits include a wireless router and network card.

Wireless Printer Tips

Wireless Printer Benefits

Having a wireless network printer has several benefits. There is the obvious benefit of not needing wires to connect to the printer. While it is possible to share a printer via a network connection, having a wireless printer connection adds flexibility to the network. In a traditional computer sharing the printer, the host computer for the printer would need to be turned on in order to use the printer. You do not have this restriction with a wireless network printer.

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Wireless Printer Adapter

A wireless printer adapter is a device which allows your printer to be linked on a wireless network. The printer involved will need to be a USB printer. The most common technology used with wireless printer adapters is Bluetooth. There are a variety of adapters available, depending on the needed range and number of computers needed to network with the printer.

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Setting up a wireless printer

Adding a printer to a wireless network is the same as adding any other device. You will need to have a wireless printer adapter which is compatible with your printer. Generally speaking, you will need a USB printer. If your printer comes with a built in wireless Ethernet adapter, then you will not need to use a wireless printer adapter You will need to use a wireless print server to connect to the rest of the network..

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Wireless Inkjet Printer

Almost any printer can become a wireless printer. If your printer has a USB connector, there are several wireless printer adapters that you can purchase that simply plug into the printer and you are instantly on the wireless network!

Wireless Router Tips

What to look for when buying a wireless router

There are a wide variety of wireless routers on the market today. The features you need will depend on the extent of your network. In general it is good to look for one that has a built in firewall for security, decent speed and the ability to act as both a wired and wireless router, and good range. Belkin routers and Linksys routers are two popular brands. For the best range and speed, look for a wireless router which uses 802.11g technology.

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Sharing an internet connection with a wireless router

A wireless router hooks up directly to your cable or DSL modem via a cable. The wireless router will then transmit the broadband single to the computers with a wireless card in the range of the network. You will need to make sure that the cards are configured for the home network, same as with a wired network, but after that, you will be wire free!

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Linksys wireless router

Linksys wireless routers are an excellent brand which offers many benefits to users. Linksys makes routers which use 802.11g technology, which offers increased speed and range over older standards. They offer wireless routers in a variety of price ranges so they are affordable and functional for a wide variety of wireless networks. You can also purchase a linksys router with speed booster technology to further increase network speed and productivity.

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Wireless Router

A router is a device which connects one network to another. It is most used for connecting the internet (one large network) with a home or business network. Wireless routers allow you to share a broadband internet connection between several computers.

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Wireless Router with Firewall

Not all wireless routers come equipped with a firewall, but it is worth investing in a router that has one. Linksys wireless routers come in a variety of prices with a variety of firewall capabilities. Depending on the security needs of your wireless network, you may want to consider getting a wireless router with sophisticated firewall technology.

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Belkin wireless router

Belkin wireless routers offer excellent range and speed. One of their newest routers, the Belkin Pre-N has 8 times the range and 6 times the speed of regular 802.11g technology routers. They offer a variety of other wireless routers to meet the needs of small and large wireless network administrators.

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Best Wireless Router

The best wireless router will depend on your wireless network. If you have a small network within a small range of one another, it may not be necessary to purchase the latest and greatest wireless router on the market. However, if you run an office or business and want to maintain quality speed and performance, it is in your best interest to purchase the latest technology for the wireless router.

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Wireless Router Password

Most wireless routers come with a default password of admin. To maintain optimal wireless network security, it is a good idea to change this password so others will not be able to access the router, firewall, etc and hack your wireless network.

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Wired and wireless router

Many wireless routers offer the ability to use both a wired and wireless network. If you are not ready, and cannot make the switch fully to a wireless network, consider purchasing a wireless router which offers both options.

Wireless Security

Wireless Security: Encryption

Encryption is widely used for security of data, including wireless network security. Encryption is where data is translated into code for transmission via the radio waves. An encryption key, similar to a password, is needed to encrypt the code for transfer. If you are only minimally concerned with security, such as in wireless home network security, you may consider WEP encryption, which some find easier to configure with their current equipment.

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Wireless Security: Protecting your password

Your passwords are crucial to your wireless network security and should not be revealed to unauthorized individuals. Do not leave your password lying around or written in an obvious location. When entering your username and/or password, make sure people are not milling around and looking over your shoulder. Be very careful of responding to emails asking for passwords. Most legitimate companies do not ask for passwords via email due to the lack of security. These tips are useful for both wireless security and wired security.

