Network Configuration and Planning

English

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 SMC2662W-AR USB 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 SMC2662W-AR 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 diagram.