Networking Modes - TRENDnet TEW-311BRP User Manual

Wireless Router user's manual

Networking Modes

Wireless LANs can be configured in one of two ways:
Also known as a peer-to-peer network, an ad-hoc
Ad-hoc
Networking network is one that allows all workstations and
computers in the network to act as servers to all
other users on the network.
Users on the network can share files, print to a
shared printer, and access the Internet with a
shared modem.
However, with ad-hoc networking, users can only
communicate with other wireless LAN computers
that are in the wireless LAN workgroup, and are
within range.
Infrastructure Infrastructure networking differs from ad-hoc net-
Networking working in that it includes an access point. Unlike
the ad-hoc structure where users on the LAN con-
tend the shared bandwidth, on an infrastructure
network the access point can manage the band-
width to maximize bandwidth utilization.
Additionally, the access point enables users on a
wireless LAN to access an existing wired network,
allowing wireless users to take advantage of the
wired networks resources, such as Internet, email,
file transfer, and printer sharing.
– 8 –