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Appendix d about wireless lans, Overview, Wireless lan terminology – NetComm Wireless Access Point NP720 User Manual

Page 99: Modes, Ssid/essid, About wireless lans, Appendix d

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Appendix D

About Wireless LANs

Overview

Wireless networks have their own terms and jargon. It is necessary to understand many of
these terms in order to configure and operate a Wireless LAN.

Wireless LAN Terminology

Modes

Wireless LANs can work in either of two (2) modes:
• Ad-hoc
• Infrastructure

Ad-hoc Mode

Ad-hoc mode does not require an Access Point or a wired (Ethernet) LAN. Wireless Sta-
tions (e.g. notebook PCs with wireless cards) communicate directly with each other.

Infrastructure Mode

In Infrastructure Mode, one or more Access Points are used to connect Wireless Stations
(e.g. Notebook PCs with wireless cards) to a wired (Ethernet) LAN. The Wireless Stations
can then access all LAN resources.

Access Points can only function in "Infrastructure" mode,
and can communicate only with Wireless Stations which are
set to "Infrastructure" mode.

SSID/ESSID

BSS/SSID

A group of Wireless Stations and a single Access Point, all using the same ID (SSID),
form a Basic Service Set (BSS).

Using the same SSID is essential. Devices with different SSIDs are unable to communi-
cate with each other. However, some Access Points allow connections from Wireless
Stations which have their SSID set to “any” or whose SSID is blank ( null ).

ESS/ESSID

A group of Wireless Stations, and multiple Access Points, all using the same ID (ESSID),
form an Extended Service Set (ESS).

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