6
Wireless LAN USB Adapter
File server
Network Printer
Enternet
Wireless LAN PC Card
Wireless LAN
Router/AP
Wireless LAN PC Card
Figure 1-2 A wireless Ad-hoc network
Infrastructure Mode
The infrastructure mode requires the use of an access point (AP). In this mode, all wireless
communications between two computers have to be via the AP no matter the AP is wired to
Ethernet network or stand-alone. If used in stand-alone, the AP can extend the range of
independent wireless LANs by acting a repeater, which effectively doubling the distance between
wireless stations as shown in
Figure 1-3
.
Figure 1-3
Extended-range independent WLAN using AP as repeate r
If wired to an Ethernet network as shown in
Figure 1-4
, the AP serves as a bridge and provides the
link between the server and the wireless clients. The wireless clients can move freely throughout
the coverage area of the AP while remaining connected to the s erver. Since the ap is connected to
the wired network, each client would have access to server resources as well as to other clients.
Wireless LAN PC Card
Wireless LAN
Router/AP
L
L
Infrastructure
Wireless LAN PC Card
Wireless LAN USB Adapter
