WDS Linked router network

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-<div style="height: 200px;"><div style="float: left">__TOC__</div>'''This WIKI is not finished. More tutorials and confirmed working products should be added'''</div>+__TOC__
=Introduction= =Introduction=
-WDS creates a wireless backbone link between multiple access points that are part of the same wireless network. This allows a wireless network to be expanded using multiple access points without the need for a wired network connection to link them. The WDS-enabled access points can accept wireless clients (e.g. wireless laptop users) just as the main wired access point (or wireless router) does.+WDS creates a wireless backbone link between multiple access points that are part of the same wireless network. This allows a wireless network to be expanded using multiple access points without the need for a wired network connection to link them. The WDS-enabled access points can accept wireless clients (e.g. wireless laptop users) just as the main wired access point (or wireless router) does. There is no free lunch, however: WDS consumes wireless bandwidth normally available to wireless clients.
-There is no free lunch, however: WDS consumes wireless bandwidth normally available to wireless clients.+Additional background information is available at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_Distribution_System Wikipedia's WDS entry].
=Current Status for DD-WRT= =Current Status for DD-WRT=
DD-WRT v22: R2 seems to be working well. DD-WRT v22: R2 seems to be working well.
-DD-WRT v23: Works with WEP and WPA (TKIP or AES, AES is better but newer and may not be supported by older clients); WDS does not work with WPA2 enabled at this time (Feb 1 2006); use WPA+AES instead. WPA2 Mixed Mode works because it can (and does) fall back to WPA. +DD-WRT v23: Works with WEP and WPA. WPA2 is not supported, see [http://dd-wrt.gruftie.com/dd-wrtv2/bugtracker/view.php?id=198 bug #000198]. WDS+WPA/WPA2 is known to fail after a firmware upgrade if a hard reset is not performed after the upgrade (a recommended procedure anyway).
- +
-WDS is known to have problems if a hard reset is not performed after a firmware upgrade (a recommended procedure anyway). This is especially true of the early v23 beta builds. Now that v23 is in SP1 stage it may not always be necessary to hard reset, but it is always a good idea. If you have problems, hard reset and start over. The changelog may say if a certain firmware upgrade requires a hard reset.+
=Confirmed Working Products= =Confirmed Working Products=
- -Apple Airport Express+* Apple Airport Express
- -Linksys WRE54G Wireless Range Expander+* Linksys WRE54G Wireless Range Expander
- -Belkin F5D7130 Wireless Range Extender/Access Point+* Belkin F5D7130 Wireless Range Extender/Access Point
- -Belkin F5D7230-4 802.11g Wireless DSL/Cable Gateway Router+* Belkin F5D7230-4 802.11g Wireless DSL/Cable Gateway Router
- -Belkin F5D7231-4+* Belkin F5D7231-4
- -CompuShack SWA-103 (Waveline Micro AccessPoint) Repeater Mode+* CompuShack SWA-103 (Waveline Micro AccessPoint) Repeater Mode
- -Fujitsu Siemens AP-600RP+* Fujitsu Siemens AP-600RP
- -Siemens Gigaset Repeater+* Siemens Gigaset Repeater
- -Sinus 154 Basic SE+* Sinus 154 Basic SE
- -Comtrend 536++* Comtrend 536+
- -Netgear WG602 v3 Repeater Mode+* Netgear WG602 v3 Repeater Mode
=Installation= =Installation=
-==WDS Linking with WRT54GS *Requirements*==+Standard terminology for a two router setup:
-For Straight WDS mode between two WDS enabled devices, such as 2x WRT54G/GS's, the requirements are that both the 'Host Router' and the 'Client Router' to be in 'AP' mode and on the same Channel. Importantly to be on seperate SSIDs so the 'Client Router' can roam between the 'Host Router'. Both the 'Client Router' and 'Host Router' must have WDS 'Lan' entries for their respective MAC addresses, and there is confusion here because the firmware status screen may report the WAN address instead of the WLAN, so its best to be checked by ssh/telnet'ing to the wrt and using ifconfig, On the 'Client router' firewalling and blocking of anon intenet requests must be turned off. +* The '''client router''' is the router which does not have an internet connection.
