Wireless Network - Wireless Network Configuration

Definition: Networks where nodes communicate directly with each other without central infrastructure.
Communication: Every device communicates with every other device within range, and nodes help relay messages.
Simplicity: Ad hoc networks are the simplest type of wireless network.
Prevalence: Despite their simplicity, they are not the most common type.
Practical Applications:
- Smartphone Communication: Smartphones can establish ad hoc networks for exchanging photos, videos, or contact information.
- Industrial/Warehouse Settings: Used for communication between equipment that doesn't need to communicate with anything else.
- Disaster Situations: Useful during natural disasters (e.g., earthquakes, hurricanes) when infrastructure is down, enabling disaster relief professionals to communicate during search and rescue efforts.

Definition: Consist of one or more access points that bridge wireless and wired networks.
Wired Network Integration: The wired network operates as a standard LAN.
Internet Access: The wired LAN contains the outbound internet link.
Communication Process:
- Wireless devices communicate with access points to access external resources.
- Access points forward traffic to the gateway router.
- Traffic proceeds through the wired network as normal.
Prevalence: The most common type of wireless network in the business world.

Definition: Hybrid networks where devices communicate wirelessly, forming a mesh-like structure.
Similarity to Ad Hoc Networks: Resemble ad hoc networks due to wireless device communication.
Infrastructure: Typically composed of wireless access points connected to a wired network.
Advantages:
- Allows deploying more access points without running cables to each.
- Increases performance and range of the wireless network.