Configuration Precautions for WDS
- On a WDS network, an 802.11ac AP cannot interoperate
with non-802.11ac APs regardless of the radio types used by the AP.
Only 802.11ac APs can interoperate with each other.Among all WDS APs, the AP5030DN, AP5130DN, AP8030DN, AP8130DN, AP3030DN, AP4030DN, AP4130DN, and AP9131DN are 802.11ac APs.
- When planning a WDS network, pay attention to the
following:
- The back-to-back WDS networking involves two WDS networks. A single WDS network cannot form a back-to-back WDS network.
- Only one root node exists on the WDS network.
- A middle node sets up WDS links only with the leaf node and root node. Middle nodes do not set up WDS links between each other.
- Each WDS link allows a maximum of three hops (a 3-hop WDS link includes a root node, a middle node, and a leaf node).
- Each node on the WDS link supports a maximum of six subnodes.
This chapter provides only WDS configurations. After the WDS configurations are complete, APs can connect to an AC through WDS links. To use WLAN services, you also need to configure basic WLAN services. For configurations of basic WLAN services, see Basic WLAN Service Configuration.
When dual-band APs are used on WDS networks, the root AP and leaf AP cannot use radio 0 or radio 1 simultaneously to establish a WDS link.
When configuring the WDS function, ensure that the root, middle, and leaf nodes use the same WDS profile; otherwise, WDS links cannot be set up or the existing WDS links get disconnected.
- Avoid using radar channels to configure WDS links; otherwise, the following problems may occur:
- Establishing WDS links on radar channels takes several minutes or several ten minutes longer than establishing WDS links on non-radar channels.
- Radar signals cause disconnection of established WDS links.
If WDS services are configured on an AP radio, WIDS on the radio does not take effect.
Radio calibration does not take effect on radios enabled with WDS functions.
If you set the CAPWAP heartbeat interval or the number of heartbeat packet transmissions too small using the capwap echo interval interval-value or capwap echo times times-value command, WDS links may fail to be established. Therefore, you are advised to use the default values.
If WDS is enabled simultaneously with dual-link backup, the AC sends CAPWAP heartbeat packets three times at an interval of 25 seconds by default. This may cause unstable WDS links status and result in user access failures. You are advised to run the capwap echo times times-value command to set the number of heartbeat packet transmissions to 6 or a larger value.
