A Guide for Bridging Two ENS500-ACv2 Units …...Solwise Ltd, , [email protected] A Guide for Bridging Two ENS500-ACv2 Units Together Using WDS AP and WDS Station Operating Modes

Solwise Ltd, www.solwise.co.uk, [email protected]

A Guide for Bridging Two ENS500-ACv2 Units Together Using

WDS AP and WDS Station Operating Modes

This guide assumes that you have connected up all the required Ethernet cables to the PoE Injector and powered up

the unit.

You also have connected using an Ethernet cable from the LAN port on the PoE Injector to an existing network with

a DHCP Server (Router) or to a LAN port on a laptop or computer.

If you are connecting directly to a LAN port on a laptop or computer, you will have to assign a Static IP address of

192.168.1.x in order to access the web interface of the units.

Once the above has been completed, then we will begin the process of configuring both of the units, starting with

the unit WDS AP.

First Unit Using WDS AP Operating Mode

Step 1: Open up a Web Browser and enter in the IP Address of the unit, either 192.168.1.1 by default or the address

assigned by DHCP if connected to a network with a DHCP server (Router).

If you are unsure what IP address has been assigned, EnGenius have a small application called Locator that will list

the IP address of all EnGenius 5Ghz bridging units. This application only runs on Windows OS, so if you are not

using this operating system, then cross-platform third-party network scanners such as AngryIPScanner can be used

instead.

This is found under the Downloads section of the product page on our website.

By default, the username and password will be admin, so type this in and click the Login button to proceed.

Step 2: Once the web interface appears, click on the Network / Basic tab on the left-hand side.

Under IPv4 Setting, the unit can be configured to use either DHCP or Static IP network settings.

As mentioned previously the unit will use the default IP Address 192.168.1.1 if it does not detect a DHCP Server

(router) on the network.

This can be changed, but if you choose Static IP, you will also have to specify a Subnet Mask and Gateway.

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In most scenarios, DHCP should be used unless you have a reason for statically assigning the aforementioned values.

All other settings on this page can be configured but are not required for bridging.

Click the Save button to apply any changes.

Step 3: Next navigate to Network / Wireless tab on the left-hand side.

In this section, we need to change the Country / Region to your location, as this will specify what wireless channels

can be legally used in your region.

EnJet is a technology that is exclusive to ENS500-ACv2 models and aims to be make communication between

multiple bridging units more efficient. Detailed information on this can be found on the EnGenius website.

However, EnJet is not backwards compatible, so it will not work with any older 5Ghz bridging units that do not

support this feature, for example disable it if you wish to bridge an ENS500-AC with an ENS500-ACv2.

The Operation Mode should be changed to WDS Access Point.

You can also change the name of the default SSID, found under the Wireless Setting – Access Point section.

Once done click the Save button to apply the changes.



Step 4: Before leaving this page, click on the Edit button in the Wireless Settings – Access Point section.



Step 5: On the window that opens up, we need to assign some security to the SSID that will be broadcast by this unit,

as it is a poor practice to have an unsecured wireless network.

So, under the Wireless Security section, choose from the Security Mode dropdown menu; WPA2-PSK, and provide a

Passphrase.

Remember this, as it will be used later to bridge the two units together.

All other settings can be configured, but are not required for bridging.

Once done, scroll down to the bottom of the window and click on the Save button.



Step 6: You will now be on the Network / Wireless page again, so scroll down to the bottom of the page and click

the Save button to apply the changes.

Step 7: You may have noticed that in the bottom right corner, a window will have appeared displaying changes to be

applied.

We are going to do that now by clicking on the Changes tab at the top of the page.

Simply click the Apply button to begin.



Step 8: You will get a pop up recommending that you change the default username and password.

It is always a good practice to change default username and passwords, as many of the defaults can easily guessed or

found out by a simple Google Search.

Simply click the Apply button to proceed.

Step 9: The process will take a couple of minutes to complete, and once done, you will be redirected back to the

main page.



Step 10: You are all done now with this unit so remove the Ethernet cable from the LAN port in the PoE Injector.

Before configuring the second unit, make sure that both units are not connected to the same network or you will

create a network loop when they are bridged with each other.



Second Unit Using WDS Station Operating Mode

Step 1: Open up a Web Browser and enter in the IP Address of the unit, either 192.168.1.1 or assigned by DHCP if

connected to a network with a DHCP server (Router).

If you are unsure what IP address has been assigned, EnGenius have a small application called Locator that will list

the IP address of all EnGenius 5Ghz bridging unit. This application only runs on Windows OS, alternatively third-

party network scanners such as AngryIPScanner can be used.

This is found under the Downloads section of the product page on our website.

By default, the username and password will be admin, so type this in and click the Login button to proceed.

Step 2: Once the web interface appears, click on the Network / Basic tab on the left-hand side.

Under IPv4 Setting, the unit can be configured to use either DHCP or Static IP network settings.

By default, the unit will use the default IP Address 192.168.1.1 if it does not detect a DHCP Server (router) on the

network.

If you choose Static IP, you will also have to specify a Subnet Mask and Gateway.

In most scenarios, DHCP should be used unless you have a reason for statically assigning the aforementioned values.

When both units are configured it is important that they use the same IP settings, for example if one unit uses

DHCP and the other uses Static IP, make sure that the Gateway and Subnet mask are the same.

This is one of the most common problems that people encounter when the units do not bridge together.

So, if in doubt, use DHCP for both units.

All other settings on this page can be configured but are not required for bridging.

Click the Save button to apply any changes.



Step 3: Next navigate to Network / Wireless tab on the left-hand side.

On this section, we need to change the Country / Region to match yours, as this will specify what wireless channels

can be legally used in your region.

EnJet is a technology that is exclusive to ENS500-ACv2 models and aims to be make communication between

multiple bridging units more efficient. Detailed information on this can be found on the EnGenius website.

However, EnJet is not backwards compatible, so it will not work with any older 5Ghz bridging units that do not

support this feature, for example disable it if you wish to bridge an ENS500-AC with an ENS500-ACv2.

The Operation Mode should be changed to WDS Station Mode.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the Save button after changing the Operation Mode otherwise the

site survey scan will not work.

Next click on the AP Detection Scan button.



Step 4: This will begin a scan of all the local 5Ghz networks that the unit can bridge to, or the units currently

operating in WDS AP mode.

Simply click on the BSSID of the network you wish to connect to.

Step 5: This will bring up a Wireless Security window.

You only need to type in the Passphrase you previously created on the other unit.

It is also a good idea to tick the Preferred BSSID option, as this will lock the two units together.

Click the Save button to continue.



Step 6: Once back on the Network / Wireless page, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the Save

button.

Step 7: You may have noticed that in the bottom right corner, a window will have appeared displaying changes to be

applied.

We are going to do that now by clicking on the Changes tab at the top of the page.

Simply click the Apply button to begin.



Step 8: Once again you will get a pop up recommending that you change the default username and password.

As mentioned before, this is a good idea if the units are going to be used in a public place, since changing default

usernames and passwords is a good practice.

Simply click the Apply button to proceed.



Step 9: The process will again take a couple of minutes to complete, and once done, you will be redirected back to

the main page.

Step 10: Once redirected to the main page, click on the OverView / Connections.



Step 11: If you see the word Associated under Connection Status – 5Ghz, then the job is complete and both units

are successfully bridged.


Documents

A Guide for Bridging Two ENS500-ACv2 Units …...Solwise Ltd, , [email protected] A Guide for Bridging Two ENS500-ACv2 Units Together Using WDS AP and WDS Station Operating Modes