Using two WAPs as a bridge?

clickynext

Platinum Member
Dec 24, 2004
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I have two Linksys WAP11 (ver 2.2) WAPs. Here is a crude little paint drawing of what I want to do. I want to connect one WAP directly to my computer, and the other wap directly to my router, which is a DHCP server connected to a modem for internet access. I would like the effect to be as if the computer was directly connected to the router.

Right now I have the machines set up as in the illustration. The wireless access points are set to "Wireless Bridge" mode, with the LAN MAC address of each other specified in settings. Other settings available are Access Point, Access Point Client, and Wireless Bridge -Point to Multipoint. They are both using WEP 256bit with the same key. Both WAPs are configured with unique IPs, and have the same subnet mask as everything else on the network.

Right now when I connect one of the WAPs directly to my computer, it does not detect a link. The system tray shows the "Network cable disconnected" balloon. When either WAP is connected to the router, the link LED is lit.

So right now, I don't really have a clear idea of exactly how everything should be configured, and whether I'm on the right track. All my cables by the way are regular CAT5, not crossover.

Thanks for your help.
 

JackMDS

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 25, 1999
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You are a victim to the misuse of the word Bridge.

You have to configure the Computer WAP as a Client (might be they call it group Bridge).

It has to be connected to the computer with crossover cable.

More here: Wireless Network - Configuration Modes.

The WAP on the Router has to be configured as regular Access Point.

If you use the Router?s DHCP, the WAP?s DHCP has to be Off.

Make sure that the WAP has the same range of IP as the Router.

This page was written for Wireless Router but the same principle applies to WAP Configuration.

Link to: Using a Wireless Cable/DSL Router as a Switch with an Access Point

:sun:
 

ktwebb

Platinum Member
Nov 20, 1999
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If you have no other wireless clients that would be hitting the parent AP then you'd want to run it in PtoP or Point to multipoint bridging mode, not as an AP and workgroup bridge. Odd they would have a straight point to point but point to multipoint would work just as well.
 

clickynext

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Dec 24, 2004
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Originally posted by: ktwebb
If you have no other wireless clients that would be hitting the parent AP then you'd want to run it in PtoP or Point to multipoint bridging mode, not as an AP and workgroup bridge. Odd they would have a straight point to point but point to multipoint would work just as well.

Point to Point is the regular Wireless Bridge mode, correct? That's the one I'm using right now. So I guess my primary problem right now is that I need a crossover cable for the computer to talk to the WAP, right?
 

clickynext

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Dec 24, 2004
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Okay, I connected the computer to a hub, which has an uplink that I connected to one access point. Other access point is connected to the router. The computer is recognizing that it's connected to SOMETHING, which is the hub, but it's not seeing the access point on its own end or anything else on the network. When the hub uplink is connected to the router, everything is fine so it must be that the access points are net yet set up properly to talk to each other. I've tried both the bridge mode and the access point/access point client mode, which both require you to enter the LAN MAC address of the other access point (only on one side for the latter). Furthermore, both access points have their link lights on, and both have records of successful sent and received wireless packets.

But it's acting like there's no connection at all where the access points are supposed to be bridging the router to the hub. Any idea on what could be wrong in this? =/

Edit: by the way, my access points do not have DHCP servers (I'm not sure if any WAPs do) so what I'm trying to do is make the access points act as just a cable.
 

clickynext

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Dec 24, 2004
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bump... is there any way to see for sure whether an access point is connected wirelessly to another access point?
 

ktwebb

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Nov 20, 1999
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Depends on the software on the bridge.

Yes, you would probably need a X-over to go from Bridge to PC. NIC in the PC could be Auto MDI/MDX which would negate this need but that is typically only if it's a gigabit NIC.

I'd think the admin interface would have some kind of association table or connection status indicator. Just a guess. No experience with that hardware. But if it doesn't then you could always assign a static IP on the same segment as the router an start pinging though if that device is a DCHP server and your not picking up an IP then it's likely the child bridge is not associated to the parent.
 

clickynext

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Dec 24, 2004
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Originally posted by: ktwebbBut if it doesn't then you could always assign a static IP on the same segment as the router an start pinging though if that device is a DCHP server and your not picking up an IP then it's likely the child bridge is not associated to the parent.

I'm guessing that's the problem right now, because I did try assigning a static IP, and could not reach the parent bridge. In the box where it tells me to input the MAC of the remote bridge, should it be the LAN MAC or the Wireless MAC?