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Ch 3. Configuring WDS
Wireless Distribution System (WDS) uses wireless media to communicate
with the other devices, like the Ethernet does. This function allows one or
more remote LANs connect with the local LAN. To do this, you must set
these devices in the same channel and set MAC address of other devices
you want to communicate with in the WDS AP List and then enable the
WDS.
When you decide to use the WDS to extend your WLAN, please refer the
following instructions for configuration.
The bridging devices by WDS must use the same radio channel.
When the WDS function is enabled, all wireless stations can’t connect
the device.
If your network topology has a loop, you need to enable the 802.1d
Spanning Tree function.
You don’t need to add all MAC address of devices existed in your
network to WDS AP List. WDS AP List only needs to specify the MAC
address of devices you need to directly connect to.
The bandwidth of device is limited, to add more bridging devices will
split the more bandwidth to every bridging device.
WDS network topology
In this section, we will demonstrate the WDS network topologies and WDS
AP List configuration. You can setup the four kinds of network topologies:
bus, star, ring and mesh.
In this case, there are five devices with WDS enabled: WDS1, WDS2,
WDS3, WDS4 and WDS5.
Bus topology:
LAN1
LAN2
LAN3
LAN4
LAN5
WDS #1
WDS #4
WDS #3
WDS #2
WDS #5
Device
Entries of WDS AP List
Spanning Tree
Protocol Required
WDS1
The MAC Address of WDS2
No
WDS2
The MAC Addresses of WDS1 and WDS3
No
WDS3
The MAC Addresses of WDS2 and WDS4
No
WDS4
The MAC Addresses of WDS3 and WDS5
No
WDS5
The MAC Address of WDS4
No