-Both the 'Host' & 'Client' SSID's do not need to be broadcasted, but I haven't confirmed this myself.+* The '''host router''' is the router which does have the internet connection and is going to share it with other routers.
-No other WDS settings such as 'lazy WDS' or 'WDS subnet' are relevant to the straight kind of WDS setup described here.+
-On the 'Host Router' the Internet connection must disabled, on the 'Client Router' dhcpcd disabled, on the 'Host Router' No firewall needs to be disabled *commen sense*, No services such loopback, upnp, need to be turned off.+==Two or more WRT54G / WRT54GS boxes==
-The only service that seems to have crediable reasons for disabling is the watchdog AP (it is automatically disabled in recent firmwares).+# Turn off security on both routers. Security can be re-enabled after all other steps are complete, but in order to minimize troubleshooting, it's best to get things setup with no security active. '''Wireless -> Wireless Security -> Security Mode -> Disabled'''
 +# Set the routers to AP mode and put them on the same cahnnel. '''Wireless -> Basic Settings'''
 +# The SSIDs for the routers do not need to be (but can be) the same. Set to your liking. '''Wireless -> Basic Settings'''
 +# Open WDS configuration on both routers. '''Wireless -> WDS'''
 +# On each router, you will see at the top of the page its wireless MAC address. Put each router's MAC into the table of the other router, and select '''LAN''' for the type. '''Wireless -> WDS'''
 +# There is no need to enable '''Lazy WDS''' or '''WDS subnet''' on either router.
 +# Turn off the firewall on the client router. '''Security -> Firewall -> Firewall Protection -> Disable'''
 +# Turn off anonymous internet request blocking on the client router. '''Security -> Firewall -> Block WAN Requests -> Block Anonymous Internet Requests -> Uncheck'''
 +# Turn off the WDS/Connection Watchdog on both routers. The watchdog causes problems with WDS (see bug [http://dd-wrt.gruftie.com/dd-wrtv2/bugtracker/view.php?id=410 410]). '''Administration -> Keep Alive -> WDS/Connection Watchdog -> Enable Watchdog -> Disable'''
-==WDS Linking with WRT54GS==+That should complete the setup. The source material for this list comes primarily from a DD-WRT forum post, [http://forum.bsr-clan.de/ftopic624.htm Guide to Setting up WDS]. The source material for that post came from a [http://www.linksysinfo.org/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=7 post at linksysinfo.org].
-A pretty decent forum post was made about WDS Linking with WRT54GS.+
- +
-Find it here: http://forum.bsr-clan.de/ftopic624.html+
- +
-Original was here: http://www.linksysinfo.org/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=7 (with pictures)+
==Setting up WDS between a DD-WRT router and an Apple Airport Express== ==Setting up WDS between a DD-WRT router and an Apple Airport Express==
-''This has been tested with prefinal4 [6-15-05]'' 
- 
-''Verified with DD-WRT v2.3 (12/25/05) and Airport Express v6.20 [1-21-2006]'' 
- 
- 1) [Wireless->Basic Settings] Set the channel on the DD-WRT to 1 
- 2a) [Wireless->WDS] Select "LAN" option and enter the airport express's AIRPORT id 
- 2b) Set Lazy WDS and WDS subnet to disable 
- 3) [Administration->Management] Set Loopback to disable 
- 4) [Security->Firewall] Turn off "Block Anonymous Internet Requests" 
- 5) Open Airport admin utility and find the new express, then double click it 
- 6) In the airport tab: 
- Select "Create Wireless Network" 
- Set Network name to your wireless SSID 
- Set the wireless channel to 1 
- 7) WDS tab: 
- Enable this base statio 
- Set base station as "remote base station" 
- In the Main Aiport ID section enter your DD-WRT wireless mac (can get this in status->wireless) 
- 8) Click "update" 
-if it works then there will be a solid green light (may take a couple of minutes) . If it does not work , you should connect Airport Express and WRT54G/GS using a CAT-5 cable and setting up it. It might work+Verified with DD-WRT v2.3 (12/25/05) and Airport Express v6.20 [1-21-2006]
