Wireless
WorkGro up Bri dge
Cisco Small Business WAP121 and WAP321 Wireless-N Access Point with PoE 93
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•WDS ID—Enter an appropriate name for the new WDS link you have
created. It is important that the same WDS ID is also entered at the other
end of the WDS link. If this WDS ID is not the same for both WAP devices on
the WDS link, they will not be able to communicate and exchange data.
The WDS ID can be any alphanumeric combination.
•Key—Enter a unique shared key for the WDS bridge. This unique shared
key must also be entered for the WAP device at the other end of the WDS
link. If this key is not the same for both WAPs, they will not be able to
communicate and exchange data.
The WPA-PSK key is a string of at least 8 characters to a maximum of 63
characters. Acceptable characters include uppercase and lowercase
alphabetic letters, the numeric digits, and special symbols such as @ and #.
WorkGroup Bridge
The WAP device WorkGroup Bridge feature enables the WAP device to extend the
accessibility of a remote network. In WorkGroup Bridge mode, the WAP device
acts as a wireless station (STA) on the wireless LAN. It can bridge traffic between
a remote wired network or associated wireless clients and the wireless LAN that
is connected using the WorkGroup Bridge mode.
The WorkGroup Bridge feature enables support for STA-mode and AP-mode
operation simultaneously. The WAP device can operate in one Basic Service Set
(BSS) as an STA device while operating on another BSS as a WAP device. When
WorkGroup Bridge mode is enabled, the WAP device supports only one BSS for
wireless clients that associate with it, and another BSS with which the WAP
device associates as a wireless client.
It is recommended that WorkGroup Bridge mode be used only when the WDS
bridge feature cannot be operational with a peer WAP device. WDS is a better
solution and is preferred over the WorkGroup Bridge solution. Use WDS if you are
bridging Cisco WAP121 and WAP321 devices. If you are not, then consider
WorkGroup Bridge. When the WorkGroup Bridge feature is enabled, the VAP
configurations are not applied; only the WorkGroup Bridge configuration is
applied.
NOTE The WDS feature does not work when the WorkGroup Bridge mode is enabled on
the WAP device.