User's Manual

7
Wireless LAN
PC Card
Wireless LAN
USB Adapter
Wireless LAN
Router/AP
56K/ISDN TA/
Cable/Xdsl Modem
Firewall
Internet
Wireless LAN
PC Card
Wireless LAN
PC Card
Wireless LAN
Router/AP
File server
Wireless LAN
Router/AP
Wireless LAN
USB Adapter
Wireless LAN
USB Adapter
Wireless LAN
PC Card
Wireless LAN
PC Card
Wireless LAN
PC Card
Figure 1-4 Single AP bridge
Access points have a finite range, on the order of 50 meters indoor and 100 meters outdoors. In a
very large facility such as an enterprise, a warehouse, or on a college campus, it will probably be
necessary to install more than one access point to cover an entire building or campus, as shown in
Figure 1-5. In this scenario, access points hand the client off from one to another in a way that is
invisible to the client, ensuring roken connectivity. Wireless clients can roam seamlessly between
different coverage areas and remain connected to the network.
Figure 1-5 Multiple-AP and roaming
Wireless Router and IP Sharing
In infrastructure mode, in addition to acting as a bridge between an Ethernet and wireless network,
the AP can be configured as a wireless router and IP sharing device for Internet access as shown
in Figure 1-6. You don’ t have to buy an expensive router. Nor you have to buy several modems
and setup phone lines. Just share one AP, one Modem, single dial-up account, and one phone line,
dozens of network users can go surfing the Internet concurrently.
Figure 1-6 Wireless router and IP Sharing