network-programmingwifiethernetdata-link-layer

Is there an method to convert wifi frame to ethernet frame?


I've searched for some information about frame structure in wifi and ethernet in the Data Link layer and found out that the two frames look quite different. I am wondering if there is some method in the router that converts wifi frame to ethernet frame in a such network where wireless network is connected to wired network, like WLAN. Since I'm really new to this field, I may have some misunderstanding issues. Thank you.


Solution

  • Connecting different or similar networks on the data link layer (L2) is done by a network bridge - you extract relevant data from an ingress frame (esp. source and destination MAC addresses), create a new frame for egress and copy the relevant data into it.

    A bridge also examines each frame's source MAC address to learn where each node is located, so it only copies a frame to the other side when its destination is located there.

    However, a router works on the network layer (L3): it forwards by IP destination address between IP networks/subnets. It uses data link layer (L2) encapsulation for reaching the next hop but doesn't convert anything. (It removes the encapsulating frame from a received packet, decides where to forward the packet, and then creates a new frame for that packet.)

    You might be referring to a consumer-grade Wi-Fi router which effectively contains a NAT router, an Ethernet switch, a wireless access point (mostly bridged), DHCP and DNS servers, etc, blurring the distinction between all those functions.