Linksys WAP54A User's Manual
Contents
1. e LAN Important Always remember that when the Access Point works in e IP Address This IP address must be unique to your network We suggest Turbo Mode each point in your wireless network MUST use Turbo you use the default IP address of 192 168 1 252 As this is a private IP Mode as well or your wireless network will not function properly address there is no need to purchase a separate IP address from your serv ice provider Verify the address and click the Apply button to save changes e SSID The SSID is the unique name shared among all points in a wireless network The SSID must be identical for all points in the wireless network Subnet Mask The Access Point s Subnet Mask or IP Mask must be the It is case sensitive and must not exceed 32 alphanumeric characters which same as your Ethernet network Verify this is correct and click the Apply may be any keyboard character Make sure this setting is the same for all button to set it points in your wireless network e Gateway If a Gateway IP address is required enter that here e Channel Select the appropriate channel from the list provided to corre spond with your network settings All points in your wireless network must tasses frames cx loner FRS ins use the same channel in order to function correctly Be p de pwi Lei jhe at fetes OE Au i ter e WEP The WEP Encryption method is Disabled by default To enable a RESTES ae WEP click the WEP Key Setting button i Linen Chang2. Connect the equipment to an outlet other than the receiver s Consult a dealer or an experienced radio TV technician for assistance FCC Radiation Exposure Statement This equipment complies with FCC radiation exposure limits set forth for an uncontrolled environment This equipment should be installed and operated with minimum distance 20cm between the radiator and your body UG WAP54A 040302NC KL Instant Wreless Series Table of Contents Chapter 1 Introduction The Instant Wireless Wireless Access Point Features Package Contents System Requirements Chapter 2 Planning Your Wireless Network Network Topology Roaming Chapter 3 Getting to Know the Wireless Access Point The Wireless Access Point s Ports The Wireless Access Points LEDs Chapter 4 Connecting the Wireless Access Point Chapter 5 Configuring the Wireless Access Point The Setup Tab The Status Tab The Filter Tab The Advanced Tab The Help Tab Appendix A Troubleshooting Frequently Asked Questions Appendix B Setting Up the TCP IP Protocol Setting Up TCP IP in Windows TCP IP Setup for Windows 98 and Millennium TCP IP Setup for Windows NT 4 0 TCP IP Setup for Windows 2000 TCP IP Setup for Windows XP Appendix C Glossary Appendix D Specifications Environmental Appendix E Warranty Information Appendix F Contact Information D D mi pi WW Ue nab BR 24 32 32 33 34 Wrreless Access Point Chapter 1 Introduction The
3. which will create more packets for each transmission If you have decreased this value and experience high packet error rates you can increase it again but it will likely decrease overall network performance Only minor modifica tions of this value are recommended e Data Beacon Rate This value between 1 and 16384 indicates the inter val of the Delivery Traffic Indication Message A Data Beacon Rate field is a countdown field informing clients of the next window for listening to broadcast and multicast messages When the Access Point has buffered broadcast or multicast messages for associated clients it sends the next message with arate value Access Point Clients hear the beacons and awak en to receive the broadcast and multicast messages e Transmission Rate The basic transfer rates should be set depending on the speed of your wireless network Select the most appropriate rate for your network or select Best which will automatically select the optimal transmission rate e Transmission Power This option allows you to set the power at which the Access Point transmits This will allow you to prevent transmission outside your network radius and possible lapses in network security Selecting a value other than FULL may limit the coverage area and data rates of your wireless PCs When you ve completed making any changes on this tab click the Apply but ton to save those changes or Cancel to exit the Web based Utility without sav ing
4. changes For more information on this tab you can click the Help button The Help Tab For help on the various tabs in this Web based Utility along with upgrading the Access Point s firmware and viewing this User Guide click the Help tab shown in Figure 5 10 The help files for the various tabs in this Web based Utility are listed by tab name on the left hand side of the screen Wrreless Network Access Point si Per MA ad Mon PEUT mi i ii LA Limem Hep Figure 5 10 The following resources require an Internet connection in order to access them Click the Linksys Website link to connect to the Linksys homepage for Knowledgebase help files and information about other Linksys products For an Online Manual in PDF format click that text link The manual will appear in Adobe pdf format If you do not have the Adobe PDF Reader installed on your computer click the Adobe Website link to download this software Firmware can be upgraded from this tab as well Do not upgrade your firmware unless you are experiencing problems with the Access Point To begin the upgrade process click the Linksys Website link to download the upgraded firmware s bin file from the website Then return to this tab and click the Firmware Upgrade link Upon clicking the Upgrade Firmware link a new screen shown in Figure 5 11 will appear requesting the IP Address of the PC upon which the new firmware was down loaded and the loca
5. is inserted into programmable read only mem ory programmable read only memory thus becoming a permanent part of a computing device Fragmentation Breaking a packet into smaller units when transmitting over a network medium that cannot support the original size of the packet Gateway A device that interconnects networks with different incompatible communications protocols Hardware Hardware is the physical aspect of computers telecommunica tions and other information technology devices The term arose as a way to dis tinguish the box and the electronic circuitry and components of a computer from the program you put in it to make it do things The program came to be known as the software Hub The device that serves as the central location for attaching wires from workstations Can be passive where there is no amplification of the signals or active where the hubs are used like repeaters to provide an extension of the cable that connects to a workstation IEEE The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers The IEEE describes itself as the world s largest technical professional society promoting the development and application of electrotechnology and allied sciences for the benefit of humanity the advancement of the profession and the well being of our members 27 28 Wraess Access Point The IEEE fosters the development of standards that often become national and international standards The organ
