OpenSUSE 11.1 is coming soon !

Latest version of OpenSUSE 11.1, is scheduled for release on December 18. The new version will include updated software and some important new features that enhance the quality of the distribution.

OpenSUSE 11.1 includes version 2.6.27 of the Linux kernel, which includes the ath9k wireless driver and brings improved compatibility with webcam devices. It also ships with Firefox 3.0.4, the latest version of the popular open source web browser.

For developers, it includes Python 2.6 and Mono 2.0, both of which bring significant improvements to their respective programming languages. Lots of great development tools are available from the openSUSE package repositories, including MonoDevelop 1.0 and Eclipse 3.4.

This version of openSUSE also includes OpenOffice.org 3.0, which was released earlier this year and added features like native support for Microsoft's Office Open XML format, a new zoom slider, and a few other features. [read more]

Hopefully its WPA wireless authentication will work on a secured wireless environment. We are looking for documentation that OpenSUSE 11.1 is a friendly to high security wireless networking environment.

Forgot your WEP Key ? you still can recover it back

Many wireless amateur set their local wireless router at home with a simple security by setting a WEP key. Even though this authentication method is not advisable for a secured environment... but it is a very simple deployment.

Normally, WEP key is set using a combination of 10 hexadecimal digit. Users normally save the key permanantly as a default setting. Combination of hexadecimal key is hard hard to remember. For instance try to remember this combination 1A4D5F9A01... it is hard right !

Let say you forgot your WEP key, how to recover it back ? You can retrieve your WEP without reset the wifi router. You can give a try to this free ware utility which is able to recover your wireless key from your system.

I don't know how many of you maintain a database of small utility but i always keep a database of small utilities because these utilities comes handy once in a while but at the time when you need them the most

you can download the WirelessKeyViewer from the below given link

Link: Download

Laptop Mini Wireless Antenna Made from Pen

A small antenna to boost the signal of a laptop wireless card, that can be stuck to the back of the laptop screen.

The design is the same as for the larger homemade antenna, but uses thin RG58 cable and is only 2 sectors long. The size was chosen so it could be housed inside the tube of an old pen, to provide rigidity and protection to the antenna.

I also tried building it with even less tools than last time, so all you really need is

• 300mm (1 foot) or rg58 cable


• pen knife


• ruler


• small wirecutters


• masking tape (any adhesive tape should do)


• soldering iron and solder

The rg58 cable has a velocity factor of 0.66 , which is the same as for the rg213 cable I used to make the original larger antenna. This means that I can reuse all of the dimensions I had previously calculated of 41mm for each half wave sector and 31mm for the quarter wave whip.

The first step is to make the 1/4 wave whip, you need to cut off 31mm of the outside covering and shielding.

I've left the insulation on for now, so that the wire for the whip doesn't get too bent, while I working on the sector, but it will be removed later, just before all the sectors are soldered together.

Next up is the other end of the sector that is attached to the quarter wave whip, and the rest of the sectors (if you want more) Once joined togeter, each sector needs to be 40.5mm long, so I make the main body of each sector 37mm with 4mm of central wire sticking out each end, to be used to solder to the sectors either side.

I found the easiest way to cut the sectors was to hold the knife still and roll the cable on the worktop, so it rotates along the knife blade, cutting through the outer plastic and the wire shielding. Then carefully cut into the central insulation paying special attention to not cutting the central wire. I used the wire cutters to snip the sectors apart. You should then end up with the pieces as shown below.

Now we just need to join all the parts together. You need to cut a small v shaped notch into the outer plastic to reveal the wire shielding below, being careful not to cut the shielding. For the larger antenna I built a custom jig to hold the pieces together while soldering, but for this small antenna I've found just taping the parts down to the surface seems adequate for the job. Remember that the overall length of each sector needs to be 40.5mm. I measure from the end of one sector to the same point on the next.

All you need now is to put a connector on the other end that is compatible with the connector on your wireless card. If you can't find a suitable connector, you may have to buy a short pigtail for your wireless card, which is a short cable designed for connecting the card to an antenna, and either put an N-connector on the end of your mini antenna, or as I did, cut up the pigtail, and solder it directly to the antenna cable. To protect your mini antenna from damage, you may want to house it in the body of an old felt tip pen. Find one that fits the assembled antenna snugly, and glue or stick them together.

