Access Point Topologies
Infrastructure Wireless LAN
The access point function of the wireless bridge provides access to a wired LAN for 802.11a/b/g wireless workstations. An integrated wired/wireless LAN is called an Infrastructure configuration. A Basic Service Set (BSS) consists of a group of wireless PC users and an access point that is directly connected to the wired LAN. Each wireless PC in a BSS can connect to any computer in its wireless group or access other computers or network resources in the wired LAN infrastructure through the access point.
The infrastructure configuration not only extends the accessibility of wireless PCs to the wired LAN, but also increases the effective wireless transmission range for wireless PCs by passing their signals through one or more access points.
A wireless infrastructure can be used for access to a central database, or for connection between mobile workers, as shown in the following figure.
| Wired LAN Extension |
| to Wireless Clients |
Server |
|
Desktop PC |
|
| Notebook with Wireless |
Switch | PC Card Adapter |
| Access Point |
PC with Wireless
PCI Adapter
