WDS Linked router network

From DD-WRT Wiki

(Difference between revisions)
Jump to: navigation, search
Revision as of 03:41, 1 December 2010 (edit)
Qasdfdsaq (Talk | contribs)
(Working Ralink Based Devices)
← Previous diff
Current revision (18:21, 31 December 2021) (edit) (undo)
MSOENGINEER (Talk | contribs)
(Qualcomm Atheros, Broadcom, or Ralink (Must be running dd-wrt))
 
(86 intermediate revisions not shown.)
Line 1: Line 1:
-You are here: '''[[Main_Page|DD-WRT wiki mainpage]] / [[Linking_Routers|Linking Routers]] / WDS Linked router network'''+'''''Wiki Path''''': [[Main_Page|DD-WRT Wiki Main]] / [[Tutorials]] / [[Linking Routers]] / '''WDS Linked router network'''
-=Introduction=+{{Languages|WDS_Linked_router_network}}
-WDS (Wireless Distribution Service) creates a wireless backbone link between multiple access points that are part of the same wireless network. This allows a wireless network to be expanded using multiple access points without the need for a wired backbone to link them, as is traditionally required. The WDS-enabled access points '''can''' accept wireless clients (e.g. wireless laptop users) just as traditional APs would.+
-Also take note of the fact that all repeaters, including this WDS Repeater mode, will sacrifice half of the bandwidth available from the primary router for clients '''''wirelessly''''' connected to the repeater. This is a result of the repeater taking turns talking to not just one partner, but to two, and having to relay the traffic between them. As long as your bandwidth requirements are within this halved bandwidth amount there will be little or no reduction in "speed".+=Basic Definitions=
 +'''WDS''' – Wireless Distribution System connects one or more routers to a main router to wirelessly share internet, allows roaming between routers
-===Important Note:===+'''Subnet''' – the octets of an IP address selected by the subnet mask (e.g. 255.255.255.0, thus for 192.168.X.Y the subnet low octet is X)
-Be aware that WDS is NOT a certified standard of the IEEE and that every vendor that provides WDS is doing so via its own implementation. In general, this results in incompatibility between different HW vendors devices e.g. Ralink, Atheros, Broadcom. In other words, this result in much trouble connecting units, even of the same OEM, when they use different HW. So, this is not a bug in DD-WRT. Its just a design problem and we're not responsible for it.+
-=Atheros Based Devices and WIFI cards=+'''Host router''' – the main router connected to the internet, to share with clients
-There is not much to know. just a few facts to follow since it works different from other WDS stuff!+
-===General FAQ===+'''Client router''' – the router not connected to the internet, to connect with the host router. There can be several clients
-* WDS between different chip vendors (atheros, broadcom, ralink) will not work since its '''INCOMPATIBLE''' and no we will '''NOT''' fix it<br> +
-* WDS-Sta will not work as AP simultaneously. This is not possible @ atheros. For this you need to add a '''V'''irtual '''A'''ccess '''P'''oint.+
-* Don't set MAC's to the WDS-Table. This always causes trouble so stay away from it. It won't work.+
-*(added sept 04 2010: '''Broadcom and Atheros''' (Linksys WAP54G v3.1 -> TP-Link TL-WR941ND v3.2 dd-wrt 14929 '''WDS Works!''', just a bit of changes in wireless!!, '''see below''').+'''WDS AP''' – the host router "Wireless Mode" selection, only on Qualcomm Atheros routers
-===WDS Between Broadcom and Atheros===+'''WDS Station''' – the client router "Wireless Mode" selection only on Qualcomm Atheros routers
-*The Lan WDS Link works perfect. Just we need to use the default guide and change some options in wireless config page (yea, you can set mac's in WDS Table freely).+'''WDS AP VAP''' – a virtual access point created on the WDS Station to extend the WDS AP’s wireless network, only required on Qualcomm Atheros routers (see more under Multiple WLANs)
-*We have to change:+'''Lazy WDS''' - normally only used on the host instead of setting the client MAC, to dynamically grant WDS membership to any client
--Wireless mode: "G-only" (in both routers).+'''MAC address''' – device specific address, not easily changeable. Usually in the format XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX, where X is a Hex number (0 to F)
-*And in advanced options:+=Qualcomm Atheros, Broadcom, or Ralink (Must be running dd-wrt)=
 +The first step is to know what chipset your routers use, specifically the manufacturer.
 +For WDS to work reliably the routers must be all the same chip manufacturer.
 +A good way to determine the chip manufacturer is to go to the Status page and read what CPU Model it has. Another method is to go to https://wikidevi.wi-cat.ru/Main_Page and look up the model number and specific hardware revision. Ex: Archer A7 v5.x
--Preamble: Short (in both routers).+===Note about WDS and different chip manufacturers===
 +WDS between different chip vendors (qualcomm atheros, broadcom, ralink) will not work most of the time since it's INCOMPATIBLE and no we will NOT fix it. There is an unsupported, unsecure (no wireless security or WEP) method to connect a Broadcom (main router) with a Qualcomm Atheros (secondary router). This will be discussed further down.
-*In Wireless Security:+===Note about dual-band WDS===
 +Only use a WDS bridge on one radio's Wireless Mode (either 2.4GHz '''or''' 5GHz) , as bridging both radios may cause wireless issues. If the signal is strong enough, 5ghz is the best back-haul signal choice since you'll get more bandwidth.
--The available security encryptions are: Open , Shared Key and WEP (64/128 bit).- Working perfect. Remember to put the same security in both routers.+=Qualcomm Atheros Based Devices=
 +Before starting these instructions, please read [[Atheros/ath_wireless_settings|QCA Wireless Settings]]
-*(note: You can hide your wireless hardware SSID (for security purposes -yea... we are laying whit an old RC4...- ''':P''' ) and add a virtual interface whit AP Isolation activated, then you can put a better security encription algorithm ('''Info added by [[User:Takv|Takv]], greetings from Chile''').+'''Step 1:''' First set a static IP in the same subnet as the WDS AP and WDS Station. Use any number outside of the DHCP range (default range is 192.168.1.100 to 192.168.1.149). It is easier to have hardwired access to both routers when setting this up.
-===DD-WRT to DD-WRT WDS===+'''Step 1 a):''' (Optional, but advised) Reset to default all of the routers if possible. Do not restore settings, you can make a backup if you wish. Change the filename of the back up to match the router and record the build revision.
-* Only set the ap to "'''wds ap'''" and the clients to "'''wds station'''". Put all on the same SSID and set your prefered wireless encryption.+
-* '''NO''' WDS support for connecting current DD-WRT MadWIFI <-> DD-WRT MadWIFI-N+
-===DD-WRT to Ubiquiti WDS===+'''Step 2:''' Log in to the WDS AP.
-* AirOS <=3.X <-> DD-WRT: set AirOS to WDS-AP <-> DD-WRT v.24 (or higher) to WDS-Sta. Put all on the same SSID and set your prefered wireless encryption.+'''Step 3''': On the Setup → Basic Setup page change the following settings
-* '''NO''' WDS support for connecting current AirOS 3.x <-> DD-WRT MadWIFI-N and AirOS 5.X <-> DD-WRT MadWIFI/DD-WRT MadWIFI-N+* STP – Enabled
 +* Click Save (at the bottom)
-===DD-WRT to MTik WDS===+'''Step 4:''' On the Wireless → Basic Settings page change the following settings
 +* Change Wireless mode to WDS AP
 +* Make sure Wireless SSID Broadcast is enabled
 +* Make a note of the other settings (not advanced settings) on that page, you will need them for the WDS Station later
 +* Check the Advanced Tickbox
 +* Enable Short Preamble
 +* Enable Short GI
 +* Click Save
-* Connect as DD-WRT WDS-Sta to an MTik AP. Set DD-WRT MTik compability to on. The other way round should work, too. Put all on the same SSID and set your prefered wireless encryption.+'''Step 4 a):''' Go to the appropriate WDS page, you only need to use one,
 +* Wireless → ath0-WDS page - 2.4GHz
 +* Wireless → ath1-WDS page - 5GHz
 +* Wireless → WDS page for single band routers
 +* Make a note of the MAC addresses listed on the top of the page
-=Broadcom Based Devices=+'''Step 5:''' On the Wireless → Wireless Security page make a note of all of the settings:
 +* password
 +* encryption type, see recommended settings [[Atheros/ath_wireless_settings|QCA Wireless Settings]]
 +* Click Apply, wait for the page to reload (Don’t close the page)
-In regards to integration with DD-WRT, it is confirmed working with WEP, WPA, and WPA2.+'''Step 6:''' Log in to the WDS Station.
-==Working Broadcom Based Devices ==+'''Step 7:''' On the Setup → Basic Setup page change the following settings
-* 3Com OfficeConnect,3CRWE454G72, in Repeater Mode+* Change WAN Connection Type to Disabled
-* Alcatel Speedtouch 580+* STP – Enabled
