User's Manual Part 1

By default, the Dell Wireless 4350 Small Network Access Point provides the following
functionality:
• a wireless access point using wireless as the wireless network name.
• a bridge to an Ethernet hub.
Wireless Networking Overview:
Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)
Identifying a WLAN
Encryption
Automatic Rate Selection and Rate Scaling
Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)
A Local Area Network (LAN) is a network in one location. Users at that location can share files,
printers, and other services. In a LAN, a networked computer that requests services is called a
client. A Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) is a type of LAN that uses high frequency
radio waves rather than wires to communicate and transmit data among the network clients and
devices. It is a flexible data communication system implemented as an extension to, or as an
alternative for, a wired LAN.
In a WLAN, wireless adapters are installed in clients, also called wireless clients. The adapter
allows the wireless client to communicate with the WLAN without cables. Instead, wireless
clients send and receive information through a path in the air called a channel.
The standards for a WLAN are based on the IEEE 802.11b standard and IEEE 802.11g
standard. All Dell 802.11b/g-compliant devices interoperate with other 802.11b/g -compliant
wireless devices from other vendors. The WiFi certification logo indicates that the wireless
device has been tested by an independent organization.
A wireless client operates in either infrastructure mode or peer-to-peer mode.