6–4
Hardware and Software Guide
Wireless
Wireless Local Area Network
(Select Models Only)
With the 802.11 wireless device, you can access a wireless local
area network (WLAN), which is composed of other computers
and accessories linked by a wireless router or a wireless access
point.
■
A large scale WLAN, such as a corporate WLAN or public
WLAN hotspot, typically uses wireless access points that can
handle a large number of computers and accessories and can
separate critical network functions.
■
A home or small office WLAN typically uses a wireless
router, which enables several wireless and wired computers to
share an Internet connection, a printer, and files without
additional pieces of hardware or software.
Wireless access
point
and
wireless router
are often used interchangeably.
Notebooks with 802.11 WLAN devices may support one or more
of 3 IEEE physical layer standards:
■
802.11a
■
802.11b
■
802.11g