-* [http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php?title=WDS_Linked_router_network#Setting_up_WDS_between_a_DD-WRT_router_and_an_Apple_Airport_Express Apple Airport Express]+* Local IP address must be in the same subnet as the WDS AP but outside of its DHCP range (Ex: 192.168.1.2, if using the default range)
-* Asus WL-500g+* (Optional) Assign WAN Port to switch – Enable (This provides another LAN port on the WDS Station)
-* Asus WL-520gU+* Change the Default Gateway and Local DNS (default is 0.0.0.0 for both) to the IP address of the WDS AP
-* Asus WL-500g Premium (v1 and v2)+* Click Save
-* Asus WL500W (K24 all and K26 builds up to 15314)+* Uncheck all of the check boxes under DHCP
-* Asus RT-N12+* Disable the DHCP Server
-* Asus RT-N16+* Click Save (at the bottom)
-* Belkin F5D7130 Wireless Range Extender/Access Point+
-* Belkin F5D7230-4 802.11g Wireless DSL/Cable Gateway Router+
-* Belkin F5D7231-4+
-* Buffalo WHR-G54S+
-* Buffalo WHR-G125+
-* Buffalo WBR2-G54+
-* Buffalo WHR-HP-G54+
-* Buffalo WLI-TX4-G54HP+
-* Buffalo WZR-HP-G54+
-* CompUSA SKU#333628 54Mbps Wireless Broadband Router (aka Edimax br-6204WG) [[http://www.edimax.com.tw/html/english/frames/b-download.htm upgrade firmware]]+
-* CompuShack SWA-103 (Waveline Micro AccessPoint) AP+Repeater Mode (only with static IP or DHCP over LAN - not WLAN)+
-* Comtrend 536++
-* D-link DGL-4300+
-* Fujitsu Siemens AP-600RP+
-* HighGainAntennas 8186HP CPE [[http://www.highgainantennas.com/product_p/8186hp%20cpe.htm 8186HP]]+
-* Linksys WRE54G Wireless Range Expander+
-* Linksys WRT54G v1, v2, v3, v4, v5, v6, v8+
-* Linksys WRT54G-TM (client) to WRT54GL (server).+
-* Linksys WRT54G2 v1.0+
-* Linksys WRT54GL v1.1+
-* Linksys WRT54GS v1.0, v1.1, v2.0, v4, v5+
-* Linksys WRT150N+
-* Linksys WRT160N+
-* Linksys WRT300N+
-* Linksys WRT310N+
-* Linksys WRT320N+
-* Linksys WRT350N+
-* Linksys WRT600N v1.1 (K24 only)+
-* Linksys WRT610N v1 (K24 or K26)+
-* Linksys WRT610N v2 (K26 Only)+
-* Linksys E2000+
-* Linksys E3000+
-* Motorola WR850G v2, v3+
-* Netfaster Iad+
-* Netgear WG602 v3 Repeater Mode+
-* Netgear WNR2000 v2+
-* Netgear WNR834B+
-* Netgear WNR834B v2+
-* Netgear WNDR3300+
-* Siemens Gigaset SE505+
-* Siemens Gigaset Repeater+
-* Sinus 154 Basic SE+
-* Sinus 1054 DSL+
-* Thomson ST780+
-* USRobotics 5450 (AP Client mode)+
-* USRobotics USR5461 (Client mode, AP, G-Only and WAP Personal)+
-* Billion BiPAC 7402VGO+
-* Billion BiPAC 7402VGP+
-* Billion BiPAC 7404VGP+
-==Non-working Broadcom Based Products==+'''Step 8:''' Go to the Security → Firewall page
-If you found a dd-wrt supported device that doesn't work with WDS (and you're certain), please list it here.+* Uncheck all of the boxes except Filter Multicast
 +* Click Save
 +* Check the Disable button at the top
 +* Click Save
-* combination Linksys WRT150N and FONERA+ (FON2201) doesn't work !+'''Step 9:''' Go to the Wireless → Basic Wireless page
- -> Linksys WRT150n works as described, but signal of Fonera= 0+* Put in the exact same settings as on the WDS AP - same SSID, encryption, etc
- -> FONERA+ doesn't show any 'WDS Nodes'+* Change the Wireless Mode to WDS Station
 +* Check the Advanced check box
 +* Enable Short Preamble
 +* Enable Short GI
 +* Click Save
-==Setup/Configuration for Broadcom Based Devices==+'''Step 10:''' (Optional) - To extend the wireless network of the WDS AP, or daisy chain WDS Station to WDS Station
-Standard terminology for a two router setup:+* Under Virtual Interfaces, Click Add
-* The '''client router''' is the router which does not have an internet connection.+* Change the Wireless Mode of the Virtual Interface to WDS AP
-* The '''host router''' is the router which does have the internet connection and is going to share it with other routers.+* Type in the SSID for the Virtual Interface exactly (same capitalization) as it is on the WDS AP (main router)
 +* Click Save
-====Setup for two or more WRT54G / WRT54GS / WRT54GL / WTR54GS boxes====+'''Step 11:''' Go to the Wireless → Wireless Security page
-# ''(Recommended)'' Save the current configurations of both routers: '''Administration -> Backup'''. Click the '''Backup''' button and follow prompts so save NVRAM backup files, i.e. nvram_host.bin, and nvram_client.bin. These configurations can be restored if the new setup doesn't work and you need to quickly revert to the previous (working) configuration.+* Put in the same Security Mode (WPA vs WPA2), WPA Algorithms (AES vs TKIP), and WPA shared password, on the ath0 or ath1 network.
-# Reset the client router to its factory default state to eliminate the potential of conflict from other settings. Either use the router's reset button or reset via the GUI: '''Administration -> Factory Defaults -> Reset router settings -> Restore Factory Defaults''' - select '''Yes''' (radio button), then click '''Apply Settings''' button and wait for the router to reboot. ''(Optional)'' Unless it is impractical, e.g. the host is part of a working network, reset the host router to its factory default state as well to simplify debugging the new setup.+* Repeat this step if you added a Virtual interface in WDS AP mode. Ex: ath0.1, ath1.1, etc
-# <!-- I didn't find this to be optional at all, and, intuitively, there can be only one WAN connection at at time - WDS serves as the WAN connection for the client router. ''(Optional)''+* Click Save
- -->Change the WAN Connection Type to '''Disabled''' on the client router. '''Setup -> Basic Setup -> WAN Setup -> WAN Connection Type'''+
-# Set the client router's '''Local IP Address''' to one in the same subnet as the host router, i.e. 192.168.1.1 (host/internet gateway) and 192.168.1.2 (client router). If the host router has been reset, set its '''Local IP Address''' as well. Set the '''Gateway''' and '''Local DNS''' IP addresses of the client router to the '''Local IP Address''' of the host router. '''Setup -> Basic Setup -> Network Setup -> Router IP'''+
-# For the client router, disable the DHCP server. This allows the host router to perform DHCP services. There can only be one DHCP server on any subnet (network) for reliable operation. '''Setup -> Basic Setup -> Network Address Server Settings (DHCP)'''+
-<!-- I am removing this step for two reasons: 1) Because it does not correlate with current GUI (only choices are '''DHCP Server''' and '''DHCP Forwarder'''), and 2) because it is working fine with '''DHCP Forwarder''' selected on my setup.+
-# '''Important !''' Do Not use the DHCP forwarder either. It is equally as confusing to the network. The WDS bridge is exactly that, a bridge. All clients connecting to the repeater are bridged at the MAC layer to the primary radio and they will obtain their DHCP lease from the primary radio as though they were connecting directly to it. -->+
-# ''(Optional)'' Disable the firewall on the client router. '''Security -> Firewall -> Firewall Protection -> SPI Firewall '''+
-# For both host and client routers, set the '''Wireless Mode''' to '''AP''' and make sure the '''Wireless Channel''' is the same. For '''Wireless Network Mode''', select '''Mixed''' or '''G-Only''' (for WDS to work, '''B-Only''' must not be selected). Set the '''Wireless Network Name (SSID)''' to your liking. For WPA WDS, the SSID for the routers must be the same; for WEP, or when debugging without security enabled, different SSIDs can make troubleshooting easier. '''Wireless -> Basic Settings'''+
-# Disable wireless security on both routers (this should already be done if you reset both routers to factory defaults). Security can be re-enabled after all other steps are complete, but in order to minimize troubleshooting, it's best to get things set up with no security active. If this is impractical, e.g. the host is part of a working network, make certain that ''all'' security settings on the client match those of the host ''exactly''. '''Wireless -> Wireless Security -> Wireless Security wl0'''+
-# '''Important:''' Disable MAC address filtering on the host router (this should already be done if you reset both routers to factory defaults). If this is impractical, e.g. the host is part of a working network, add the wireless MAC address of the client router (see '''Status -> Sys-Info''') to the '''MAC Filter List''' of the host router. '''Wireless -> MAC Filter'''+
-# Open the '''WDS''' configuration page for both routers. For each router, you will see its wireless MAC address ('''Wireless MAC''') at the top of the page. Note that this MAC address is different from the one that may be printed on the case. In the first open row of the table, select '''LAN''' from the dropdown list and enter each router's wireless MAC address into the table of the other router. It is not necessary to enable '''Lazy WDS''' or '''WDS Subnet''' on either router. If necessary, consult [http://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=174523 WDS - configuration for more than two routers] for some helpful info. '''Wireless -> WDS -> WDS Settings'''+
