A Wireless Distribution System (WDS), also known as a wireless bridge, is a feature that enables interconnection between wireless access points to extend or expand a wireless network. Pleae continue to find the requirements to create a wireless bridge and also the steps needed to configure a wireless beidge on your ProSAFE access points.
Requirements for setting up a wireless Point-to-Point Bridge
• MAC addresses. You must know the MAC address of each access point in the bridge network. You can use the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz band for the wireless bridge, but the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands cannot be bridged together. Please note the 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz radio have a unique MAC address.
• Authentication settings. You must specify the same wireless authentication settings for each access point in the bridge network. Each access point must use the same ESSID, channel, authentication mode, if any, and security settings.
• LAN address range. Each access point must be configured to operate in the same LAN network address range as the LAN devices.
• DHCP. If you are using DHCP, all access points must be set to obtain an IP address automatically.
Requirements for setting up a wireless Point-to-Multi-Point Bridge
In a multi-point wireless bridge, one wireless station is the base station and is configured in wireless point-to-multi-point bridge mode. All the other access points in the wireless bridge are configured in wireless point-to-point bridge mode. You can connect up to four access points to the base station access point.
• Base station. Select the access point that serves as the base station. The other access points in the wireless bridge network must use the MAC address of the base station.
• MAC addresses. You must know the MAC address of each access point in the bridge network. You can use the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz band for the wireless bridge, but the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands cannot be bridged together. Please note the 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz radios have a unique MAC address.
• Authentication settings. You must specify the same wireless authentication settings for each access point in the bridge network. Each access point must use the same ESSID, channel, authentication mode, if any, and security settings.
• LAN address range. Each access point must be configured to operate in the same LAN network address range as the LAN devices.
• DHCP. If you are using DHCP, all access points must be set to obtain an IP address automatically.
Configuring WDS on the base access point
These setting apply to the web interface of the following models: WNAP210v2, WNDAP320, WNADAP350, WNDAP360, WNDAP660, WNDAP620, WND930 and WAC120.
1. The wireless channel cannot be set to Auto when configuring WDS. Go to Configuration - Wireless - Basic - Wireless Settings. Depending on which band you are using, select the tab for either 802.11b/bg/ng (2.4Ghz) or 802.11a/na (5Ghz). Select a channel in the Channel / Frequency dropdown list, click Apply.
2. Go to Configuration - Wireless Bridge. Select the 802.11b/bg/ng or 802.11a/na tab depending on which band you are using.
Select the Enable Wireless Bridging check box, click Apply.
3. Click Wireless Point-to-Point Bridge if the base access point is connecting to only one access point.
Click Wireless Point to Multi-Point Bridge if the base access point is connecting to multiple access points.
4. Enable Wireless Client Association. If enabled it allows wireless clients to see the SSID and connect to the access point, disabling this option will prevent wireless clients from connecting to this access point, the access point will only function as a node in thw wireless bridge.
5. Local MAC Address is entered into the remote access point.
6. Select the profile you wish to edit and click Edit. The Security Profile page displays.
In a Wireless Point-to-Point Bridge enter the MAC address of the Remote access point.
In a Wireless Point to Multi-Point Bridge, use one profile per remote access point, repeate the above steps as you require, for up to 4 remote access points.
Set the Authentication Settings accordingly, remember the same authentication settings must be applied to all access points used in either the point to point bridge or point to multi-point bridge. Click Apply.
Configuring WDS on the remote access point
Whether you are configuring a Point-to-Point bridge or a Point to Multi-Point bridge, the remote access point will only connect back to the base access point, the wireless bridging method used on the remote access point(s) is always Wireless Point-to-Point bridge.
1. The wireless channel cannot be set to Auto when configuring WDS. Go to Configuration - Wireless - Basic - Wireless Settings. Depending on which band you are using, select the tab for either 802.11b/bg/ng (2.4Ghz) or 802.11a/na (5Ghz). Select the channel in the Channel / Frequency dropdown list to match the channel selection of the base access point, click Apply.
2. Go to Configuration - Wireless Bridge. Select the 802.11b/bg/ng or 802.11a/na tab depending on which band you are using.
Select the Enable Wireless Bridging check box, click Apply.
3. Click Wireless Point-to-Point Bridge.
4. Enable Wireless Client Association. If enabled it allows wireless clients to see the SSID and connect to the access point, disabling this option will prevent wireless clients from connecting to this access point.
5. Local MAC Address is entered into the base access point.
6. Select the default profile and click Edit. The Security Profile page displays.
Enter the MAC address of the base access point.
Configure the security settings to match the base access point. Click Apply.
When the settings are configured and applied on the base access point and remote access point(s) the wireless bridge forms and communication between the LAN segments is possible. Remember WDS only works when the LAN segments are operating on the same LAN subnet.
These settings apply to the WAC720 and WAC730 model access points.
Configuring the base access point.
1. The wireless channel cannot be set to Auto when configuring WDS. Go to Configuration - Wireless - Basic - Wireless Settings. Depending on which band you are using, select the channel in the Channel / Frequency dropdown list, click Apply.
2. Go to Configuration - Wireless Bridge - Bridging. Select the Enable Wireless Bridging check box, select the radio depending on which band you are using, click Apply.
3. Select the radio button and click Edit to edit a Profile. The Edit Security Profile page displays.
Enter the MAC address of the remote access point.
Set the Authentication Settings accordingly, remember the same authentication settings must be applied to all access points used in either the point to point bridge or point to multi-point bridge.
4. The security profiles are disabled by default, select the Enable check box against the profile you configure, click Apply to enable the profile.
In a Wireless Point-to-Point Bridge configuration, you need only activate one profile.
In a Wireless Point to Multi-Point Bridge, edit as many profiles that are required for your setup, it allows up to 4 remote access points.
Configuring WDS on the remote access point
Whether you are configuring a Point-to-Point bridge or a Point to Multi-Point bridge, the remote access point will only connect back to the base access point. The remote access point should only ever have one profile active, linking back to the base access point.
1. The wireless channel cannot be set to Auto when configuring WDS. Go to Configuration - Wireless - Basic - Wireless Settings. Depending on which band you are using, select the channel in the Channel / Frequency dropdown list, click Apply.
2. Go to Configuration - Wireless Bridge - Bridging. Select the Enable Wireless Bridging check box, select the radio depending on which band you are using, click Apply.
3. Select the radio button and click Edit to edit a Profile. The Edit Security Profile page displays.
Enter the MAC address of the base access point.
Set the Authentication Settings accordingly, remember the same authentication settings must be applied to all access points used in either the point to point bridge or point to multi-point bridge.
4. The security profiles are disabled by default, select the Enable check box against the profile you configure, click Apply to enable the profile.