Dell 1dw, 5dw, V715W Where do I find my SSID?, What is a network?, How do I find out what type of secu rity my network is using?, How are home networks configure d?

An SSID can contain up to 3 2 alphanumeric characters.
Where do I find my SSID?
You can find the SSID for the wireless network by viewing the settings on the access point or wireless router. Most
access points have a built-in Web server that can be accessed using a Web browser.
Many network adapters provide a sof tware application that al lows you to view the wirel ess settings of your comp uter,
including your SSID. Check your computer to see if a program was installed with your network adapter.
If you are unable to locate your SSID using either of these methods, contact your system support person.
What is a network?
A network is a collection of devices such as computers, printers, Ethernet hubs, wireless access points, and routers
connected together for co mmunication through cab les or through a wireless connecti on. A network can be wired,
wireless, or designed to have both wired and wireless devices.
Devices on a wired network use cables to communicate with each other.
Devices on a wireless network use radio waves instead of cables to communicate with each other. For a device to be
able to communicate wirelessly, it must have a wireless network adapter attached or installed that lets it receive and
transmit radio waves.
How do I find out what type of secu rity my network is using?
You must know the WEP key or WPA passphrase and the type of sec urity (WEP, WPA, or WPA2) used on t he wireless
network. To obtain this in formation, see the document ation that came with your wireless access point (w ireless
router), see the Web page associated with t he wireless access point, or consult your system support person.
Note: The WEP key or WPA passphrase is not the same as the password for the wireless access point. The password
allows you to access the wireless access point settings. The WEP key or WPA passphrase allows printers and computers
to join your wireless networ k.
How are home networks configure d?
For desktop comp uters, laptops, an d printers to c ommunicate with e ach other over a network, they m ust be
connected by cables and/or ha ve wireless network adapters buil t in or installed in them.
There are many different ways a network can be set up. Five common examples appear below.
Note: The printers in the following diagrams represent printers with internal print servers built in to them so that
they can communicate over a netwo rk.
Networking
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