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What is the difference between infrastructure and ad hoc networks?
Wireless networks can operate in one of two modes: infrastructure or ad hoc.
In infrastructure mode, all devices on a wireless network communicate with each other through a wireless router. Devices on the wireless network must have valid IP addresses for the current network and share the same SSID and channel as the wireless router (wireless access point).
In ad hoc mode, a computer with a wireless network adapter communicates directly with a printer equipped with a wireless print server. The computer must have a valid IP address for the current network and be set to ad hoc mode. The wireless print server must be configured to use the same SSID and channel that the computer is using.
The following table compares the characteristics and requirements of the two types of wireless networks.
Infrastructure
Characteristics
Ad hoc
Communication
Security
Range
Speed
Requirements for all devices
Through wireless access point (wireless router)
More security options
Determined by range and number of wireless access points (wireless routers)
Usually faster
Directly between devices
Restricted to range of individual devices on network
Usually slower
Unique IP address for each device
Mode set to
Same SSID
Same channel
Yes
Infrastructure mode
Yes, including the wireless access point (wireless router)
Yes, including the wireless access point (wireless router)
Yes
Ad hoc mode
Yes
Yes
Lexmark recommends setting up a network in infrastructure mode using the installation CD that came with the printer.
Infrastructure mode is the recommended setup method because it has:
•Increased network security
•Increased reliability
•Faster performance
•Easier setup
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