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Forum Discussion
CTGriffin
Jan 07, 2022Aspirant
WDS configuration for WAC510
Greetings, I have read the latest user manual for the WAC510. I have read the various "How To" links in the kb I have upgraded my three WAC510's to the latest firmware: V9.5.4.2 I hav...
RaghuHR
Jan 07, 2022NETGEAR Expert
Hi CTGriffin
We are selecting Root in WDS based on the MAC address of the AP. Hence, when an AP is acting as Repeater, and if you are trying to configure WDS where the MAC address is greater than the device MAC address, we are showing the message "This radio already has a WDS client configured. More than one WDS client not supported on same radio."
You try to establish WDS in another radio, as an alternative method.
Please find the document attached, for establishing WDS between 3 APs, in the same radio.
Hope this helps.
Raghu
CTGriffin
Jan 07, 2022Aspirant
Interesting.
So the two newly purchased WAC510 both have Ethernet and Wireless MAC addresses that are numerically greater than the existing Base Station (which is wired Ethernet) circa 2019.
After reading the documentation it seemed logical to leave the circa 2019 WAC510 as is whereis and there was no mention in the extensive WAC510 User Guide of the need to sort my MAC addresses prior to configuration.
Please for the sake of clarity when using the term MAC to specify whether it is device ethernet MAC or one of the many wireless MAC. MAC is no longer a single know all designator for a given device.
Currently physically:
WAC510 Base Station circa 2019 MAC range 3C-xxxx
WAC510 Repeater 1 circa 2022 MAC range 6C-CD-xxx
WAC510 Repeater 2 circa 2022 MAC range 6C-CD-xxx (greater than Repeater 1)
If I understand your WDS with 3 AP document, then no wonder I have that error message when configuring my circa 2019 WAC510 to be a Base Station with the Ethernet wire to perform WDS with the two new WAC510's. The newer purchased WAC510 will most likely always have a "greater" MAC (address range for both physical and wireless).
This really sounds like a GUI problem of presenting and checking MAC address (of which the ones for the "local" WDS setup are fixed and understandibly unchangeable.
I know the topology I want and I know my local network devices, but for the love all things technical why force me to sort my devices based upon MAC address to decide which WAC510 becomes the Base Station de jour.
Consider the confustion when I go get two more newer WAC510 to add to the mix. They surely have greater MAC's than the existing ones in my local network.
So my bottom line is:
REALLY???
- schumakuJan 07, 2022Guru - Experienced User
Appears it's not "just" a GUI problem. It's the WDS implementation going away from what the usual networking logic would expect: The one we configure first, and then the same again the same device where we add more clients to it is "magically" changed dynamically away from the master to a client - based on a hmmmm random priority based on a MAC address.
Its interesting this problem did not came up before in the community - probably because of WDS is a niche application, even more if paired with more than two devices. And that's potentially he reason why it did not made this information into the UM, too.
Agree with your bottom line of course.
PS. A big thank you goes to RaghuHR picking this thread up ,ways off business his usual business hours!
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