6. of wireless Network PC Card users and an Access Point Instant Wreless Series Buffer A buffer is a shared or assigned memory area used by hardware devices or program processes that operate at different speeds or with different sets of priorities The buffer allows each device or process to operate without being held up by the other In order for a buffer to be effective the size of the buffer and the algorithms for moving data into and out of the buffer need to be considered by the buffer designer Like a cache a buffer is a midpoint hold ing place but exists not so much to accelerate the speed of an activity as to support the coordination of separate activities CSMA CA Carrier Sense Multiple Access Collision Avoidance In local area networking this is the CSMA technique that combines slotted time divi sion multiplexing with carrier sense multiple access collision detection CSMA CD to avoid having collisions occur a second time This works best if the time allocated is short compared to packet length and if the number of sit uations is small CSMA CD Carrier Sense Multiple Access Collision Detection The LAN access method used in Ethernet When a device wants to gain access to the network it checks to see if the network is quiet senses the carrier If it is not it waits a random amount of time before retrying If the network is quiet and two devices access the line at exactly the same time their signals collide When t
7. screen Figure 5 4 From this screen you can select the type of WEP encryption to use From the pull down menu at the top of the screen select 64 bit 128 bit or 152 bit encryption Then select the key you wish you use for encrypting your data Key 1 4 In the field beside the key you ve chosen type the key in Hexadecimal characters which on your keyboard are the letters A through F and the numbers 0 through 9 Each type of encryption requires a key of a certain length 64 bit encryption requires a 10 character key 128 bit encryption requires a 26 character key 152 bit encryption requires a 32 character key Click the Apply button to apply your changes or Cancel to cancel your changes If you require online help click the Help button Clicking the Apply or Cancel button will return you to the Setup tab Click either button again on this tab depending on your choice Wrreless Network Access Point The Status Tab The Status tab shown in Figure 5 5 will display the Access Point s current MAC address and lis as well as se state and MAC Address of each wireless point on youre Se PR DM Des Prin p fon network associ s mi D i d er Pesin Jier Ur dd ated with it CRETE RTE a cu imet ue M m Ear Leas CA Leman Tin cires foe D EL eee a m ree nmmr simus Bus ara mia malian pom in oleh Bois biit sabh mei al amh once Fami m mi akna iliil LL EG EC AL a For mo
8. Instant Wireless Series VUreless Access Point Use this guide to install WAP54A luser Guided WLInKSsSvyS s e COPYRIGHT amp TRADEMARKS Copyright 2002 Linksys All Rights Reserved Instant Wireless TM is a registered trade mark of Linksys Microsoft Windows and the Windows logo are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation All other trademarks and brand names are the property of their respective proprietors LIMITED WARRANTY Linksys guarantees that every Wireless Access Point is free from physical defects in material and workmanship under normal use for one year from the date of purchase If the product proves defective during this warranty period call Linksys Technical Support in order to obtain a Return Authorization Number BE SURE TO HAVE YOUR PROOF OF PURCHASE AND A BARCODE FROM THE PRODUCTS PACKAGING ON HAND WHEN CALLING RETURN REQUESTS CANNOT BE PROCESSED WITHOUT PROOF OF PUR CHASE When returning a product mark the Return Authorization Number clearly on the outside of the package and include a copy of your original proof of purchase All cus tomers located outside of the United States of America and Canada shall be held respon sible for shipping and handling charges IN NO EVENT SHALL LINKSYS LIABILITY EXCEED THE PRICE PAID FOR THE PROD UCT FROM DIRECT INDIRECT SPECIAL INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAM AGES RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THE PRODUCT ITS ACCOMPANYING SOFT WARE OR ITS DOC
9. Instant Wireless Wireless Access Point Don t be bound by cabling restrictions any longer The Instant Wireless Wireless Access Point from Linksys delivers the freedom to configure your net work your way Utilization of state of the art wireless technology gives you the ability to set up workstations in ways you never thought possible no cables to install means less expense and less hassle The Instant Wireless Wireless Access Point s high powered antenna offers a range of operation of up to 328 feet indoors providing seamless roaming throughout your wireless LAN infrastructure an advanced user authentication feature ensures a high level of network security The Instant Wireless Wireless Access Point is easy to install just plug it in and you re ready to go and easy to use With Internet browser based diagnostics and statistic tools you re always in control When all these features come together in one compact lightweight and power efficient unit you have the ultimate in flexible networking the Linksys Instant Wireless Wireless Access Point e Interoperable with other 802 11a wireless equipment e Up to 72Mbps turbo mode only when used with the Linksys WPC54A e Up to 64 wireless users nodes e Operation in the uncrowded 5 GHz band e Enhanced security using up to 152 bit WEP encryption e MAC address filtering and WEP ensure DSSS security e Quick and easy setup using your own web browser e Easy to Us
10. Then click the Add button Find the TCP IP protocol in the Select Network Protocol field Click on it once and then click the OK button When asked if you want to use DHCP choose No If asked to supply your Windows NT CD do so NT will copy the neces sary files to your system You may have to switch between the Access Point s Setup CD and the NT CD When TCP IP appears in the Network Protocols window click the Bindings tab Windows will store your new bindings Click the Protocols tab Then select TCP IP Click the Properties button Select the type of network adapter you have from the Adapters box and select Specify an IP Address Enter the computer s IP Address and Subnet Mask Check with your net work administrator for your settings 10 Enter your Default Gateway if you have one Note a Default Gateway is not required Check with your network administrator 11 When you finish click the OK button If NT asks about WINS ignore it Wrreless Network Access Point 12 When the Network window reappears click the Close button Restart your TCP IP Setup for Windows 2000 1 TCP IP Setup for Windows XP 1 2 computer when prompted TCP IP has now been successfully installed At the Windows 2000 desktop right click My Network Places and select Properties Then right click Local Area Connection Choose Properties If the TCP IP Protocol is listed for your network adapter
