SMC Networks EliteConnect Wireless Bridge SMC2586W-G - Manual (Page 20)

The SMC2586W-G supports 3 operational modes for meeting various wire-
less connectivity requirements:
• Access Point (AP). The AP mode enables IEEE 802.11 Stations (STAs) to
automatically associate with it via the standard IEEE 802.11 association
process. In addition, the IEEE 802.11 WDS (Wireless Distribution System)
technology can be used to manually establish wireless links between two
APs or between an AP and a Bridge Master.
• Bridge Master (BM). Use this mode to provide the Bridge Master
functionality of the SMC2682W. The Bridge Master mode is designed to
work in those networks where SMC2682W Wireless Bridge Slaves are
already installed. The Bridge Master enables Bridge Slaves to
automatically associate with it. It also enables IEEE 802.11 Stations, which
are on the same LAN as the Bridge Master, to automatically associate
with it via the standard IEEE 802.11 association process. In addition, the
IEEE 802.11 WDS (Wireless Distribution System) technology can be used
to manually establish wireless links between two Bridge Masters or
between a Bridge Master and an AP.
• Bridge Slave (BS). Use this mode to provide the Bridge Slave functional
ity of the SMC2682W. The Bridge Slave mode is designed to work in
those networks where SMC2682W Wireless Bridge Masters are already
installed.
In any mode, the SMC2586W-G forwards packets between its Ethernet
interface and wireless interface for wired hosts on the Ethernet side and
wireless host(s) on the wireless side.
There are 2 types of wireless links between two SMC2586W-Gs or
between an SMC2586W-G and another wireless device.
• WDS. This type of wireless link is specified in the IEEE 802.11 standard
for communication between two IEEE 802.11 APs. Wireless packets
transmitted along the WDS link comply with the IEEE 802.11 WDS
(Wireless Distribution System) format at the link layer.
• BM-BS. This type of wireless link is used in the SMC2682W for
providing LAN-to-LAN bridging services. To establish this type of wireless
link between two SMC2682W, one SMC2682W must be in Bridge Master
(BM) mode and the other must be in Bridge Slave (BS) mode. The
SMC2586W-G provides this type of wireless link for backward
compatibility with the SMC2682W.
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