Building and Managing Wireless-WDS Networks with Sputnik Agent NMS
How to establish WDS (Wireless Distribution System) links to extend the range of your Sputnik-powered device by connecting it wirelessly to another access point.
Note: mesh networks are more robust than WDS networks, and provide greater throughput. Wherever possible, we recommend that you deploy a mesh network topology as described here.
Note also: this document assumes that you've already provisioned your access points with Sputnik Instant Setup. The primary Sputnik-powered device (base station) should be assigned a standard or pro subscription; range extenders should be assigned an NMS subscription. Please see Provisioning Sputnik-Powered Devices with Sputnik Instant Setup for more information.
WDS for wireless range extension
You can wirelessly extend the range of your Sputnik-powered device using WDS (wireless distribution system). WDS creates a point-to-point link between the main Sputnik-powered device and the range extender (often another wireless access point). The main Sputnik-powered device handles user authentication and acts as a DHCP server, which means it hands out IP addresses to clients and enables them to log onto the network. The range extender acts as a bridge, passing traffic to the Sputnik-powered device for DHCP leases and authentication.
WDS is a useful and stable way to increase the range of your wireless network. We have found, however, that sometimes different manufacturers implement WDS differently, and their devices are not compatible. It is therefore important to test heterogeneous hardware for WDS compatibility before deploying in the field. Note however that use of the same version of Sputnik-powered firmware on each device can significantly improve the odds that WDS connections can be established. Finally, while you can create multiple WDS links, because they are overhead (use bandwidth), we suggest that you limit them to no more than 2-4 per Sputnik-powered device.
In the following example, we'll show how to set up WDS between two Sputnik-powered devices running DD-WRT firmware. You can enable the Sputnik Agent in NMS mode for free remote management of the range extender. However, it is important to first make sure that you have a stable WDS network and only then enable the Sputnik Agent in NMS mode.
Reset primary Sputnik-powered device to defaults
- From the DD-WRT interface, choose Administration > Factory Defaults and restore factory defaults on the primary node.
Set up basic wireless settings on the primary device
- Plug Sputnik-powered device's WAN into internet uplink and power up
- Associate with primary Sputnik-powered device
- Open local web interface (by default, at http://192.168.180.1)
- Browse to: Wireless > Basic Settings
- Set SSID: "MYAP1" (pick one)
- Set Channel: "6" (pick one)
- Click Save, but don't Apply Settings
Set up WDS on the primary device
- Browse to Wireless > WDS
- In the first row, set the following:
- Select "LAN"
- Enter the radio MAC of AP2*
- Enter a name: "Range Extender"
- Click Save
- Click Apply Settings
*Note: to get the radio MAC of each device it is not sufficient to look at the bottom of the device, you must first log into each, or look in the SCC UI to determine the radio MAC of each device.
Reset Sputnik-powered range extender to defaults
- From the DD-WRT interface, choose Administration > Factory Defaults and restore factory defaults on the range extender.
Set up wireless on range extender
- Power up the range extender with no cables plugged in
- Associate with the range extender and browse to its local web admin interface (by default, at http://192.168.180.1)
- Browse to Wireless > Basic Settings
- Set SSID: "MYAP2" (pick one, same or different)
- Set channel (same as the primary device)
- Click Save, but don't Apply Settings
Set up WDS on the range extender
- Browse to Wireless > WDS
- In the first row, set the following:
- Select "LAN"
- Enter the radio MAC of AP 1*
- Enter a name: "Main AP"
- Click Save, but don't Apply Settings
Set up network on range extender
- Browse to Setup > Basic Setup, and in the Network Setup subsection, set the following:
- Local IP Address: 192.168.180.2 (one up from AP1's LAN IP)
- Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
- Gateway: 192.168.180.1 (AP1)
- Local DNS: 192.168.180.1 (AP1)
- Click Save, but don't Apply Settings
Note: Give each additional WDS+NMS device a unique Local IP Address (LAN address).
Set up DHCP on range extender
- Browse to Setup > Basic Setup, scroll down to Network Address Server Settings (DHCP), and set the following:
- DHCP Type: "DHCP Forwarder"
- DHCP Server: 192.168.180.1 (AP1)
- Click Save, but don't Apply Settings
Set up Routing
Browse to Setup > Advanced Routing, and make the following changes:
- Operating Mode: Router
- Dynamic Routing > Interface: Disable
Click Save but do not Apply Settings.
Set Router to NMS (Network Management System) Mode.
Browse to Services > Hotspot, and make the following changes:
Sputnik Agent: Enable
Sputnik Mode: NMS
Sputnik Server ID: Use Sputnik Instant Setup
Click Save and Apply.
Connect your range extender wired or wirelessly to your Sputnik-powered gateway/main node.
Reboot range extender
- Browse to Administration > Management, scroll to bottom
- Click "Reboot Router"
Optional: check the status of your WDS links
- Associate with primary Sputnik-powered device
- Open local web interface (by default, at http://192.168.180.1)
- Browse to Status > Wireless
- Review the signal and noise measurements of your connections
For more information about setting up WDS networks, please refer to DD-WRT's online documentation at http://www.dd-wrt.com.