11. UMENTATION LINKSYS DOES NOT OFFER REFUNDS FOR ANY PRODUCT Linksys makes no warranty or representation expressed implied or statuto ry with respect to its products or the contents or use of this documentation and all accompanying software and specifically disclaims its quality performance mer chantability or fitness for any particular purpose Linksys reserves the right to revise or update its products software or documentation without obligation to notify any individ ual or entity Please direct all inquiries to Linksys P O Box 18558 Irvine CA 92623 FCC STATEMENT This product has been tested and complies with the specifications for a Class B digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules These limits are designed to provide rea sonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation This equip ment generates uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and if not installed and used according to the instructions may cause harmful interference to radio communi cations However there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception which is found by turning the equipment off and on the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures e Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna Increase the separation between the equipment or devices
12. Up to 72Mbps Transmit Power 18dBm LEDs Power Act Link Environmental Dimensions 8 9 x 5 x 1 6 226 mm x 127 mm x 41 mm Unit Weight 12 oz 0 34 kg Power External 5V DC 2 5A Radio Output 18dBm 64mW Certifications FCC Class B Operating Temp 0 C to 55 C 32 F to 131 F Storage Temp 0 C to 70 C 32 F to 158 F Operating Humidity 0 to 70 Non Condensing Storage Humidity 0 to 95 Non Condensing Wrreless Access Point Appendix E V arranty Infomation BE SURE TO HAVE YOUR PROOF OF PURCHASE AND A BARCODE FROM THE PRODUCT S PACKAGING ON HAND WHEN CALLING RETURN REQUESTS CANNOT BE PROCESSED WITHOUT PROOF OF PURCHASE IN NO EVENT SHALL LINKSYS S LIABILITY EXCEED THE PRICE PAID FOR THE PRODUCT FROM DIRECT INDIRECT SPECIAL INCI DENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THE PRODUCT ITS ACCOMPANYING SOFTWARE OR ITS DOCUMENTATION LINKSYS DOES NOT OFFER REFUNDS FOR ANY PRODUCT LINKS YS OFFERS CROSS SHIPMENTS A FASTER PROCESS FOR PRO CESSING AND RECEIVING YOUR REPLACEMENT LINKSYS PAYS FOR UPS GROUND ONLY ALL CUSTOMERS LOCATED OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND CANADA SHALL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR SHIPPING AND HANDLING CHARGES PLEASE CALL LINKSYS FOR MORE DETAILS 33 34 Instant Wreless Series Appendix Contact Information For help with the installation or operation of this product contact Linksys Technical Support at one of the phone numbers or Intern
13. at a departmental scale for a branch or SOHO operation What is Infrastructure An integrated wireless and wired LAN is called an Infrastructure configura tion Infrastructure is applicable to enterprise scale for wireless access to a cen tral database or wireless application for mobile workers What is Roaming Roaming is the ability of a portable computer user to communicate continu ously while moving freely throughout an area greater than that covered by a single Access Point Before using the roaming function the workstation must Wraess Access Point make sure that it is the same channel number as the Access Point of the dedi cated coverage area To achieve true seamless connectivity the wireless LAN must incorporate a number of different functions Each node and Access Point for example must always acknowledge receipt of each message Each node must maintain contact with the wireless network even when not actually transmitting data Achieving these functions simultaneously requires a dynamic RF networking technology that links Access Points and nodes In such a system the user s end node under takes a search for the best possible access to the system First it evaluates such factors as signal strength and quality as well as the message load currently being carried by each Access Point and the distance of each Access Point to the wired backbone Based on that information the node next selects the right Access Point and r
14. ccess Point The Advanced Tab Sot Host ie fname krian ood iiaei lapie 4 P Fe fe fen pewter jek ji Smd oe Deh rete eter Ge aghen jp ition A a rana him S chee juet Ss EI CECI Lee Advanced Figure 5 9 Before making any changes to the Advanced tab shown in Figure 5 9 please check your wireless settings on other systems as these changes will alter the effectiveness of the Access Point In most cases these settings do not need to be changed e Beacon Interval This value between 20 and 1000 indicates the frequen cy interval of the beacon A beacon is a packet broadcast by the Access Point to keep the network synchronized A beacon includes the wireless LAN service area the AP address the Broadcast destination addresses a time stamp Delivery Traffic Indicator Maps and the Traffic Indicator Message TIM e RTS Threshold This value should remain at its default setting of 2 346 Setting this parameter to a small value causes packets to be sent more often consuming more of the available bandwidth and reducing throughput A higher value however sends more packets less often Should you encounter inconsistent data flow only minor modifications are recommended 13 Instant Wreless Series e Fragmentation Length This specifies the maximum size a data packet will be before splitting and creating a new packet and should remain at its default setting of 2 346 A smaller setting means smaller packets
15. e Web Based management e Free technical support 24 hours a day 7 days a week toll free U S calls e 1 Year limited warranty Instant Wireless Series Wrreless Access Point Chapter 2 Planning Your VUreless Network A wireless LAN is a group of computers each equipped with one Instant Wireless Series adapter Computers in a wireless LAN must be configured to share the same radio channel The Instant Wireless Series adapters provide access to a wired LAN for wire less workstations An integrated wireless and wired LAN is called an Infrastructure configuration A group of Instant Wireless Series adapter users and an Instant Wireless Wireless Access Point compose a Basic Service Set BSS Each Instant Wireless Series adapter PC in a BSS can talk to any computer in a wired LAN infrastructure via the Instant Wireless Wireless Access Point Package Contents An infrastructure configuration extends the accessibility of an Instant Wireless Series adapter PC to a wired LAN and doubles the effective wire One Wireless Access Point EEE 802 11a less transmission range for two Instant Wireless Series adapter PCs Since One Power Adapter the Wireless Access Point is able to forward data within its BSS the effective ne oe Guide transmission range in an infrastructure LAN is doubled e Registration Card not shown BF Roamin Minimum Requirements Infrastructure mode also supports roaming capabilit
