Linksys WET54GS5 manual Planning Your Wireless Network, Network Topology

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Wireless-G Ethernet Bridge with 5-Port Switch

Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network

Network Topology

A wireless local area network (WLAN) is exactly like a regular local area network (LAN), except that each computer in the WLAN uses a wireless device to connect to the network. Computers in a WLAN share the same frequency channel and SSID, which is an identification name shared by the wireless devices belonging to the same wireless network.

Ad-Hoc versus Infrastructure Mode

Unlike wired networks, wireless networks have two different modes in which they may be set up: infrastructure and ad-hoc. An infrastructure configuration is a WLAN and wired LAN communicating to each other through an access point. An ad-hoc configuration is wireless-equipped computers communicating directly with each other. Choosing between these two modes depends on whether or not the wireless network needs to share data or peripherals with a wired network or not.

If the computers on the wireless network need to be accessible by a wired network or need to share a peripheral, such as a printer, with the wired network computers, the wireless network should be set up in Infrastructure mode. The basis of Infrastructure mode centers around an access point, which serves as the main point of communications in a wireless network (see Figure 2-1). Access points transmit data to PCs equipped with wireless network cards, which can roam within a certain radial range of the access point. Multiple access points can be arranged to work in succession to extend the roaming range, and can be set up to communicate with your Ethernet hardware as well.

If the wireless network is relatively small and needs to share resources only with the other computers on the wireless network, then the Ad-Hoc mode can be used. Ad-Hoc mode allows computers equipped with wireless transmitters and receivers to communicate directly with each other, eliminating the need for an access point. The drawback of this mode is that in Ad-Hoc mode, wireless-equipped computers are not able to communicate with computers on a wired network. And, of course, communication between the wireless-equipped computers is limited by the distance and interference directly between them.

Figure 2-2 shows a typical scenario of four Wireless-G Ethernet Bridges in ad-hoc mode. Figure 2-3 shows a typical wireless bridging scenario using two Wireless-G Ethernet Bridges. Each wireless network is connected to a Wireless-G Ethernet Bridge through a switch. A separate notebook computer is equipped with a wireless network adapter and can communicate with either wireless network when it is configured with the appropriate SSID and channel.

Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network

LAN (Local Area Network): the computers and networking products that make up your local network.

SSID: your wireless network’s name.

Infrastructure: a wireless network that is bridged to a wired network via an access point.

Figure 2-1: Infrastructure Network

Ad-hoc: a group of wireless devices communicating directly to each other (peer-to-peer) without the use of an access point.

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Network Topology

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Contents Wireless- G How to Use this Guide Copyright and TrademarksTable of Contents Appendix I Contact Information FCC Statement Industry Canada CanadaList of Figures Infrastructure Network10 WPA RADIUS-TTLS Introduction What’s in this Guide? Wireless-G Ethernet Bridge with 5-Port Switch Ad-Hoc versus Infrastructure Mode Planning Your Wireless NetworkNetwork Topology Network Layout Ad-Hoc NetworkBack Panel Front Panel Side Panel Power port is on the side panel. See Figure Connecting the Wireless-G Ethernet Bridge for Setup Wireless-G Ethernet Bridge with 5-Port Switch Setting Up the Wireless-G Ethernet Bridge WelcomePassword Mode Settings Wireless Settings Security Settings 10 Confirmation Wall Mount Placement Option Connecting the Wireless-G Ethernet Bridge for Network UseConnection to a Network Device Overview Using the Wireless-G Ethernet Bridge Web-based UtilityStarting the Web-based Utility Setup LANSite Survey WEP Radius TLS Ttls WPA Radius 10 WPA RADIUS-TTLS 11 WPA Pre-Shared Key 13 Password Tab Advanced Wireless WirelessMAC Address Switch Tab Spanning Tree ProtocolQOS Switch Table 17 Switch Table TabVlan Wireless-G Ethernet Bridge with 5-Port Switch Rmon Statistics 19 Rmon Statistics TabWireless-G Ethernet Bridge with 5-Port Switch Port Mirroring Port Information TableAccess List 21 Access List TabWireless Settings Wireless StatusLAN Settings StatisticsSnmp Help 24 Help TabAppendix a Troubleshooting Common Problems and SolutionsFrequently Asked Questions Web-based Utility won’t openWhat is ad-hoc mode? What is ISM band? Security Precautions Appendix B Wireless SecuritySecurity Threats Facing Wireless Networks Appendix B Wireless Security Wireless-G Ethernet Bridge with 5-Port Switch Figure C-1 Firmware Upgrade Appendix C Upgrading FirmwareShared Resources Appendix D Windows HelpNetwork Neighborhood/My Network Places Appendix E Glossary Wireless-G Ethernet Bridge with 5-Port Switch Wireless-G Ethernet Bridge with 5-Port Switch Wireless-G Ethernet Bridge with 5-Port Switch Wireless-G Ethernet Bridge with 5-Port Switch Wireless-G Ethernet Bridge with 5-Port Switch Wireless-G Ethernet Bridge with 5-Port Switch Model Appendix F SpecificationsSecurity Feature StandardsStorage Temp Warranty Year Limited WarrantyOperating Temp Operating HumidityAppendix G Warranty Information Limited WarrantyIndustry Canada Canada Appendix H Regulatory InformationFCC Statement FCC Radiation Exposure StatementAppendix I Contact Information
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