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.