Understanding repeater access points, Chapter 20, Chapter – Rockwell Automation 1783-WAPxxx Stratix 5100 Wireless Access Point User Manual User Manual

Page 521

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Rockwell Automation Publication 1783-UM006A-EN-P - May 2014

521

Chapter

20

Configuring Repeater and Standby Access Points
and Workgroup Bridge Mode

This chapter describes how to configure your access point as a repeater, as a hot
standby unit, or as a workgroup bridge.

Understanding Repeater
Access Points

A repeater access point is not connected to the wired LAN; it is placed within
radio range of an access point connected to the wired LAN to extend the range of
your infrastructure or to overcome an obstacle that blocks radio communication.
You can configure either the 2.4 GHz radio or the 5 GHz radio as a repeater. In
access points with two radios, only one radio can be a repeater; the other radio
must be configured as a root radio.

The repeater forwards traffic between wireless users and the wired LAN by
sending packets to either another repeater or to an access point connected to the
wired LAN. The data is sent through the route that provides the best
performance for the client. When you configure an access point as a repeater, the
access point’s Ethernet port does not forward traffic.

You can set up a chain of several repeater access points, but throughput for client
devices at the end of the repeater chain is low. Because each repeater must receive
and then re-transmit each packet on the same channel, throughput is cut in half
for each repeater you add to the chain.

A repeater access point associates to the access point that has the best
connectivity. However, you can specify the access point that the repeater
associates with. Setting up a static, specific association between a repeater and a
root access point improves repeater performance.

Topic

Page

Understanding Repeater Access Points

521

Configuring a Repeater Access Point

523

Understanding Hot Standby

529

Configuring a Hot Standby Access Point by Using CLI

531

Understanding Workgroup Bridge Mode

535

Configuring Workgroup Bridge Mode

540

Using Workgroup Bridges in a Lightweight Environment

542

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