16. egisters its address Communications between end node and host computer can then be transmitted up and down the backbone As the user moves on the end node s RF transmitter regularly checks the sys tem to determine whether it is in touch with the original Access Point or whether it should seek a new one When a node no longer receives acknowl edgment from its original Access Point it undertakes a new search Upon find ing a new Access Point it then re registers and the communication process continues What is BSS ID A specific Ad hoc LAN is called a Basic Service Set BSS Computers in a BSS must be configured with the same BSS ID What is ESSID An Infrastructure configuration could also support roaming capability for mobile workers More than one BSS can be configured as an Extended Service Set ESS Users within an ESS could roam freely between BSSs while main taining a continuous connection to the wireless network stations and Access Points What is Spread Spectrum Spread Spectrum technology is a wideband radio frequency technique devel oped by the military for use in reliable secure mission critical communica tions systems It is designed to trade off bandwidth efficiency for reliability integrity and security In other words more bandwidth is consumed than in the case of narrowband transmission but the trade off produces a signal that is in effect louder and thus easier to detect provided that the receiver knows
17. et addresses below Sales Information 800 546 5797 LINKSYS Technical Support 866 242 8558 RMA Issues 949 261 1288 Fax 949 261 8868 Email support linksys com Web http www linksys com FTP Site ftp linksys com LALINECSYS http www linksys com Copyright 2002 Linksys All Rights Reserved
18. go to step five Otherwise click the Install button When the Component Type window appears select Protocol and click the Add button Select Internet Protocol TCP IP from the list and click the OK button When the Local Area Connection Properties window reappears select TCP IP and click the Properties button Select Use the following IP Address Enter an IP Address for the computer along with a Subnet Mask and Default Gateway Then click the OK button If you do not have these val ues consult your network administrator When the Local Area Connection Properties window reappears click the OK button TCP IP has now been successfully installed Click the Start button and open the Control Panel Double click the Network and Internet Connections icon Double click the Network Connections icon Right click the Local Area Connection icon and select Properties If the TCP IP Protocol is not installed click the Install button and insert your Windows XP CD Then follow the prompts to install TCP IP 23 24 Wraess Access Point Appendix C Gossary Adapter Printed circuit board that plugs into a PC to add to capabilities or connectivity to a PC In a networked environment a network interface card is the typical adapter that allows the PC or server to connect to the intranet and or Internet Ad hoc Network An ad hoc network is a wireless network or other small net work in which some
19. he collision is detected they both back off and each wait a random amount of time before retrying CTS Clear To Send An RS 232 signal sent from the receiving station to the transmitting station that indicates it is ready to accept data Database A database is a collection of data that is organized so that its con tents can easily be accessed managed and updated DHCP Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol A protocol that lets network administrators manage centrally and automate the assignment of Internet Protocol IP addresses in an organization s network Using the Internet s set of protocol TCP IP each machine that can connect to the Internet needs a unique IP address When an organization sets up its computer users with a con nection to the Internet an IP address must be assigned to each machine Without DHCP the IP address must be entered manually at each computer and if computers move to another location in another part of the network a new IP address must be entered DHCP lets a network administrator supervise and dis tribute IP addresses from a central point and automatically sends a new IP address when a computer is plugged into a different place in the network 25 26 Wraess Access Point DHCP uses the concept of a lease or amount of time that a given IP address will be valid for a computer The lease time can vary depending on how long a user is likely to require the Internet connection at a particular locatio
20. hem The most common network devices include hubs switches routers and gateways Most large networks contain several levels of interconnection the most impor tant of which include edge connections backbone connections and wide area connections Upgrade To replace existing software or firmware with a newer version Upload To transmit a file over a network In a communications session upload means transmit download means receive UTP Unshielded twisted pair is the most common kind of copper telephone wiring Twisted pair is the ordinary copper wire that connects home and many business computers to the telephone company To reduce crosstalk or electro magnetic induction between pairs of wires two insulated copper wires are twisted around each other Each signal on twisted pair requires both wires Since some telephone sets or desktop locations require multiple connections twisted pair is sometimes installed in two or more pairs all within a single cable WEP Wired Equivalent Privacy A data privacy mechanism based on a 64 bit 128 bit or 152 bit shared key algorithm as described in the IEEE 802 11a standard 31 Wraess Access Point Appendix D Specifications Standards IEEE 802 1 1a 802 3 802 3u Channels 8 Channels US Canada Ports Buttons One 10 100 Ethernet One Reset Button Cabling Type RJ 45 CAT 5 UTP Cable Operating Range Indoors Up to 328 feet 100 m Outdoors Up to 1148 feet 350 m Data Rate
21. ickering the Access Point is actively sending or receiving data to or from one of the devices on the DC 5V The Power port is where you will connect the power network adapter LINK Green The LINK LED serves two purposes If the LED is Reset Button Briefly pressing the Reset Button for approximately ten continuously lit up the Access Point is successfully connect seconds will refresh the Access Point s connections ed to a device through the LAN port If the LED is flicker potentially clearing any jammed links ing it is an indication of any network activity Important Resetting the Access Point will erase all of your settings WEP Encryption Wireless and LAN settings etc and replace them with the factory defaults Do not reset the Access Point if you want to retain these settings Instant Wrreless Series Chapter 4 Connecting the VUreless Access Point 1 Locate an optimum location for the Access Point The best place for the Access Point is usually at the center of your wireless network with line of sight to all of your mobile stations 2 Fix the direction of the antenna Try to place it in a position which can best cover your wireless network Normally the higher you place the anten na the better the performance will be The antenna s position enhances the receiving sensitivity 3 Connect a standard Ethernet network cable to the Access Point Then connect the other end of the Ethernet cable to a switch or h
