Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ 802.11n draft 2.0: Longer-Range, Faster-Throughput, Multimedia-Grade Wi-Fi® Networks
Executive Summary
Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n draft 2.0 is a certification program for products based upon the IEEE draft 2.0 802.11n specification. At this writing, the final 802.11n amendment to the IEEE 802.11 standard is expected to be released in the second half of 2008. 802.11n is a major next step in the evolution of WLAN technology and represents more than just a new physical layer.
The 802.11n amendment has introduced substantial enhancements in Wireless Local-Area Network (WLAN) performance, efficiency and robustness of the 802.11 physical (PHY) and medium access control (MAC) layers. The draft 802.11n products currently on the market demonstrate a significantly higher throughput and improved range. The 802.11n standard promises to achieve as much as 5x the throughput and up to double the range over legacy 802.11 a/b/g technology.
At this level of throughput and range performance, 802.11n is expected to support multimedia applications in the home, with the ability to transport multiple high-definition (HD) video streams through the house, while at the same time accommodating Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) streams and data transfers for multiple users with high Quality of Service (QoS) and latest generation security protections in place. In enterprise, campus and municipal networks, 802.11n offers the robustness, throughput, security and QoS capabilities that IT managers have come to expect from wired Ethernet networks.
The IEEE 802.11n specification is now stable and converging. Many vendors have stated that their Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n draft 2.0 products are planned to be software-upgradeable to the eventual IEEE 802.11n standard. The industry now needs assurance that these new products interoperate with each other and that they are backwards compatible with and friendly to the legacy 802.11a/b/g systems. The Wi-Fi CERTIFIED program delivers this assurance.
Devices eligible for certification implement most of the mandatory capabilities in the IEEE 802.11n Draft 2.0 specification. In addition, certain optional capabilities are covered under the certification testing, if implemented in the device. The certification defines and verifies out-of-box behavior of draft 802.11n devices. It also tests for backwards compatibility with and protection of legacy 802.11a/b/g networks from potential disruption by 802.11n. Security and QoS testing are mandatory for the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n draft 2.0 products.