-''source: http://ryanschwartz.net/2004/08/05/airtunes-airport-express-and-the-wrt54g''+# Set the channel on the DD-WRT to 1. '''Wireless -> Basic Settings'''
 +## Select "LAN" option and enter the Airport Express's AIRPORT id. '''Wireless -> WDS'''
 +## Set Lazy WDS and WDS subnet to disable
 +# Set Loopback to disable. '''Administration -> Management'''
 +# Turn off "Block Anonymous Internet Requests." '''Security -> Firewall'''
 +# Open Airport admin utility and find the new express, then double click it
 +# In the airport tab:
 +## Select "Create Wireless Network"
 +## Set Network name to your wireless SSID
 +## Set the wireless channel to 1
 +# WDS tab:
 +## Enable this base station
 +## Set base station as "remote base station"
 +## In the Main Aiport ID section enter your DD-WRT wireless MAC (can get this in '''Status -> Wireless''')
 +# Click "update"
-----+If it works then there will be a solid green light (may take a couple of minutes) . If it does not work, you should connect Airport Express and WRT54G/GS using a CAT-5 cable and set up it. It might work
-Also make sure that you disable the "AP Watchdog" daemon. If you have a wireless endpoint (like a laptop) which connects to the Airport station (because you use WDS) then the Linksys does not see any Clients connected and restarts the wireless network over and over. You also could change other channel apart from 1 , if you're having problems and you dont have to disable Loopback+This information is from [http://ryanschwartz.net/2004/08/05/airtunes-airport-express-and-the-wrt54g AirTunes, AirPort Express, and the WRT54G at ryanschwartz.net].
-----+Also note that the above configuration with the Airport Express works with either no encryption or WEP encryption. When using WEP encryption, make sure you enter your WEP key into the Airport Express exactly how it is entered into the WRT54G, but '''add a <code>$</code> to the beginning of the key'''. $ key is meant for hex (WEP). If you're not using hex, then you can leave it blank as normal.
-Also note that the above configuration with the Airport Express works with either no encryption or WEP encryption. When using WEP encryption, make sure you enter your WEP key into the Airport Express exactly how it is entered into the WRT54G 'BUT' add a <code>$</code> to the beginning of the key. $ key is meant for Hex (WEP). If you're not using HEX , then you can leave it blank as normal+
-WPA/WPA2 encryption does not appear to work over WDS (but will work when the Airport Express is configured in client mode - but in client mode, the RJ45 connection is not usable). The error that the WRT54G reports back when the Airport Express is trying to associate via WPA over WDS is: <code>eapol_sup_dispatch wds0.49153: unknown EPOL type 3 </code>. AFAIK, EPOL has to do with WPA, so perhaps if this issue can be resolved, then the two devices could associate.+WPA/WPA2 encryption does not appear to work over WDS (but will work when the Airport Express is configured in client mode - but in client mode, the RJ45 connection is not usable). The error that the WRT54G reports back when the Airport Express is trying to associate via WPA over WDS is: <code>eapol_sup_dispatch wds0.49153: unknown EPOL type 3 </code>. EPOL has to do with WPA, so perhaps if this issue can be resolved, then the two devices could associate.
-----+Troubleshooting: Make sure that you disable the "AP Watchdog" daemon. If you have a wireless endpoint (like a laptop) which connects to the Airport station (because you use WDS) then the Linksys does not see any clients connected and restarts the wireless network over and over. You also could change other channel apart from 1, if you're having problems and you don't have to disable loopback.
'''You are here: ''' '''[[Main Page]]'''/'''[[DD-WRT Doku (EN)]]'''/'''[[WDS Linked router network]]''' '''You are here: ''' '''[[Main Page]]'''/'''[[DD-WRT Doku (EN)]]'''/'''[[WDS Linked router network]]'''

