8 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCING THE OFFICECONNECT WIRELESS ACCESS POINTWDS SupportWireless Distribution System (WDS) allows you to build a completelywireless infrastructure using access points, instead of wires, tointerconnect multiple networks. WDS also helps you create large wirelessnetworks by linking several wireless access points with WDS links. WDS isnormally used in large, open areas where pulling wires is cost prohibitive,restricted, or physically impossible.You can use the Access Point to build a WDS on the network. It canfunction either as a wireless bridge or wireless client/repeater.For WDS to work, all participating access points in the distribution systemmust support WDS. If you are using access points other than theOfficeConnect Wireless 108 Mbps 11g PoE Access Point to build a WDS,check the documentation for these access points and verify that theysupport WDS.Wireless BridgeIn a wireless bridge configuration, access points are configured tointerconnect or “bridge” two or more wired local networks at the linklayer. When wired local networks are bridged, devices on each networkcan access resources on the other network.The Access Point supports two wireless bridge modes:■ Point-to-Point (PTP)■ Point-to-Multipoint (PTMP)In PTP mode, only two access points are configured to bridge two wirednetworks. To configure the OfficeConnect Wireless Access Point to bridgewith a compatible access point, you need to specify the MAC address ofeach device on the other to establish a PTP bridge. Figure 2 illustrateshow two access points in PTP mode connect two wired networks.