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

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