An Introduction to Wireless Networks

Topology
Options for wireless network topologies:
Ad-hoc (peer-to-peer) - This is a basic system where the WLAN has a number of computers each with a wireless networking interface card (nic). Each wireless enabled computer can communicate directly with all the others, sharing resources. They are unable to access wired LAN resources, unless one of the computers acts as a bridge to the wired LAN using special software.
Utilizing an access point or base station bridges the wireless LAN to a wired LAN providing connectivity for the wireless enabled computers. This can be done by utilising dedicated hardware access points (HAP) or software access points which run on a computer situated on the wired LAN but is also equipped with a wireless and thereby bridging the two.
Multi Access points can be used with roaming which allows the users to move around the within the facility whilst retaining connectivity. Access points are required to have overlapping wireless areas to achieve the seamless roaming from one access point to another. The software and hardware of the computer maintains a steady network connection by monitoring the signal strength from in-range access points and locking on to the one with the best quality. The user will be oblivious that a different access points are being used.
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