Wireless bridge

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A wireless bridge is a hardware component used to connect two or more network segments (LANs or parts of a LAN) which are physically separated.^[1]^[2]

Many Wireless Routers and Wireless Access Points offer either a "bridge" mode or a "repeater" mode, both of which perform a similar function. Wireless routers, access points, and bridges are available that utilize each of the commonly used wireless frequencies (used in the Wireless-B, Wireless-A (and -G), and Wireless-N standards). The frequency bands for these wireless standards can be used license-free in most countries.

Wireless bridge devices work in pairs (point-to-point), one on each side of the "bridge". However, there can be many simultaneous "bridges" using one central device (point to multipoint^[3]).

During bridge setup, the wireless devices used for the bridge must be set to the same service set identifier (SSID) and radio channel.

[edit] Netbooting Wirelessly

Unless you have a wireless card with a PXE-ROM chip built into it, it is not easy to directly netboot over a wireless connection. BIOS-based PXE algorithms usually only search for a wired NIC card to be used in a PXE netboot.

Some users have cleverly connected a "Wireless Bridge" (i.e. a wireless router or Access Point set to the "bridge" mode) to the wired NIC card in their PC. The PC then netboots through the wired Ethernet NIC as usual, but the data is then transmitted from the NIC to the Wireless AP/Router connected to it and then wirelessly "across the bridge" to a central Wireless Access Point/Router.

This solution works pretty well, but of course you must have two Wireless Access Points/Routers (one on each side of the "bridge"), so costs will therefore start to increase. Still, this is sometimes easier than running extra Ethernet cables throughout your home.