Connecting multiple access points
I'm working on a big project. We want to create a wireless network throughout the building with 15 floors. My idea is that we should set up one unified wireless access point at least in each floor...in case of signal attenuate, we use Access point extender/repeater. I selected DWL-6600AP from among D-Link industrial access points. I want to implement a single wireless LAN throughout the building.
Is it possible to combines multiple DWL-6600 access points to achieving just a single WLAN? Can a wireless switch controller do this task? Can these Access Points interfere with each other? What is the solution? I read D-Link website's learning materials, but I am still confused.
My other question is around the connecting these APs to Wireless Switch Controller - Is it possible to use power line for connecting DWL-6600 to Wireless Switch Controller device?
My main goal is that clients with portable devices such as laptops should be easily connected to the network to share & have communication without any more manual configuration as they are already connected to a single network.
You might have better result with multiple APs on non-overlapping channels sharing the same SSID (i.e. an ESS). The MAC protocol of 802.11 cannot cope very well if you have a large number of stations accessing the same BSS (i.e. single master AP) via repeaters.
Many Wi-Fi clients handle "romaing" between BSSes very well. The crucial point is that the network must handle the switch from one AP to another seamlessly. The base line is that the client's IP must not change and on going connections must not be interrupted at the protocol level. The is easy to achieve (just make all the APs connect to the same LAN and share the same DHCP and NAT server/router). However, to improve the romaing exprience you may need smarter switches that are aware of the location of the clients.
As of your second question, most people would just use PoE. Alternatively you can use a powerline network, but the bandwidth is not very good.
Good reference: http://wirelessinfo-r-us.blogspot.co.uk/2007/11/basic-service-set-bss-vs-extended.html
Also check out the Ubiquity product 'Unifi'
http://www.ubnt.com/unifi