How-To

WDS with SMCWEBS-N

1. Introduction

2. WDS Operation Modes

3. Key configuration options for WDS on SMCWEBS-N

4. How to configure the WDS connection




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1. Introduction

A Wireless Distribution System (WDS) is a system that enables the wireless interconnection
of access points in an IEEE 802.11 network. The radio interface of the SMCWEBS-N can be
configured to operate in a mode that allows it to forward traffic directly to other Wireless
Access Points/ Repeaters or Routers. This feature can be used to extend the range of the
wireless network to reach remote clients, or to link isolated network segments to an Internet
connection.





2. SMCWEBS-N Operation Modes for WDS

Bridge: Operates as a standard bridge that forwards traffic between WDS links (links that
connect to other units in Repeater or Lazy mode). The MAC addresses of WDS peers must be
configured on the Wireless-N Access Points/ Repeaters. Basically this mode is used when you
have a SMCWEBS-N with more than one WDS link to other AP/Repeaters.
IMPORTANT: In this mode wireless clients will not be able to connect to the SMCWEBS-N
directly.

Repeater: Operates as a wireless repeater, extending the range for remote wireless clients
and connecting them to an AP connected to the wired network. The MAC addresses of WDS
peers must be configured on the Wireless-N Access Point/Repeater.

Lazy: Operates in an automatic mode that detects and learns WDS peer addresses from
received WDS packets, without the need to configure a MAC address list. This feature allows
the Wireless-N Access Point/Repeater to associate with other Wireless-N Access
Point/Repeaters in the network and use their WDS MAC address list. Lazy mode requires one
other Wireless-N Access Point/Repeater within the wireless network that is configured in
Bridge or Repeater mode, and has a configured MAC address list.

The following picture shows an example of the different operation modes.



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Figure 1



SMCWEBS-N (1) will connect to the rest of SMCWEBS-N but it will not accept
wireless clients directly. This device will need the MAC addresses of devices (1), (2)
and (3).
SMCWEBS-N (2) will connect to SMCWEBS-N (1) and at the same time will provide
wireless connectivity to wireless clients (laptops, PDAs, etc). In SMCWEBS-N (2) it
will be needed to enter the MAC address of the SMCWEBS-N (1).
SMCWEBS-N (3) & (4) will connect to SMCWEBS-N (1) without need of configuring
any MAC address. They will also provide connectivity to wireless devices (laptops,
PDAs, etc).



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3. Key configuration points for WDS on SMCWEBS-N

Up to four WDS links can be specified for each unit in the WDS network.

All units in a WDS wireless network must be configured with the same SSID and use
the same radio channel. Also each WDS link must be configured with the same
encryption key.

When configuring WDS links, it is recommended to set up fixed IP addresses for all
relevant Access Points/ Repeaters/ Routers.

When using WDS Lazy mode in the network, at least one unit must be set to Bridge or
Repeater mode. In the example of Figure 1, in the Bridge and Repeater devices it will
be necessary to manually enter the MAC addresses of the devices connected to them.
The two units in Lazy mode will not need this information to be entered manually. It
will be received automatically from the Bridge or Repeater device.

When connecting 2 units of SMCWEBS-N, as in the example of the figure 2 below, the
following different combinations of operation modes will work to establish a WDS link.

SMCWEBS-N 1 SMCWEBS-N 2
Bridge
(will not accept wireless clients)
Lazy, Repeater, Bridge
Repeater Lazy, Repeater, Bridge
Lazy Repeater, Bridge




Figure 2






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When connecting 1 unit of SMCWEBS-N to another SMC Router/AP, as in the example
of the figure 3 below, the following different combinations of operation modes will
work in order to establish a WDS link.

SMCWEBS-N Another SMC Routers/APs
Bridge
(will not accept wireless
clients)
SMCWBR14S-N3 (Lazy, Repeater)
SMCWBR14S-N4 (Lazy, Repeater)
SMCWBR14-3GN (Lazy, Repeater)
Lazy SMCWBR14S-N3 (Bridge, Repeater)
SMCWBR14S-N4 (Bridge, Repeater)
SMCWBR14-3GN (Bridge, Repeater)
Repeater SMCWBR14S-N3 (Bridge, Lazy, Repeater)
SMCWBR14S-N4 (Bridge, Lazy, Repeater)
SMCWBR14-3GN (Bridge, Lazy, Repeater)



Figure 3








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4. How to configure the WDS connection

10 Steps

We will configure the WDS settings to establish a connection between 2 SMCWEBS-N units
as in the Figure 3. One of them will be set-up in Bridge mode and the other one in Lazy
mode.



Figure 3


SMCWEBS-N 1 Setup

1. Login to the web UI of device 1 and go to the menu Wireless Settings. In the Basic
menu, set up the SSID and Frequency Channel for your wireless network. These
must be the same for all WDS units.




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2. In the Wireless Settings select WDS submenu to configure the WDS link.
3. Set the WDS Mode to Bridge.




4. Set the radio media coding. It should be the same for all WDS units. (CCK
corresponds to 11b, OFDM corresponds to 11g, and HTMIX corresponds to 11n).



5. Set the encryption type and key. This must be the same for all WDS units.
6. Enter the MAC address of the SMCWEBS-N unit 2.


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Note. The MAC Address of your device can be found on the label at the bottom of
your device (Hex-Format: xx-xx-xx-xx-xx-xx or xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx).







SMCWEBS-N 2 Setup

7. Login to the web UI of device 2 and go to the menu Wireless Settings. In the Basic
menu, set up the same SSID and Frequency Channel for your wireless network as in
device 1.




8. Set the WDS mode to Lazy.


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9. Set the radio media coding. (It should be the same for all WDS units)
10. Set the WDS encryption settings (Type & Key), same as device 1.




After applying the changes in both devices the WDS link should be up and ready to use.