The APM

The APM (Fonera using FreeWLAN Addons) got a new important feature. It's about a bridging option for the private signal. To explain this function we use the already known scenario where we put a router to connect our networks and modify it a bit. The router now includes a DHCP server which answers BOOTP and DHCP requests from clients from both subnets and serves valid IP addresses respectively.

The Bridge

The bridge enables the server (router) to recieve DHCP requests from clients of the private signal, since the client resides in the same layer2 broadcast domain due to the bridge "connects" LAN and WAN.

In other words:
With bridge enabled the Fonera does not work as a router anymore, cursorily considered, that transports the packages from one to another subnet but as a switch that connects devices of a network with each other. So it works like the Server (Router) is connected by cable to the Client at the private signal directly or as they are both connected to one switch.

The client at the private signal is now enabled to get it's IP address from the DHCP server located in the same subnet, which is connected to the WAN port of the Fonera (192.168.0.0/24).

[AP Mode - LAN bridged to WAN]
                                             +-- bridge --+  (192.168.0.3)
                                             |            |  private signal
                                             |          (LAN)
                      (192.168.0.1/24)       |(..0.2)
  DSL-ROUTER -- cable --- ROUTER/DHCPs --- (WAN) FONERA
                      (192.168.1.1/24)
                              |                         (WIFI)
                              |                               public signal
                              |                               (192.168.182.0)
                             PC1
                       (192.168.1.10/32)

Since the client at private signal side and PC1 residing in the same subnet, communication between them is much easier because no extra routes are needed. So if a DHCP server does exist - in most cases there is one included in the DSL router - the bridge should be activated to make things easier to the user.

By the way the FON functionality of the Wifi is not affected by an activated bridge. Clients at Wifi side are still not permitted to access the internal network.