wifi-shopping - Wireless Infrastructure Topology

The Wireless Infrastructure Topology is used the most in setting up a WiFi Hotspot - one or more wireless access points are used to implement this topology.

Wireless Infrastructure Topology is more of the "way" a wireless client "associates" with a wireless access point to gain access to the wireless network.

When the wireless software drivers running the wireless radio in the client's device detects a wireless network signal the software determines if the wireless network requires an association be established between the wireless access point and the wireless client.

This feat of magic is accomplished by the software in the client's device. The software monitors the wireless network packet information to determine if the wireless network is sending out an SSID and other information which tells the software what the operating requirements are to connect to the wireless network. Some of the requirements may be to use encryption and if the use of encryption is required what type of encrytion is being used (WEP, WPA, etc). The software also monitors the channels available to determine if there are other wireless access points within range of the client's device and what the requirements are to connect to those networks.

When a client looks to see what wireless networks are available this is the information they are presented with. The client then determines which wireless network they want to connect to and if they have all the required configurations needed to connect to the selected wireless network the client's software sends out an association request to the wireless access point.

The wireless access point checks to see if all the requirements are met to allow the wireless client to "connect" and if all are met the wireless access point sends back the information needed for the client's device to "associate" with the wireless access point - at this point the client has access to the wireless network.

Wireless Infrastructure Topology and WiFi Hotspot use