User's Manual

AirWorks AWK-3121 User’s Manual References
Wireless Distribution System (WDS)
Traditionally, APs are connected via Ethernet LAN ports. By using a Wireless Distribution System
(WDS), APs can communicate with one another wirelessly. For example, AP 2 acts as an access
point for the notebook computers or other IEEE802.11-enabled clients, and forwards packets sent
from the notebook computers to AP 1 through WDS. Then, AP 1 forwards the packets to the
Ethernet LAN. Packets destined for the notebook computers follow a reverse path from the
Ethernet LAN through the APs to the notebook computers. In this way, AP 2 acts as an “AP
repeater.”
By using WDS, two or more LAN segments can be connected wirelessly. As illustrated in the
above figure, a pair of wireless LAN-to-LAN bridges is used to connect two LAN segments. Since
the AP is WDS-enabled, it can be used as a wireless bridge.
It is a good idea to plan your wireless network by drawing a diagram so that you know how each
AWK-3121 is connected to other peer APs or wireless bridges by WDS, and how bridges are
connected to other peer bridges by WDS. See the following figure for an example of a
network-planning diagram.
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