User's Manual

LAN Modes

Wireless LANs can be configured in one of two ways:

Ad-hoc

Networking

Also known as a peer-to-peer network, an ad-hoc network

is one that allows all workstations and computers in the network

to act as servers to all other users on the network. Users on the

network can share files, print to a shared printer, and access the

Internet with a shared modem. However, with ad-hoc

networking, users can only communicate with other wireless

LAN computers that are in the wireless LAN workgroup, and

are within range.

Infrastructure

Networking

Infrastructure networking differs from ad-hoc networking

in that it includes an access point. Unlike the ad-hoc structure

where users on the LAN contend the shared bandwidth, on an

infrastructure network the access point can manage the

bandwidth to maximize bandwidth utilization.

Additionally, the access point enables users on a wireless

LAN to access an existing wired network, allowing wireless

users to take advantage of the wired networks resources, such as

Internet, email, file transfer, and printer sharing.

Infrastructure networking has the following advantages

over ad-hoc networking:

• Extended range: each wireless LAN computer within

the range of the access point can communicate with

other wireless LAN computers within range of the

access point.

• Roaming: the access point enables a wireless LAN

computer to move through a building and still be

connected to the LAN.

• Wired to wireless LAN connectivity: the access

point bridges the gap between wireless LANs and their

wired counterparts.