01 Typical Wireless Network 1: Home Wireless Network
This is a typical home wireless network, where two NATs are performed, one at the wireless router and the other at the optical modem’s output. The wireless router converts wired signals into wireless Wi-Fi signals.
The wireless router can also be set to relay mode, with DHCP handled by the optical modem, allowing the wireless router to perform only layer 2 transparent transmission without the need for NAT.
02 Typical Wireless Network 2: Ad-Hoc Network Architecture
Users can create a wireless network on their laptops (Windows 7 and above) for other wireless terminals to connect, enabling local area network communication.
03 Typical Wireless Network 3: Wireless Network for Small and Medium Enterprises
Previous articles have introduced the three major components of wireless networks: wireless AP, wireless controller, and POE switch.
04 Typical Wireless Network 4: Large-Scale Wireless Network Architecture
Previous articles have introduced the three major components of wireless networks: wireless AP, wireless controller, and POE switch.
05 Typical Wireless Network 5: WDS Wireless Bridging Network
Bridging mainly connects two networks wirelessly. Previous articles have introduced outdoor APs, and traditional outdoor APs can be set to bridge mode. However, using outdoor AO for bridging is too costly. Generally, manufacturers have dedicated bridging devices for wireless bridging, which are relatively cheaper and can cover longer distances.Bridging networks can be divided into point-to-point and point-to-multipoint types, as shown in the figure below. For scenarios with many access points, point-to-multipoint networking is recommended to save on the number of APs/bridges.
In production environments, it is recommended to use the 2.4GHz band for WDS bridging backhaul, as it has less signal attenuation, while the 5GHz band is used for user terminal access to reduce interference, achieving the best coverage effect.
06 Typical Wireless Network 6: MESH Network
A wireless MESH network (Wireless Mesh Network, WMN) refers to a type of dynamic self-organizing and self-configuring wireless network that connects multiple APs via wireless links and ultimately connects to a wired network through one or two root nodes. The network architecture is shown in the figure:
The MESH architecture is mainly applied in warehouse environments or factories: such scenarios have large areas and are not conducive to wiring, so MESH architecture must be used. APs are set to MESH mode, automatically negotiating to form networks and transmit data. Edge APs connect to the wired network, reducing wiring work while providing link redundancy.
In summary, several common wireless network architectures have been introduced. Bridging and MESH architectures are not widely used, so they are for your understanding only. The other types of networks are more common, and you should familiarize yourself with them.
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