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Wireless Security: File Sharing

Wireless network security is important. Always make sure to require a password from users connecting to your computer. Be careful about what folders you allow others to have access to. You can also set passwords on specific folders to further increase security.

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Deciding on a Firewall

The firewall you choose should be based primarily on the level of needed security, budget, reliability and the potential need to expand the wireless network. The most basic firewall, with minimal security is one that is part of a basic wireless router. The next level up is a dedicated firewall. After that comes a dedicated firewall device with a gateway. Finally, the highest level of wireless security is a dedicated firewall device (such as a computer) with a combination of proxy firewall and full packet filtering.

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Wireless Security Encryption:

WEP, wired equivalent privacy, is the standard encryption security that is built into all Wi-Fi devices. WEP does not provide as good of wireless security as WPA does, but is adequate for minimal security purposes.

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Wireless Security: MAC filtering

All devices on a wireless network have a MAC (media access control) address. This is a unique identification number that is part of the individual hardware. MAC filtering is where the access points on a wireless network will only speak with devices that you specify. MAC filtering is an excellent tool to use to enhance wireless security. This works great for wireless home network security, because the number of wireless devices will be manageable to work with.

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Wireless Security: Firewall

A firewall is either a piece of hardware or software which is used to block outsiders from accessing a network. Firewalls are an essential part of wireless network security. It works by controlling traffic between given zones of trust. A user has the ability to determine what is trustworthy and what is not. If you are running a wireless network, you may want to consider using a firewall which is built into a wireless router.

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Wireless Security: Securing your laptop

One of the benefits of a wireless network is the portability of computers. However, this can also lead to a serious wireless security risk and theft of computer. If you are traveling and using your computer in a hot spot area, do not leave it lying around outside of your eyesight. Consider investing in a cable lock, which will secure your laptop (or desktop) to a stationary object. There are higher levels of security you can look into, such as cards that sound an alarm with unauthorized movement.

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Using more then one firewall

You should only run one firewall on your network. This is true for both office and wireless home network security. If you run additional firewalls, you run the risk of conflicts. However, for wireless security, you can run one hardware firewall and one software firewall. For example, you can use a wireless router for the hardware firewall and firewall software on the computer.

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Wireless Security: Setting Password

Remember that your wireless home network is broadcast via radio waves, and can be accessible to anyone with range. If you do not set a password on your ad hoc network, then anyone within range can access the network. For this reason, it is crucial to set a password to protect your systems and to increase your wireless network security.

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Basic Wireless Network Security

There are several basic steps that everyone should do to help ensure wireless network security. When configuring your network, change the default names on the computers and set the SSID not to broadcast. Use wired equivalent privacy (WEP) encryption at a minimum. Change all default passwords for software and hardware. Finally, make sure to run antivirus software and antispyware software on all your computers.

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Choosing a good password for wireless security

There are several tips to keep in mind when choosing a good password for wireless security. Do not use your name, initials or easy to guess numbers, such as address, birthday, etc. Any password based on personal information is a poor choice. Passwords should be at least eight characters long, and includes both numbers and characters. And remember, no matter how clever your password is, if you write it down where it is easily found, it won't be very secure.

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Wireless Security Encryption: WPA

WPA, Wi-Fi protected access, is an upgraded version of WEP. This newer protocol is more secure then WEP and, if you use a good password, is much tougher to crack. WPA devices are backwards compatible with WEP; however, in order to use WPA for wireless network security, all devices need to have WPA.

Wireless Internet

Wireless Internet Sharing

If you plan on sharing your wireless internet access, you will need to have that option turned on in your settings. However, if you do not have other computers hooked up to the network at this time, for security purposes, you should leave the setting turned off until the need arises to share the wireless internet access.

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Wireless Internet Speeds

Coming in at the slowest is Bluetooth, followed by 802.11b, 802.11a and topping the charts currently is 802.11g. 802.11b is roughly equivalent to the traditional wired 10BaseT Wired Ethernet networks. Therefore, switching to Wi-Fi should not considerably slow down your wireless internet connection.

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Wireless Network Equipment While Traveling

You will need to have a wireless network card, either an adapter or integrated in your laptop. If you do not have an available slot on your PC, there are adapters you can purchase that plug into a USB port on the computer.

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Finding a Wireless Internet Hot Spot

There are several stores and restaurants that offer wireless internet access, such as Starbucks. If you have a particular destination in mind, you can call the hotels to see if they offer the service. There are also hot spot directories that you can search to find wireless internet access.

