3Com WL-455 Network Router User Manual


 
5
STANDARD NETWORK CONFIGURATION AND PLANNING
The wireless solution supports a stand-alone wireless network configuration as
well as an integrated configuration with 10/100
Mbps Ethernet LANs.
The wireless network cards, adapters, and access point can be configured as:
Ad hoc for departmental or SOHO LAN
Infrastructure for wireless LAN
Infrastructure wireless LAN for roaming wireless PCs
AD HOC WIRELESS LAN
An ad hoc wireless LAN consists of a group of computers, each equipped with a
wireless adapter, connected via radio signals as an independent wireless LAN.
Computers in a specific ad hoc wireless LAN must therefore be configured to the
same radio channel. An ad hoc wireless LAN can be used for a branch office or
SOHO operation.
INFRASTRUCTURE WIRELESS LAN
The access point can also provide access to a wired LAN for wireless workstations.
An integrated wired/wireless LAN is called an infrastructure configuration. A Basic
Service Set (BSS) consists of a group of wireless PC users, and an access point that
is directly connected to the wired LAN. Each wireless PC in this BSS can talk to any
computer in its wireless group via a radio link, or access other computers or
network resources in the wired LAN infrastructure via the access point.
The infrastructure configuration not only extends the accessibility of wireless PCs
to the wired LAN, but also increases the effective wireless transmission range for
wireless PCs by passing their signal through one or more access points.
Ad Hoc Wireless LAN
Notebook with
Wireless USB Adapter
Notebook with
Wireless PC Card
PC with Wireless
PCI Adapter