22. ies for mobile users More than one BSS can be configured as an Extended Service Set ESS This con tinuous network allows users to roam freely within an ESS All PCs equipped with an Instant Wireless Series adapter within one ESS must be configured with the same ESS ID and use the same radio channel e One Pentium Class 200MHz or Faster PC equipped with Windows 98 Millennium NT version 4 0 2000 or XP 64 MB RAM and an Ethernet Adapter with Network Cable for Initial Setup e One 802 1 1a compliant Wireless Adapter Before enabling an ESS with roaming capability choosing a feasible radio channel and optimum Wireless Access Point position is recommended Proper Wireless Access Point positioning combined with a clear radio signal will greatly enhance performance Instant Wreless Series Wreless Access Point Chapter 3 Getting to Know the The Access Point s LEDs where information about the unit s current status is VW reless Access Poi ni displayed are located on the Access Point s front panel as shown in Figure 3 The Wireless Access Point s Ports 2 The Access Point s ports where a network cable is connected are located on the Access Point s rear panel as shown in Figure 3 1 Figure 3 2 ng a Power Green The Power LED lights up when the Access Point is LAN This LAN Local Area Network port connects to powered on Ethernet network devices such as a hub switch or router ACT Green If the LED is fl
23. ing the sign on password for the Access Point is as easy as typing the password into the AP Password field Then type it again into the second field Th foe cee al F iha AP ban reup cies Mori yeno E be sbi ia rea LU 1 the AP n deu ringa MERSI mang oe CRE i yeu squire fete dong to confirm Click the Apply button to apply your changes or Cancel to cancel your changes If you require online help click the Help button SETTING WEP ENCRYPTION AE CR RARE Setting WEP Encryption through xl ai bile france To ras Taai b ba ee D EU ACER the Web based Browser Utility is eT done by clicking the WEP Key a Do you ean charge WEP status bo Enabler Setting button on the Setup te creen as shown in Figure 5 2 Eman Come nee eine de ene emm Crier Here Posescrd A screen will pop up asking you to confirm the WEP change to dc mess mandatory as shown in Figure 5 3 Click the OK button to enable WEP Encryption or Cancel to return to the Setup Screen Do en Peres Important Always remember that each point in your wireless net RL EF work MUST use the same WEP Encryption method and encryption Figure 5 2 key or your wireless network will not function properly Wrreless Access Point 54 bits 10 ham digis TEE bits 26 hax ges Note Werab rg WEF af Access Point timis musi ese marty he same WEF wryt aed WP haali A kii ee cereal of bles Checielers arkila ind BAF Figure 5 4 This will open the WEP Key Setting
24. ization publishes a number of journals has many local chapters and several large societies in special areas such as the IEEE Computer Society Infrastructure An infrastructure network is a wireless network or other small network in which the wireless network devices are made a part of the network through the Access Point which connects them to the rest of the network IP Address In the most widely installed level of the Internet Protocol Internet Protocol today an IP address is a 32 binary digit number that identi fies each sender or receiver of information that is sent in packet across the Internet When you request an HTML page or send e mail the Internet Protocol part of TCP IP includes your IP address in the message actually in each of the packets if more than one is required and sends it to the IP address that is obtained by looking up the domain name in the Uniform Resource Locator you requested or in the e mail address you re sending a note to At the other end the recipient can see the IP address of the Web page requestor or the e mail sender and can respond by sending another message using the IP address it received ISM band The FCC and their counterparts outside of the U S have set aside bandwidth for unlicensed use in the ISM Industrial Scientific and Medical band Spectrum in the vicinity of 2 4 GHz in particular is being made avail able worldwide This presents a truly revolutionary opportunity to place con ve
25. l appear Leave aL ai the User Name field oy Phase pres yeu anal reir red paces blank The first time ls you open the Web Based Utility use the default password admin You can set a new password from the Setup tab shown in Figure 5 2 Press the OK button to continue or Cancel to quit Figure 5 1 oie 182 188 1 252 Resin Linie pap PE Liner Mars Paced PP Gaa thir pamend m vous pacrword bet CEJ m The Setup Tab The first tab that appears shown in Figure 5 2 is the Setup tab This allows you to change the Access Points general settings Change these settings as described here and click the Apply button to apply your changes or Cancel to cancel your changes If you require online help click the Help button e Firmware Version This displays the current version of the Access Point s firmware Firmware should only be upgraded if you experience problems with the Access Point and can be upgraded from the Help tab Wreless Access Point Instant Wreless Series e Access Point Name You may assign any name to the Access Point e Wireless Unique memorable names are helpful especially if you are employing multiple access points on the same network Verify this is the name you e Turbo Mode Click this button to increase the speed of your wireless trans wish to use and click the Apply button to set it missions it will change from Off to On keeping in mind that the Access Point s range diminishes in Turbo Mode
26. n It s espe cially useful in education and other environments where users change fre quently Using very short leases DHCP can dynamically reconfigure networks in which there are more computers than there are available IP addresses DHCP supports static addresses for computers containing Web servers that need a permanent IP address Download To receive a file transmitted over a network In a communications session download means receive upload means transmit Driver A workstation or server software module that provides an interface between a device and the upper layer protocol software running in the comput er it is designed for a specific device and is installed during the initial instal lation of a network compatible client or server operating system DSSS Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum DSSS generates a redundant bit pattern for each bit to be transmitted This bit pattern is called a chip or chip ping code The longer the chip the greater the probability that the original data can be recovered Even if one or more bits in the chip are damaged during transmission statistical techniques embedded in the radio can recover the orig inal data without the need for retransmission To an unintended receiver DSSS appears as low power wideband noise and is rejected ignored by most nar rowband receivers DTIM Delivery Traffic Indication Message A DTIM field is a countdown field informing clients of the next window for li
