National Instruments NI WAP-3711 - Manual (Page 19)

NI WAP-3701/3711 User’s Manual Web Console Configuration
3-5
General Operations
Specifying the Operational Mode
Go to the General, Operational Mode section, select an operational mode and then click Save at
the bottom of this page. This will take you back to the starting page.
The AP supports 2 operational modes:
y AP/Bridge.
This mode provides both Access Point and Static LAN-to-LAN Bridging functionality.
The static LAN-to-LAN bridging function is supported through Wireless Distribution System
(WDS).
y AP Client.
This mode is for Dynamic LAN-to-LAN Bridging. The AP Client automatically establishes
bridge links with APs from any vendor.
In either mode, the NI WAP-3701/3711 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 as specified by the IEEE 802.11 standard.
y STA-AP.
This type of wireless link is established between an IEEE 802.11 Station (STA) and an IEEE
802.11 Access Point (AP). An STA is usually a client computer (PC or PDA) with a WLAN
network interface card (NIC). The AP Client mode is actually an STA.
y WDS.
This type of wireless link is established 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.
The relationships among the operational modes and the wireless link types are shown in the
following table:
AP/Bridge AP Client
AP/Bridge
WDS STA-AP
AP Client STA-AP
To establish a static bridge link based on WDS, the AP/bridges at both end of the WDS link must
be configured manually with each other’s MAC addresses. To establish a dynamic bridge link
between an AP and an AP Client, both devices must be configured with the same SSID and WEP
settings. The AP Client automatically scans for any AP that is using the matched SSID and
establishes a bridge link with the scanned AP.