System Interoperability

When implementing an ethernet network, network managers and engineers can deploy NICs from a variety of vendors on the same network. Because of the stable IEEE 802.3 standard that specifies the protocols and electrical characteristics that manufacturers must follow for ethernet, these products all speak exactly the same language. This uniformity enables you to select products meeting your requirements at the lowest cost from a variety of manufacturers.

With wireless LANs, you can't assume interoperability in all situations. There are still pre802.11 (proprietary) wireless LANs, both frequency hopping and direct sequence 802.11 versions, and vendor-specific enhancements to 802.11-compliant products that make interoperability questionable. In order to ensure interoperability with wireless LANs, it's best to implement radio cards and access points from the same vendor if possible. You can implement multivendor wireless LANs successfully, but wireless LAN features are reduced to the lowest common denominator and may not make use of special vendor-specific enhancements of their wireless LAN products.

NOTE Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA) is an organization that ensures compliance among IEEE 802.11 wireless LANs through their Wi-Fi certification tests. You can learn more about WECA and the Wi-Fi compliance program at http://www.wi-fi.org. You can view a current list of Wi-Fi-compliant products at http://www.wi-fi.org/certified_products.asp.