Advanced Configuration
•
Closed System:
Check this box to allow only clients configured with the Access Point’s specific Network Name to
associate with the Access Point. When enabled, a client configured with the Network Name "ANY” cannot connect
to the AP. This option is disabled by default.
Wireless Distribution System (WDS)
A Wireless Distribution System (WDS) creates a link between two 802.11a, 802.11b, or 802.11b/g APs over their radio
interfaces. This link relays traffic from one AP that does not have Ethernet connectivity to a second AP that has
Ethernet connectivity. WDS allows you to configure up to six (6) point-to-point links between Access Points.
In the
below, AP 1 and AP 2 communicate over a WDS link (represented by the blue line). This link
provides Client 1 with access to network resources even though AP 1 is not directly connected to the Ethernet
network. Packets destined for or sent by the client are relayed between the Access Points over the WDS link. If 802.1q
VLAN tagged packets travel through a WDS link, tags are maintained for all traffic coming from either the wired or
wireless side of the network.
Figure 4-7
WDS Example
Bridging WDS
Each WDS link is mapped to a logical WDS port on the AP. WDS ports behave like Ethernet ports rather than like
standard wireless interfaces: on a BSS port, an Access Point learns by association and from frames; on a WDS or
Ethernet port, an Access Point learns from frames only. When setting up a WDS, keep in mind the following:
•
The WDS link shares the communication bandwidth with the clients. Therefore, while the maximum data rate for
the Access Point’s cell is still 11 Mb for 802.1b and 54Mb for 802.11a and 802.11g, client throughput will decrease
when the WDS link is active.
• If there is no partner MAC address configured in the WDS table, the WDS port remains disabled.
•
Each WDS port on a single AP should have a unique partner MAC address. Do not enter the same MAC address
twice in an AP’s WDS port list.
•
Each Access Point that is a member of the WDS must have the same Channel setting to communicate with each
other.
• Each Access Point that is a member of the WDS must have the same network domain.
•
Each Access Point that is a member of the WDS must have the same WEP Encryption settings. WDS does not
use 802.1x. Therefore, if you want to encrypt the WDS link, you must configure each Access Point to use WEP
encryption (either WEP encryption only or Mixed Mode), and each Access Point must have the same Encryption
Key(s). See
4-15