27. nient high speed wireless capabilities in the hands of users around the globe LAN A local area network LAN is a group of computers and associated devices that share a common communications line and typically share the resources of a single processor or server within a small geographic area for example within an office building MAC Media Access Control Address A unique number assigned by the manufacturer to any Ethernet networking device such as a network adapter that allows the network to identify it at the hardware level Mbps MegaBits Per Second One million bits per second unit of measure ment for data transmission Multicasting Sending data to a group of nodes instead of a single destination Wrreless Network Access Point Network A system that transmits any combination of voice video and or data between users Node A network junction or connection point typically a computer or work station OFDM OFDM Orthogonal Frequency Division Muliplexing works by breaking one high speed data stream into a number of lower speed data streams which are then transmitted in parallel Each lower speed stream is used to modulate a subcarrier Essentially this creates a multi carrier transmission by dividing a wide frequency band or channel into a number of narrower fre quency bands or sub channels Packet A unit of data routed between an origin and a destination in a network Passphrase Used much like a passw
28. nly function with Linksys 5GHz wireless adapters 19 20 Instant Wreless Series What is the difference in Bozita Satin range between 802 11a and 2 ae 802 11b products g w Overall range will be a little f f CE less in a typical environment l i x i while higher speeds may be 1 achieved with 802 1 1a through k put degrades more quickly See Figure A 1 ki ahaa me a Oe ee me qu ne z CCE De MS Era il Figure A1 Are 802 11a and 802 11b products compatible No These products use different frequencies 5GHz and 2 4GHz respective ly Will the Access Point be subjected to interference from my microwave or cordless phones No Since the Access Point operates in the uncrowded 5GHz band there is less interference than ever The Access Point also has an Auto Select feature that scans for clear channels Will 802 11a SGHz interfere with my 802 11b 2 4GHz Access Point No Because their signals travel in different frequency bands one significant benefit is that they will not interfere with each other Can I use wireless adapters from other vendors to connect to the Linksys Access Point Yes Any wireless adapter that adheres to the IEEE 802 11a standard should function with the Access Point Wrreless Network Access Point Appendix B Setting Up the TCP IP Protocol Setting Up TCP IP in Windows Before a computer can communicate with the Access Point it must be config ured with the TCP IP
29. of the network devices are part of the network only for the duration of a communications session while in some close proximity to the rest of the network Automatic Rate Selection Switches the speed when the quality of the link cannot sustain maximum rate With lower data rates larger distances can be covered When the user comes closer to the access point the quality of the link improves and the radio automatically switches back to the maximum Backbone The part of a network that connects most of the systems and net works together and handles the most data Bandwidth The transmission capacity of a given facility in terms of how much data the facility can transmit in a fixed amount of time expressed in bits per second bps Beacon Interval A beacon is a packet broadcast by the Access Point to keep the network synchronized A beacon includes the wireless LAN service area the AP address the Broadcast destination addresses a time stamp Delivery Traffic Indicator Maps and the Traffic Indicator Message TIM Bit A binary digit The value 0 or 1 used in the binary numbering system Also the smallest form of data Browser A browser is an application program that provides a way to look at and interact with all the information on the World Wide Web or PC The word browser seems to have originated prior to the Web as a generic term for user interfaces that let you browse text files online BSS Basic Service Set A group
30. ord a passphrase simplifies the WEP encryption process by automatically generating the WEP encryption keys for Linksys products PC Card A credit card sized removable module that contains memory I O or a hard disk Port A pathway into and out of the computer or a network device such as a switch or router For example the serial and parallel ports on a personal com puter are external sockets for plugging in communications lines modems and printers RJ 45 Registered Jack 45 A connector similar to a telephone connector that holds up to eight wires used for connecting Ethernet devices Roaming The ability to use a wireless device and be able to move from one access point s range to another without losing the connection Router Protocol dependent device that connects subnetworks together Routers are useful in breaking down a very large network into smaller subnet works they introduce longer delays and typically have much lower throughput rates than bridges RTS Request To Send An RS 232 signal sent from the transmitting station to the receiving station requesting permission to transmit 29 30 Wraess Access Point Server Any computer whose function in a network is to provide user access to files printing communications and other services Software Instructions for the computer A series of instructions that performs a particular task is called a program The two major categories of software are sy
31. protocol If you know how to set up TCP IP on your com puters do so now Otherwise use the guidelines below to help get TCP IP installed on all of the computers that need to communicate with the Access Point If you are unable to successfully install TCP IP on one or more comput ers after following the directions contact the manufacturer of your computers network operating system for further assistance Check with your network administrator for your TCP IP settings The directions below provide general guidelines for coming up with IP address es and subnet masks Check with your network administrator to see if you need to use specific IP addresses or DHCP settings First each computer on the network will require an IP address which is a series of numbers separated by periods identifying the PC on the network To make things simple it is recommended you use the following numbering scheme 192 168 1 X In this example X is a unique arbitrarily assigned number from to 252 Each computer must have its own unique X number Note Never use 0 or 252 for X These numbers are reserved for other uses For example if you have three computers you could number them as follows 192 168 1 17 192 168 1 44 192 168 1 126 In this case 17 44 and 126 are arbitrary numbers between and 254 Each computer will also require a subnet mask which is a numerical filter that tells a computer what kinds of TCP IP data packets to accept If
