10
SMCD3GNV5 Administrator Manual
Wireless LAN Modes
Wireless LANs can be configured in one of two
ways:
1.
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.
2.
Infrasture 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.
