Adding Wireless to an Existing Wired Network

If you are adding wireless to an existing wired network with a router, there are two ways you can go about it:

• Replace the router with router that have built-in Wi-Fi access point
• Add the Wi-Fi access point “behind” your existing router

One good way to configure a mixed wireless and wired network is by using a combination wireless access point/router. Thru the simplest possible topology, just plugging the wired part of the network into the access point/router.

You can also use a standalone router and plug your access point into it. Sometimes makes a lot of sense is to use a standalone router for your network’s routing and DHCP functionality, rather than using the Wi-Fi access point/router to do these things. A reason for this change might be if your standalone router had more sophisticated firewall capabilities than those built into the Wi-Fi access point/router.