The Wireless Ethernet Bridge's Front Panel Leds; Chapter 3: Planning Your Wireless Network; Network Topology; Roaming - Linksys Instant Wireless Series User Manual

The Wireless Ethernet Bridge's Front
Panel LEDs
PWR Green. The PWR LED will light up when
the Bridge is powered on.
DIAG Green. The DIAG LED will light up when
there is a connection error. Re-establish the
connection to eliminate the error.
LAN Green. The LAN LED will be lit steadily
when the Bridge is connected to the LAN.
The LED will blink when there is LAN traf-
fic.
WLAN Green. The WLAN LED indicates the status
of the link to the wireless local area network
(WLAN). The WLAN LED will be lit
steadily when the Bridge is connected to the
WLAN. The LED will blink when there is
WLAN traffic.
4
Instant Wireless TM Series
Figure 2-2
Wireless Ethernet Bridge
Chapter 3: Planning Your
Wireless Network

Network Topology

Network Topology
A wireless LAN is exactly like a regular LAN, except that each network device
in the LAN uses a Wireless Ethernet Bridge to connect to the network without
using wires. Computers in a wireless LAN must be configured to share the
same radio channel.
The Wireless Ethernet Bridge provides LAN access for wireless network
devices. An integrated wireless and wired LAN is called an Infrastructure con-
figuration. A group of Wireless Ethernet Bridge users and an access point com-
pose a Basic Service Set (BSS). Each PC equipped with an Wireless Ethernet
Bridge in a BSS can talk to any computer in a wired LAN infrastructure via the
Bridge.
An infrastructure configuration extends the accessibility of a Wireless Ethernet
Bridge to a wired LAN, and doubles the effective wireless transmission range
for two Wireless Ethernet Bridge 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 Basic Service Set is essential.
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 Wireless
Ethernet Bridge PCs within one Extended Service Set must be configured with
the same SSID.
Selecting a feasible radio channel and optimum access point position is rec-
ommended. Proper access point positioning combined with a clear radio signal
will greatly enhance performance.
5