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Chapter 1
Introducing Wireless Networking
1.2
WLAN Components and Terminology
Access point
A WLAN base station or
devices wirelessly to the local WLAN.
WLAN topologies
A WLAN consists of several devices. The logical grouping of devices belonging to a particular WLAN is called
a
service set.
Depending on the architecture, the following topologies can be determined:
>
Independent Basic Service Set (IBSS) or ad-hoc network
>
Basic Service Set (BSS) or infrastructure network
>
Extended Service Set (ESS)
Independent Basic Service Set (IBSS) or ad-hoc network
This is a peer-to-peer WLAN, because wireless stations communicate directly with one another.
Communication does not happen via an AP. Wireless stations communicate with each other via 802.11
Network Interface Cards (NIC). This kind of WLAN is usually small and very temporary (usually they last until
the sharing of information is accomplished). The following example illustrates an IBSS:
E-DOC-CTC-20060609-0001 v2.0
Access Point (AP)
behaves as a networking hub, allowing to interconnect several
5
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