WLAN can be configured in a variety of ways, ranging from the deployment of a wireless access point that lets employees connect to a large, corporate network to wireless Internet access from a coffee shop hotspot around the corner. Find out how the flexibility of WLAN enables you to set up a wireless configuration that suits your company's needs.

Ad Hoc Network
An ad hoc (peer-to-peer) network is an independent local area network not connected to a wired infrastructure and where all stations are connected directly to one another (called a mesh topology). Configuring a WLAN in ad hoc mode is used to establish a network where wireless infrastructure does not exist or where services are not required, such as a trade show or collaboration by coworkers at a remote location.

Infrastructure Network
In an infrastructure network, WLAN clients connect to the corporate network through a wireless access point, and then operate like a wired client would. Most corporate wireless LANs operate in infrastructure mode and access the wired network for connections to printers and file servers

Hotspots
A hotspot provides wireless LAN service, for free or for a fee, from a wide variety of public meeting areas, including coffee shops and airport lounges. There are currently thousands of hotspots worldwide and new access points are being added daily. To use hotspots, your notebook must be configured with Wi-Fi CERTIFIED* technology so you can connect with other products. Wi-Fi CERTIFIED notebooks can send and receive data anywhere within the range of a wireless LAN base station.

Point-to-Point Bridge
A bridge connects two networks. A point-to-point bridge would interconnect two buildings. Access points connect a network to multiple users, and bridges connect networks. For example, a wireless LAN bridge can interface with an Ethernet network directly to a particular access point. This may be necessary if you have several devices in a distant part of the facility that are interconnected using Ethernet.

Point-to-Multipoint Bridge
When connecting three or more LANs that may be located on different floors in a building or across buildings, the point to multipoint wireless bridge is utilized. The multipoint wireless bridge configuration is similar to a point-to-point bridge in many ways.

Ethernet-to-Wireless Bridge
An Ethernet to wireless bridge connects a single device that has an Ethernet port but not an 802.11 network interface card (NIC), such as a network printer.