-# ''(Optional)'' Configure static routing: for '''Destination LAN NET''' for the client router enter the IP address of the host router. Use the same settings for '''Subnet Mask''' and '''Gateway''' that are used by host router. For '''Interface''', select '''LAN & WLAN'''. This step ensures that the bridge is given a static IP route. '''Setup > Advanced Routing -> Static Routing'''+
-# Check the wireless status page of each router to see that the other is present in the '''WDS Nodes''' section. Make sure signal strength for each is not zero. '''Status -> Wireless -> Wireless Nodes -> WDS Nodes'''+
-# Test that you can ping the host from the client. Note that it may take a short amount of time for the WDS link to be established, and you may need to reboot either the client or host router (or both).+
-# If disabled, enable wireless security now (highly recommended). If you set the SSID of the client router to be different from that of the host router, you need to make them the same in order to enable WPA encryption security. Using WPA encryption also requires STP to be enabled on all routers for a reliable link.+
-====Multiple router setup====+'''Step 12:''' On the WDS Station, go to the appropriate WDS page, same as Step 4.a)
-See [[WDS multiple router setup]]+* Change one of the drop-down boxes to LAN
 +* Put in the WDS AP MAC in the boxes on the same row
 +* Put in a user recognizable name in the large box next to the MAC (Does not have to be the actual name of the router)
 +* Repeat this step for adding other Stations to connect to this station.
 +* Make sure Lazy WDS and WDS subnet are Disabled
 +* Click Save
 +* Click Apply, wait until the page reloads
-====Apple Airport Express====+'''Step 13:''' Go back to the WDS AP (main router)
-Verified with DD-WRT v2.3 (12/25/05) and AirPort Express v6.20 [1-21-2006]+
-Information updated for AirPort Express v6.3 and AirPort Utility v5.3.1 [3-16-2008]+'''Step 14:''' On the WDS AP, go to the appropriate WDS page. Same as Step 4.a)
 +* Change one of the drop-down boxes to LAN
 +* Put in the WDS Station’s MAC in the boxes on the same row.
 +* Put in a user recognizable name in the large box next to the MAC (Does not have to be the actual name of the router). This only helps in identifying if the routers are connected as seen on the Status – Wireless page
 +* Repeat this step for adding other WDS Stations to connect to this station.
 +* Make sure Lazy WDS and WDS Subnet are Disabled
 +* Click Save
 +* Click Apply, wait until the page reloads
-'''DD-WRT''' (Save settings after each step)+'''Step 15:''' Go back to the WDS Station
-# '''Wireless -> Basic Settings"''' Set the channel on the DD-WRT to 1. +
-## '''Wireless -> WDS:''' Select "LAN" option and enter the Airport Express's "AirPort ID" (can be found on the underside of the AirPort Express itself - be careful not to choose the "Ethernet ID"). +
-## Set Lazy WDS and WDS subnet to disable+
-# '''Administration -> Management:''' Set Loopback to disable. +
-# '''Security -> Firewall:''' Turn off "Block Anonymous Internet Requests."+
-'''AirPort Express'''+'''Step 16:''' Go to the Administration → Keep Alive page
-# Open AirPort Utility (found in /Applications/Utilities), select your AirPort Express from the left panel, and click "Manual Setup"+* Enable the WDS Connection watchdog
-# In the "AirPort" section:+* Put in the IP address of the WDS AP
-## Select "Wireless" tab+* Put in an interval such as 300 (5 min) or 1000 seconds.
-### Select "Participate in WDS network"+* This will reboot the WDS Station if it can’t find the WDS AP
-### Set Network name to your wireless SSID name+* This means that if you have to reboot the WDS AP, you don’t have to manually reboot all of the WDS Stations
-### Set the wireless channel to 1+
-### Choose your security (only WEP will work wirelessly - if you want WPA on your network, you're going to have to connect the AirPort via an ethernet cable)+
-## Select "WDS" tab+
-### Set "WDS mode" as "WDS remote"+
-### In the Main Aiport ID section enter your DD-WRT wireless MAC (can get this in '''Status -> Wireless''')+
-# In the "Music" section (if you want to use AirTunes):+
-## Make sure "Enable AirTunes" is selected+
-## Name and password-protect your speakers+
-# Click "update"+
-If it works then there will be a solid green light (may take a couple of minutes) . If it does not work, you should connect Airport Express and WRT54G/GS using a CAT-5 cable and set up it. It might work.+'''Step 17:''' Test the setup, move the routers apart and test with various wireless devices.
-This information is from [http://ryanschwartz.net/2004/08/05/airtunes-airport-express-and-the-wrt54g AirTunes, AirPort Express, and the WRT54G at ryanschwartz.net - and has since been edited to update information]. 
-Also note that the above configuration with the Airport Express works with either no encryption or WEP encryption. When using WEP encryption, make sure you enter your WEP key into the Airport Express exactly how it is entered into the WRT54G, but '''add a <code>$</code> to the beginning of the key'''. $ key is meant for hex (WEP). If you're not using hex, then you can leave it blank as normal. +=Broadcom Based Devices=
 +'''Setup/Configuration for Broadcom Based Devices'''
-In addition, also note that the wireless channel does not need to be 1, but it must be the same for both the DD-WRT and Airport Express. I have both units set to channel 11 and WDS works perfectly.+'''1.''' [Both routers] Save the current configurations: Administration -> Backup. Click the Backup button and follow prompts to save NVRAM files, e.g. nvram_host.bin and nvram_client.bin. These can be restored if the new setup doesn't work, to quickly revert to the previous (working) configuration.
-WPA/WPA2 encryption does not appear to work over WDS (but will work when the Airport Express is configured in client mode - but in client mode, the RJ45 connection is not usable). The error that the WRT54G reports back when the Airport Express is trying to associate via WPA over WDS is: <code>eapol_sup_dispatch wds0.49153: unknown EPOL type 3 </code>. EPOL has to do with WPA, so perhaps if this issue can be resolved, then the two devices could associate. [EDIT: WPA2 seems to work just fine with the above configuration, as of March 16 2008.]+'''2.''' [Client] Reset to factory defaults to eliminate potential conflicts from other settings. Either use the router reset button or the GUI: Administration -> Factory Defaults -> Reset router settings -> Restore Factory Defaults, select Yes (radio button), click Apply Settings, then wait for the router to reboot. (Optional) Reset the host router also, unless impractical (e.g. the host is part of a working network), to simplify debugging the new setup.
-Warning: This guide does not work for Atheros-based DD-WRT routers, such as the D-Link DIR-300. Airport Express will not be able to participate in the WDS network.+'''3.''' [Client] Change the WAN Connection Type to Disabled. Setup -> Basic Setup -> WAN Setup -> WAN Connection Type . Also enable STP.
-Troubleshooting: Make sure that you disable the "AP Watchdog" daemon. If you have a wireless endpoint (like a laptop) which connects to the Airport station (because you use WDS) then the Linksys does not see any clients connected and restarts the wireless network over and over. You also could change other channel apart from 1, if you're having problems and you don't have to disable loopback.+'''4.''' [Client] Set the Local IP Address to one in the same subnet as the host router (e.g. 192.168.1.1 (host/internet gateway) and 192.168.1.2 (client router)). If the host router has been reset, set its Local IP Address as well. On the client, set the Gateway and Local DNS IP addresses to the Local IP Address of the host. Setup -> Basic Setup -> Network Setup -> Router IP
-===Notes===+'''5.''' [Client] Disable the DHCP server. This allows the host to perform DHCP services. There can only be one DHCP server on any subnet (network) for reliable operation. Setup -> Basic Setup -> Network Address Server Settings (DHCP) . Also Uncheck the Three boxes below the DHCP Server.
-* In some cases it may help to put the IP of the client router as a DMZ'd machine in the host router. Of course, this only works with a WDS between 2 routers.+
-** http://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=669&highlight=dmz+
-* The source material for this list comes primarily from the following DD-WRT forum posts:+
-**http://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=124+
-* If you're using encryption, remember to configure it on all routers!+
-* Set encryption after you got a running WDS.+
-* On the main '''Status''' page and the '''Wireless Status''' you can see the signal strength for any other routers in the WDS. If they are showing 0 then you're not connecting to them for some reason (wrong MAC address or, for WPA links, wrong SSID).+
