The IEEE 802 family and its relation to the OSI model:

{{https://i.imgur.com/hrBzmfA.png}}

802.11 networks consist of four major physical components:

  * Station: devices shipped with wireless adapter
  * Access Point: device with functionality of wireless to wired. Thin AP & AP Controller
  * Wireless Medium: radio frequency
  * Distribution System

Types of Networks:

  * Independent BSS: Stations in an IBSS communicate directly with each other
  * Infrastructure BSS: distinguished by the use of an access point
  * Extended Service Set: created by chaining BSSs together with a backbone network
  * others