Linking Routers

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-In this tutorial, we will discuss different alternatives for linking routers in order to create wifi networks or just repeaters.+{{Languages|Linking_Routers}}
-== Alternatives ==+'''''Wiki Path''''': [[Main_Page|DD-WRT Wiki Main]] / [[Tutorials]] / '''Linking Routers'''<br>
 +See also: [https://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Category:Linking_Routers Category:Linking Routers]
 +----
 +This tutorial discusses various alternatives for linking routers to create wireless and/or wired networks.
-=== WDS ===+== Alternative Modes ==
 +These are various ways to connect two or more routers (or a modem), besides the default gateway router with wireless access points. For a visual comparison between these modes, see [[Repeating_Mode_Comparisons#Router_Mode_Comparison_Table|Router Mode Comparison Table]].
 +*'''WDS is the preferred mode to extend a wired network using wireless with two or more routers.'''
-* [[WDS Linked router network]]+=== Access Point / Switch ===
-* [[WDS Point To Point (P2P)]] +Extend the Wireless access area using more routers, with WIRED connections between routers, or turn a wired port on an existing network into a Wireless Access Point. All computers will be on the same network segment, and will be able to see one another in Windows Network. This works with all devices with LAN ports, and does not require dd-wrt to be installed.
- +* [[Wireless_access_point|Wireless Access Point]] - Extend Wi-Fi & LAN (Requires physical ethernet connection between routers)
-=== OLSR ===+* [[Switch]] - Similar config as WAP, but radio disabled (accepts only wired connections)
- +
-* [[Mesh Networking with OLSR]]+
-* [[http://dev.wifidog.org/wiki/doc/gateway-server/WifiDogAndOlsr|WifiDog + OLSR]]+
=== Repeater / Repeater Bridge === === Repeater / Repeater Bridge ===
 +Extend the Wireless access area using a second router WIRELESSLY connected to the primary. The secondary router must have dd-wrt installed, but the primary does not matter.
-* [[Repeater Bridge]] - DHCP Server & NAT <u>disabled</u>, clients on <u>same subnet</u> as host AP.+'''Note: There is no repeater mode option [https://forum.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=265074#265074 on Qualcomm/Atheros devices.]''' As described in their wiki, ''Repeater'' or ''Repeater Bridge'' are set up as ''Client'' or ''Client Bridge'' mode with an added VAP.
-* [[Universal Wireless Repeater]]+* [[Repeater Bridge]] - A wireless repeater with DHCP & NAT <u>disabled</u>, clients on <u>same subnet</u> as host AP (primary router). That is, all computers can see one another in Windows Network.
-* [[Wlan Repeater]] - DHCP Server & NAT <u>enabled</u>, clients on <u>different subnet</u> from host AP.+* [[Wlan_Repeater|Repeater]] - A wireless repeater with DHCP & NAT <u>enabled</u>, clients on <u>different subnet</u> from host AP (primary router). Computers connected to one router can not see computers connected to other routers in Windows Network.
 +* [[Universal Wireless Repeater]] - [obsolete] Uses a program/script called AutoAP to keep a connection to the nearest/best host AP.
-=== Client / Client Bridge ===+=== Station Mode / Station Bridge / Station Bridge (Routed)===
 +Connect two wired networks using a WiFi link (WIRELESS connection between two routers). The secondary router must have dd-wrt installed; the primary router does not need to have dd-wrt.
 +* [[Client Mode|Station Mode]] - Join two wired networks by two Wireless routers (unbridged). Computers on one wired network can not see computers on other wired network in Windows Network.
 +* [[Client Bridge|Station Bridge]] (Broadcom)- Join two wired networks by two Wireless routers building a bridge. All computers can see one another in Windows Network.
 +* [[Client Bridged|Station Bridge (Routed)]] (Non-Broadcom)- Join two wired networks by two Wireless routers building a bridge. All computers can see one another in Windows Network.
-* [[Wireless Bridge]] - Join two wired networks by two Wireless routers building a bridge.+=== WDS ===
-* [[Client Bridged]]+Extend the Wireless access area using more routers connected WIRELESSLY.
-* [[Client Mode]]+WDS is a mesh network. Routers must almost always have the SAME chipset type for WDS to work, and any non dd-wrt routers must be WDS compatible. Using identical routers is best, but not always necessary if all devices have the same chipset types. (All Broadcom or all Atheros etc)
 +* [[WDS Linked router network]]
-=== Access Point / Switch ===+=== OLSR ===
-* [[Wireless Access Point]] - Extend Wi-Fi (Requires physical ethernet connection between routers)+Extend the Wireless access area using more routers. Extra routers do not need any wired connections to each other.
-* [[Wireless Access Point#Switch|Switch]] - Same config as WAP, but radio disabled.+Use several ISP (Internet) connections. OLSR is a mesh network.
 +* [[Mesh Networking with OLSR]]
 +* [[http://dev.wifidog.org/wiki/doc/gateway-server/WifiDogAndOlsr|WifiDog + OLSR]]
-<br> 
== Comparisons == == Comparisons ==
 +* [[Repeating_Mode_Comparisons|Repeating Mode Comparisons (and router mode table)]]
 +* [[Bridging|Bridging Mode Comparisons]]
-* [[Repeating Mode Comparisons]]+== Resources ==
 +* [https://helpcenter.engeniustech.com/hc/en-us/articles/115005862868-Wireless-Backhaul-Network-Deployment-Best-Practices Whitepaper] on the differences and scenarios for client bridges, repeaters, WDS, and mesh networks.
-[[Category: English documentation]]+[[Category:Basic tutorials]]
-[[Category: Basic tutorials]]+[[Category:Linking_Routers]]
 +[[Category:Routing]]
 +[[Category:Wlan]]

