NETWORK TOPOLOGIES28Infrastructure Wireless LAN
The SMCWPCI-G also provides wireless workstations with
access to a wired 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 not only extends the accessibility
of wireless PCs to the wired LAN, but also extends the effective
wireless transmission range for wireless PCs by passing their
signal 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.
File
Server
Switch
DesktopPC
AccessPoint
WiredLAN Extension
toWireless Adapters
Notebookwith Wireless
USB/PCCard Adapter
PCwith Wireless
USB/PCIAdapter