A Local Area Network (LAN) is a network in one
location. Users at that location can share files, printers, and other services. In a
LAN, a networked computer that requests services is called a client. A Wireless
Local Area Network (WLAN) is a type of LAN that uses high frequency radio
waves rather than wires to communicate and transmit data among the network
clients and devices. It is a flexible data communication system implemented as
an extension to, or as an alternative for, a wired LAN.
In a WLAN, wireless adapters are installed in clients, also
called wireless clients. The adapter allows the wireless client to communicate
with the WLAN without cables. Instead, wireless clients send and receive
information through a path in the air called a channel.
The standards for a WLAN are based on the IEEE 802.11b
standard. All Dell 802.11b-compliant devices interoperate with other
802.11b-compliant wireless devices from other vendors. The WiFi certification
logo indicates that the wireless device has been tested by an independent
organization and is 802.11b-compliant.
A wireless client operates in either infrastructure mode or
peer-to-peer mode.
An ESSID and BSSID are both Service Set Identifiers
(SSID) that identify and control the wireless clients access to agiven WLAN. The SSID is sometimes referred to as the network name. The SSID
indicates what WLAN you are referring to. In most cases, the user interface
displays the SSID.
When installing an access point or wireless adapter in a
wireless client, the installation program asks you to enter the SSID. Dell
cannot provide you with this information, as it is specific to your network;
although, you may choose to use the default SSID, "wireless," for your
Wireless Broadband Router.
All wireless clients and access points in a WLAN must use
the same network name.
