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To set up an Infrastructure network operating with standard protocols, do the following:
• Set all wireless stations to connect in Infrastructure mode.
• Set all stations to use the same network name (or SSID).
• Set all wireless Access Points to use the same network name (or ESSID).
• Set all stations to disable the WEP encryption key, or set all stations to use an identical
WEP encryption key as used by the Access Point.
• Set up wireless channels used by individual Access Points. (It is not necessary to set
channels on the stations as the stations will automatically scan through all channels for the
nearest Access Point.)
Service Set Identification (SSID)
The Service Set Identification (SSID) is a thirty-two alphanumeric character (maximum) string
identifying the wireless local area network. Some vendors refer to the SSID as network name. For
stations to communicate with each other, all stations must be configured with the same SSID.
A wireless LAN consisting of nodes operating in Ad-hoc configuration without an Access
Point is called a Basic Service Set (BSS). All nodes in a BSS must use the same Basic Service
Set ID (BSSID).
In an infrastructure configuration with Access Points, multiple BSS can be configured to form
an Extended Service Set (ESS). In this configuration, the Access Points are configured with the
same Extended Service Set ID (ESSID). Wireless clients configured with the same ESSID can
freely roam from one Access Point domain to another and still maintain seamless connection to
the network.
In this configuration, network packets are directly sent and received by the intended
transmitting and receiving stations. As long as the stations are within range of one another, this
is the easiest and least expensive way to set up a wireless network.
To set up an Ad-Hoc workgroup operating with standard protocols, do the following:
• Set all stations to connect in Ad-Hoc mode (or Peer-to-Peer workgroup mode).
• Set all stations to use the same network name (or SSID).
• Set all stations to use the same wireless channel for communication.
• Set all stations to disable the WEP encryption key, or set all stations to use an identical
WEP encryption key.
Infrastructure Mode
With a wireless Access Point, you can put the wireless LAN into Infrastructure mode. It
provides wireless connectivity to multiple wireless network devices within a fixed range or area
of coverage, interacting with a wireless node via an antenna.
In the Infrastructure mode, the wireless Access Point converts airwave data into wired Ethernet
data, acting as a bridge between the wired LAN and wireless clients. Connecting multiple
Access Points via a wired Ethernet backbone can further extend the wireless network coverage.
As a mobile computing device moves out of the range of one Access Point, it moves into the
range of another. As a result, wireless clients can freely roam from one Access Point domain to
another and still maintain seamless network connection.
20
Cable/DSL
Modem
Desktop (or Notebook) PC
with MA111 802.11b
Wireless USB Adapter
MR814 Cable/DSL 802.11b
4-port Wireless Router
Desktop PC with
Ethernet connection
Macintosh computer with
Ethernet connection
Notebook PC with
MA401 802.11b
Wireless PC Card
Internet
Desktop (or Notebook) PC
with MA111 802.11b
Wireless USB Adapter
19
Notebook PC
with MA111
802.11b Wireless
USB Adapter
Notebook PC
with MA111
802.11b Wireless
USB Adapter
Notebook PC
with MA111
802.11b Wireless
USB Adapter
Ad-Hoc