CNET CWR-854 - Manual (Page 65)

65
Appendix B: Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is wireless networking?
Ans: The term wireless networking refers to the technology that enables two or more computers to
communicate using standard network protocols, but without network cabling. Strictly speaking, any
technology that does this could be called wireless networking. The current buzzword however
generally refers to wireless LANs. This technology, fuelled by the emergence of cross-vendor
industry standards such as IEEE 802.11, has produced a number of affordable wireless solutions
that are growing in popularity with business and schools as well as sophisticated applications
where network wiring is impossible, such as in warehousing or point-of-sale handheld equipment.
Q2: What is a wireless network made up of?
Ans: There are two kinds of wireless networks:
a. An ad-hoc, or peer-to-peer wireless network consists of a number of computers each equipped
with a wireless networking interface card. Each computer can communicate directly with all of the
other wireless enabled computers. They can share files and printers this way, but may not be able
to access wired LAN resources, unless one of the computers acts as a bridge to the wired LAN
using special software. (This is called "bridging")
Figure A1: Ad-Hoc or Peer-to Peer Networking.
Each computer with a wireless interface can communicate directly with all of the others.
b. A wireless network can also use an access point, or base station. In this type of network the
access point acts like a hub, providing connectivity for the wireless computers. It can connect (or
"bridge") the wireless LAN to a wired LAN, allowing wireless computer access to LAN resources,
such as file servers or existing Internet Connectivity.
There are two types of access points:
I. Dedicated hardware access points (HAP) such as Lucent's WaveLAN, Apple's Airport Base
Station or WebGear's AviatorPRO. (See Figure A2). Hardware access points offer comprehensive
support of most wireless features, but check your requirements carefully.
ii. Software Access Points which run on a computer equipped with a wireless network interface
card as used in an ad-hoc or peer-to-peer wireless network. (See Figure A3) The Vicomsoft
InterGate suites are software routers that can be used as a basic Software Access Point, and
include features not commonly found in hardware solutions, such as Direct PPPoE support and
extensive configuration flexibility, but may not offer the full range of wireless features defined in the
802.11 standard.
With appropriate networking software support, users on the wireless LAN can share files and
printers located on the wired LAN and vice versa. Vicomsoft's solutions support file sharing using
TCP/IP.