Difference between BSS and ESS
1. Basic Service Set (BSS) : Basic Service Set (BSS), as name suggests, is a group or set of all stations that communicate with each together. Here, stations are considered as computers or components connected to wired network.
Advantages of BSS:
- Simplicity: A BSS is a simple and cost-effective way to provide wireless connectivity for a small area, such as a home or office.
- Easy to set up: Setting up a BSS is straightforward, as it only requires a single Access Point (AP) and a set of client devices.
- Lower latency: A BSS can provide lower latency than an ESS, as there is no need to communicate with other APs or a central controller.
- Easier to manage: A BSS is easier to manage than an ESS, as there is only one AP to configure and maintain.
Disadvantages of BSS:
- Limited coverage: A BSS has limited coverage, typically ranging from a few meters to a few hundred meters.
- Limited scalability: A BSS is not scalable beyond a certain point, as adding more users or devices can cause congestion and slow down the network.
- Limited mobility: Clients within a BSS can move around within its coverage area without losing connectivity, but cannot roam between different BSSs.
2. Extended Service Set (ESS) : Extended Service Set (ESS), as name suggests, is a group of BSSs or one or more interconnected BSS along with their wired network.
Advantages of ESS:
- Scalability: An ESS can be scaled to cover a much larger area by interconnecting multiple BSSs.
- Greater coverage: An ESS can provide coverage over a large area, such as a campus or an entire building.
- Mobility: Clients within an ESS can roam between different BSSs without losing connectivity, allowing for greater mobility.
- Centralized management: An ESS can be managed centrally, making it easier to configure and maintain.
Disadvantages of ESS:
- Complexity: An ESS is more complex than a BSS, as it requires multiple APs and a central controller.
- Higher cost: An ESS can be more expensive to set up and maintain than a BSS, due to the need for multiple APs and a central controller.
- Higher latency: An ESS can have higher latency than a BSS, as there is more communication involved between APs and the central controller.
Similarities between the two:
- Components: Both BSS and ESS are made up of Access Points (APs) and client devices, such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets.
- Standards: Both BSS and ESS are defined by the IEEE 802.11 standard for wireless local area networks (WLANs).
- Frequency: Both BSS and ESS operate on one or more frequency bands, such as 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz.
- Connectivity: Both BSS and ESS provide wireless connectivity between client devices and the network infrastructure.
- Security: Both BSS and ESS can implement security measures, such as encryption and authentication, to protect the network and its users from unauthorized access.
- Roaming: Both BSS and ESS support client device roaming, which allows users to move from one coverage area to another without losing connectivity.
Difference between BSS and ESS :
BSS | ESS |
---|---|
It is a wireless LAN being established using AP that centralizes access and control i.e. enables and allow access and control over all wireless devices. | It is mainly established by connecting more than one BSS. |
It contains only one or single AP (Access Point). Here AP is a device that is usually connected to a wired router, hub, or switch and allows it to function as a path for connecting to wireless device and thus creating Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). | It contains more than one AP. |
BSS does not support mobility because it contains only one AP and therefore user cannot move freely from one place to another. | ESS supports mobility i.e. client or user can move from one place or location to another and can still be connected to LAN without any interruption. |
It provides short-range wireless communication. | It provides long range wireless communication. |
BSS has a smaller number of user than ESS. | ESS has a greater number of user than BSS. |
It is highly secure because of small range. | It is less secure than BSS because of wide range. |
In BSS, wireless devices are connected through AP. | In ESS, BSS are connected through distribution system. Here, distribution system connects more than one Aps to form ESS and thus provides wireless stations. |
BSS is easy process but rarely used. | ESS is more complex than BSS but is highly used. |