Zyxel Device Roles - ZyXEL Communications NWA Series User Manual

1.3 Zyxel Device Roles

This section describes some of the different roles that your Zyxel Device can take up within a network.
Not all roles are supported by all models (see
• Access Point (AP) - This is used to allow WiFi clients to connect to the Internet.
• Radio Frequency (RF) monitor - An RF monitor searches for rogue APs to help eliminate network
threats if it supports monitor mode and rogue APs detection/containment. An RF monitor cannot
simultaneously act as an AP.
• Root AP - A root AP connects to the gateway or switch through a wired Ethernet connection and
has wireless repeaters connected to it to extend its range.
• Wireless repeater - A wireless repeater wirelessly connects to a root AP and extends the network's
wireless range. A wireless repeater can also be a wireless bridge that connects to a root AP and
extends the network to wired client devices.
If a client (D) tries to set up his own AP (R) with weak security settings, the network becomes exposed to
threats. The RF monitor (M) scans the area to detect all APs, which can help the network administrator
discover these rogue APs and remove them or use the AC (Zyxel's AP controller) to quarantine them.
Figure 1 Zyxel Device Application in a Network
Wireless Distribution System (WDS) and Wireless Bridge
Wireless Distribution System (WDS) is a network system that allows you to distribute the network to areas
that require Internet connections. You can extend your network to unreachable areas with wireless
repeaters, or with wireless repeaters acting as wireless bridges.
The following figure shows you how to create a secure WDS with two wireless repeaters. The root AP (Y) is
connected to a network with Internet access and has wireless repeaters (X and Z) connected to it to
expand the WiFi network's range. Clients (A and B) can access the wired network through the wireless
repeaters (X and Z) and/or root AP.
Chapter 1 Introduction
Section 1.2 on page
NWA/WAC/WAX Series User's Guide
22
14). The Zyxel Device can serve as a: