FAQs

Sample Enterprise Network with Wired Backbone
This is how a large corporation might design its combined Wi-Fi and wired network. Based upon a wired backbone, various Wi-Fi networks hang off the Ethernet backbone and wirelessly connect a wide range of desktop computers, portable computers, peripherals and storage devices. Wi-Fi is used to extend the corporate network where it is impractical or overly expensive to use cabling. But if you already have a wired network, it makes sense to add wireless components to create a combined wireless/wired network.

In most cases, large enterprises use a high capacity wired backbone to provide a common network and connection to the Internet. This backbone can connect various servers, printers and desktop computers throughout the facility.

Large enterprises and campuses can use wireless access points to extend the Wi-Fi network into areas that are difficult to reach with wires, like outdoor patios, meeting rooms and theaters.

Enterprises can use Wi-Fi to provide easy Internet and network access for their mobile staff as well as for visitors to their facility. Instead of searching around for an Ethernet connection and cable, they can simply log onto the corporate network using Wi-Fi.

Combined Wi-Fi Network for Home and Office — Wired Backbone
If you are adding a Wi-Fi network onto an existing wired network, this is probably how your combined wireless network will end up looking in a home or home office. The biggest difference between this configuration and a wireless backbone network is that a wired router or hub is handling the network and Internet-addressing issues instead of the wireless gateway.

Combined Wired/Wi-Fi Network for Home and Office — Wireless Backbone
In many instances a wireless gateway, the central base station, can provide connectivity for all the wired and wireless networking components. Internet access, wireless connectivity and wired connections all flow through the Wi-Fi gateway.

This kind of Wi-Fi network differs from a completely wireless network because, in addition to the Wi-Fi connections, the Wi-Fi gateway is simultaneously supplying wired connectivity to various devices via the extra Ethernet jacks located on the wireless gateway.

These can include other desktop computers, printers and print servers and wired Ethernet hubs and routers, as well as additional Wi-Fi access points.

Simple Wireless Network for Home and Small Office
The home Wi-Fi network enables everyone within a house to access each other's computers, send files to printers and share a single Internet connection. Within a small business, a Wi-Fi network can easily improve workflow, give staff the freedom to move around and allow all the users to share network devices (computers, data files, printers, etc.) and a single Internet connection.

The small office Wi-Fi network also makes it easy to add new employees and computers. There is no need to install new data cables and install cabling. Just add a Wi-Fi radio to the new computer, configure it and the new employee can be up and running in minutes.

To allow access to the Internet, the Internet connection connects to the Wi-Fi gateway. Several Wi-Fi laptops can then wirelessly connect to the gateway. The laptop computers can connect through a built-in, or embedded Wi-Fi card.

A single printer attached to one of the desktop computers enables all of the computers on the network to print to it. Of course, the connected computer must be turned on to enable the printer to function and communicate with the rest of the network.

It is also possible to use a stand-alone Wi-Fi equipped printer, or a printer with a Wi-Fi print server.

If you have a combination multifunction printer, scanner and fax machine, you could access and operate this combo device, and its various capabilities, from any computer on the network.

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