Package Contents For The Wireless Network Usb Adapter; System Requirements For The Wireless Network Usb Adapter; Planning Your Wireless Network; Network Topology - Linksys WUSB11 User Manual

Package Contents for the USB Network Adapter
TM
• One Instant Wireless USB Network Adapter
• One USB Cable
• One Driver Utility CD-ROM
• One Quick Installation Guide and Registration Card (not shown)
System Requirements for the USB Network Adapter
• USB-Ready PC
• One free USB port
• Desktop or Notebook PC with CD-ROM Drive
• Microsoft Windows 98, 2000, or Millennium
• Pentium-Class 90MHz or higher
• Minimum 32MB RAM
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Instant Wireless Series
TM
Wireless USB Network Adapter

Planning Your Wireless Network

Network Topology

A wireless LAN is exactly like a regular LAN, except that each computer in the
LAN uses a wireless device to connect to the network. Computers in a wire-
less LAN must be configured to share the same frequency channel.
The Instant Wireless™ USB Network Adapter provides access to a wired LAN
for wireless workstations. An integrated wireless and wired LAN is called an
Infrastructure configuration. A group of Instant Wireless™ USB Network
Adapter users and an Access Point compose a Basic Service Set (BSS). Each
PC equipped with an Instant Wireless™ USB Network Adapter 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™ USB Network Adapter PC to a wired LAN, and doubles the effec-
tive wireless transmission range for two Instant Wireless™ USB Network
Adapter 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™ USB Network Adapter 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™ USB Network Adapter PCs within one ESS must be configured
with the same ESS ID and use the same radio channel.
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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