WAP3205 v3 User’s Guide
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PPENDIX
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Wireless LANs
Wireless LAN Topologies
This section discusses ad-hoc and infrastructure wireless LAN topologies.
Ad-hoc Wireless LAN Configuration
The simplest WLAN configuration is an independent (Ad-hoc) WLAN that connects a set of computers
with wireless adapters (A, B, C). Any time two or more wireless adapters are within range of each other,
they can set up an independent network, which is commonly referred to as an ad-hoc network or
Independent Basic Service Set (IBSS). The following diagram shows an example of notebook computers
using wireless adapters to form an ad-hoc wireless LAN.
Figure 53
Peer-to-Peer Communication in an Ad-hoc Network
BSS
A Basic Service Set (BSS) exists when all communications between wireless clients or between a wireless
client and a wired network client go through one access point (AP).
Intra-BSS traffic is traffic between wireless clients in the BSS. When Intra-BSS is enabled, wireless client
A
and
B
can access the wired network and communicate with each other. When Intra-BSS is disabled,
wireless client
A
and
B
can still access the wired network but cannot communicate with each other.
