Chapter 4

Mixed wired and wireless networks

Wireless devices often exist on a largely wired network.

In this case, a WAP is connected to the main network by an Ethernet cable plugged into the WAP's WAN port. The WAP acts as the go-between for the wired devices and the wireless devices. The wired devices communicate with the WAP over the Ethernet cable, while the wireless devices communicate with the WAP over radio waves.

For example, a mixed wired and wireless network can consist of the following:

●Several desktop computers

●A WAP connected to an Ethernet network

●A printer connected wirelessly to the WAP

In order to use the printer, a desktop computer sends a print job over the Ethernet cable to the WAP. The WAP then wirelessly transmits the print job to the printer.

Wireless profiles

A wireless profile is a set of network settings unique to a given wireless network.

Many wireless devices have configuration utilities that allow the device to have wireless profiles for several wireless networks. In order to use the printer, the computer must be set to the profile for the printer's wireless network.

Note Not all wireless devices support multiple profiles.

The printer only supports one wireless profile.

Example

A person uses the same wireless-enabled laptop at work and at home. They have one wireless network at work, and another wireless network at home

Each network has a unique set of wireless settings. The person creates the following wireless profiles on the laptop:

●at_work: Contains the network settings for the office wireless network

●at_home: Contains the network settings for the home wireless network

24

HP Deskjet 6980 series