How to setup Wireless Links to avoid Wired backbone using WDS on Atheros for OpenWRT / LEDE

wireless-link-wds.sh

# ====================================================================================
# Steps for Main Router (must have connected internet on WAN port)
# ====================================================================================
# Set your network IP address configuration default is 192.168.1.0/24
uci set network.lan.ipaddr='192.168.1.1'

# Recommended, to identify on network and when logged on
uci set system.@system[0].hostname='MainRouter'
uci set network.lan.hostname="`uci get system.@system[0].hostname`"

uci set wireless.radio0.htmode='HT40' # use a wider channel if capable
uci set wireless.radio0.channel='auto' # autoselect channel
uci set wireless.radio0.disabled='0' # enable radio

uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[0].network='lan'
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[0].device='radio0'
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[0].mode='ap'
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[0].encryption='psk2+aes'
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[0].ssid='Link1'
# md5('WiFi-Link') = 'b2d436a33a207c8b246d7c6f7f7af760'
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[0].key="`echo -n 'WiFi-Link' | md5sum | cut -d ' ' -f 1`"
# Important for WiFi Link:
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[0].wds='1'
#uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[-1].hidden='1' # Pending to try, will keep you updated

# Second WiFi interface for conventional use (will be the same on each AP and devices will roaming between them)
uci add wireless wifi-iface
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[-1].network='lan'
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[-1].device='radio0'
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[-1].mode='ap'
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[-1].encryption='psk-mixed+tkip+aes'
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[-1].ssid='WiFi-Network'
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[-1].key='password'

# Third WiFi interface, for visits (optional)
uci add wireless wifi-iface
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[-1].network='lan'
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[-1].device='radio0'
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[-1].mode='ap'
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[-1].encryption='psk-mixed+tkip+aes'
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[-1].ssid='WiFi-Network-Guests'
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[-1].key='askforpassword'
# you could disable it and enable it when is needed
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[-1].disabled='1'

# ========================================================
# Optional, Disable IPv6
# ========================================================
uci del network.lan.ip6assign
uci set network.lan.delegate='0'
uci del dhcp.lan.dhcpv6
uci del dhcp.lan.ra
uci del dhcp.odhcpd
/etc/init.d/odhcpd disable
/etc/init.d/odhcpd stop

# ========================================================
# Remove WAN6 (IPv6 on WAN)
# ========================================================
uci del network.wan6
uci del_list firewall.@zone[1].network='wan6'

# ========================================================
# Commit changes, flush, and reboot
# ========================================================

uci commit
sync
#/etc/init.d/network restart
reboot

# ====================================================================================
# Steps for Wireless each Link
# ====================================================================================

uci set network.lan.ipaddr='192.168.1.2'
uci set system.@system[0].hostname='Repeater1'
uci set network.lan.hostname="`uci get system.@system[0].hostname`"

uci set wireless.radio0.htmode='HT40'
uci set wireless.radio0.channel='auto'
uci set wireless.radio0.disabled='0'

# First WiFi interface, it connects to MainRouter
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[0].network='lan'
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[0].device='radio0'
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[0].mode='sta'
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[0].encryption='psk2'
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[0].ssid='Link1'
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[0].key="`echo -n 'WiFi-Link' | md5sum | cut -d ' ' -f 1`"
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[0].wds='1'

# Second WiFi interface
uci add wireless wifi-iface
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[-1].network='lan'
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[-1].device='radio0'
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[-1].mode='ap'
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[-1].encryption='psk-mixed+tkip+aes'
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[-1].ssid='WiFi-Network'
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[-1].key='password'

# Another WiFi Link
uci add wireless wifi-iface
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[-1].network='lan'
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[-1].device='radio0'
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[-1].mode='ap'
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[-1].encryption='psk2+aes'
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[-1].ssid='Link2'
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[-1].key="`echo -n 'WiFi-Link' | md5sum | cut -d ' ' -f 1`"
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[-1].wds='1'

