Chapter 3: Planning Your Wireless Network; Network Topology; Roaming; Network Layout - Cisco WAP4410N User Manual

Planning Your Wireless Network

Network Topology

Planning Your Wireless Network
Network Topology
A wireless network is a group of computers, each equipped with one or more wireless adapters.
Computers in a wireless network must be configured to share the same radio channel to talk to
each other. Several PCs equipped with wireless cards or adapters can communicate with each
other to form an ad-hoc network without the use of an access point.
Linksys also provides products to allow wireless adaptors to access wired network through a
bridge such as the wireless access point, or wireless router. An integrated wireless and wired
network is called an infrastructure network. Each wireless PC in an infrastructure network can
talk to any computer in a wired or wireless network via the access point or wireless router.
An infrastructure configuration extends the accessibility of a wireless PC to a wired network,
and may double the effective wireless transmission range for two wireless adapter PCs. Since
an Access Point is able to forward data within a network, the effective transmission range in an
infrastructure network may be more than doubled since Access Point can transmit signal at
higher power to the wireless space.

Roaming

Infrastructure mode also supports roaming capabilities for mobile users. Roaming means that
you can move your wireless PC within your network and the access points will pick up the
wireless PC's signal, providing that they both share the same wireless network (SSID) and
wireless security settings.
Before you consider roaming, choose a feasible radio channel and optimum access point
position. Proper access point positioning combined with a clear radio signal will greatly
enhance performance.

Network Layout

The Wireless-N Access Point has been designed for use with 802.11n, 802.11g and 802.11b
products. The Access Point is compatible with 802.11n, 802.11g and 802.11b adapters, such as
the notebook adapters for your laptop computers, PCI adapters for your desktop PCs, and USB
adapters for all PCs when you want to enjoy wireless connectivity. These wireless products can
also communicate with a 802.11n, 802.11g or 802.11b wireless print server (if available).
To link your wired network with your wireless network, connect the Access Point's Ethernet
network port to any switch or router with Power over Ethernet (PoE)—or a PoE injector, such as
the Linksys WAPPOE or WAPPOE12. Note that the 12 VDC on the WAPPOE12 is for the splitter
output. Both PoE Injectors provide 48 VDC power output.
With these, and many other, Linksys products, your networking options are limitless. Go to the
Linksys website at www.linksys.com for more information about wireless products.
WAP4410N User Guide 4