DJK(John) Robinson
djkr at msn.com
Thu Aug 7 10:44:39 CDT 2008
Nicely put, Gary. Or rather, well found. The expectation these days is generally that an Access Point is the wireless equivalent to a wired hub or switch, used on internal networks, whereas a router is expected to deal with the outside world as well - hence usually having a firewall and doing NAT (Network Address Translation). If you've got a wired router, there's no reason not to connect a wireless access point to it. Some similar thoughts, also mentioning price as a factor in choosing a router even when you don't need one: http://www.jakeludington.com/ask_jake/20051024_wireless_router_or_wireless_a ccess_point.html http://www.dslreports.com/faq/11233 http://www.speedguide.net/faq_in_q.php?category=91&qid=92 http://www.webpronews.com/expertarticles/2006/08/29/wireless-router-as-an-ac cess-point http://kbserver.netgear.com/kb_web_files/n101236.asp HTH, Tina John -----Original Message----- From: dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com [mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Gary Kjos Sent: 07 August 2008 16:27 To: Discussion of Hardware and Software issues Subject: Re: [dba-Tech] Wireless Terminology Question >From the GLOSSARY in the LEARNING CENTER on the Linksys website http://www.linksys.com Access Point - A device that allows wireless-equipped computers and other devices to communicate with a wired network. Also used to expand the range of a wireless network. Router - A networking device that connects multiple networks together, such as a local network and the Internet. So I beleive a Wireless Router essentially is a combination of an Access Point and a Router, providing access for wireless devices and doing the routing of network packets between both wired and wireless devices. Most of the Wireless Routers also provide firewall capabilities and do some other network stuff like assigning the IP addresses and such. . GK On 8/7/08, Tina Norris Fields <tinanfields at torchlake.com> wrote: > Hi All, > > What is the difference between a wireless router and a wireless access > point? I'm reading up on the "how to" of installing wireless > networks. I have one little one that I cobbled together by hit and > miss tactics, but now I would like to know what I am really supposed > to be doing. The page at > http://www.microsoft.com/athome/moredone/wirelesssetup.mspx says to be > sure to get a wireless router not a wireless access point. I know I > have a router - it says so right on the box. But I don't know the > difference between the two things. Thanks for any wisdom you care to > share. > > Tina > _______________________________________________ > dba-Tech mailing list > dba-Tech at databaseadvisors.com > http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/dba-tech > Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com > -- Gary Kjos garykjos at gmail.com _______________________________________________ dba-Tech mailing list dba-Tech at databaseadvisors.com http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/dba-tech Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com