Chapter 5 Advanced Wireless Bridging

Transcription

1 Chapter 5 Advanced Wireless Bridging This chapter describes how to configure the advanced features of your WN802T v2 to one of six access point bridge mode profiles, or in Wireless Bridge and Repeater Mode.These features can be found under the Wireless Bridge option on the Configuration menu. Note: Only one of a number of WN802T v2 APs in point-to-point bridge mode connected to one another can have six profiles. The NETGEAR Wireless-N Access Point WN802T v2 lets you build large wireless networks. Examples of wireless bridging configurations are: Access Point. Standard Access Point mode (default mode). Operates as a standard b, bg or ng access point. In this mode, the WN802T v2 will communicate only with wireless clients. Wireless multi-point bridging. Acts as the master and communicates with up to six bridgemode wireless access points. All of the other bridge-mode wireless access points communicate through the WN802T v2 when it is in this mode. The other bridge-mode wireless access points must be set to point to multi-point bridge mode, using the MAC address of this WN802T v2. They then send all traffic to this Master, rather than communicate directly with each other. Client wireless stations can also associate. Repeater without Client Association. Acts as a repeater and forwards all traffic to a remote access point. This mode is the same as Multi-Point to Point mode except that client association is not available. Configuring Wireless Multi-Point Bridging In this mode, the WN802T v2 will communicate with up to six bridge-mode wireless access points by entering the MAC (physical) address of each of the bridge-mode APs in the fields provided (see Figure 5-1). Each wireless access point you add is assigned an independent security profile with its own name and configuration. In this mode wireless client association is available by default. 5-1

2 . NETGEAR Wireless-N Access Point WN802T v2 Reference Manual To configure wireless Point to Multi-point Bridging: 1. Open a web browser and log in to the WN802T v2 using the addressing scheme you have set up. Figure 5-1 Enable wireless bridging and repeating 2. Under the Configuration tab on the main menu, click Wireless Bridge. The Bridging and Repeating screen displays showing the default settings for the wireless access point (Figure 5-1). 3. Check the Enable Wireless Bridging and Repeating checkbox to enable multi-point bridging. Wireless Point to Multi-Point Bridge is the default mode. 4. Down the left of the screen select the profile you want to add/edit and click Edit. 5. The Edit Security Profile screen displays (see Figure 5-2). 6. Enter a profile name or leave the default. 5-2 Advanced Wireless Bridging

3 7. Enter the MAC (physical) address of the other bridge mode wireless access point in the Remote MAC Address field. Figure 5-2 Edit security profile 8. Under Authentication Settings, select one of the network authentication types from the Network Authentication drop-down menu (one of the supported types WEP, WPA-PSK, or WPA2-PSK should be used to protect the communication). 9. Select encryption strength from the Data Encryption options available. 10. Click Apply. 11. You are taken back to the Wireless Bridge Settings screen (Figure 5-1) with the new profile information. Enable the profile now if you wish to. You can add more wireless access points in the same way for a total of six (these wireless access points must be configured for Multi-Point Bridging). 12. Click Apply to save your changes. Advanced Wireless Bridging 5-3

4 The following figure illustrates a multi-point bridge setup over three LAN segments. AP2 AP3 Wireless PC Card in a Notebook Computer Point-to-Point Bridge Mode AP1 Point-to-Point Bridge Mode Internet Router Multi-Point Bridge Mode Hub or Switch LAN Segment 1 PCs Hub or Switch LAN Segment 2 PCs LAN Segment 3 PCs Figure 5-3 Multi-point bridge configuration To configure wireless access points in a multi-point configuration: 1. Set the Operating Mode of the three NETGEAR Wireless-N Access Points as follows (see Figure 5-1): Configure AP2 on LAN Segment 1 in Point to Multi-Point Bridge Mode. Add the Remote MAC Address of AP1 on LAN Segment 2. (see Figure 5-2) Because it is in the central location, configure AP1 on LAN Segment 2 in Multi-Point Bridging mode. Add the MAC addresses of the adjacent Point-to-Point APs (AP2 and AP3). Configure AP3 on LAN 3 in Point to Multi-Point Bridge mode. Add the Remote MAC Address of AP1 on LAN Segment Verify the following parameters for all three wireless access points: That the LAN network configuration of each of the NETGEAR Wireless-N Access Points is configured to operate in the same LAN network address range as the other LAN devices (routers, hubs and switches). That only one profile of AP1 is configured in Multi-Point Bridging mode. That all APs are on the same LAN. That is, all the wireless access point LAN IP addresses are in the same network. 5-4 Advanced Wireless Bridging

