Package Contents; System Requirements; Planning Your Wireless Network; Network Topology - Linksys WPC11 User Manual

Package Contents

• One Instant Wireless TM Network PC Card V2.5
• One Setup CD-ROM (Manual on CD)
• Quick Installation Guide and Registration Card (not shown)

System Requirements

• A 16-bit PCMCIA Type II or Type III slot
• PCMCIA revisions 2.10 compliant card and socket services
• Windows 95, 98, Millennium, NT, or 2000
• 600 Kbytes of free disk space for utility and driver installation
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Instant Wireless TM Series Network PC Card

Planning Your Wireless Network

Network Topology

A wireless LAN is exactly like a regular LAN, except that each computer in the
LAN uses an Instant Wireless™ Network PC Card V2.5 to connect to the net-
work using no wires. Computers in a wireless LAN must be configured to
share the same radio channel.
The Instant Wireless™ Network PC Card V2.5 provides LAN access for wire-
less workstations. An integrated wireless and wired LAN is called an
Infrastructure configuration. A group of Instant Wireless™ Network PC Card
V2.5 users and an Access Point compose a Basic Service Set (BSS). Each PC
equipped with an Instant Wireless™ Network PC Card V2.5 in a BSS can talk
to any computer in a wired LAN infrastructure via the Access Point.
An infrastructure configuration extends the accessibility of an Instant
Wireless™ Network PC Card V2.5 PC to a wired LAN, and doubles the effec-
tive wireless transmission range for two Instant Wireless™ Network PC Card
V2.5 PCs. Since the Access Point is able to forward data within its BSS, the
effective transmission range in an infrastructure LAN is doubled.
The use of a unique ID in a BSS is essential. All computers that have Instant
Wireless™ Network PC Cards V2.5 configured without roaming options in an
independent BSS must be configured with a BSS ID (that is used in the BSS).
The Wireless LAN Infrastructure configuration is appropriate for enterprise-
scale wireless access to a central database, or as a wireless application for
mobile users.

Roaming

Infrastructure mode also supports roaming capabilities for mobile users. More
than one BSS can be configured as an Extended Service Set (ESS). This con-
tinuous network allows users to roam freely within an ESS. All Instant
Wireless™ Network PC Card V2.5 PCs within one ESS must be configured
with the same ESS ID.
Before enabling an ESS with roaming capability, selecting a feasible radio
channel and optimum Access Point position is recommended. Proper Access
Point positioning combined with a clear radio signal will greatly enhance per-
formance.
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