Chapter 1 Introducing the NWA

1.2.3 Root AP

In Root AP mode, the NWA (Z) can act as the root AP in a wireless network and also allow repeaters (X and Y) to extend the range of its wireless network at the same time. In the figure below, both clients A, B and C can access the wired network through the root AP.

Figure 4 Root AP Application

On the NWA in Root AP mode, you can have multiple SSIDs active for reqular wireless connections and one SSID for the connection with a repeater (repeater SSID). Wireless clients can use either SSID to associate with the NWA in Root AP mode. A repeater must use the repeater SSID to connect to the NWA in Root AP mode.

When the NWA is in Root AP mode, repeater security between the NWA and other repeater is independent of the security between the wireless clients and the AP or repeater. If you do not enable repeater security, traffic between APs is not encrypted. When repeater security is enabled, both APs and repeaters must use the same pre-shared key. See Section 6.6 on page 73 for more details.

Unless specified, the term “security settings” refers to the traffic between the wireless clients and the AP. At the time of writing, repeater security is compatible with the NWA only.

1.2.4 Repeater

The NWA can act as a wireless network repeater to extend a root AP’s wireless network range, and also establish wireless connections with wireless clients.

Using Repeater mode, your NWA can extend the range of the WLAN. In the figure below, the NWA in Repeater mode (Z) has a wireless connection to the NWA in Root AP mode (X) which is connected to a wired network and also has a wireless connection to another NWA in Repeater mode (Y) at the same time. Z and Y act as repeaters that forward traffic between associated wireless

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NWA1120 Series User’s Guide