3.3.1.2 WDS Only Mode
WDS (Wireless Distributed System) Only mode configures the router to act as a bridge for its wired Intranet and a repeater to
extend wireless reach. You can use multiple WiFi routers as WiFi repeaters in a chain setup in "WDS Only" mode. All
gateways can communicate with each other through WiFi. All wired client hosts behind each router can also communicate
with each other in this scenario. Only one router within the repeater chain can be the DHCP server to provide IP addresses
for all the wired client hosts of the other routers which should have their DHCP servers disabled. This router can be also be
configured as a NAT router to provide internet access.
The diagram below illustrates that there are two wireless gateways (WiFi Gateway 2 and WiFi Gateway 3) running in "WDS
Only" mode. They both use channel 3 to link to local Gateway 1 through WDS. Both gateways connected by WDS need to
know the remote AP MAC of the other. All client hosts under gateway 2 and 3 can request IP addresses from the DHCP server
of gateway 1. Wireless Gateway 1 also executes the NAT mechanism for all client hosts accessing the Internet.
Figure 108 – WiFi Configuration - WDS Only Mode