ZyXEL Communications ZyXEL ZyAIR NWA-3500 - Manual (Page 34)

Chapter 1 Introducing the ZyXEL Device
ZyXEL NWA-3500 User’s Guide
34
1.2.1 Access Point
The ZyXEL Device is an ideal access solution for wireless Internet connection. A typical
Internet access application for your ZyXEL Device is shown as follows. Stations A, B and C
can access the wired network through the ZyXEL Devices.
Figure 1 Access Point Application
1.2.2 Bridge / Repeater
The ZyXEL Device can act as a wireless network bridge and establish wireless links with
other APs. In the figure below, the two ZyXEL Devices (A and B) are connected to
independent wired networks and have a bridge connection (A can communicate with B) at the
same time. A ZyXEL Device in repeater mode (C) has no Ethernet connection. When the
ZyXEL Device is in bridge mode, you should enable STP to prevent bridge loops.
When the ZyXEL Device is in Bridge / Repeater mode, security between APs (the Wireless
Distribution System or WDS) is independent of the security between the wireless stations and
the AP. If you do not enable WDS security, traffic between APs is not encrypted. When WDS
security is enabled, both APs must use the same pre-shared key. See
Section 6.7.2 on page 97
for more details.
Once the security settings of peer sides match one another, the connection between devices is
made.
At the time of writing, WDS security is compatible with other ZyXEL access points only.
Refer to your other access point’s documentation for details.