Appendix D | D |
About Wireless LANs |
Overview
Wireless networks have their own terms and jargon. It is necessary to understand many of these terms in order to configure and operate a Wireless LAN.
Wireless LAN Terminology
Modes
Wireless LANs can work in either of two (2) modes:
•
•Infrastructure
Ad-hoc Mode
Infrastructure Mode
In Infrastructure Mode, one or more Access Points are used to connect Wireless Stations (e.g. Notebook PCs with wireless cards) to a wired (Ethernet) LAN. The Wireless Stations can then access all LAN resources.
Access Points can only function in "Infrastructure" mode, and can communicate only with Wireless Stations which are set to "Infrastructure" mode.
SSID/ESSID
BSS/SSID
A group of Wireless Stations and a single Access Point, all using the same ID (SSID), form a Basic Service Set (BSS).
Using the same SSID is essential. Devices with different SSIDs are unable to communicate with each other. However, some Access Points allow connections from Wireless Stations which have their SSID set to “any” or whose SSID is blank ( null ).
ESS/ESSID
A group of Wireless Stations, and multiple Access Points, all using the same ID (ESSID), form an Extended Service Set (ESS).
Different Access Points within an ESS can use different Channels. To reduce interference, it is recommended that adjacent Access Points SHOULD use different channels.
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