Wireless Distribution System (Wds) - D-Link DWC-1000 User Manual

Section 4 - Advanced WLAN Configuration

Wireless Distribution System (WDS)

The Wireless Distribution System (WDS) - Managed AP feature allows you to add managed APs to the cluster using
over‐the‐air WDS links through other managed APs. This capability is critical in providing a seamless experience
for roaming clients and for managing multiple wireless networks. It can also simplify the network infrastructure
by reducing the amount of cabling required. With WDS, APs may be located outdoors where wired connection to
the data network is unavailable, or in remote buildings that are not connected to the main campus with a wired
network.
The WDS AP group consists of two types of APs: root APs and satellite APs. A root AP acts as a bridge or repeater
on the wireless medium and communicates with the controller via the wired link. A satellite AP communicates
with the controller via a WDS link to the root AP. The WDS links are secured using WPA2 Personal authentication
and AES encryption. When the AP is in Managed mode, remote access to the AP is disabled. However, you can
enable Telnet access by enabling the Debug feature on the Managed AP List Settings page.
Support for the WDS‐managed AP feature within the Unified Wired and Wireless Access System includes the
following:
• The wireless system can contain up to 12 WDS‐managed AP groups.
• Each WDS‐managed AP group can contain up to four APs.
• An AP can be a member of only one WDS AP group.
• Each satellite AP can have only one WDS link on the satellite APs. This means that a satellite AP must be
connected to a root AP. A satellite AP cannot be connected to another satellite AP.
By default, an AP is configured as a root AP. For an AP to be attached to the Wireless System as a satellite AP,
configure the following settings on the AP while it is in stand‐alone mode:
• Satellite AP mode. This setting enables the satellite AP to discover and establish WDS link with the root
AP. By default, the WDS Managed Mode is Root AP.
• Password for WPA2 Personal authentication used to establish the WDS links. Only the satellite APs need
this configuration. The root APs get the password from the controller when they become managed.
• Static Channel. The APs on each end of a WDS link must use the same radio and channel to communicate.
Configure the satellite AP to use a static channel. For a root AP, set the static channel when you add the
AP to the Valid AP database on the controller.
• Optionally, to allow the Ethernet port on a satellite AP to provide wired access to the LAN, you must set
the WDS Managed Ethernet Port to Enabled. It is disabled by default.
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