Disclaimer I should point out now that I don't claim that the above design is fit for any purpose, and don't accept any liability for use of the design, or any antenna based on this design. If you want to build an antenna using this design, then you are responsible for ensuring that it doesn't breach any laws where you are, and is compatible with any hardware you connect it to. If in doubt, buy a commercial antenna.

Source: wireless.gumph.org

Blacklisting wireless user in IIUM

What Is Blacklisting?

Blacklisting prevents a wireless client from associating with any AP in the network for a specified amount of time. If a client is connected to the network when it is blacklisted, a deauthentication message is sent to force the client to disconnect. While blacklisted, the client cannot associate with another SSID in the network. The authorize SSID for IIUM community (staff and student) is iium-community.

Methods Of Blacklisting

If the system find out that the client fails to successfully authenticate for a configured number of times for a specified authentication method. The client is automatically blacklisted. The Aruba controller deploys the detection method of a denial of service (DoS) or man in the middle (MITM) attack in the network. If the user attempt to launch DoS and MITM attack in the wireless environment in IIUM, they will immediately being blacklisted by the controller.

Duration Of Blacklisting

IT Division can configure the duration that clients are blacklisted.

For clients that are blacklisted due to authentication failure. By default, this is set to 0 (the client is blacklisted indefinitely).

For clients that are blacklisted due to other reasons, including manual blacklisting. By default, this is set to 3600 seconds (one hour). But, ITD can set this to 0 to blacklist clients indefinitely.

Considerations When Blacklisting Clients

Blacklisting clients allows the administrator to allow the network infrastructure to handle policy enforcement. Blacklisted users will be completely disconnected from the wireless network, so some care should be exercised when applying the blacklist rule to users. Commonly this rule is used to protect the network from devices running weak encryption (not supproting WPA, WPA2 athentication method), such as scanner guns and wireless phones. It can also be used to secure sensitive IIUM wireless network infrastructure from users and especially guests or contractors, or to prevent hacking attempts

Source

Aruba Networks Named Rising Star In Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50 Program for Silicon Valley

Award Acknowledges Fast-Growth and Technological Innovation of Aruba’s Wireless LAN and Secure Mobility Business

Aruba Networks, Inc. a global leader in user-centric networks and secure mobility solutions, today announced that it has been named a “Rising Star” in Deloitte & Touche USA LLP’s Technology Fast 50 program for Silicon Valley. The Rising Star award is a special designation for fast-growth companies that have been in business at least three years, but less than five, and is part of the Silicon Valley Technology Fast 50 program, which ranks the 50 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, and life sciences companies headquartered in Silicon Valley. Rankings are based on percentage revenue growth between 2004 and 2006. This year’s Silicon Valley Technology Fast 50 program is co-sponsored by Deloitte & Touche USA LLP and Silicon Valley Bank, Cooley Godward Kronish LLP, Korn/Ferry International, and Woodruff-Sawyer & Co.

“The Deloitte Silicon Valley Technology Fast 50 Rising Star companies have shown the strength, vision and tenacity to succeed despite a very challenging technology environment,” said Mark Jensen, partner and national director, Venture Capital Services, Deloitte & Touche LLP. “We applaud the successes of Aruba Networks and acknowledge its place as one of the few to accomplish such a fast growth rate over the past three years.”

To qualify for the Technology Fast 50 Rising Star program, companies must be incorporated a minimum of three years, have operating revenues of at least $50,000 in 2004 and $5,000,000 in 2006, be headquartered within the San Francisco Bay Area (subsidiaries or divisions are typically not eligible), and either devote a significant proportion of revenues to the research and development of technology or own proprietary intellectual property that contributes to a significant portion of the company's operating revenues. The use of another company’s technology or intellectual property in a unique way does not qualify for consideration.

"We are honored to be recognized by Deloitte for our strong growth, which is driven by our innovative, high performance wireless LAN products and unique user-centric architecture,” said Dominic Orr, president and chief executive officer of Aruba Networks. “Our ability to securely deliver enterprise networks to users wherever they work or roam is both a technological innovation and a clear competitive differentiator in a fast growing market. To capitalize on the demand for our products and services, we continue to invest in our industry-leading wireless LANs and network security technology, strengthen our strategic partnerships, and expand the sales and distribution channels for our products.”

Rising Star companies are automatically entered in Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500 Rising Star category. Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500 program ranks North America’s top 500 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, and life sciences companies based on percentage revenue growth from 2002 to 2006. Its Rising Star ranking is based on percentage revenue growth over the period from 2004 to 2006.