32. rambling On the software side the WLAN series offers the encryp tion function WEP to enhance security and access control Users can set it up depending upon their needs Can Instant Wireless products support file and printer sharing Instant Wireless products perform the same function as LAN products Therefore Instant Wireless products can work with Netware Windows NT 2000 or other LAN operating systems to support printer or file sharing What is WEP WEP is Wired Equivalent Privacy a data privacy mechanism based on a 40 bit shared key algorithm as described in the IEEE 802 11 standard How do I avoid interference Using multiple Access Points on the same channel and in close proximity to one another will generate interference When employing multiple Access Points be sure to operate each one on a different channel frequency How do I reset the Access Point Press the Reset button on the back of the Access Point for about ten seconds This will reset the unit to its default settings Wrreless Access Point How do I resolve issues with signal loss There is no way to know the exact range of your wireless network without test ing Every obstacle placed between an Access Point and wireless PC will cre ate signal loss Leaded glass metal concrete floors water and walls will inhib it the signal and reduce range Start with your Access Point and your wireless PC in the same room and move it away in small increment
33. re informa tion on any device listed simply click the MAC Address of that device and another screen shown in Figure 5 6 will appear dis playing details on that device Figure 5 6 11 Instant Wreless Series The Filter Tab The Filter tab shown in Figure 5 7 allows you to block or allow certain com puters by their MAC Address from communicating with the Access Point To enable filtering of computers by their MAC Addresses select Enable from the drop down menu Next click the Add button This will bring up another screen as shown in Figure 5 8 where you will specify the MAC Address you will allow or deny over your wireless network In MAC Address field at the top of this screen type the MAC AMC you wish to filter click the Type drop down menu to select if you will allow access to other MAC Addresses or if you will deny the MAC Addresses To add this to your fil tered MAC Addresses click the Add to List button Click the Cancel button to return to the previous screen without saving changes For more information on this tab you can Figure 5 7 click the Help button open ms ms B ja De fun pi mt Le 1 When you ve complet ER se said ed making any changes on this tab click the Apply button to save those changes or Cancel to exit the Web based Utility without saving changes For more information on this tab you can click the Help button Figure 5 8 Wrreless A
34. s to determine the maximum range in your environment You may also try using different channels as this may eliminate interference affecting only one channel Also due to FCC regulations more power may be transmitted on channels 52 56 60 and 64 than on the lower channels Lastly check the Advanced tab of the Web Based Utility and make sure that FULL is selected in the Transmission Rate field Does the Turbo Mode work with Windows XP PCs No The Turbo Mode does not work with Windows XP PCs Does the Access Point function as a firewall No The Access Point is only a bridge from wired Ethernet to wireless clients I have excellent signal strength but I cannot see my network WEP is probably enabled on the Access Point but not on your wireless adapter or vice versa Verify that the same WEP Keys and levels 64 128 or 152 are being used on all nodes on your wireless network What is the maximum number of users the Access Point facilitates No more than 65 but this depends on the volume of data and may be less if many users create a large amount of network traffic How many channels are available with the Access Point There are eight available channels frequencies ranging from 5 15GHz to 5 32GHz What is Turbo mode Turbo mode allows high speed connections but severely limits range Turbo mode must be enabled on both the Access Point and the wireless PCs to func tion Turbo mode is not compatible with Windows XP and may o
35. stem software and application software System software is made up of control programs such as the operating system and database management sys tem DBMS Application software is any program that processes data for the user A common misconception is that software is data It is not Software tells the hardware how to process the data SOHO Small Office Home Office Market segment of professionals who work at home or in small offices Spread Spectrum Spread Spectrum technology is a wideband radio frequen cy technique developed by the military for use in reliable secure mission crit ical communications systems It is designed to trade off bandwidth efficiency for reliability integrity and security In other words more bandwidth is con sumed than in the case of narrowband transmission but the trade off produces a signal that is in effect louder and thus easier to detect provided that the receiver knows the parameters of the spread spectrum signal being broadcast If a receiver is not tuned to the right frequency a spread spectrum signal looks like background noise There are two main alternatives Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum DSSS and Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum FHSS Static IP Address A permanent IP address that is assigned to a node in an IP or a TCP IP network Subnet Mask The method used for splitting IP networks into a series of sub groups or subnets The mask is a binary pattern that is matched up wi
36. stening to broadcast and mul ticast messages When the AP has buffered broadcast or multicast messages for associated clients it sends the next DTIM with a DTIM Interval value AP Clients hear the beacons and awaken to receive the broadcast and multicast messages Dynamic IP Address An IP address that is automatically assigned to a client station in a TCP IP network typically by a DHCP server Network devices that serve multiple users such as servers and printers are usually assigned static IP addresses Encryption A security method that applies a specific algorithm to data in order to alter the data s appearance and prevent other devices from reading the information Instant Wreless Series ESS More than one BSS in a network Ethernet IEEE standard network protocol that specifies how data is placed on and retrieved from a common transmission medium Has a transfer rate of 10 Mbps Forms the underlying transport vehicle used by several upper level protocols including TCP IP and XNS FHSS Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum FHSS continuously changes the center frequency of a conventional carrier several times per second accord ing to a pseudo random set of channels while chirp spread spectrum changes the carrier frequency Because a fixed frequency is not used illegal monitoring of spread spectrum signals is extremely difficult if not downright impossible depending on the particular method Firmware Programming that
