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Overview
What is a Wireless Distribution System?
A Wireless Distribution System (WDS) is the use of wireless repeating and bridging to
interconnect Access Points (APs) in an IEEE 802.11 Ethernet network.
A WDS can expand a wireless network without the traditional requirement for a wired
backbone. As long as the APs are on the same channel, WDSs provide a seamless
experience for roaming clients and for managing multiple wireless networks. The most
common use of a wireless distribution system is to bridge a WLAN spanning two buildings.
APs (such as routers or standalone devices) interconnect using radio frequency links using
the following modes:
Wireless bridging – where one AP acts as the common link between multiple APs.
The common AP communicates with other clients and repeaters.
Wireless repeating – where APs communicate with each other that are far apart, by
repeating signals using a wireless connection. This is similar to a regular Ethernet
bridge operation, and works best when APs have the same Service Set Identifier
(SSID).
Why use a Wireless Distribution System?
WDSs offer flexibility at low cost and are used in many situations where interconnectivity is
required without the use of physical connections.
WDSs have the advantage of being:
Cost effective – they reduce the need for cabling to inaccesible locations, and allow a
device to roam among several APs without having to rejoin networks. Network
design is a trade-off between investment cost of infrastructure and the efficiency of
RF cells. CAPEX increases due to the many cells required to cover a wide area, so
cost reduction may be accomplished by deploying big sized cells, but to the detriment
of available bandwidth.
Flexible and scalable – they extend existing WDSs easily, through the addition of
access points without the need for a backbone to link them.
PN 613-001765 Rev.A
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