My understanding is that a wireless access point (WAP - its LAN port connected to one of the baseline routers LAN ports) can pull an IP address from the baseline router (baseline router is set up for DHCP with some IP addresses set to static - specifically, the IP address assigned to the WAN by the baseline router would be declared as static in the baseline router configuration). I also plan on only using the WAP for the wireless clients, the baseline router wireless would be turned off. All of my computers are either win xp pro or win98 se.
From looking at several WAP user guides, it is implied that the WAP simply acts as a hub in order to send out data to the wireless clients. If this is so:
- Would all wireless clients register the same IP - that of the WAP?
- If so, then is the client MAC address used to determine which wireless client gets which data?
- Right now, all of my computers show up in Network Places (including those which are wired to the baseline router) with their corresponding shared folders being visible/accessible (all in the same Workgroup). The computers are identified by their Computer Name. Would this still be the case with the WAP setup since the wireless clients would all have the IP of the WAP (if my understanding above is correct)?
- Am I correct in assuming that all HW firewall and NAT functions are done only by the baseline router?
Thanks, Harvey