User manual

www.cooperbussmann.com/wirelessresources
Cooper Bussmann 945U-E Wireless Ethernet Modem & Device Server User Manual
53Rev Version 2.14
Example 1: Extending Range Using WDS
Figure 46 Extending Range
One of the most common uses for WDS is to extend the range of the wireless network using repeaters.
Figure 46 illustrates a simple example where the four access points are all at fixed locations (each of the access
points could, have one or more client/stations connected). Since the locations are fixed, you can avoid the
overhead of using the Bridge Spanning Tree Protocol by configuring fixed WDS links to ensure that each access
point will only connect to the next access point in the chain. Any number of additional intermediate repeaters could
be added to the chain in a similar way.
Figure 47 Site B WDS Configuration 1
The WDS configuration for unit B is shown above (this page is accessible via the Repeaters link from the
configuration webpages). Site B is acting as an access point for Site A, and is a client to Site C, likewise Site C is
acting as an access point for Site B, and a client for Site D. Since this example is a bridged network (all devices
are on the same IP network and each link is using a different SSID), there is no possibility of loops (multiple paths
to the same location), and therefore we do not need to incur the overhead of enabling STP (bridge Spanning Tree
Protocol).
We specify the devices at the other end of the WDS links by SSID only. MAC addresses can be used to specify
point-to-point links to third party devices which do not support meshing via SSID.
In this example, each virtual connection is using the same encryption method (WPA-PSK (AES) with a key of “Pass
Phrase.” However, in Example #1 the Encryption method and key can be different for each virtual link or even
disabled (no encryption). Also the Spanning Tree Protocol is disabled as there is no possibility of network loops.