Netgear MA 301 User Manual download pdf (Page 5)

CHAPTER 2: WIRELESS NETWORK FUNDAMENTALS

Wireless Network Configuration

Ad-hoc Mode (Peer-to-Peer Workgroup)

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard for wireless LANs (WLANs),

802.11, offers two methods for configuring a wireless network — ad hoc and infrastructure. In an ad hoc

network, computers are brought together as needed; thus, there is no structure or fixed points to the

network — each node can generally communicate with any other node. There is no access point involved

in this configuration. It enables you to quickly set up a small wireless workgroup and allows workgroup

members to exchange data or share printers as supported by Microsoft Networking in the various

Windows operating systems. Some vendors also refer to ad hoc networking as Peer-to-Peer group

networking.

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

expansive way to set up a wireless network.

To set up an ad hoc workgroup operating with standard protocols, do the following:

y

Set all stations to connect in Ad-hoc mode (or Peer-to-Peer workgroup mode).

y

Set all stations to use the same network name (or SS ID).

y

Set all stations to use no WEP encryption key or an identical WEP encryption key.

y

Set all stations to use the same wireless channel for communication.

Infrastructure Mode

With a wireless access point, you can put the wireless LAN into the infrastructure mode. It provides

wireless connectivity to multiple wireless network devices within a fixed range or area of coverage,

interacting with a wireless nodes 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.

To set up an infrastructure network operating with standard protocols, do the following:

y

Set all wireless stations to connect in infrastructure mode

y

Set all stations to use the same network name (or SS ID).

y

Set all wireless access point to use the same network name ( or ESS ID).

y

Set all stations to use no WEP encryption key or an identical WEP encryption key.

y

Set up wireless channels used by individual access point. (It is not necessary to set channels on the

stations as the stations will automatically scan through all channels for the nearest access point.)

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Netgear MA 301 User Manual Page 5

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