-** It seems that when WPA2 is enabled, WDS does not work well with TKIP+AES: client router reports no signal from the host router, while the host router reports a valid signal from the client routeur. Using TKIP only helps.+
-** WPA2 is works fine with TKIP+AES: Set both client and host to the same security settings, with the same password. Version in use is v24 Beta (07/12/07) - std on 2 Buffalo WHR-G125s.+
-* If you want to use more than 2 repeaters with WDS and define multiple WDS paths for redundancy then you MUST enable STP or the network will loop back on itself and destroy all functionality. [Quote from GeeTek]+
-* There is a known bug in v24 and v24-sp1 that affects WDS. However, this should be resolved in builds newer than 10305. See+
-http://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=208327#208327+
-==WDS Bridging without Access Point Function==+'''6.''' [Client] Navigate to Setup > Advanced Routing. In the dropdown box for Operating Mode, Select Router. Click Save
-(NOTE: This appears to be broke with v24 Final. It will brick a WAP54G v3.1.)+
-Sometimes you just want to bridge two points together. WDS has the advantage of correctly passing MAC addresses so either end could be the host (Internet connection on the LAN side). +'''7.''' [Client] Navigate to Services. Disable DNSMasq as well as WAN Traffic Counter. Click Save
-# Set up your WDS routers as you wish+
-# Turn off the AP function using the following commands in the shell+
-<pre>nvram set wl0_mode=wds+
-nvram commit+
-reboot</pre>+
-You may also need to issue an additional command of+'''8.''' [Client] Disable the firewall. Security -> Firewall -> Firewall Protection -> SPI Firewall. First Uncheck everything BUT Filter Multicast, click Save. Now Disable the SPI Firewall and click Save.
-<pre>nvram set wl_mode=wds</pre>+
-to turn off the AP.+
-#After it reboots you'll have a WDS bridge which doesn't allow wireless clients.+
-==Troubleshooting==+'''9.''' [Both routers] Set the Wireless Mode to AP and make sure the Wireless Channel is the same. For Wireless Network Mode, you can select Mixed , G-Only , NG-Mixed, or N-Only. Set the Wireless Network Name (SSID) to your liking as long as it is exactly the same on both routers. If running N or NG-Mixed , WPA2 + AES is the only form of encryption that can be used.
-WDS between DD-WRT v23 and DD-WRT v24 is imposible, thats a broadcom driver issue!+
-by Meex+
-info by BrainSlayer +
-===Same LAN MAC Address Problem===+'''10.''' [Both routers] (Recommended) Disable wireless security (the default after reset) until WDS is working to minimize troubleshooting. If impractical (e.g. host is part of a working network), ensure all security settings on the client and host match exactly. Wireless -> Wireless Security -> Wireless Security wl0
-If you are using two WRT54G V5V6 with same firmware version, you may end up on that both router use exactly same MAC address on its LAN, WAN, Wireless. Although you can change WAN and Wireless MAC address at WEB interface, it is hard to change LAN MAC address. +
-If both router use same LAN MAC address on WDS, you will see that: you can Ping any computer on both router, but you can NOT ping either router's IP, it will show "Destination Host Unreachable".+'''11.''' [Host] (Important) disable MAC address filtering
-To fix this, please refer thread:+'''12.''' [Both routers] Open the WDS configuration page/Tab. For each router, you will see its wireless MAC address (Wireless MAC) at the top of the page. Note that this MAC address is different from the one that may be printed on the case. In the first open row of the table, select LAN from the dropdown list (The router will pause for a second) and enter each router's wireless MAC address into the table of the other router. It is not necessary to enable Lazy WDS or WDS Subnet on either router. If necessary, consult WDS - configuration for more than two routers for some helpful info. Wireless -> WDS -> WDS Settings
-https://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=174925&highlight=&sid=4b806e3de8e572f678c8526ccf9ae5f6+'''13.''' (Optional, but not recommended) On the client router, configure static routing (Setup -> Advanced Routing) for Destination LAN NET and enter the IP address of the host router. Use the same settings for Subnet Mask and Gateway that are used by host router. For Interface, select LAN & WLAN. This step ensures that the bridge is given a static IP route. Setup > Advanced Routing -> Static Routing
-I have to revert one of my router back to Linksys version, then flash it again with custom build killer file.+'''14.''' [Both routers] Check the wireless status page to see that the other is present in the WDS Nodes section. Make sure signal strength for each is not zero. Status -> Wireless -> Wireless Nodes -> WDS Nodes. If it is 0%, and there are no indication of the router transmitting or receiving packets, Unplug the client router for ~10 seconds , then re-insert power. Give it no more than 3 minutes to boot and obtain the WDS link from the host router.
-Info by Victor+'''15.''' Test that you can ping the host from the client. Note that it may take a short amount of time for the WDS link to be established, and you may need to reboot either the client or host router (or both).
-===Constantly losing connection to Samba/Shared folder===+'''16.''' (Highly recommended) If disabled, enable wireless security now. First enable it on the Client router, wait 5 seconds, then enable it on the Host router. Watch the Wireless LED's on the host router, if they are blinking, you're in business. If they're solid, power cycle the client router.
-If you notice that you constantly lose connection to your machine while streaming a video or transferring a file from a Samba/Shared folder over your WDS, you might want try underclocking your routers to the same CPU speed. Some Linksys WRT54G/GS are set as 216mhz (factory default), even after flashing dd-wrt. Try underclocking them to 200mhz under Administration -> Management -> Overclocking, in the dd-wrt administrative console. For a detailed list of which versions of Linksys WRT54G/GS run at what speed, please check the Wikipedia link to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WRT54G Linksys WRT54G Series]+ 
 +'''17.''' If you set the SSID of the client router to be different from that of the host router, you need to make them the same in order to enable WPA/WPA2 encryption security. Using WPA/WPA2 encryption also requires STP to be enabled on all routers for a reliable link.
 + 
 +'''Screenshots of the process, with examples of the respected configurations in the best order as outlined above:'''
 +[[Image:SetupBasic.png]]
 + 
 +[[Image:SetupAdvanced.png]]
 + 
 +[[Image:SetupServices.png]]
 + 
 +[[Image:SetupFirewall.png]]
 + 
 +[[Image:SetupWifiEnc.png]]
 + 
 +[[Image:SetupWDS.png]]
 + 
 +[[Image:SetupWireless.png]]
 + 
 +[[Image:Client.png]]
-Note: This may not be necessary, if you experience this problem it might be worth trying but don't do it unless you have a problem. Changing the clock speed is somewhat of a risk and could damage your router. 
=Ralink Based Devices= =Ralink Based Devices=
-'''--This section could use some work--'''+'''Ralink to Ralink Devices'''
 + 
 +* Wireless → WDS → WDS Settings → Select LAN, enter MAC address of the routers you wish to connect, enter a note so you know which router the MAC refers to. i.e. UpstairsRouter.
 +* Extra Options→ Disable – Easy WDS,
 +* Click Save, then Apply Settings
 +May have to add the physical interface to the bridged network:
 +To do this, go to Setup => Networking => Assign to Bridge => Add => Select "br0", Interface "ra0" => Apply Settings
 +Tested on D-Link DIR-615 D4/D2 dd-wrt build 15778, Do NOT use this as a firmware recommendation for these devices! Please see the forums for official firmware recommendations. You can find the latest builds here: [https://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Index:FAQ#Where_do_I_download_firmware.3F Where do I download firmware?]
 + 
 + 
 +'''Ralink to Qualcomm Atheros'''
 + 
 +Ralink to Qualcomm Atheros WDS connection works but only with WEP or Unsecured. Qualcomm Atheros WDS AP to Ralink Client Mode can use WPA or WPA2 but it is no longer a WDS bridge.
 + 
 + 
 +'''Ralink to Broadcom'''
 + 
 +Ralink to Broadcom WDS connection works but only Unsecured or WEP.
 + 
 +=Broadcom to Qualcomm Atheros WDS Configuration (Unsupported)=
 + 
 +For the best WDS stability and performance, you should use the same wireless chipset on both sides, ie: Broadcom-to-Broadcom or Qualcomm Atheros-to-Qualcomm Atheros. That being said, multi-vendor WDS interoperability is possible but not necessarily guaranteed to work.
