Wireless Router

Introduction

A wireless router is a network device that performs the functions of a router but also includes the functions of a wireless access point. It can function in a wired LAN, a wireless only LAN, or a mixed wired/wireless network. Most current wireless routers have the following characteristics:

• -LAN ports, which function in the same manner as the ports of a network switch
• -A WAN port, to connect to a wider area network. The routing functions are filtered using this port. If it is not used, many functions of the router will be bypassed.
• -Wireless antennae. These allow connections from other wireless devices (NICs (network interface cards), wireless repeaters, wireless access points, and wireless bridges, for example).

The wireless functions operate as a separate nested "mini-LAN" within the router. The devices that connect wirelessly use the wireless router as their hub, and the wireless router presents that "mini-LAN" as a single device to the rest of the LAN.

Wireless routers, access points, and bridges are available that utilize each of the commonly used wireless frequencies (used in the Wireless-B, Wireless-A (and -G), and Wireless-N standards). The frequency bands for these wireless standards can be used license-free in most countries.

Wireless routers can work with devices in a point-to-point mode, but more commonly functions in a point to multipoint mode.

Wireless devices used that communicate with the wireless router must be set to the same service set identifier (SSID) and radio channel.

Netbooting Wirelessly

Unless you have a wireless card with a PXE-ROM chip built into it, it is not easy to directly netboot over a wireless connection. BIOS-based PXE algorithms usually only search for a wired NIC card to be used in a PXE netboot.

Some users have cleverly connected a Wireless Bridge (i.e. a wireless router or wireless access point set to the "bridge" mode) to the wired NIC card in their PC. The PC then netboots through the wired Ethernet NIC as usual, but the data is then transmitted from the NIC to the Wireless AP/Router connected to it and then wirelessly "across the bridge" to the central Wireless Router.

This solution works pretty well, but of course you must have two Wireless Access Points/Routers (one on each side of the "bridge"). Still, this is sometimes easier than running extra Ethernet cables throughout your home.