There are several ways to configure a wireless network:
Ad-Hoc Networks
🔗 Nodes communicate directly with each other.
📱 Practical applications:
Smartphones establishing ad-hoc networks for exchanging photos, videos, or contact information.
Industrial or warehouse settings where equipment needs to communicate with each other.
Disaster situations where existing infrastructure is damaged, and ad-hoc networks enable communication during rescue efforts.
Wireless LANs (WLANs)
🔗 Access points bridge wireless and wired networks.
🏢 Common in the business world.
🌐 Wireless devices communicate with access points to access resources outside of the WLAN.
🖧 Access points forward traffic to the gateway router for normal operation.
Mesh Networks
🔗 Devices form a mesh by communicating wirelessly with each other.
🔌 Most mesh networks consist of wireless access points connected to a wired network.
🔁 Increases performance and range of the wireless network.
📶 Additional access points can be deployed without running cables to each of them.
