access point and wireless router the same thing?

[jjyiz28]

newb question i know.

 

[Confused]

Wireless routers have an Access Point built into them. A router also (in most SOHO applications) is used to share a broadband internet connection with multiple computers.



Confused

 

[Goosemaster]

And think of an accesspoint as a hub, which allows many clients to cconnect to each other. The DHCP server, or the computer/device that assigns IP addresses dynamically, must be ahead of that device.

An AP would be used behind a router.

Cable/DSL modem--> Rotuer--->AP.


An AP is basically a replacement for cables. It does not assign IP addresses, just as a cable wouldn't

 

[ktwebb]

Though a few SOHO AP's do actually have a simple built in DHCP server. I assume so that you can configure without having to plug into the wired LAN port to configure, or for newbs who cannot manually assign IP's to their client machines.

 

[JackMDS]

May be this can Help.

Link to: Wireless Cable/DSL Router or Access Point ? What should I get?

 

[Goosemaster]

AP's allow for more flexibility and accessibility as well.

If you are using a Wireless ROTUER, behind a WIRED router, both will be using NAT, which amsquarades one public(internet) IP into quite a few private IPs.

The problem arises when you want to route traffic a machine behind the wireless, or second, router. Thses" Simple" devices to not allow for inter-VLAN, or subnet, communication....

What does that mean?

IDEALY:Assuming you want to setup an FTP server behind the second router, you would start by fowarding the public port 21(or whatever) to the private port, which is the second router. Then the second router would be set to do the same to the FTP server behind it. Unfortunately, it sounds simple, however, these devices do not allow for traffic to traverse the networks in that fashion. This is one of the benefits of higher grade equipment for business-equipment.

APs, since they do not constitute a new network/subnet/VLAN, allow for direct communication to the router without a prohibitive intermediatary...just like cables