 +Note: there are configuration differences between DD-WRT builds & different platforms. If you don't see the exact configuration items below on your router, you may need to look for it on a different configuration page.
 + 
 + 
 +'''BOTH ROUTERS:'''
 + 
 +* Wireless / Basic Settings: Wireless Mode = G-only or NG-Mixed
 +* Wireless / Basic Settings: Network Name (SSID) = dd-wrt (modify to your liking)
 +* Wireless / Wireless Security: Security Mode = WEP or Unsecured
 +* Wireless / Wireless Security: Default Transmission Key = 1
 +* Wireless / Wireless Security: Encryption = 64 or 128 bits (either works)
 +* Wireless / Wireless Security: Passphrase = (blank)
 +* Wireless / Wireless Security: Key 1 = 10 or 26-digit encryption key (modify to your liking)
 + 
 + 
 +'''BROADCOM-SPECIFIC SETTINGS:'''
 + 
 +* Wireless / Basic Settings: Wireless Mode = AP
 +* Wireless / Basic Settings: Wireless Channel = (pick something suitable for your environment)
 +* Wireless / Advanced Settings: Preamble = Short
 +* Wireless / WDS: Enter MAC address of Atheros device and select "LAN" in the drop-down box
 + 
 + 
 +'''QUALCOMM ATHEROS-SPECIFIC SETTINGS:'''
 + 
 +* Wireless / Basic Settings: Wireless Mode = "WDS Station"
 +* Wireless / Basic Settings / Advanced Tickbox / Short Preamble = Enable
 +* Wireless / WDS: Enter MAC address of Broadcom device and select "LAN" in the drop-down
 +* Note: Wireless Channel will be automatically selected based on the Broadcom configuration
 + 
 + 
 +The above examples were minimally tested using the following hardware / firmware on 1/12/2011:
 +* Broadcom BCM4704 (v9): Netgear WNDR3300 '(dd-wrt.v24-15508_NEWD-2_std-nokaid_nohotspot_nostor.bin)'
 +* Atheros AR2315: Engenius / Senao EOC-2610 '(v24 preSP2 [Beta] Build: 14896)'
 + 
 + 
 +Do NOT use this as a firmware recommendation for these devices! Please see the Qualcomm Atheros and Broadcom forums for official firmware recommendations. You can find the latest builds here: ftp://ftp.dd-wrt.com/betas/
 +In this configuration, combinations of WPA/TKIP and WPA2/AES were unsuccessful. "AP" and "WDS AP" modes on the Qualcomm Atheros didn't work in this configuration either.
 + 
 + 
 +If you are having difficulty getting the WDS link up, disable security on both sides and try again:
 +* Wireless / Wireless Security: Security Mode = Disabled
 + 
 + 
 +=DD-WRT to other router firmwares=
 + 
 + 
 +'''DD-WRT MadWIFI to Ubiquiti WDS'''
 +* AirOS <=3.X <-> DD-WRT (madwifi): set AirOS to WDS-AP <-> DD-WRT v.24 (or higher) to WDS-Sta. Put all on the same SSID and set your prefered wireless encryption.
 +* NO WDS support for connecting current AirOS 3.x <-> DD-WRT ath9k and AirOS 5.X <-> DD-WRT MadWIFI/DD-WRT ath9k
 + 
 + 
 +'''DD-WRT MadWIFI to MTik WDS'''
 +* Connect as DD-WRT WDS-Sta to an MTik AP. Set DD-WRT MTik compability to on. The other way round should work, too. Put all on the same SSID and set your prefered wireless encryption.
 + 
 + 
 +'''DD-WRT to Apple Airport Express (Broadcom only)''' - last tested with AirPort Express v6.3 and AirPort Utility v5.3.1 [3-16-2008]
 + 
 +Warning: This does not work for Qualcomm Atheros-based DD-WRT routers. Airport Express will not be able to participate in the WDS network.
 + 
 +*'''DD-WRT''' (Save settings after each step)
 +#Wireless -> Basic Settings" Set the channel on the DD-WRT to 1 or the same as the AirPort Express.
 +#Wireless -> WDS: Select "LAN" option and enter the Airport Express's "AirPort ID" (can be found on the underside of the AirPort Express itself - be careful not to choose the "Ethernet ID").
 +#Set Lazy WDS and WDS subnet to disable
 +#Administration -> Management: Set Loopback to disable.
 +#Security -> Firewall: Turn off "Block Anonymous Internet Requests."
 + 
 +*'''AirPort Express'''
 +#Open AirPort Utility (found in /Applications/Utilities), select your AirPort Express from the left panel, and click "Manual Setup"
 +#In the "AirPort" section:
 +#Select "Wireless" tab
 +#Select "Participate in WDS network"
 +#Set Network name to your wireless SSID name
 +#Set the wireless channel to 1, or the same as the dd-wrt compatible router
 +#Choose your security (only WEP will work wirelessly - if you want WPA/WPA2 on your network, you're going to have to connect the AirPort via an ethernet cable)
 +#Select "WDS" tab
 +#Set "WDS mode" as "WDS remote"
 +#In the Main Aiport ID section enter your DD-WRT wireless MAC (can get this in Status -> Wireless)
 +#In the "Music" section (if you want to use AirTunes):
 +#Make sure "Enable AirTunes" is selected
 +#Name and password-protect your speakers
 +#Click "update"
 + 
 +If it works then there will be a solid green light (may take a couple of minutes). If it does not work, you should connect Airport Express and dd-wrt compatible router using an Ethernet cable and set up it. It might work.
 +This information is from AirTunes, AirPort Express, and the WRT54G at ryanschwartz.net - and has since been edited to update information.
 +Encryption: The above method works with: No encryption, WEP, and WPA2
 +Troubleshooting: Make sure that you disable the "AP Watchdog" daemon. If you have a wireless endpoint (like a laptop) which connects to the Airport station (because you use WDS) then the Linksys does not see any clients connected and restarts the wireless network over and over. You also could change other channel apart from 1, if you're having problems and you don't have to disable loopback. Notes:
 +* If you're using encryption, remember to configure it on all routers!
 +* Set encryption after you got a running WDS
 +* On the main Status page and the Wireless Status you can see the signal strength for any other routers in the WDS. If they are showing 0 then you're not connecting to them for some reason (wrong MAC address or, for WPA links, wrong SSID).
 +* NOTE: Some security works with some dd-wrt and not with others. Lately (2010) the only security that has worked reliably is WEP and WPA2-AES. WPA2-AES is the ONLY security that should be used with N routers if you wish to have N speed.
 +* If you want to use more than 2 repeaters with WDS and define multiple WDS paths for redundancy then you MUST enable STP or the network will loop back on itself and destroy all functionality.
 + 
-==Working Ralink Based Devices==+=Troubleshooting=
-* Buffalo WHR-G300N^+
-^This does not work through the Physical interface (wireless), BUT it does work through the Virtual interface (for me anyway - Just followed all the other instructions as written, and added a virtual Interface). Perhaps someone with more network savy can explain why and avoid the extra SSID. The other router used was a non-buffalo/non-dd-wrt router, the WDS mode set to "Repeater Mode". Obviously I hid the extra SSID. Hope this helps someone. So Can't be sure it works with other Buffalo WHR-G300N routers (I only have one).+'''Same LAN MAC Address Problem'''
-* D-Link DIR-615^+If you are using two WRT54G v5/6 with same firmware version, you may end up on that both router use exactly same MAC address on its LAN, WAN, Wireless. Although you can change WAN and Wireless MAC address in the GUI, it is hard to change LAN MAC address.
-^As with the Buffalo, you have to create a virtual wireless interface on the client, too. In my setup, I was using 2 DIR-615.+If both router use same LAN MAC address on WDS, you can ping any computer on both routers, but NOT either router's IP, and will show "Destination Host Unreachable". To fix this, refer to this [https://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=174925 thread] or revert to OEM first.
-Note: 01/12/2010: '''The above information is not entirely correct''' +'''Don’t see the other router (or Status list shows 0%)'''
-I've got it working on multiple DIR-615's without needing to use the virtual interface. However, if using the "physical" interface, you will need to manually add the wireless interface (ra0) to the network bridge. Even though it claims ra0 is already part of the bridge, you still need to add it again, otherwise you will have no connectivity when connecting to it (which may be the problem the two users above describe). This seems to be a bug as of build 14929.+If you don’t see the other router and you can’t ping eithe, reboot both. If that does not work, disable encryption on both the client (WDS Station) and host router (WDS AP). If it still does not work, make sure the Firewall on the client (WDS Station) is disabled. Check if STP is enabled on both routers.
-To do this, go to '''Setup => Networking => Assign to Bridge => Add => Select "br0", Interface "ra0" => Apply Settings''' 
=External Links= =External Links=
-[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_Distribution_System Wikipedia's WDS entry]+[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_Distribution_System Wikipedia Wireless Distribution System]
[[Category:Routing]] [[Category:Routing]]
[[Category:Wlan]] [[Category:Wlan]]
-[[Category:Basic tutorials]]+[[Category:Linking Routers]]

