Creating an Infrastructure Network

Scenario: You want to share files and printers between more than two computers and would also like to share an Internet connection using a broadband modem (Figure 4.12). An infrastructure network will probably work best in this situation.

Figure 4.12. An infrastructure network lets you add more computers and is useful for sharing a broadband modem.

Infrastructure networks take a bit more configuration than setting up an ad-hoc network, but not much more setup time. Also, the additional benefits of an infrastructure networkprimarily that an access point allows you to connect to wired devices, such as a cable modem, or wired networks, such as an office Ethernet networkcertainly make them worth the time to set up.

Adding an 802.11b access point will cost you between $60$250, plus the cost of the network adapters you will need for each computer.

An infrastructure network can be made even more useful by incorporating Ethernet, powerline, or phoneline networking equipment.