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NETWORK PLANNING
The Wireless Broadband Router is designed to be very flexible in its deployment options. It can be used as an Internet gateway for a small network, or as an access point to extend an existing wired network to support wireless users. It also supports use as a wireless bridge to connect up to four wired LANs.
This chapter explains some of the basic features of the Wireless Broadband Router and shows some network topology examples in which the device is implemented.
INTERNET GATEWAY ROUTER
The Wireless Broadband Router can connect directly to a cable or DSL modem to provide an Internet connection for multiple users through a single service provider account. Users connect to the Wireless Broadband Router either through a wired connection to a LAN port, or though the device’s own wireless network. The Wireless Broadband Router functions as an Internet gateway when set to Gateway Mode.
An Internet gateway employs several functions that essentially create two separate Internet Protocol (IP) subnetworks; a private internal network with wired and wireless users, and a public external network that connects to the Internet. Network traffic is forwarded, or routed, between the two subnetworks.
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