Wireless Network Fundamentals; Infrastructure Mode - NETGEAR WAG511 User Manual

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Wireless Network Fundamentals

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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 workgroup networking.
Notebook PC
with WAG511
802.11a/b/g
Wireless PC Card
Notebook PC
with WAG511
802.11a/b/g
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 expensive way to set up a wireless network.
To set up an Ad-Hoc workgroup operating with standard protocols, do the following:
• Set all stations to connect in Ad-Hoc mode (or Peer-to-Peer workgroup mode).
• Set all stations to use the same network name (or SSID).
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Ad-Hoc
Notebook PC
with WAG511
802.11a/b/g
Wireless PC Card
• Set all stations to use the same wireless channel for communication.
• Set all stations to disable the WEP encryption key, or set all stations to use an identical
WEP encryption key.

Infrastructure Mode

With a wireless Access Point, you can put the wireless LAN into Infrastructure mode. It
provides wireless connectivity to multiple wireless network devices within a fixed range or area
of coverage, interacting with a wireless node 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.
I n t e r n e t
Cable/DSL FVS318 VPN
Modem Firewall Router
Notebook PC with
WG511 54 Mbps
Wireless PC Card
To set up an Infrastructure network operating with standard protocols, do the following:
• Set all wireless stations to connect in Infrastructure mode.
• Set all stations to use the same network name (or SSID).
• Set all wireless Access Points to use the same network name (or ESSID).
• Set all stations to disable the WEP encryption key, or set all stations to use an identical
WEP encryption key as used by the Access Point.
• Set up wireless channels used by individual Access Points. (It is not necessary to set
channels on the stations as the stations will automatically scan through all channels for the
nearest Access Point.)
Desktop with
MA311 802.11b
Wireless PCI Adapter
Desktop with
HA311 802.11a
WAG103 802.11a+b+g
Wireless PCI Adapter
Wireless Access Point
Notebook PC with Notebook PC with
HA501 802.11a WAG511 802.11a/b/g
Wireless PC Card Wireless PC Card
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