About this interactive
The lesson's three pieces of wireless equipment:
- **Wireless access point:** a Layer 2 device. It just puts the client directly on the network it is cabled to.
- **Wireless router:** a Layer 3 device. It routes and NATs, so its clients end up on a separate network from everyone else. Adding one to boost the signal in a weak spot is the lesson's common mistake: those laptops land on their own network, probably by accident.
- **Wireless LAN controller:** manages the access points from one console. More often, the access points tunnel their traffic to it, encapsulated; it unpacks it and places it on the proper network, which lets a guest network stay off the LAN.
What you'll learn
- Tell a wireless access point (Layer 2, puts clients straight on the existing network) from a wireless router (Layer 3, routes and NATs its clients onto a network of their own)
- Recognize a wireless LAN controller by its jobs: managing many access points from one console and receiving their tunneled traffic to place it on the right network
Aligned to
CompTIA Network+
1.2
Compare and contrast networking appliances, applications, and functions.
Cisco CCNA
1.1
Explain the role and function of network components
2.6
Describe Cisco Wireless Architectures and AP modes
CompTIA A+ Core 1
2.2
Compare and contrast common networking hardware.
Key terms
- Wireless Access Point
WAP
- A device that allows wireless devices to connect to a wired network using Wi-Fi.
- Wireless Router
- A network device that combines the functions of a wireless access point and a router, providing both wireless connectivity and routing between networks.
- Wireless LAN Controller
WLC
- A network device that provides centralized management of multiple lightweight wireless access points, handling functions such as client authentication, roaming, radio frequency management, and security policy enforcement. WLCs communicate with APs using CAPWAP and allow network-wide wireless configuration from a single management point.
Topics
Wireless Access Point
Wireless Router
Wireless Lan Controller
Interactive
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