| Configuring a wireless network involves setting up | | | | computers using Microsoft Windows operating |
| a wireless router or access point and installing | | | | system, adapters usually have their own graphic |
| wireless adapters on the networked computers. | | | | user interface accessible from the taskbar after |
| The wireless router must be placed in a central | | | | the wireless networking hardware is installed. This |
| location because the computers closer to the | | | | allows a user to enter the SSID and enable the |
| router or access point obtain faster network | | | | WEP. For a WLAN to function accurately, all the |
| speeds. The wireless router needs to be | | | | adapters must use same parameter settings. |
| connected to a power source and a source of | | | | One can also opt for automatic wireless |
| Internet connectivity so that all computers on the | | | | configuration that supports the IEEE-802.11 |
| network are provided Internet access. | | | | standard for wireless networks. This minimizes |
| A wireless router is not mandatory for setting up | | | | the configuration that is required to access the |
| a wireless network. Almost any computer with a | | | | wireless network. Once you enable automatic |
| wireless adapter and a wired connection to the | | | | wireless network configuration on your computer, |
| Internet can be used as an access point. Next, | | | | you can move across various networks without |
| the wireless network must be provided a name. | | | | reconfiguring your network connection settings. |
| This is usually referred to as SSID. All the | | | | As you move from one place to another, |
| computers on a WLAN must share the same | | | | automatic wireless networking searches for a |
| SSID. | | | | network that is available and notifies you about |
| Each computer connected to the wireless | | | | the same. You can select the network that you |
| network should have a wireless LAN card (also | | | | want to connect to and the network configuration |
| know as Wi-Fi adapter) installed. Wi-Fi adapters | | | | wizard updates your wireless network adapter to |
| can be configured after installation of TCP/IP | | | | match the setting of the access point of the new |
| based networking on the individual computers. On | | | | network. |