Linksys WRT350N manual Planning Your Wireless Network, Network Topology

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Wireless-N Gigabit Router with Storage Link

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.

ssid (service set identifier): your wireless network’s name.

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 a wireless router or an access point, such as the Wireless-N Gigabit Router with Storage Link, which serves as the main point of communications in a wireless network. The Router transmits data to PCs equipped with wireless network adapters, which can roam within a certain radial range of the Router. You can arrange the Router and multiple access points to work in succession to extend the roaming range, and you can set up your wireless network 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 a wireless router or 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.

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

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

Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network

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Network Topology

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Contents Wireless- N Word definition How to Use This User GuideCopyright and Trademarks Table of Contents Appendix C Upgrading Firmware Appendix D Windows Help Appendix a TroubleshootingAppendix B Wireless Security Common Problems and Solutions Frequently Asked QuestionsRouter’s Back Panel List of Figures25 VPN Passthrough 59 Administration Tab Firmware Upgrade Welcome IntroductionWhat’s in this User Guide? Wireless-N Gigabit Router with Storage Link Network Topology Planning Your Wireless NetworkAd-Hoc versus Infrastructure Mode Ssid service set identifier your wireless network’s nameNetwork Layout Internet Back PanelTop Panel Front PanelHardware Installation Connecting the Wireless-N Gigabit Router with Storage LinkOverview Configuring the Wireless-N Gigabit Router with Storage LinkSetup Storage WirelessAccess Restrictions SecurityStatus How to Access the Web-based UtilitySetup Tab Basic Setup AdministrationStatic IP Internet SetupAutomatic Configuration Dhcp Internet Connection TypePptp Packet a unit of data sent over a network Optional SettingsTelstra Cable Router IP Network SetupDhcp Server Setting Dhcp Reservation Time SettingDynDNS.org Setup Tab DdnsDdns Service TZO.com 10 Setup Tab TZO.comMAC Address Clone Setup Tab MAC Address CloneStatic Routing Setup Tab Advanced RoutingAdvanced Routing Dynamic Routing13 Routing Table Basic Wireless Settings Wireless Tab Basic Wireless SettingsPSK2-Personal Wireless Tab Wireless SecurityWireless Security PSK-PersonalPSK2-Enterprise PSK-EnterpriseRadius MAC Address Filter List Wireless Tab Wireless MAC FilterWireless MAC Filter Access RestrictionsAdvanced Wireless Wireless Tab Advanced Wireless SettingsWireless-N Gigabit Router with Storage Link Firewall Security Tab FirewallInternet Filter Web FilterVPN Passthrough Security Tab VPN PassthroughErase Disk Storage Tab DiskDisk Management Disk DetailCreate Share Storage Tab ShareShare Management SharesGroup Management Storage Tab AdministrationBasic User Management33 User Properties Database SetupStorage Tab Media Server UPnP Media ServerShare AccessFTP Server To create a policy Access Restrictions Tab Internet Access PolicyInternet Access Policy 40 List of PCs Single Port Forwarding Applications & Gaming Tab Single Port ForwardingPort Range Forwarding Applications & Gaming Tab Port Range ForwardingPort Range Triggering Applications & Gaming Tab Port Range TriggeringDMZ Applications & Gaming Tab DMZApplications and Gaming Tab QoS QoS Quality of ServiceWireless Internet Access Priority47 QoS Applications Add a New Application 51 QoS Voice Device SummaryRemote Access Administration Tab ManagementRouter Access Web AccessUPnP Backup and RestoreLog Administration Tab Log55 Administration Tab Diagnostics Administration Tab DiagnosticsFactory Defaults Administration Tab Factory DefaultsUpgrade Firmware Administration Tab Firmware UpgradeInternet Connection Status Tab RouterRouter Information Local Network Status Tab Local Network63 Status Tab Wireless Network Status Tab WirelessNeed to set a static IP address on a PC Appendix a TroubleshootingCommon Problems and Solutions Wireless-N Gigabit Router with Storage Link Open a command prompt. For Windows 98SE and Me Application Name Protocol To IP Address EnabledCan’t get the Internet game, server, or application to work Application Name Start and End PortWireless-N Gigabit Router with Storage Link My DSL service’s PPPoE is always disconnecting To start over, I need to set the Router to factory defaultsNeed to upgrade the firmware Firmware upgrade failed, and/or the Power LED is flashingPower LED keeps flashing Does the Router support IPX or AppleTalk? Frequently Asked QuestionsWhere is the Router installed on the network? Is IPSec Pass-Through supported by the Router?How can I block corrupted FTP downloads? Is the Router cross-platform compatible? What is DMZ Hosting?What are the advanced features of the Router? Will the Router function in a Macintosh environment?What Ieee 802.11b features are supported? What is the Ieee 802.11g standard?What is the Ieee 802.11b standard? What Ieee 802.11g features are supported?What is Spread Spectrum? What is infrastructure mode?What is roaming? What is ISM band?How do I resolve issues with signal loss? What is DSSS? What is FHSS? And what are their differences?What is a MAC Address? How do I reset the Router?Security Threats Facing Wireless Networks Appendix B Wireless SecuritySecurity Precautions Appendix B Wireless Security Wireless-N Gigabit Router with Storage Link Appendix C Upgrading Firmware Figure C-1 Firmware UpgradeNetwork Neighborhood/My Network Places Appendix D Windows HelpShared Resources Windows 98SE or Me Instructions Figure E-1 IP Configuration ScreenFor the Router’s Web-based Utility Windows 2000 or XP InstructionsAppendix F Glossary Wireless-N Gigabit Router with Storage Link Wireless-N Gigabit Router with Storage Link Wireless-N Gigabit Router with Storage Link Wireless-N Gigabit Router with Storage Link Model Appendix G SpecificationsStorage Humidity Operating TempStorage Temp Operating HumidityLimited Warranty Appendix H Warranty InformationFCC Statement Appendix I Regulatory InformationWireless-N Gigabit Router with Storage Link Wireless-N Gigabit Router with Storage Link Wireless-N Gigabit Router with Storage Link Wireless-N Gigabit Router with Storage Link Wireless-N Gigabit Router with Storage Link Information section in this Guide Appendix J Contact InformationNeed to contact Linksys?
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