Network Configuration And Planning - SMC Networks EZ Connect SMC2602W User Manual

Network Configuration And Planning

SMC's EZ Connect Wireless Solution supports a stand-alone wireless
network configuration, as well as an integrated configuration with
10 Mbps Ethernet LANs.
The SMC2602W PCI adapter can be configured as:
• Ad hoc for departmental or SOHO LANs
• Infrastructure for enterprise LANs
Network Topologies
Ad hoc Wireless LAN
An ad hoc wireless LAN consists of a group of computers, each
equipped with a wireless adapter, connected via radio signals as an
independent wireless LAN. Computers in a specific ad hoc wireless
LAN must therefore be configured to the same radio channel.
An ad hoc wireless LAN can be used for a branch office or SOHO
operation.
Infrastructure Wireless LAN
The SMC2602W can also provide access to a wired LAN for wireless
workstations. An integrated wired and wireless LAN is called an
Infrastructure configuration. A Basic Service Set (BSS) consists of
a group of wireless PC users, and an access point that is directly
connected to the wired LAN. Each wireless PC in this BSS can talk
to any computer in its wireless group via a radio link, or access
other computers or network resources in the wired LAN
infrastructure via the access point.
The infrastructure configuration not only extends the accessibility
of wireless PCs to the wired LAN, but also doubles the effective
wireless transmission range for wireless PCs by passing their signal
through one or more access points.
A wireless infrastructure can be used for access to a central
database, or for connection between mobile workers, as shown in
the following figure.