Three ways to improve wireless network access for your users

Wireless networking has been a massive boon for those organizations with employees constantly on the go. Whether they're staying in hotels across the country, or just roaming around the building doesn't matter. What does matter is that they need to have network access no matter how far they are from a LAN port.

If your company has workers who rely on wireless networking, here are three tips to improve your wireless strategy -- especially if the company has multiple wireless locations.

Tip #1. Consider a client-side DNS cache. When you're roaming, the biggest disadvantage isn't just that you're at the mercy of different ISPs, but also different public DNS servers. The one you use at work might be lightning-fast, but the one you use from home or on the road may be intolerably slow. Slow DNS translates to slow browsing, slow email, and slow everything else.

To work around this problem, set up a DNS cache on the user's notebook computer. Such a program retains and asynchronously checks DNS entries for far longer than their usual lifetime. Since DNS entries for domain names rarely change, this works out well. Furthermore, it translates into a speed boost for wireless browsing, since it's one less lookup the computer needs to perform. One such cache is the freeware program, AnalogX's FastCache.

Tip #2. Use a network profile switcher for multiple network setups. Windows is smart enough to recognize different wireless networks and allow you to connect to them individually, but it doesn't do the complete job.

Digg This!     StumbleUpon     Del.icio.us

RELATED CONTENT Wireless Networks Rogue access points: Preventing, detecting and handling best practices Persistent, secure connections for roaming WiMAX, 3G and 802.11x Securing embedded 802.11n devices 802.11n's impact on WLAN security Set up secure wireless networks with 802.11x, access points and bridges How to use Netsh WLAN to configure Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista wireless connections from the CLI How to avoid the WPA wireless security standard attack IEEE 802.11w protects wireless LAN management frames Measure wireless network performance using testing tool iPerf How to prioritize wireless traffic Troubleshooting Wireless Networks How radio frequency (RF) of microwaves alter wireless signal strength Distributed antenna systems and WLAN: A network management burden Wireless LAN management platforms key differentiator for WLAN vendors How is wireless access point (AP) coverage affected by frequency? From Cisco to Meru to Aruba, school finally finds right WLAN How to find an SSID and identify neighboring WLANs How to stop channel interference on 802.11x wireless access points Troubleshooting networks: Can vendor software self-install firewalls? How to use Netsh WLAN to configure Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista wireless connections from the CLI Free consumer Wi-Fi hot spots: Retail fad or enterprise business tool? Troubleshooting Wireless Networks Research Wireless LAN Implementation 802.11n wireless LAN access point market: Who's really in second place? Wireless LAN security: SonicWall joins crowded WLAN market Stolen laptop recovery using remote access and wireless network SSIDs Distributed antenna systems and WLAN: A network management burden Wireless AP SSID and channel configuration for a distribution network Solid 802.11n deployment prepares medical center for future demands How 802.11n wireless APs in Greenfield mode affect nearby networks How to create a Wi-Fi hotspot Beamforming, RF management key to 802.11n wireless LAN success Set up secure wireless networks with 802.11x, access points and bridges

RELATED GLOSSARY TERMS Terms from Whatis.com − the technology online dictionary 802.11a  (SearchNetworking.com) home agent  (SearchNetworking.com) iDEN  (SearchNetworking.com) radio frequency  (SearchNetworking.com) repeater  (SearchNetworking.com) spectrum analyzer  (SearchNetworking.com)

RELATED RESOURCES 2020software.com, trial software downloads for accounting software, ERP software, CRM software and business software systems Search Bitpipe.com for the latest white papers and business webcasts Whatis.com, the online computer dictionary

If at home a user has different mapped drives or other network resources than at work, putting them all in the same network profile may not be such a good idea -- they might possibly be in collision with each other. It gets worse if you travel between multiple job sites.

For a solution to this, consider a third-party application like JitBit's Net Profile Switch, which automatically changes between multiple network scenarios such as drive and directory mappings, third-party program profiles and many others.

Tip #3. Avoid wi-fi hotspot mail blocks. Many public and for-pay wireless networks in hotels, airports and public places routinely block port 25 for outgoing email. If users routinely send outgoing mail from their machines and don't have access to a VPN, there are three workarounds: Editor's note: After this tip appeared, a reader wrote in wondering why the article did not mention the solution of setting up SMTP through the standard port of 587. The author responded, "Most clients can indeed handle using secure SMTP, but it may not be available for all servers. For instance, if you get your email from a conventional provider rather than (for instance) your own Exchange boxes, many of them don't offer this feature."

About the author: Serdar Yegulalp is editor of the Windows Power Users Newsletter, which is devoted to hints, tips, tricks, news and goodies for Windows NT, Windows 2000 and Windows XP users and administrators. He has more than 10 years of Windows experience under his belt, and contributes regularly to SearchWinSystems.com and SearchSQLServer.com.

Rate this Tip To rate tips, you must be a member of SearchNetworking.com. Register now to start rating these tips. Log in if you are already a member. Submit a Tip DISCLAIMER: Our Tips Exchange is a forum for you to share technical advice and expertise with your peers and to learn from other enterprise IT professionals. TechTarget provides the infrastructure to facilitate this sharing of information. However, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or validity of the material submitted. You agree that your use of the Ask The Expert services and your reliance on any questions, answers, information or other materials received through this Web site is at your own risk.