Infrastructure Wireless LAN Architecture

WLAN Architecture

• The most common WLAN architecture is Infrastructure Wireless LAN Architecture.

Communication between Client Stations

• In Infrastructure Wireless LAN Architecture, client stations do not communicate directly with each other; instead, they communicate through an Access Point (AP).

BSSID (Basic Service Set Identifier)

• The BSSID is a 48-bit identifier that uniquely identifies a Basic Service Set (BSS) in an Infrastructure Wireless LAN Architecture.
• The BSSID is typically the MAC address of the Access Point (AP).

Site Survey

• Infrastructure Wireless LAN Architecture usually requires a site survey to determine the optimal placement of Access Points (APs) and to ensure adequate coverage and minimize interference.

Comparison with Ad Hoc Network (IBSS)

• The main disadvantage of Infrastructure Wireless LAN Architecture compared to IBSS (Ad Hoc network) is the need for an Access Point (AP), which introduces a single point of failure.
• The main advantage of Infrastructure Wireless LAN Architecture is the ease of management and scalability.

Client Station Communication

• If 802.11 client stations wish to communicate directly with each other in Infrastructure Wireless LAN Architecture, they must do so through the Access Point (AP).