N
ETWORK
T
OPOLOGIES
53
Infrastructure Wireless LAN
An integrated wired and 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 this BSS can talk to any
computer in its wireless group via a radio link, or access other
computers or network resources in the wired LAN infrastructure
via the access point.
The infrastructure configuration permits wireless clients to access
the wired LAN and also increases the effective wireless
transmission range for wireless clients as their signal can be
passed through multiple 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.