# To allow this router to have internet for itself (put the IP of the main Router)
#uci set network.lan.proto='static'
uci set network.lan.netmask='255.255.255.0'
uci set network.lan.gateway='192.168.1.1'
uci set network.lan.dns='192.168.1.1'

# ========================================================
# Optional, Disable IPv6
# ========================================================
uci del network.lan.ip6assign
uci set network.lan.delegate='0'
uci del dhcp.lan.dhcpv6
uci del dhcp.lan.ra
uci del dhcp.odhcpd
/etc/init.d/odhcpd disable
/etc/init.d/odhcpd stop

# Disable DHCP just LAN:
uci set dhcp.lan.ignore=1
uci del dhcp.lan.start
uci del dhcp.lan.limit
uci del dhcp.lan.leasetime
# Disable Dnsmasq completely (it is important to commit or discard dhcp)
uci commit dhcp; echo '' > /etc/config/dhcp
/etc/init.d/dnsmasq disable
/etc/init.d/dnsmasq stop

# ========================================================
# Difference to a possibly third or even fourth AP
# ========================================================
# and you could add as many as you want
uci set network.lan.ipaddr='192.168.1.3' # their static IP (starts at 2, because 1 is Main Router)
uci set system.@system[0].hostname='Repeater2' # Name, it is the 2nd repeater
uci set network.lan.hostname="`uci get system.@system[0].hostname`" # this just repeats the same as above
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[0].ssid='Link2' # will be connected to AP emitting "Link2" (is the emitted by 1st repeater)
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[2].ssid='Link3' # will allow other AP to be connected to this 2nd repeater (will be a 3rd repeater)

# Another one:
uci set network.lan.ipaddr='192.168.1.4' # their static IP (starts at 2, because 1 is Main Router)
uci set system.@system[0].hostname='Repeater3' # Name, it is the 2nd repeater
uci set network.lan.hostname="`uci get system.@system[0].hostname`" # this just repeats the same as above
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[0].ssid='Link3' # will be connected to AP emitting "Link3" (is the emitted by 2nd repeater)
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[2].ssid='Link4' # will allow other AP to be connected to this 3rd repeater (will be a 4th repeater)

# ========================================================
# Commit changes, flush, and restart network
# ========================================================
# This way we will get internet on this AP and we must reconnect
uci commit
sync
/etc/init.d/network restart
# If all is OK then reboot and test again:
reboot

# I used this configuration on four places with two and three repeaters...
# You could connect two AP to a same emitting link if it is required too.

# example, connect Repeater3 to MainRouter:
uci set network.lan.ipaddr='192.168.1.4' # their static IP (starts at 2, because 1 is Main Router)
uci set system.@system[0].hostname='Repeater3' # Name, it is the 2nd repeater
uci set network.lan.hostname="`uci get system.@system[0].hostname`" # this just repeats the same as above
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[0].ssid='Link1' # will be connected to AP emitting "Link1" (is the emitted by MainRouter)
uci set wireless.@wifi-iface[2].ssid='Link4' # will allow other AP to be connected to this 3rd repeater (will be a 4th repeater)

# `system.@system[0].hostname` it is important in this kind of configuration to identify the box when you connect to ssh (reboot to see it)
# and `network.lan.hostname` it is important for identify in the network or with nslookup), you could use dhcp to assign IP to each AP
# but I do not recommend it since you will have to guess each time yo need to check or diagnose something.


# How to setup a Dumb AP, Wired backbone for OpenWRT / LEDE
https://gist.github.com/braian87b/bba9da3a7ac23c35b7f1eecafecdd47d
# How to setup Client Bridged / Client Mode / RelayD and IGMPProxy for OpenWRT / LEDE
https://gist.github.com/braian87b/821e9e4f399918510c55619192a31871

@github535 Yes, I've done that, let me dig in my notes and collect those features on a single script detailing the config. Give me one or two days or better yet until next monday. I'll keep you posted.