Current revision

Wiki Path: DD-WRT Wiki Main / Tutorials / Linking Routers / WDS Linked router network


Contents

[edit] Basic Definitions

WDS – Wireless Distribution System connects one or more routers to a main router to wirelessly share internet, allows roaming between routers

Subnet – the octets of an IP address selected by the subnet mask (e.g. 255.255.255.0, thus for 192.168.X.Y the subnet low octet is X)

Host router – the main router connected to the internet, to share with clients

Client router – the router not connected to the internet, to connect with the host router. There can be several clients

WDS AP – the host router "Wireless Mode" selection, only on Qualcomm Atheros routers

WDS Station – the client router "Wireless Mode" selection only on Qualcomm Atheros routers

WDS AP VAP – a virtual access point created on the WDS Station to extend the WDS AP’s wireless network, only required on Qualcomm Atheros routers (see more under Multiple WLANs)

Lazy WDS - normally only used on the host instead of setting the client MAC, to dynamically grant WDS membership to any client

MAC address – device specific address, not easily changeable. Usually in the format XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX, where X is a Hex number (0 to F)

[edit] Qualcomm Atheros, Broadcom, or Ralink (Must be running dd-wrt)

The first step is to know what chipset your routers use, specifically the manufacturer. For WDS to work reliably the routers must be all the same chip manufacturer. A good way to determine the chip manufacturer is to go to the Status page and read what CPU Model it has. Another method is to go to https://wikidevi.wi-cat.ru/Main_Page and look up the model number and specific hardware revision. Ex: Archer A7 v5.x

[edit] Note about WDS and different chip manufacturers

WDS between different chip vendors (qualcomm atheros, broadcom, ralink) will not work most of the time since it's INCOMPATIBLE and no we will NOT fix it. There is an unsupported, unsecure (no wireless security or WEP) method to connect a Broadcom (main router) with a Qualcomm Atheros (secondary router). This will be discussed further down.

[edit] Note about dual-band WDS

Only use a WDS bridge on one radio's Wireless Mode (either 2.4GHz or 5GHz) , as bridging both radios may cause wireless issues. If the signal is strong enough, 5ghz is the best back-haul signal choice since you'll get more bandwidth.

[edit] Qualcomm Atheros Based Devices

Before starting these instructions, please read QCA Wireless Settings

Step 1: First set a static IP in the same subnet as the WDS AP and WDS Station. Use any number outside of the DHCP range (default range is 192.168.1.100 to 192.168.1.149). It is easier to have hardwired access to both routers when setting this up.

Step 1 a): (Optional, but advised) Reset to default all of the routers if possible. Do not restore settings, you can make a backup if you wish. Change the filename of the back up to match the router and record the build revision.

Step 2: Log in to the WDS AP.

Step 3: On the Setup → Basic Setup page change the following settings

  • STP – Enabled
  • Click Save (at the bottom)

Step 4: On the Wireless → Basic Settings page change the following settings

  • Change Wireless mode to WDS AP
  • Make sure Wireless SSID Broadcast is enabled
  • Make a note of the other settings (not advanced settings) on that page, you will need them for the WDS Station later
  • Check the Advanced Tickbox
  • Enable Short Preamble
  • Enable Short GI
  • Click Save

Step 4 a): Go to the appropriate WDS page, you only need to use one,

  • Wireless → ath0-WDS page - 2.4GHz
  • Wireless → ath1-WDS page - 5GHz
  • Wireless → WDS page for single band routers
  • Make a note of the MAC addresses listed on the top of the page

Step 5: On the Wireless → Wireless Security page make a note of all of the settings:

  • password
  • encryption type, see recommended settings QCA Wireless Settings
  • Click Apply, wait for the page to reload (Don’t close the page)

Step 6: Log in to the WDS Station.