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Wireless internet - WiFi Standards

802.11 is the Wi-Fi standard, however there are other standards which are variations of the 802.11. These include:

• 802.11a
• 802.11b
• 802.11g
• 802.11i.

The differences among these standards includes speed, transmission frequency, and price. 802.11g is backwards compatible with previous products, but that is not the case with 802.11a. Make sure you check on compatibility issues prior to purchasing products.

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Wireless Internet and Dial up

It is possible to share a wireless internet connection with dial up, but it is not a very good idea. Some access points, such as the airport extreme base station from Apple, will allow this. However, there is some slow down time with sharing a wireless internet connection, and if you decide to share a dial up connection, you won't be surfing anything fast.

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Finding a Wireless Internet Hot Spot in a Chain

If you are traveling and know that you will be stopping at Starbucks, for example, and want to access the internet, you can check out their website to see what specific franchises offer wireless internet access.

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Paying for Wireless Internet Access

Most likely, you will need to pay for the high speed wireless internet access when you travel. Starbucks for example uses T-mobile as their wireless internet provider. You will need to have a t-mobile account in order to access wi-fi at Starbucks. There are some restaurants that may advertise free Wi-Fi, but in general, you should expect to pay a fee.

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Nationwide Wireless Internet Service

There are a plethora of national wireless high speed internet services available. AT&T, Sprint PCS, T-mobile, and Verizon are a few which offer nationwide service. You will want to check out various pricing, roaming policies and fees for the various networks.

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Mixing Apples and PC's to Share Wireless Internet Connection

You can mix apple and PC on a wireless network and share a wireless internet access. For example, Apple makes an access point called the AirPort Extreme Base station. Even though it is made by Apple, it still uses the Wi-Fi standard, and PC computers with a wireless adapter on the network will be able to share the wireless internet connection

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Mixing Wireless Internet and Wired Internet

You can easily share a wireless internet access while still maintaining a wired network. There are many wireless routers on the market which offer both wired and wireless network capabilities. It is also possible to add on an access point after a wired router for wireless access.

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Configuring Wireless Access Point to Share Wireless Internet Connection

Once you install the drivers on your computer for the access point, you will be able to open up the configuration software that comes with the router. The IP address 192.168.0.0 is the lowest in the network and should be dedicated to the router. Make sure to follow the specific configuration instructions that come with your wireless router, as each product will be slightly different from one another.

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Wireless Internet Equipment

The beauty of the WI-FI is that it set a standard for wireless networking. Because of this, you do not need to have equipment from all the same venders in order to run a successful wireless network. You will be able to share wireless internet access as well without having equipment from all the same venders.

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Configuring Wireless Internet Card

You will need to use the configuration software that comes with your network card to configure your computer to work at various hot spots. Simply type in the hotspot network name (various depending on the service you are using) and state the type of network, such as access point. You can also scan available wireless broadband internet access in the area and choose which network you wish to connect with.

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Wireless Internet WIFI

WI-FI, the 802.11 standard, is important for a variety of reasons. Having a standard in the industry ensures that anyone using wi-fi will be using the same standard, therefore equipment and connections are interchangeable. Having a set standard makes setting up wireless networks, sharing wireless internet access and working with wireless equipment more users friendly.

WiMAX Wireless Broadband

WiMAX stands for World Interoperability for Microwave Access that enables the actual broadband wireless network with high speed. WiMAX operate same like WiFi but WiFi operate with some limitation like it is base band technology and cover only 100 feet radius with slow speed. WiMAX covers a radius of 50 Km and work with the speed of 70 Mbps. WiMAX is the replacement of the wired broadband. In wired broadband connection, we can transmit data with 512 Kbps to 10 Mbps speed and more, for example DSL broadband and cable broadband. In future all new desktop and notebook computers will be incorporated with WiMAX technology. With this technology you will be connected to the internet even you are driving your car with the speed of 120 Km.

Objective of WiMAX

• Superior Performance

• Flexibility

• Advanced IP-Based Architecture

• Attractive Economics

IEEE 802.16 Specifications

• Range 30 mile radius from the base station for LOS (line-of-sight).

• Range 4-6 miles radius from the base station for NLOS (Non-line-of-sight)

• Maximum data speed supported as 70 Mbps.

• Licensed frequency band: 2- 11 GHz

• Un-licensed frequency band: 10- 66 GHz

• Line of sight is not needed between user and the base station unless very high date rates are required at the user premises.