5. Point-to-Multipoint

This mode allows multiple wired networks to be connected. The exact modes (and their names) used in the setup vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, but most all AP/Bridges also support this capability. For performance reasons, you should limit your multipoint network to three segments as shown in Figure 2. Again, you can have multiple wired clients in all network segments.

Figure 2: Multi-point bridge

Tip: This mode's setup tends to vary a little. SMC's 2682W, for example, requires one unit to be set as a "Bridge Master", and the other bridge units to be set as "Bridge Slaves". Linksys' WAP11 has you set one unit to Point-to-Multipoint, and the others to Point-to-Point mode, with the "Remote MAC address" set to the MAC address of the box set to Point-to-Multipoint mode.