Intendance and Maintaing of Wireless Networking
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16 Acta Electrotechnica et Informatica, Vol. 10, No. 4, 2010, 16–19 INTENDANCE AND MAINTAING OF WIRELESS NETWORKING Eva DANKOVÁ, Martin CHOVANEC, Peter FANFARA Department of Computers and Informatics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Informatics, Technical University of Košice, Letná 9, 042 00 Košice, Slovak Republic, e-mail: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] ABSTRACT Wireless network is more and more exploited technologies, because of its availability and connectivity from any place in the range of its access point, without restrictions on cable. Very important area in wireless networks is the managing of the wireless network. The paper describes proposed secure wireless network with a system for managing to evaluate the real conditions in the network. The study is intended on analysis of various securities, because priority of each system is the security of the system. First part of the article handles with software technologies, which are used to design web applications. Based on this analysis the proposed system was implemented by Zend Framework, due to limpidity and use of the PHP language. Keywords: wireless, managing, monitoring, zend framework, secure system 1. INTRODUCTION 2.1. IEEE 802.11 and the OSI reference model Wireless technology is the fastest growing One of the most important standard is 802.11 communications technology of recent decades in many developed by IEEE. 802.11 is a member of IEEE 802 areas, as business or the education system, while it family, which is a series of specifications and technologies incorporates the most important features as the flexibility of Local Area Networks (LAN). IEEE 802 specifications and mobility. are focused on the two lower layers of the OSI reference The most widespread and most discussed topic of model, as they include components of physical and link wireless networks remains a question of security and layers (Fig. 1). [1], [2] confidentiality of data. Many publications are devoted to the study and description of security and it seems that this question is exhaustless. It is not only the security and different security algorithms being developed, but rather the mechanisms to break these algorithms. The paper will focus on the description of the various security standards to provide maximum security for data transmission, but also to protect users. The primary intention is to create a secure wireless network design and implementation of a system for managing such a network. The next section will be therefore devoted to a comparison of software technologies and a description of a quite new framework technology, Zend Framework. Zend Framework has become the leading technology for the creation of Fig. 1 IEEE 802.11 and the OSI reference model different software projects, mostly web applications using PHP. It uses a model for implementation, known as MVC All network components 802 include MAC and PHY. (Model-View-Controller) model, which results to MAC is a set of rules by which it determines access to separating application logic from the graphic design while medium and send data. Transmission and reception is left the code becomes simple and transparent. to the physical component of the PHY. [3] Studies of wireless networks and security issues, the 802.11 belong to link layer using 802.2/LLC technology of Zend Framework, are the subjects of this encapsulation. 802.11 specifications are based on: paper. De facto, all studies mentioned in the following • 802.11 MAC layer sections are sufficient and contribute for creating a • PHY layer: wireless network and a simple management using Zend o frequency-hopping spread-spectrum FHSS Framework. o direct-sequence spread-spectrum DSSS 2. THE TECHNOLOGY OF WIRELESS Later, newer revisions of 802.11 were added and NETWORK additional specifications of physical layer were created. 802.11b specifies a layer with higher bit rate as the During couple of years a mass of improvements were original DSSS transmission. It refers to high-rate direct introduced. The strategy of development is still focused on sequence (HR/DSSS). 802.11a describes the physical standards and protocols from the last century as far as they layer based on orthogonal frequency division multiplexing can be concerned. (OFDM). 802.11g uses OFDM transmission at higher bit rates. It is backwards compatible with 802.11b. However, ISSN 1335-8243 © 2010 FEI TUKE Acta Electrotechnica et Informatica, Vol. 10, No. 4, 2010 17 the use of 802.11b and 802.11g networks will reduce the Filter MAC addresses - MAC address is a unique maximum speed for 802.11 network users. [2], [3] identifier of network cards that can be used for clarification of permitted and prohibited WLAN clients. 2.2. Security in wireless networks Access Control List (ACL) based on MAC addresses defines the network access for each client (enabled or Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) is not a disabled access). trustworthy network unless it complies with standards and • Filter protocols – traffic can be filtered when security specified for wireless networks. Unsecured using more network protocols in the WLAN (e.g. networks are easily accessible to unauthorized users and disable IPX, AppleTalk). provide space for carrying out various attacks, e.g. a • Access authentication - verifying the identity of permanent communications interception, falsification of the client can run in different ways: open (not MAC addresses or IP address of any authorized user, or verified), using shared WEP key, or using EAP launch Denial of Service (DoS) attacks. (IEEE 802.1X) with an authentication server Nowadays, there are mechanisms and rules which are (typically RADIUS). sufficient to cover security in wireless networks and • Encryption - encryption of communication using provide strong protection against attackers. However, mechanisms specified by WEP, 3DES (64-bit providing full network security is not so trivial. Securing a keys) or AES (128-bit keys). WLAN is running over all levels of the OSI model, from the lowest layer - the physical and link layers, to the Network layer allows creating connection and routing higher layers - presentation and application layers. [3] between two stations along with network conditions. Generally it can be assumed that each layer of the OSI According to that the network layer provides functions: model can provide some form of security. Depending on transmission of the frames into the router, split frames into services and requirements of different applications, smaller frames if necessary by a router, conversion of the security is mostly applied only to certain layers of the OSI logical address to physical network card address (MAC). model. In addition, certain security services are better The functions of network layer specify the security at this defined on specific layers (e.g. message verification). In level: the next section security and safety of services and • Filter IP addresses - access control on this level is applications at different layers of the OSI model will be done by ACL based on logical - IP addresses, described. similarly as ACL based on physical addresses. Physical layer is focused on a hardware connection and includes signal modulation, noise and interference • Use firewall - a firewall is often part of a wireless solutions, and determining the link between distance and router that blocks traffic, typically from the throughput. Therefore, security at this layer defines the Internet into WLAN. following criteria: • Use VPN - IP VPN (Virtual Private Network) is • Define and limit the spread of the signal area - to built through the mechanisms of the lowest three minimize signal overlap with construction layers, e.g. encryption with IPSec (IP Security materials, isolation, or coatings, and to limit the Protocol) and L2TP (Layer 2 Tunneling use of other wireless technologies. Protocol). • Locate the antennas - antennas wireless routing plays an important role in maintaining and Transport layer ensures reliable communication - improving safety, recommends the use of correct sequence of messages, dealing with losses and directional antennas and the limited use of omni- duplicated data. Depending on whether the network using directional antenna, thus restricting access to reliable or unreliable connection, the transport layer need unauthorized users. not/must ensure shifting frames, confirmation messages, • Hidden system identifier - network identifier, the detect or recover from errors. The transport layer SSID (or ESSID), differentiates logical networks functions include: receiving messages from higher layers, in the same physical space. Without this ID, the and their division into several frames, as well as reliable client cannot connect to WLAN, it is delivery confirmation messages. recommended not to dispose, but preferably hide Session layer provides a logical connection between the SSID. two points – creates a session. Session layer functions are: initialization, tracking and ending of virtual circuits Data-Link layer implements data transmission over between two processes which are identified by their physical medium. Data-Link layer contains a sub layer unique process address, determining the beginning and the called MAC (Media Access Control), which provides end of administration support functions to enable two-way access control to media. Details of the transfer itself are communication process through the network, such as secured on the physical layer PHY, which is the physical verification of users and provide access to individual