CCNA 200-301 Access Points (APs) and Wireless LANs (WLANs)

CCNA 1.1d: APs and WLANs Overview

Core Concepts

What is an Access Point (AP)?

An Access Point is the central device in a WLAN. Its main job is to act as a bridge, connecting wireless devices (like your phone or laptop) to the wired network infrastructure (like the switches and routers). The AP broadcasts a wireless signal that devices can connect to.

What is a Wireless LAN (WLAN)?

A WLAN is simply a network that allows devices to connect and communicate wirelessly, without physical cables. Think of it as the wireless version of a traditional Local Area Network (LAN). It uses radio waves to transmit data, giving users mobility within the network's coverage area.

High-Level Network Diagram

Router

(Internet)

Switch

Access Point

Wireless Device

Key CCNA Takeaways

An Access Point (AP) connects wireless clients to a wired network. It's a Layer 1 device in terms of signal transmission, but operates at Layer 2 for bridging frames.

The wireless network created by an AP is called a WLAN.

The name of the wireless network you see on your device (e.g., "HomeWiFi") is the SSID (Service Set Identifier).

An AP and its connected clients form a BSS (Basic Service Set). This is the fundamental building block of a WLAN.

For the CCNA, understand that APs are the bridge between the wireless medium (airwaves) and the wired medium (Ethernet cables).

CCNA 200-301 Related Articles

→ CCNA 200-301: Wireless Controllers Explained

→ CCNA 200-301: Power over Ethernet (PoE)

→ CCNA 200-301: Switch Concepts