Step 7: On the Setup → Basic Setup page change the following settings

  • Change WAN Connection Type to Disabled
  • STP – Enabled
  • Local IP address must be in the same subnet as the WDS AP but outside of its DHCP range (Ex: 192.168.1.2, if using the default range)
  • (Optional) Assign WAN Port to switch – Enable (This provides another LAN port on the WDS Station)
  • Change the Default Gateway and Local DNS (default is 0.0.0.0 for both) to the IP address of the WDS AP
  • Click Save
  • Uncheck all of the check boxes under DHCP
  • Disable the DHCP Server
  • Click Save (at the bottom)

Step 8: Go to the Security → Firewall page

  • Uncheck all of the boxes except Filter Multicast
  • Click Save
  • Check the Disable button at the top
  • Click Save

Step 9: Go to the Wireless → Basic Wireless page

  • Put in the exact same settings as on the WDS AP - same SSID, encryption, etc
  • Change the Wireless Mode to WDS Station
  • Check the Advanced check box
  • Enable Short Preamble
  • Enable Short GI
  • Click Save

Step 10: (Optional) - To extend the wireless network of the WDS AP, or daisy chain WDS Station to WDS Station

  • Under Virtual Interfaces, Click Add
  • Change the Wireless Mode of the Virtual Interface to WDS AP
  • Type in the SSID for the Virtual Interface exactly (same capitalization) as it is on the WDS AP (main router)
  • Click Save

Step 11: Go to the Wireless → Wireless Security page

  • Put in the same Security Mode (WPA vs WPA2), WPA Algorithms (AES vs TKIP), and WPA shared password, on the ath0 or ath1 network.
  • Repeat this step if you added a Virtual interface in WDS AP mode. Ex: ath0.1, ath1.1, etc
  • Click Save

Step 12: On the WDS Station, go to the appropriate WDS page, same as Step 4.a)

  • Change one of the drop-down boxes to LAN
  • Put in the WDS AP MAC in the boxes on the same row
  • Put in a user recognizable name in the large box next to the MAC (Does not have to be the actual name of the router)
  • Repeat this step for adding other Stations to connect to this station.
  • Make sure Lazy WDS and WDS subnet are Disabled
  • Click Save
  • Click Apply, wait until the page reloads

Step 13: Go back to the WDS AP (main router)

Step 14: On the WDS AP, go to the appropriate WDS page. Same as Step 4.a)

  • Change one of the drop-down boxes to LAN
  • Put in the WDS Station’s MAC in the boxes on the same row.
  • Put in a user recognizable name in the large box next to the MAC (Does not have to be the actual name of the router). This only helps in identifying if the routers are connected as seen on the Status – Wireless page
  • Repeat this step for adding other WDS Stations to connect to this station.
  • Make sure Lazy WDS and WDS Subnet are Disabled
  • Click Save
  • Click Apply, wait until the page reloads

Step 15: Go back to the WDS Station

Step 16: Go to the Administration → Keep Alive page

  • Enable the WDS Connection watchdog
  • Put in the IP address of the WDS AP
  • Put in an interval such as 300 (5 min) or 1000 seconds.
  • This will reboot the WDS Station if it can’t find the WDS AP
  • This means that if you have to reboot the WDS AP, you don’t have to manually reboot all of the WDS Stations

Step 17: Test the setup, move the routers apart and test with various wireless devices.


[edit] Broadcom Based Devices

Setup/Configuration for Broadcom Based Devices

1. [Both routers] Save the current configurations: Administration -> Backup. Click the Backup button and follow prompts to save NVRAM files, e.g. nvram_host.bin and nvram_client.bin. These can be restored if the new setup doesn't work, to quickly revert to the previous (working) configuration.

2. [Client] Reset to factory defaults to eliminate potential conflicts from other settings. Either use the router reset button or the GUI: Administration -> Factory Defaults -> Reset router settings -> Restore Factory Defaults, select Yes (radio button), click Apply Settings, then wait for the router to reboot. (Optional) Reset the host router also, unless impractical (e.g. the host is part of a working network), to simplify debugging the new setup.

3. [Client] Change the WAN Connection Type to Disabled. Setup -> Basic Setup -> WAN Setup -> WAN Connection Type . Also enable STP.

4. [Client] Set the Local IP Address to one in the same subnet as the host router (e.g. 192.168.1.1 (host/internet gateway) and 192.168.1.2 (client router)). If the host router has been reset, set its Local IP Address as well. On the client, set the Gateway and Local DNS IP addresses to the Local IP Address of the host. Setup -> Basic Setup -> Network Setup -> Router IP

5. [Client] Disable the DHCP server. This allows the host to perform DHCP services. There can only be one DHCP server on any subnet (network) for reliable operation. Setup -> Basic Setup -> Network Address Server Settings (DHCP) . Also Uncheck the Three boxes below the DHCP Server.

6. [Client] Navigate to Setup > Advanced Routing. In the dropdown box for Operating Mode, Select Router. Click Save

7. [Client] Navigate to Services. Disable DNSMasq as well as WAN Traffic Counter. Click Save

8. [Client] Disable the firewall. Security -> Firewall -> Firewall Protection -> SPI Firewall. First Uncheck everything BUT Filter Multicast, click Save. Now Disable the SPI Firewall and click Save.

9. [Both routers] Set the Wireless Mode to AP and make sure the Wireless Channel is the same. For Wireless Network Mode, you can select Mixed , G-Only , NG-Mixed, or N-Only. Set the Wireless Network Name (SSID) to your liking as long as it is exactly the same on both routers. If running N or NG-Mixed , WPA2 + AES is the only form of encryption that can be used.

10. [Both routers] (Recommended) Disable wireless security (the default after reset) until WDS is working to minimize troubleshooting. If impractical (e.g. host is part of a working network), ensure all security settings on the client and host match exactly. Wireless -> Wireless Security -> Wireless Security wl0

11. [Host] (Important) disable MAC address filtering

12. [Both routers] Open the WDS configuration page/Tab. For each router, you will see its wireless MAC address (Wireless MAC) at the top of the page. Note that this MAC address is different from the one that may be printed on the case. In the first open row of the table, select LAN from the dropdown list (The router will pause for a second) and enter each router's wireless MAC address into the table of the other router. It is not necessary to enable Lazy WDS or WDS Subnet on either router. If necessary, consult WDS - configuration for more than two routers for some helpful info. Wireless -> WDS -> WDS Settings

13. (Optional, but not recommended) On the client router, configure static routing (Setup -> Advanced Routing) for Destination LAN NET and enter the IP address of the host router. Use the same settings for Subnet Mask and Gateway that are used by host router. For Interface, select LAN & WLAN. This step ensures that the bridge is given a static IP route. Setup > Advanced Routing -> Static Routing

14. [Both routers] Check the wireless status page to see that the other is present in the WDS Nodes section. Make sure signal strength for each is not zero. Status -> Wireless -> Wireless Nodes -> WDS Nodes. If it is 0%, and there are no indication of the router transmitting or receiving packets, Unplug the client router for ~10 seconds , then re-insert power. Give it no more than 3 minutes to boot and obtain the WDS link from the host router.

15. Test that you can ping the host from the client. Note that it may take a short amount of time for the WDS link to be established, and you may need to reboot either the client or host router (or both).

16. (Highly recommended) If disabled, enable wireless security now. First enable it on the Client router, wait 5 seconds, then enable it on the Host router. Watch the Wireless LED's on the host router, if they are blinking, you're in business. If they're solid, power cycle the client router.

17. If you set the SSID of the client router to be different from that of the host router, you need to make them the same in order to enable WPA/WPA2 encryption security. Using WPA/WPA2 encryption also requires STP to be enabled on all routers for a reliable link.

Screenshots of the process, with examples of the respected configurations in the best order as outlined above: Image:SetupBasic.png

Image:SetupAdvanced.png

Image:SetupServices.png

Image:SetupFirewall.png

Image:SetupWifiEnc.png

Image:SetupWDS.png

Image:SetupWireless.png

Image:Client.png


[edit] Ralink Based Devices

Ralink to Ralink Devices

  • Wireless → WDS → WDS Settings → Select LAN, enter MAC address of the routers you wish to connect, enter a note so you know which router the MAC refers to. i.e. UpstairsRouter.
  • Extra Options→ Disable – Easy WDS,
  • Click Save, then Apply Settings

May have to add the physical interface to the bridged network: To do this, go to Setup => Networking => Assign to Bridge => Add => Select "br0", Interface "ra0" => Apply Settings Tested on D-Link DIR-615 D4/D2 dd-wrt build 15778, Do NOT use this as a firmware recommendation for these devices! Please see the forums for official firmware recommendations. You can find the latest builds here: Where do I download firmware?


