ZyXEL NWA1100 User Guide - Page 61

What You Need To Know, Operating Mode, Channel

Page 61 highlights

Chapter 6 Wireless Settings Screen 6.3 What You Need To Know BSS A Basic Service Set (BSS) exists when all communications between wireless clients or between a wireless client and a wired network client go through one access point (AP). Intra-BSS traffic is traffic between wireless clients in the BSS. ESS An Extended Service Set (ESS) consists of a series of overlapping BSSs, each containing an access point, with each access point connected together by a wired network. This wired connection between APs is called a Distribution System (DS). Operating Mode The NWA can run in four operating modes as follows: • AP (Access Point). The NWA is wireless access point that allows wireless communication to other devices in the network. • Bridge/Repeater. The NWA acts as a wireless network bridge and establishes wireless links with other APs. You need to know the MAC address of the peer device, which also must be in bridge mode. The NWA can establish up to five wireless links with other APs. • AP+Bridge. The NWA functions as a bridge and access point simultaneously. • Wireless Client. The NWA acts as a wireless client to access a wireless network. • MBSSID Mode. The Multiple Basic Service Set Identifier (MBSSID) mode allows you to use one access point to provide several BSSs simultaneously. Refer to Chapter 1 on page 19 for illustrations of these wireless applications. SSID The SSID (Service Set IDentifier) identifies the Service Set with which a wireless station is associated. Wireless stations associating to the access point (AP) must have the same SSID. Normally, the NWA acts like a beacon and regularly broadcasts the SSID in the area. You can hide the SSID instead, in which case the NWA does not broadcast the SSID. In addition, you should change the default SSID to something that is difficult to guess. This type of security is fairly weak, however, because there are ways for unauthorized wireless devices to get the SSID. In addition, unauthorized wireless devices can still see the information that is sent in the wireless network. Channel A channel is the radio frequency(ies) used by IEEE 802.11a/b/g wireless devices. Channels available depend on your geographical area. You may have a choice of channels (for your region) so you should use a different channel than an adjacent AP (access point) to reduce interference. NWA1100-N User's Guide 61

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Chapter 6 Wireless Settings Screen
NWA1100-N User’s Guide
61
6.3
What You Need To Know
BSS
A Basic Service Set (BSS) exists when all communications between wireless clients or between a
wireless client and a wired network client go through one access point (AP). Intra-BSS traffic is
traffic between wireless clients in the BSS.
ESS
An Extended Service Set (ESS) consists of a series of overlapping BSSs, each containing an access
point, with each access point connected together by a wired network. This wired connection
between APs is called a Distribution System (DS).
Operating Mode
The NWA can run in four operating modes as follows:
AP (Access Point)
. The NWA is wireless access point that allows wireless communication
to other devices in the network.
Bridge/Repeater.
The NWA acts as a wireless network bridge and establishes wireless
links with other APs. You need to know the MAC address of the peer device, which also
must be in bridge mode. The NWA can establish up to five wireless links with other APs.
AP+Bridge.
The NWA functions as a bridge and access point simultaneously.
Wireless Client.
The NWA acts as a wireless client to access a wireless network.
MBSSID Mode
. The Multiple Basic Service Set Identifier (MBSSID) mode allows you to use
one access point to provide several BSSs simultaneously.
Refer to
Chapter 1 on page 19
for illustrations of these wireless applications.
SSID
The SSID (Service Set IDentifier) identifies the Service Set with which a wireless station is
associated. Wireless stations associating to the access point (AP) must have the same SSID.
Normally, the NWA acts like a beacon and regularly broadcasts the SSID in the area. You can hide
the SSID instead, in which case the NWA does not broadcast the SSID. In addition, you should
change the default SSID to something that is difficult to guess.
This type of security is fairly weak, however, because there are ways for unauthorized wireless
devices to get the SSID. In addition, unauthorized wireless devices can still see the information that
is sent in the wireless network.
Channel
A channel is the radio frequency(ies) used by IEEE 802.11a/b/g wireless devices. Channels
available depend on your geographical area. You may have a choice of channels (for your region) so
you should use a different channel than an adjacent AP (access point) to reduce interference.