Instant WirelessTM Series
Package Contents
•One Instant WirelessTM Network Access Point
•One AC Power Adapter
•One Setup
•One User Guide and Registration Card
•Two Detachable Antennas
•One USB Cable
System Requirements
•A PC with USB Support or Ethernet Connection
•Windows 95, 98, Millennium, NT version 4.0, or 2000 Professional
•500 Kbytes of free disk space for utility and driver installation
•A 10 Mbps Category 3 or Better network
Linux/Unix Users: Though these operating systems are not supported by Linksys, the Wireless Access Point should work in these environments. The WAP11 can be configured under these operating systems using SNMP. A configurable Management Information Base file (MIB) named AT76C510.MIB can be found on the Setup Utility CD. This file is for
Linux/Unix users only, and is not necessary for any Windows installation.
Wireless Network Access Point
Planning Your Wireless Network
Network Topology
A wireless LAN is a group of computers, each equipped with one Instant Wireless™ Network Card. Computers in a wireless LAN must be configured to share the same radio channel.
The Instant Wireless™ Network Card provides access to a wired LAN for wire- less workstations. An integrated wireless and wired LAN is called an Infrastructure configuration. A group of Instant Wireless™ Network Card users and an Instant Wireless™ Network Access Point compose a Basic Service Set (BSS). Each Instant Wireless™ Network Card PC in a BSS can talk to any computer in a wired LAN infrastructure via the Instant Wireless™ Network Access Point.
An infrastructure configuration extends the accessibility of an Instant Wireless™ Network Card PC to a wired LAN, and doubles the effective wire- less transmission range for two Instant Wireless™ Network Card PCs. Since the Wireless Network Access Point is able to forward data within its BSS, the effective transmission range in an infrastructure LAN is doubled.
The use of a unique ID in a BSS is essential. All Instant Wireless™ Network PC Card PCs configured without roaming options in an independent BSS must be configured with a BSS ID used in the BSS.
The wireless LAN Infrastructure configuration is appropriate for enterprise- scale wireless access to a central database, or as a wireless application for mobile users.
Roaming
Infrastructure mode also supports roaming capabilities for mobile users. More than one BSS can be configured as an Extended Service Set (ESS). This con- tinuous network allows users to roam freely within an ESS. All Instant Wireless™ Network PC Card PCs within one ESS must be configured with the same ESS ID and use the same radio channel.
Before enabling an ESS with roaming capability, choosing a feasible radio channel and optimum Wireless Network Access Point position is recommend- ed. Proper Wireless Network Access Point positioning combined with a clear radio signal will greatly enhance performance.
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