Ralink to Qualcomm Atheros

Ralink to Qualcomm Atheros WDS connection works but only with WEP or Unsecured. Qualcomm Atheros WDS AP to Ralink Client Mode can use WPA or WPA2 but it is no longer a WDS bridge.


Ralink to Broadcom

Ralink to Broadcom WDS connection works but only Unsecured or WEP.

[edit] Broadcom to Qualcomm Atheros WDS Configuration (Unsupported)

For the best WDS stability and performance, you should use the same wireless chipset on both sides, ie: Broadcom-to-Broadcom or Qualcomm Atheros-to-Qualcomm Atheros. That being said, multi-vendor WDS interoperability is possible but not necessarily guaranteed to work. Note: there are configuration differences between DD-WRT builds & different platforms. If you don't see the exact configuration items below on your router, you may need to look for it on a different configuration page.


BOTH ROUTERS:

  • Wireless / Basic Settings: Wireless Mode = G-only or NG-Mixed
  • Wireless / Basic Settings: Network Name (SSID) = dd-wrt (modify to your liking)
  • Wireless / Wireless Security: Security Mode = WEP or Unsecured
  • Wireless / Wireless Security: Default Transmission Key = 1
  • Wireless / Wireless Security: Encryption = 64 or 128 bits (either works)
  • Wireless / Wireless Security: Passphrase = (blank)
  • Wireless / Wireless Security: Key 1 = 10 or 26-digit encryption key (modify to your liking)


BROADCOM-SPECIFIC SETTINGS:

  • Wireless / Basic Settings: Wireless Mode = AP
  • Wireless / Basic Settings: Wireless Channel = (pick something suitable for your environment)
  • Wireless / Advanced Settings: Preamble = Short
  • Wireless / WDS: Enter MAC address of Atheros device and select "LAN" in the drop-down box


QUALCOMM ATHEROS-SPECIFIC SETTINGS:

  • Wireless / Basic Settings: Wireless Mode = "WDS Station"
  • Wireless / Basic Settings / Advanced Tickbox / Short Preamble = Enable
  • Wireless / WDS: Enter MAC address of Broadcom device and select "LAN" in the drop-down
  • Note: Wireless Channel will be automatically selected based on the Broadcom configuration


The above examples were minimally tested using the following hardware / firmware on 1/12/2011:

  • Broadcom BCM4704 (v9): Netgear WNDR3300 '(dd-wrt.v24-15508_NEWD-2_std-nokaid_nohotspot_nostor.bin)'
  • Atheros AR2315: Engenius / Senao EOC-2610 '(v24 preSP2 [Beta] Build: 14896)'


Do NOT use this as a firmware recommendation for these devices! Please see the Qualcomm Atheros and Broadcom forums for official firmware recommendations. You can find the latest builds here: ftp://ftp.dd-wrt.com/betas/ In this configuration, combinations of WPA/TKIP and WPA2/AES were unsuccessful. "AP" and "WDS AP" modes on the Qualcomm Atheros didn't work in this configuration either.


If you are having difficulty getting the WDS link up, disable security on both sides and try again:

  • Wireless / Wireless Security: Security Mode = Disabled


[edit] DD-WRT to other router firmwares

DD-WRT MadWIFI to Ubiquiti WDS

  • AirOS <=3.X <-> DD-WRT (madwifi): set AirOS to WDS-AP <-> DD-WRT v.24 (or higher) to WDS-Sta. Put all on the same SSID and set your prefered wireless encryption.
  • NO WDS support for connecting current AirOS 3.x <-> DD-WRT ath9k and AirOS 5.X <-> DD-WRT MadWIFI/DD-WRT ath9k


DD-WRT MadWIFI to MTik WDS

  • Connect as DD-WRT WDS-Sta to an MTik AP. Set DD-WRT MTik compability to on. The other way round should work, too. Put all on the same SSID and set your prefered wireless encryption.


DD-WRT to Apple Airport Express (Broadcom only) - last tested with AirPort Express v6.3 and AirPort Utility v5.3.1 [3-16-2008]

Warning: This does not work for Qualcomm Atheros-based DD-WRT routers. Airport Express will not be able to participate in the WDS network.

  • DD-WRT (Save settings after each step)
  1. Wireless -> Basic Settings" Set the channel on the DD-WRT to 1 or the same as the AirPort Express.
  2. Wireless -> WDS: Select "LAN" option and enter the Airport Express's "AirPort ID" (can be found on the underside of the AirPort Express itself - be careful not to choose the "Ethernet ID").
  3. Set Lazy WDS and WDS subnet to disable
  4. Administration -> Management: Set Loopback to disable.
  5. Security -> Firewall: Turn off "Block Anonymous Internet Requests."
  • AirPort Express
  1. Open AirPort Utility (found in /Applications/Utilities), select your AirPort Express from the left panel, and click "Manual Setup"
  2. In the "AirPort" section:
  3. Select "Wireless" tab
  4. Select "Participate in WDS network"
  5. Set Network name to your wireless SSID name
  6. Set the wireless channel to 1, or the same as the dd-wrt compatible router
  7. Choose your security (only WEP will work wirelessly - if you want WPA/WPA2 on your network, you're going to have to connect the AirPort via an ethernet cable)
  8. Select "WDS" tab
  9. Set "WDS mode" as "WDS remote"
  10. In the Main Aiport ID section enter your DD-WRT wireless MAC (can get this in Status -> Wireless)
  11. In the "Music" section (if you want to use AirTunes):
  12. Make sure "Enable AirTunes" is selected
  13. Name and password-protect your speakers
  14. Click "update"

If it works then there will be a solid green light (may take a couple of minutes). If it does not work, you should connect Airport Express and dd-wrt compatible router using an Ethernet cable and set up it. It might work. This information is from AirTunes, AirPort Express, and the WRT54G at ryanschwartz.net - and has since been edited to update information. Encryption: The above method works with: No encryption, WEP, and WPA2 Troubleshooting: Make sure that you disable the "AP Watchdog" daemon. If you have a wireless endpoint (like a laptop) which connects to the Airport station (because you use WDS) then the Linksys does not see any clients connected and restarts the wireless network over and over. You also could change other channel apart from 1, if you're having problems and you don't have to disable loopback. Notes:

  • If you're using encryption, remember to configure it on all routers!
  • Set encryption after you got a running WDS
  • On the main Status page and the Wireless Status you can see the signal strength for any other routers in the WDS. If they are showing 0 then you're not connecting to them for some reason (wrong MAC address or, for WPA links, wrong SSID).
  • NOTE: Some security works with some dd-wrt and not with others. Lately (2010) the only security that has worked reliably is WEP and WPA2-AES. WPA2-AES is the ONLY security that should be used with N routers if you wish to have N speed.
  • If you want to use more than 2 repeaters with WDS and define multiple WDS paths for redundancy then you MUST enable STP or the network will loop back on itself and destroy all functionality.


[edit] Troubleshooting

Same LAN MAC Address Problem

If you are using two WRT54G v5/6 with same firmware version, you may end up on that both router use exactly same MAC address on its LAN, WAN, Wireless. Although you can change WAN and Wireless MAC address in the GUI, it is hard to change LAN MAC address.

If both router use same LAN MAC address on WDS, you can ping any computer on both routers, but NOT either router's IP, and will show "Destination Host Unreachable". To fix this, refer to this thread or revert to OEM first.

Don’t see the other router (or Status list shows 0%)

If you don’t see the other router and you can’t ping eithe, reboot both. If that does not work, disable encryption on both the client (WDS Station) and host router (WDS AP). If it still does not work, make sure the Firewall on the client (WDS Station) is disabled. Check if STP is enabled on both routers.


[edit] External Links

Wikipedia Wireless Distribution System