To plan a wireless solution upgrade for printers, the architect needs to know whether the printers support 802.1X and the 802.11 standards supported by the printer. These two factors are important for ensuring the compatibility, security, and performance of the wireless network.
802.1X is a standard for network access control that provides authentication, authorization, and encryption for devices that connect to a wireless network1. It prevents unauthorized devices from accessing the network resources and protects the data transmission from eavesdropping or tampering. If the printers support 802.1X, the architect can design a wireless solution that leverages this feature to enhance the security and compliance of the network. If the printers do not support 802.1X, the architect may need to consider alternative methods of securing the wireless access, such as MAC address filtering, VPN, or WPA2-PSK2.
802.11 is a set of standards that define the specifications and protocols for wireless communication3. Different 802.11 standards have different characteristics, such as frequency, bandwidth, data rate, range, and compatibility. For example, 802.11a operates at 5 GHz and offers up to 54 Mbps, while 802.11b operates at 2.4 GHz and offers up to 11 Mbps3. If the printers support the same or higher 802.11 standards as the wireless network, the architect can design a wireless solution that ensures the optimal performance and reliability of the wireless communication. If the printers support lower or different 802.11 standards than the wireless network, the architect may need to consider the impact of the compatibility issues, such as interference, congestion, or degradation4.
The other options are not as relevant for planning a wireless solution upgrade for printers. Whether the printers are physically locked down or not does not affect the wireless connectivity, unless the lock interferes with the antenna or signal reception. The identity of users who need to access printers is more related to the access control and user management policies, rather than the wireless solution design. Whether the printers support PoE or not does not affect the wireless connectivity, unless the power source is unreliable or insufficient.
References:
1: https://www.arubanetworks.com/techdocs/ArubaOS_86_Web_Help/Content/arubaos-solutions/1-overview/802.1x.htm
2: https://www.arubanetworks.com/techdocs/ArubaOS_86_Web_Help/Content/arubaos-solutions/1-overview/securing-wireless-access.htm
3: https://www.arubanetworks.com/techdocs/ArubaOS_86_Web_Help/Content/arubaos-solutions/1-overview/802.11-standards.htm
4: https://www.arubanetworks.com/techdocs/ArubaOS_86_Web_Help/Content/arubaos-solutions/1-overview/compatibility-issues.htm
