C HAPTER 11 Wireless LANs So far, this book has dedicated a lot of attention to (wired) Ethernet LANs. Although they are vitally important, another style of LAN, wireless LANs (WLAN), fills a particularly important role in providing network access to end users. In particular, WLANs allow the user to communicate over the network without requiring any cables, enabling mobile devices while removing the expense and effort involved in running cables. This chapter examines the basic concepts, standards, installation, and security options for some of the most common WLAN technologies today. As a reminder if you're following the optional reading plan listed in the Introduction to this