subject: Wireless Distribution System [print this page] Implementations Implementations
WDS may be incompatible between different products (even occasionally from the same vendor) as it is not certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance[citation needed].
Technical
WDS can be used to provide two modes of wireless AP-to-AP connectivity:
Wireless Bridging in which WDS APs communicate only with each other and don't allow wireless clients or Stations (STA) to access them
Wireless Repeating in which APs communicate with each other and with wireless STAs
Two disadvantages to using WDS are:
The maximum wireless effective throughput is halved after the first retransmission (hop) that is made. For example, in the case of two routers connected via WDS, and communication is made between a computer that is plugged into router A and a laptop that is connected wirelessly using router B's access point, the throughput is halved, because router B has to retransmit the information during the communication of the two sides. However, in the case of communications between a computer that is plugged into router A and a computer that is plugged into router B, the throughput is not halved since there is no need to retransmit the information.
Dynamically assigned and rotated encryption keys are usually not supported in a WDS connection. This means that dynamic Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and other dynamic key assignment technology in most cases can not be used, though WPA using pre-shared keys is possible. This is due to the lack of standardization in this field, which may be resolved with the upcoming 802.11s standard. As a result only static WEP or WPA keys may be used in a WDS connection, including any STAs that associate to a WDS repeating AP.
Recent Apple base stations allow WDS with WPA, though in some cases firmware updates are required. Firmware for the Renasis SAP36g Super Access Point and most third party firmware for the Linksys WRT54G(S)/GL support AES encryption using WPA2-PSK Mixed Mode security, and TKIP encryption using WPA-PSK, while operating in WDS mode. However, this mode may not be compatible with other units running stock or alternate firmware.
See also
Ad hoc wireless network
Wireless mesh network
Wireless intrusion detection system
Bridging (networking)
References
^ Wireless Distribution System Linked Router Network DD-WRT Wiki. Retrieved December 31, 2006.
External links
Alternative Wireless Signal-repeating Scheme with DD-WRT and AutoAP
What is Third Generation Mesh? Review of three generation of mesh networking architectures.
Categories: Wireless networking | IEEE 802.11Hidden categories: All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements from January 2010