Current revision


Wiki Path: DD-WRT Wiki Main / Tutorials / Linking Routers
See also: Category:Linking Routers


This tutorial discusses various alternatives for linking routers to create wireless and/or wired networks.

Contents

[edit] Alternative Modes

These are various ways to connect two or more routers (or a modem), besides the default gateway router with wireless access points. For a visual comparison between these modes, see Router Mode Comparison Table.

  • WDS is the preferred mode to extend a wired network using wireless with two or more routers.

[edit] Access Point / Switch

Extend the Wireless access area using more routers, with WIRED connections between routers, or turn a wired port on an existing network into a Wireless Access Point. All computers will be on the same network segment, and will be able to see one another in Windows Network. This works with all devices with LAN ports, and does not require dd-wrt to be installed.

  • Wireless Access Point - Extend Wi-Fi & LAN (Requires physical ethernet connection between routers)
  • Switch - Similar config as WAP, but radio disabled (accepts only wired connections)

[edit] Repeater / Repeater Bridge

Extend the Wireless access area using a second router WIRELESSLY connected to the primary. The secondary router must have dd-wrt installed, but the primary does not matter.

Note: There is no repeater mode option on Qualcomm/Atheros devices. As described in their wiki, Repeater or Repeater Bridge are set up as Client or Client Bridge mode with an added VAP.

  • Repeater Bridge - A wireless repeater with DHCP & NAT disabled, clients on same subnet as host AP (primary router). That is, all computers can see one another in Windows Network.
  • Repeater - A wireless repeater with DHCP & NAT enabled, clients on different subnet from host AP (primary router). Computers connected to one router can not see computers connected to other routers in Windows Network.
  • Universal Wireless Repeater - [obsolete] Uses a program/script called AutoAP to keep a connection to the nearest/best host AP.

[edit] Station Mode / Station Bridge / Station Bridge (Routed)

Connect two wired networks using a WiFi link (WIRELESS connection between two routers). The secondary router must have dd-wrt installed; the primary router does not need to have dd-wrt.

  • Station Mode - Join two wired networks by two Wireless routers (unbridged). Computers on one wired network can not see computers on other wired network in Windows Network.
  • Station Bridge (Broadcom)- Join two wired networks by two Wireless routers building a bridge. All computers can see one another in Windows Network.
  • Station Bridge (Routed) (Non-Broadcom)- Join two wired networks by two Wireless routers building a bridge. All computers can see one another in Windows Network.

[edit] WDS

Extend the Wireless access area using more routers connected WIRELESSLY. WDS is a mesh network. Routers must almost always have the SAME chipset type for WDS to work, and any non dd-wrt routers must be WDS compatible. Using identical routers is best, but not always necessary if all devices have the same chipset types. (All Broadcom or all Atheros etc)

[edit] OLSR

Extend the Wireless access area using more routers. Extra routers do not need any wired connections to each other. Use several ISP (Internet) connections. OLSR is a mesh network.

[edit] Comparisons

[edit] Resources

  • Whitepaper on the differences and scenarios for client bridges, repeaters, WDS, and mesh networks.