Mobile ad hoc network
A Mobile Ad hoc NETwork or MANET is a wireless network of devices that are freely moving and continuously changing locations but still remaining linked in the network. The MANET is self-configuring and infrastructure-less, meaning that the devices are continuously self-configuring as their locations change. All the devices in a MANET are connected wirelessly and the devices are interlinked to one another regardless of the location change. When these devices move from their locations and reconfigure themselves, they need to re-establish their links with the other devices in the MANET. However, the role of these devices remains intact and they have to forward any traffic that is unrelated to them whenever they receive the traffic, regardless of their location and configuration changes. The devices act as individual routers in a MANET and the MANET equips the devices in a manner to enable them perform proper routing of traffic. The MANET networks can act as stand-alone networks or they can be extensions of other networks in a larger internet scenario. These features make these networks highly adaptable, dynamic and autonomous.
Wireless Ad hoc network
Wireless Ad hoc NET, or WANET, is more or less the same as a MANET and this term is often used synonymously with MANET to refer to all kinds of autonomous wireless networks that cat in a decentralized fashion. The WANET acts in an unconventional manner and does not rely on routers connected to wired networks and used mobile devices as routers that as act as the physical routers do in wired networks. The choice of which router to forward any traffic depends on the network, the connectivity at the time, and the algorithm used for that particular network. This dynamism makes wireless networks less susceptible to network hackers.
What does ad hoc stand for?
Ad hoc is a term that is used with reference to networks to refer to types of networks that are independent of any physical networks and infrastructure. The ad hoc nature of the networks means that various nodes on the networks participate in the routing and forwarding of traffic. The routing is done dynamically and the devices connected in the networks act as the nodes. When a device leaves the network due to reasons such as poor connectivity or damage, then the network does automatic reconfiguration to exclude the affected device and any traffic that was being routed through that device.
Ad hoc reasoning
Ad hoc Reasoning is the ability of a network to self-reconfigure and react to changes in the network. Changes such as poor connectivity, damage to networks, or moving nodes mean that the network has to continuously reconfigure to allow for traffic to be routed without delay. Therefore, the network keeps tabs of all the nodes at any given point in time allowing for flawless and dynamic configurations whenever need arises.
Ad hoc wireless networking
Ad hoc wireless networking is a kind of networking that does not rely on physical connectivity or infrastructure to perform its functions. With the ad hoc networks, the nodes are free to move without affecting the network. All the network needs to do is continuously reconfigure the network to ensure that all connected devices or nodes perform their routing functions as required. The ad hoc networking offers clear advantages over the wired network because damage or inability of a router to connect to a network does not affect the traffic flowing through the network.
Ad hoc topology
Ad hoc topology is the plan and actual manner in which an ad hoc network is set up and functions. Topology refers to the planning of a network, how the nodes are connected and linked to each other to allow the nodes to perform optimal performance as far as routing of traffic is concerned. This means that the network analysis should ensure that the least amount of time is used up when traffic is being routed to the required location. The topology should be arranged in a manner that traffic goes through the least number of nodes before getting to the required destination to ensure network efficiency.
Ad hoc network basic concepts
An ad hoc network is a type of network that is continuously improvising and changing based on demand and requirements on the network at any given time. Some of the basic concepts in ad hoc networks include continuously shifting devices. Nodes keep shifting because they are made of mobile devices that are free to move without having any significant change to the network. The network is always reconfiguring itself to address changes in nodes, connectivity and new routing demands and requirements on the network. An ad hoc network ensures that work is evenly distributed on the network as all nodes or devices on the network have to continuously share the burden of forwarding and routing the traffic on the network.
MANET network
A MANET network is a kind of wireless network that is self-configuring, independent of physical infrastructure and that does not have a single point of failure because the nodes share the load on the network and one node leaving the network for one reason or the other does not lead to network failure. Instead, a reconfiguration ensures that the remaining devices carry the additional load.
Wireless networks have many advantages over physical networks because of the relatively low set-up costs, lack of a single point of network failure and fast connectivity. Due to this popularity, the topic is a popular for learners of networking and related courses. It is inevitable to find these topics included in Computer Engineering assignments.