37. th the IP address to turn part of the host ID address field into a field for subnets Switch 1 A data switch connects computing devices to host computers allowing a large number of devices to share a limited number of ports 2 A device for making breaking or changing the connections in an electrical cir cuit TCP Transmission Control Protocol A method protocol used along with the Internet Protocol Internet Protocol to send data in the form of message units between computers over the Internet While IP takes care of handling the Wrreless Network Access Point actual delivery of the data TCP takes care of keeping track of the individual units of data called packet that a message is divided into for efficient routing through the Internet TCP IP Transmission Control Protocol Internet Protocol The basic com munication language or protocol of the Internet It can also be used as a com munications protocol in a private network either an intranet or an extranet When you are set up with direct access to the Internet your computer is pro vided with a copy of the TCP IP program just as every other computer that you may send messages to or get information from also has a copy of TCP IP Throughput The amount of data moved successfully from one place to anoth er in a given time period Topology A network s topology is a logical characterization of how the devices on the network are connected and the distances between t
38. the parameters of the spread spectrum signal being broadcast If a receiver is not 17 Instant Wreless Series tuned to the right frequency a spread spectrum signal looks like background noise There are two main alternatives Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum DSSS and Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum FHSS What is DSSS What is FHSS And what are their differences Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum FHSS uses a narrowband carrier that changes frequency in a pattern that is known to both transmitter and receiver Properly synchronized the net effect is to maintain a single logical channel To an unintended receiver FHSS appears to be short duration impulse noise Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum DSSS generates a redundant bit pattern for each bit to be transmitted This bit pattern is called a chip or chipping code The longer the chip the greater the probability that the original data can be recovered Even if one or more bits in the chip are damaged during transmis sion statistical techniques embedded in the radio can recover the original data without the need for retransmission To an unintended receiver DSSS appears as low power wideband noise and is rejected ignored by most narrowband receivers Would the information be intercepted while transmitting on air WLAN features two fold protection in security On the hardware side as with Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum technology it has the inherent security fea ture of sc
39. tion of that firmware bin file If you do not know the location click the Browse button to locate the file Then click the Upgrade button to upgrade the firmware Cancel to stop the process or Help for more information about upgrading firmware Figure 5 11 15 Appendix Troubleshooting This chapter provides solutions to problems usually encountered during the installation and operation of the Access Point Read the description below to solve your problems If you can t find an answer here check the Linksys web site at www linksys com Frequently Asked Questions 16 Can I run an application from a remote computer over the wireless net work This will depend on whether or not the application is designed to be used over a network Consult the application s user guide to determine if it supports oper ation over a network Can I play multiplayer games with other users of the wireless network Yes as long as the game supports multiple players over a LAN local area net work Refer to the game s user guide for more information What IEEE 802 11a features are supported The product supports the following IEEE 802 1 1a functions e OFDM protocol e Multi Channel Roaming e Automatic Rate Selection e RTS CTS feature e Fragmentation What is Ad hoc An Ad hoc wireless LAN is a group of computers each with a WLAN adapter connected as an independent wireless LAN An Ad hoc wireless LAN is appli cable
40. ub The Access Point will then be connected to your 10 100 Network 4 Connect the AC Power Adapter to the Access Point s Power Socket Only use the power adapter supplied with the Access Point Use of a differ ent adapter may result in product damage Now that the hardware installation is complete proceed to Chapter 5 Configuring the Wireless Access Point for directions on how to setup the Access Point Note In order for all other wireless devices to communicate with the Access Point those devices must be operating in the Infrastructure Mode If any wireless devices are configured in the Ad Hoc Mode they will not be recognized by the Access Point Instant Wreless Series Chapter 5 Configuring the VUreless Access Point Important Before configuring the Access Point be sure to set up the TCP IP protocol on your wireless PCs If this has not already been done please refer to Appendix B Setting Up the ee TCP IP Protocol The Access Point has been designed to be functional right out of the box with its default settings However if you d like to change these settings the Access Point can be configured through your web browser with the Web Based Utility This chapter explains how to configure the Access Point in this manner Open your web browser and enter the Access Point s IP Address 192 168 1 252 into the address field Press the Enter key and the following screen shown in Figure memapar s SL wil
41. you re not sure which mask to use the following mask is recommended 255 255 255 0 The following instructions are provided as examples for reference only For complete instructions on installing and troubleshooting TCP IP and IPX con sult your Windows operating system documentation TCP IP Setup for Windows 98 and Millennium 1 Click the Start button select Settings and open the Control Panel Inside the Control Panel double click the Network icon 2 If the TCP IP Protocol is listed for your network adapter go to step five Otherwise click the Add button 21 TCP IP Setup for Windows NT 4 0 1 22 Wrreless Access Point 3 When the Component Type window appears select Protocol and click the Add button 4 Select Microsoft in the Manufacturers list and choose TCP IP in the Network Protocols list Then click the OK button 5 When the Network window reappears click TCP IP and then click the Properties button 6 Select Specify an IP Address 7 Enter an IP Address for the computer along with a Subnet Mask Click the OK button If you do not have these values consult your network adminis trator 8 When the Network window reappears click the OK button Restart your machine TCP IP has now been successfully installed Click the Start button select Settings and open the Control Panel Inside the Control Panel double click the Network icon When the Network window appears click the Protocols tab
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