Networking / Beginners

Setting Up an Ad Hoc Network

Configuring NICs for ad hoc mode networking requires you to address four things: SSID, IP addresses, channel, and sharing. (Plus, of course, you have to set the NICs to function in ad hoc mode!) Each wireless node must use the same network name (SSID). Also, no two nodes can use the same IP address-although this is unlikely with modern versions of Windows and the Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) feature that automatically selects a Class B IP address for any node not connected to a DHCP server or hard-coded to an IP address. Finally, ensure that the File and Printer Sharing service is running on all nodes.

Setting Up an Infrastructure Network

Site survey in hand and Wi-Fi technology selected, you're ready to set up a wireless network in infrastructure mode. You need to determine the optimal location for your WAP, configure the WAP, and then configure any clients to access that WAP. Seems pretty straightforward, but the devil, they say, is in the details.

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In this tutorial:

  1. Wireless Networking
  2. Historical/Conceptual
  3. Wi-Fi Standards
  4. 802.11
  5. Hardware
  6. Software
  7. Wireless Network Modes
  8. Infrastructure Mode
  9. Speed
  10. BSSID, SSID, and ESSID
  11. Broadcasting Frequency
  12. Channels
  13. CSMA/CA
  14. 802.11b
  15. 802.11a
  16. 802.11g
  17. 802.11n
  18. Wireless Networking Security
  19. MAC Address Filtering
  20. Wireless Authentication
  21. Data Encryption
  22. Power Over Ethernet
  23. Implementing Wi-Fi
  24. Installing the Client
  25. Setting Up an Ad Hoc Network
  26. Placing Access Point
  27. Access Point Configuration
  28. Configuring Encryption
  29. Configuring the Client
  30. Adding a WAP
  31. Troubleshooting Wi-Fi
  32. Hardware Troubleshooting
  33. Software Troubleshooting
  34. Connectivity Troubleshooting
  35. Configuration Troubleshooting