Revision as of 09:16, 2 February 2006

Contents


Introduction

WDS creates a wireless backbone link between multiple access points that are part of the same wireless network. This allows a wireless network to be expanded using multiple access points without the need for a wired network connection to link them. The WDS-enabled access points can accept wireless clients (e.g. wireless laptop users) just as the main wired access point (or wireless router) does. There is no free lunch, however: WDS consumes wireless bandwidth normally available to wireless clients.

Additional background information is available at Wikipedia's WDS entry.

Current Status for DD-WRT

DD-WRT v22: R2 seems to be working well.

DD-WRT v23: Works with WEP and WPA. WPA2 is not supported, see bug #000198. WDS+WPA/WPA2 is known to fail after a firmware upgrade if a hard reset is not performed after the upgrade (a recommended procedure anyway).

Confirmed Working Products

  • Apple Airport Express
  • Linksys WRE54G Wireless Range Expander
  • Belkin F5D7130 Wireless Range Extender/Access Point
  • Belkin F5D7230-4 802.11g Wireless DSL/Cable Gateway Router
  • Belkin F5D7231-4
  • CompuShack SWA-103 (Waveline Micro AccessPoint) Repeater Mode
  • Fujitsu Siemens AP-600RP
  • Siemens Gigaset Repeater
  • Sinus 154 Basic SE
  • Comtrend 536+
  • Netgear WG602 v3 Repeater Mode

Installation

Standard terminology for a two router setup:

  • The client router is the router which does not have an internet connection.
  • The host router is the router which does have the internet connection and is going to share it with other routers.

Two or more WRT54G / WRT54GS boxes

  1. Turn off security on both routers. Security can be re-enabled after all other steps are complete, but in order to minimize troubleshooting, it's best to get things setup with no security active. Wireless -> Wireless Security -> Security Mode -> Disabled
  2. Set the routers to AP mode and put them on the same cahnnel. Wireless -> Basic Settings
  3. The SSIDs for the routers do not need to be (but can be) the same. Set to your liking. Wireless -> Basic Settings
  4. Open WDS configuration on both routers. Wireless -> WDS
  5. On each router, you will see at the top of the page its wireless MAC address. Put each router's MAC into the table of the other router, and select LAN for the type. Wireless -> WDS
  6. There is no need to enable Lazy WDS or WDS subnet on either router.
  7. Turn off the firewall on the client router. Security -> Firewall -> Firewall Protection -> Disable
  8. Turn off anonymous internet request blocking on the client router. Security -> Firewall -> Block WAN Requests -> Block Anonymous Internet Requests -> Uncheck
  9. Turn off the WDS/Connection Watchdog on both routers. The watchdog causes problems with WDS (see bug 410). Administration -> Keep Alive -> WDS/Connection Watchdog -> Enable Watchdog -> Disable

That should complete the setup. The source material for this list comes primarily from a DD-WRT forum post, Guide to Setting up WDS. The source material for that post came from a post at linksysinfo.org.

Setting up WDS between a DD-WRT router and an Apple Airport Express

Verified with DD-WRT v2.3 (12/25/05) and Airport Express v6.20 [1-21-2006]

  1. Set the channel on the DD-WRT to 1. Wireless -> Basic Settings
    1. Select "LAN" option and enter the Airport Express's AIRPORT id. Wireless -> WDS
    2. Set Lazy WDS and WDS subnet to disable
  2. Set Loopback to disable. Administration -> Management
  3. Turn off "Block Anonymous Internet Requests." Security -> Firewall
  4. Open Airport admin utility and find the new express, then double click it
  5. In the airport tab:
    1. Select "Create Wireless Network"
    2. Set Network name to your wireless SSID
    3. Set the wireless channel to 1
  6. WDS tab:
    1. Enable this base station
    2. Set base station as "remote base station"
    3. In the Main Aiport ID section enter your DD-WRT wireless MAC (can get this in Status -> Wireless)
  7. Click "update"

If it works then there will be a solid green light (may take a couple of minutes) . If it does not work, you should connect Airport Express and WRT54G/GS using a CAT-5 cable and set up it. It might work

This information is from AirTunes, AirPort Express, and the WRT54G at ryanschwartz.net.

Also note that the above configuration with the Airport Express works with either no encryption or WEP encryption. When using WEP encryption, make sure you enter your WEP key into the Airport Express exactly how it is entered into the WRT54G, but add a $ to the beginning of the key. $ key is meant for hex (WEP). If you're not using hex, then you can leave it blank as normal.

WPA/WPA2 encryption does not appear to work over WDS (but will work when the Airport Express is configured in client mode - but in client mode, the RJ45 connection is not usable). The error that the WRT54G reports back when the Airport Express is trying to associate via WPA over WDS is: eapol_sup_dispatch wds0.49153: unknown EPOL type 3 . EPOL has to do with WPA, so perhaps if this issue can be resolved, then the two devices could associate.

Troubleshooting: Make sure that you disable the "AP Watchdog" daemon. If you have a wireless endpoint (like a laptop) which connects to the Airport station (because you use WDS) then the Linksys does not see any clients connected and restarts the wireless network over and over. You also could change other channel apart from 1, if you're having problems and you don't have to disable loopback.

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