User Manual

Chapter 1 Introduction
3
Wireless Network Topologies
The 802.11 standard defines two modes: Infrastructure mode and Ad Hoc mode.
Ad Hoc Network
An Ad Hoc network offers peer to peer connections between wireless stations that are in range of each other. The stations communicate directly with each other without using an Access Point
or any connection to a wired network. This mode is useful for quickly and easily setting up a wireless network anywhere that a wireless infrastructure does not exist or is not required for
services. In an Ad Hoc network, all wireless stations must have the same SSID, channel and WEP keys (if enabled) to communicate.
Infrastructure Network
The infrastructure network uses an access point (or several access points) as a gateway, linking the wireless network to a wired LAN. As a result, portable workstations or desktops on your
wireless network have access to all of the features of your wired LAN including e-mail, Internet access, network printers and files server.
An Infrastructure wireless network consists of at least one Access Point connected to the wired network infrastructure and a set of wireless end stations. The AP acts as a gateway, linking the
wireless network to a wired LAN. As a result, wireless stations have access to all of the features of your wired LAN including e-mail, Internet, network printers and files server access.