D2 W MDME 2400 Wireless Ethernet Modem
IF 1584 Rev. 1
IF 1584 Rev. 1
Page 34
The WDS configuration for unit B is shown above (this page is accessible via the
Repeaters
link
from the configuration web pages). WDS mode has been enabled, and “Only connect to APs in
list” has been selected so that the repeater path is fixed. Since this example is a bridged network
(i.e. all devices on the same IP network) and there is no possibility of loops (i.e. multiple paths to
the same location), we do not need to incur the overhead of enabling bridge Spanning Tree
Protocol. It can be seen that there are two (2) entries in the WDS connections list for unit B. We
specify the Access Points at the other end of the WDS links by SSID only – though MAC addresses
could also have been specified if there are multiple Access Points with the same SSID. Finally, in
this example, we demonstrate the flexibility of the D2 W MDME 2400 by specifying different
encryption on only one of the WDS links.
In the example below, four (4) Access Points (A, B, C, and D) form a mesh network using only
WDS bridge interfaces. Each of the Access Points may also have its own clients associated. Each
Access Point also has the same SSID, meaning the clients can roam freely throughout the mesh
network and also that WPA encryption may easily be used. A, B, C, and D can all exchange data
with each other (as can all of their clients) as if they were all on the same wired segment. It can be
seen that there are redundant paths and, therefore, the possibility for loops to occur, so that the
bridge Spanning Tree Protocol should be enabled. To illustrate the redundancy, consider that if A
needs to send data to D, it has redundant paths through both B and C. However, due to the
Spanning Tree Protocol, only one of B or C will relay the data, with the other taking over in the
event of a failure.
192.168.0.2
192.168.0.3
192.168.0.4
192.168.0.5
A
B
C
D
Access Point
Access Point
Access Point
Access Point
The configuration for unit A is shown below (this page is accessible via the
Repeaters
link from the
configuration web pages). It can be seen that “WDS” mode and “Bridge Spanning Tree Protocol”
are enabled, and “Auto Connect to WDS enabled APs” is selected. Note that auto connect mode
requires that none of the Access Points disable their “SSID broadcast;” otherwise, they must have
the same SSID. If this is not the case, the connections must be manually entered into the WDS
connection list (described later).
“Inherit default encryption” has also been selected – thus, allowing us to inherit the same
encryption mode used for the default wireless interface (i.e. the interface used to communicate with
clients). If WPA encryption is inherited, then all Access Points must have the same SSID;
otherwise, the list of possible allowed Access Points (by SSID) and their corresponding passphrases
