WLANAccessPoint

WLANAccessPoint (AP) is networking hardware that creates a wireless local area network by connecting wireless clients to a wired network. An AP provides wireless access to devices such as laptops and mobile devices and bridges them to the organization’s Ethernet infrastructure. In typical deployments, multiple APs form an infrastructure WLAN and allow clients to roam between them. An AP is distinct from a router, which usually includes network address translation, DHCP, and an Internet gateway function.

Operation and standards: APs implement IEEE 802.11 standards and can operate on the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, with newer models also supporting the 6 GHz band (Wi‑Fi 6E). They may host multiple SSIDs, support encryption such as WPA2 and WPA3, and use technologies like MIMO and beamforming to improve performance. In many networks, APs provide layer-2 connectivity to wireless clients and rely on wired networks for backhaul; some APs are standalone, while others are managed by a central controller or cloud service.

Management and deployment: APs are commonly powered by Power over Ethernet (PoE). Management interfaces include web-based dashboards, command-line interfaces, SNMP, and centralized authentication with RADIUS. They support guest access, client isolation, VLAN tagging, and roaming features such as fast handoff (802.11r) to maintain connections as users move between APs.

Security and planning: Effective WLAN design requires appropriate channel selection, interference management, and secure configurations. While APs provide wireless access, gateway services such as DHCP and firewall are typically provided by another device in the network.