What is Infrastructure Mode?
Infrastructure mode is a networking framework by which devices communicate with each other by first going through an Access Point (AP). Infrastructure mode, lets wireless devices communicate with each other or with a wired network. Two possible types of service can exist while in Infrastructure mode:
Basic Service Set (BSS)
Basic Service Set is when an Access Point is connected to a wired network and a set of wireless stations.
Extended Service Set (ESS)
Extended Service Set is a set of two or more Basic Service Sets BSSs that form a single subnet.
Note: Corporate wireless LANs require infrastructure mode to access the wired LAN in order to use services such as file servers or printers.
Figure 4. Infrastructure Network
6 Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Adapter User Manual