About Wireless LAN 1-1
About Wireless LAN
Wireless LAN Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), compared to a traditional wired LAN, is easy
to setup and manage, so it saves you time and money.
A WLAN combines data connectivity with user mobility. You can move around in a
room or move from one floor to another without being disconnected from the LAN.
In most compa nies, a wireles s LAN is an exten sion of a wired n etwork. However, in
small offices or hard-to-wire areas, it may be the only LAN solution.
Installation Installing a WLAN is easy, convenient, and fast.
Cost A WLAN is cost effective, as you do not have to install cables into your walls and
floors. Multiple Internet users can share a single IP address.
Speed A WLAN provides data speeds of up to 11 Mbps, which increases the access rate to
shared resources.
Mobility Unlike wired networks, a WLAN allows you to move around on a floor or building, or
even across buildings, and still remain connected to the network.
Scalability You can choose to configure your WLAN to Ad-hoc mode or Infrastructure mode. In
Ad-hoc mode, a wireless computer (client) communicates with other wireless
stations directly. In Infrastructure mode, wireless clients connect to an access point
via radio waves, and the access point connects to other wireless and wired clients.
It is easy to configure a WLAN when you need to switch from one topology to
another.