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(i.e. auto connect) network with encryption, the same encryption algorithm and keys must be
inherited from the default interface. Note that when WPA is required with a mesh network, the same
SSID must be used for each Access Point. Alternatively the list of possible allowed Access Points
(by SSID) and their corresponding passphrases must be specified - since WPA Pre-Shared Keys are
derived from both passphrase
and
SSID. WEP encryption can only be used for a WDS link when
WEP has also been enabled for the default wireless interface, the default WEP key will also be
inherited.
One of the most common uses for WDS is to extend the range of the wireless network using
repeaters. The diagram below illustrates a simple example where the three Access Points are all at
fixed locations (each of the Access Points could, of course, have one or more client/stations
connected). Since the locations are fixed, we can avoid the overhead of using the Bridge Spanning
Tree protocol here 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.
