I have read many similar posts asking about a WDS setup where someone wants to know how to configre WDS on an existing network where station/ap routers already have ethernet connectivity. Each post seems to go the same way, why use WDS when you already have ethernet, just use same SSID with staggered channels, and the post ends there.
The question remains unanswered (IMO, or I am possibly missing something obvious to others)
Can you configure a WDS network with Mikrotik based devices so that the following requirements are met, listed in order of Priority:
1: ONLY 1 20Mhz 2.4Ghz channel used
2: Single SSID
3: Each device in the WDS bachauls over the Ethernet connection
In my configuration, roaming without reconnecting is not necessary. Number 1 priority is to only use one channel for all APs in the building and not have them interfere with each other, this is the only reason i am considering WDS. The devices are already in place, connected via ethernet, multiple SSIDs, and staggered channels. The staggered channels are causing interference problems with surrounding APs, this must be resolved. Ethernet connectivity is already there, so why not get the frame out of the wireless as soon as possible since it is my understanding that as you add additional APs to the WDS configuration, you cut your wireless bandwidth in half. (Perhaps I have been mislead)
As they are already on a L2 network via ethernet, I cant see what benefit you think WDS will add.
You can run them all on the same channel, using the same ssid, with ethernet backhaul and without WDS. It will work fine, although you may find your access points are now interferring with each other if theres that many of them.
It is my understanding that WDS allows one device to act as Master, and one as slave, all with the same wireless settings Perhaps I am making an assumption here, but does that not imply that they don’t interfere with one another?.. This is the benefit I am trying to get with WDS. Two devices, close proximity, same settings, no interference.
I understand this is not the normal use of WDS, what I don’t understand is why? What behind the scene mechanics allow the 2 devices to occupy the same channel without interference? Yet the same 2 devices without WDS will cause interference, this is where I am missing something.
2 devices , on the same channel, in close proximity will/can cause interference. Slave/Master is only used if you run wds-slave mode, and it simply allows the slave wireless devices to follow the channel of the master, making changes easier.
It has no bearing in what you want to achieve. Set all the radios to AP mode, Same SSID, same channel and wire back to the controller.
WDS would typically be used where you have an AP, and want to distribute the wireless signal around the site, whilst retaining a L2 connection , but without wired access points (hence Wireless Distribution system).
Don’t get too hung up on interference, just make sure you turn the power down on the nodes if they are too close.
There is some mikrotiks, each with wired backhaul already. What I need is to achieve comfortable roaming for mobile clients. Right now with setup when all APs just configured to same SSID/channel roaming is pretty annoying - connectivitty loss, when client looses current AP and connects to another, plus client stays at current AP as long as he can. For example, connected to one AP, then walk to other, if signal from first AP is still visible then, even if client has stronger signal from second AP he will not reconnect untill he looses first AP complitely.
When AP configured to WDS (without use of wired backhaul) roaming is pretty good - AP easily handsoff client to next AP without connection loss, just a little bandwidth degrade.
So what I’m looking for is tecnology to achieve same roaming effect as with WDS, but using wired connection as backhaul, instead of radio.
TheWiFiGuy mentioned controller. What kind of soft/hardware can serve as wireless controller for mikrotik?