Ad-Hoc Versus Infrastructure Mode - Linksys WPC11 User Manual

6. When the screen shown in Figure 2-6 appears, choose either Infrastructure
mode or Ad-Hoc mode. If you are unsure whether to choose Infrastructure
or Ad-Hoc, refer to the next section for more information. Once you have
made your choice, click the Next button.
Figure 2-6
7
Instant Wireless Series
TM
Network PC Card

Ad-Hoc versus Infrastructure Mode

Unlike wired networks, wireless networks have two different modes in which
they may be set up: Infrastructure and Ad-Hoc. Choosing between these two
modes depends on whether or not the wireless network needs to share data or
peripherals with a wired network or not.
If the computers on the wireless network need to be accessible by a wired net-
work or need to share a peripheral, such as a printer, with the wired network
computers, the wireless network should be set up in the Infrastructure mode.
The basis of Infrastructure mode centers around an access point, which serves
as the main point of communications in a wireless network (see Figure 2-7).
Access points transmit data to PCs equipped with wireless network cards,
which can roam
within a certain
radial range of the
access point.
Multiple access
points can be
arranged to work
in succession to
extend the roam-
ing range, and can
be set up to com-
municate with
your Ethernet
hardware as well.
If the wireless network is relatively small and needs to share resources only
with the other computers on the wireless network, then the Ad-Hoc mode can
be used (shown in Figure 2-8). Ad-Hoc mode allows computers equipped with
wireless Network PC Cards to communicate directly with each other, eliminat-
ing the need for an access point. The drawback of this mode is in the fact that,
in Ad-Hoc mode, wireless-equipped computers are not able to communicate
Figure 2-8
Figure 2-7
with computers on a
wired network. And,
of course, communi-
cation between the
wireless-equipped
computers is limited
by the distance and
interference directly
between them.
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