5 That all wireless access points are using the same SSID, Channel, WEP authentication mode, if any, and encryption (WPA is not available in bridge mode). That each Point-to-Point AP has the Multi-Point AP MAC address in its Remote AP MAC address table. That the Multi Point-to-Point AP has the MAC addresses of each Point-to-Point AP. If Access Control has been enabled on the APs, verify that the Available Wireless Stations list (MAC Address List, Figure 3-9) for each AP is complete and accurate. 3. Verify connectivity across the LANs: That wireless clients are able to use the AP. A computer on any LAN segment should be able to connect to the Internet or share files and printers with any other PCs or servers connected to any of the three LAN segments. If Access Control Lists are enabled on the APs, only computers in the access control list will be able to use the AP. Note: You can extend multi-point bridging by adding a total of six WN802T v2 APs configured in bridge mode to connect additional wireless LAN segments. Configuring Repeater without Wireless Client Association In this mode, the WN802T v2 will operate as a Repeater only, and send all traffic to the remote wireless access point. You must enter the MAC (physical) address of the remote wireless access point. Advanced Wireless Bridging 5-5

6 To configure the WN802T v2 in wireless repeater mode: 1. Open a web browser and log in to the WN802T v2 using the addressing scheme you have set up. Figure 5-4 Repeater without wireless association 2. Under the Configuration tab on the main menu, click Wireless Bridge. The Bridging and Repeating screen displays showing the default settings for the wireless access point (see Figure 5-4). 3. Check the Enable Wireless Bridging and Repeating checkbox to enable wireless bridging and repeating. 4. Select the Repeater without Wireless Client Association radio button to enable this mode. 5. Down the left of the screen select the profile you want to add/edit, and click Edit. 6. The Edit Security Profile screen displays (see Figure 5-2) in earlier section. 7. Enter a profile name or leave the default. 8. Enter the MAC (physical) address of the other bridge mode wireless access point in the Remote MAC Address field. 9. Under Authentication Settings select a Network Authentication type (one of the supported types WEP, WPA-PSK, or WPA2-PSK should be used to protect the communication). 5-6 Advanced Wireless Bridging

7 10. From the Data Encryption drop-down menu select encryption strength. 11. Click Apply to save your settings. 12. You are taken back to the Wireless Bridge Settings screen (Figure 5-4) with the new profile information. Enable the profile now if you wish to. 13. Click Apply to save your changes. To configure a LAN segment utilizing the WN802T v2 in Repeater Mode: 1. Configure the Operating Mode of the NETGEAR Wireless-N Access Points. Configure AP1 on LAN Segment 1 in Repeater mode with the Remote MAC Address of the downstream remote AP (AP2). Configure AP2 in Repeater mode with the MAC address of the upstream AP (AP1). 2. Verify the following parameters for all access points: They are configured to operate in the same LAN network address range as the LAN devices. They are on the same LAN. That is, all AP LAN IP addresses must be in the same network. They use the same SSID, channel, authentication mode (if any) and encryption (WPA is not available in bridge mode). 3. Verify connectivity across the LANs. A computer on any LAN segment should be able to connect to the Internet or share files and printers with any other PCs or servers connected to any of the three WLAN segments. Advanced Wireless Bridging 5-7

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