Other Wireless Network Types

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Ad Hoc Topology

Ad hoc topology is a type of wireless network where connected devices communicate directly with each other instead of over an established medium.

• aka independent basic service set (IBSS)
• does not require an access point
• all stations must be within range of each other
• suits a small workgroup of devices
• not scalable to large networks

Info

• IBSS is not supported by the updated WDI driver model in the latest versions of Windows
• Peer-to-peer connections are more likely to use Wi-Fi Direct
  • allows a device such as a printer to operate a limited type of access point to allow clients to send print jobs wirelessly

Mesh Topology

A wireless mesh network (WMN) is a wireless network topology where all nodes—including client stations—are capable of providing forwarding and path discovery.

• defined by 802.11s
• nodes are capable of discovering each other and peering
  • to form a mesh basic service set (MBSS)
• mesh stations can perform path discovery and forwarding
  • using a routing protocol
    • e.g., hybrid wireless mess protocol (HWMP)
  • make mesh more scalable
    • stations don’t need to be within direct radio range of each other
    • transmission can be relayed by intermediate stations
• foundation of IoT networks

Point to Point

Point to point link means a physical and logical connection between to devices.

• wireless point to point links are used as a means of bridging two locations when cable is not an option
• e.g., two office buildings connected by installing highly directional dish or yagi antennae on roofs
  • aligned to point directly at each other
  • could be connected to APs configured in bridge mode
    • traffic that needs to be sent from one office to the other would pass over the wireless bridge