7
Wireless Basics (continued)
more efficiently. Increased mobility and the absence of cabling and other
fixed infrastructure have proven to be beneficial for many users.
Wireless users can use the same applications they use on a wired network.
Wireless adapter cards used on laptop and desktop systems support the
same protocols as Ethernet adapter cards.
Under many circumstances, it may be desirable for mobile network devices
to link to a conventional Ethernet LAN in order to use servers, printers or an
Internet connection supplied through the wired LAN. A Wireless Router is a
device used to provide this link.
People use wireless LAN technology for many different purposes:
Mobility
-
Productivity increases when people have access to data in any
location within the operating range of the WLAN. Management decisions
based on real-time information can significantly improve worker efficiency.
Low Implementation Costs
–
WLANs (Wireless Local Area Networks)
are easy to set up, manage, change and relocate. Networks that frequently
change, both physically and logically, can benefit from WLANs ease of
implementation. WLANs can operate in locations where installation of wiring
may be impractical.
Installation Speed and Simplicity
- Installing a wireless LAN system
can be fast and easy and can eliminate the need to pull cable through walls
and ceilings.
Network Expansion
- Wireless technology allows the network to go where
wires cannot go.
Scalability
– Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) can be configured in
a variety of topologies to meet the needs of specific applications and
installations. Configurations are easily changed and range from peer-to-peer
networks suitable for a small number of users to larger infrastructure
networks to accommodate hundreds or thousands of users, depending on
the number of wireless devices deployed.
to utilize WLAN technology are helping people to work and communicate
