Bridge Client WDS which mode do I need?
Bridge Client WDS which mode do I need? This is the question that recently ran thru my brain. I had to replace a bad powerline ethernet adapter. This time I wanted to go wireless and this was going to require a router. However, all the devices that connected to the old powerline adapter are wired only devices. I had an ethernet switch that I plugged all the devices into and plugged the switch into the powerline adapter. That part had worked out well. Now I needed to try it with wireless that’s when these terms came to my attention.
The trouble was that the modes are all very much alike but that there are differences between them. I needed to find out what those differences are and see which mode is the one I need.
Bridge vs Client mode vs WDS
It is possible that different firmwares define (and implement) these modes slightly differently, but here’s a start.
Client mode.
In client mode, the WAN (Internet) connection is made by connecting as a client to an existing wireless network. The router does not provide access point support for other wireless clients. Its wireless radio is busy being a client on the existing wireless network. The LAN on the router is NAT’ed from the wireless network, just as it would be normally from the Internet. Typically, hosts on your LAN would be using the DHCP server on the router, since it is an independent network. The network address of your LAN hosts should be different from the network address of the wireless network.
Bridge mode.
Bridge mode is similar to client mode, in that the wireless radio is busy being a “client” on an existing wireless network, and therefore does not provide additional access point support. However, the LAN on the router behaves exactly as if it was part of the wireless network. In other words, hosts on your LAN would use the DHCP server that everyone else on the wireless network would use; typically, the DHCP server on your bridge router would be off. The network address of your LAN hosts will be the same network address as the wireless network.
WDS mode.
WDS mode is the next step in this chain of evolution. The LAN behaves exactly like it does under bridge mode. The difference between bridge mode and WDS mode is that the wireless radio on your router is also relaying wireless packets to/from other wireless clients, and would therefore act as another access point for additional wireless clients. There is a throughput penalty for using WDS, since every wireless packet received will have to be re-transmitted by the router. So you’ve only got half the wireless throughput available. But you’ve extended your wireless coverage, as well as providing a remote wired connection point to your network.
RonWessels, Mar 21, 2006
http://www.linksysinfo.org/index.php?threads/bridge-vs-client-mode-vs-wds.13608/#post-60649
I included this comment/quote because the author describes the various modes clearly and gave me an instant understanding of each of the modes.
Additional definitions
Using one NAT for the entire system keeps things simple.
DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) technology automatically assigns IP addresses to network devices every time they connect to the network. This is usually a feature of a router. My current router is already providing this service for my network. The new router will need this feature disabled.
What I determined
I think that I will need a bridge mode router. My current router has a strong wireless signal across my entire home. I really don’t need to extend the signal any further. I can use the new router’s built-in switch to connect all my wired connected devices. My old switch will need to find another home.
Related Article: Making an Ethernet Port Wireless
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