Cisco Linksys WSB24 Wireless AP with Booster User Manual WAP11 ver 2 6 User Guide

Cisco-Linksys, LLC Wireless AP with Booster WAP11 ver 2 6 User Guide

Contents

users manual 1

Instant Wireless®Series Wireless NetworkAccess PointUse this guide to install: WAP11 ver. 2.6 User Guide
COPYRIGHT & TRADEMARKS Copyright © 2002 Linksys, All Rights Reserved. Instant Wireless, Linksys, and theLinksys logo are registered trademarks of Linksys Group, Inc. Microsoft, Windows, andthe Windows logo are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other trade-marks and brand names are the property of their respective proprietors. LIMITED WARRANTY Linksys guarantees that every Wireless Network Access Point is free from physicaldefects in material and workmanship under normal use for one year from the date of pur-chase. If the product proves defective during this warranty period, go to the Linksys website atwww.linksys.comfor complete Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) assistance. Youcan also call Linksys Technical Support in order to obtain a RMA Number. BE SURE TOHAVE YOUR PROOF OF PURCHASE AND A BARCODE FROM THE PRODUCT’S PACK-AGING ON HAND WHEN CALLING. RETURN REQUESTS CANNOT BE PROCESSEDWITHOUT PROOF OF PURCHASE. When returning a product, mark the RMA Numberclearly on the outside of the package and include a copy of your original proof of pur-chase. All customers located outside of the United States of America and Canada shallbe held responsible 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 DOCUMENTATION. LINKSYS DOES NOT OFFER REFUNDS FOR ANYPRODUCT. 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 allaccompanying software, and specifically disclaims its quality, performance, mer-chantability, or fitness for any particular purpose. Linksys reserves the right to revise orupdate 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 STATEMENTThis product has been tested and complies with the specifications for a Class B digitaldevice, 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 andused according to the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communi-cations. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particularinstallation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or televisionreception, which is found by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged totry to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna• Increase the separation between the equipment or devices• Connect the equipment to an outlet other than the receiver’s• Consult a dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for assistanceFCC Radiation Exposure StatementThis equipment complies with FCC radiation exposure limits set forth for an uncontrolledenvironment. This equipment should be installed and operated with minimum distance20cm between the radiator and your body.UG-WAP11 ver. 2.6-111402D JL
Wireless Network Access PointTable of ContentsChapter 1: Introduction 1The Instant Wireless Network Access Point 1Features 1Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network 2Network Topology 2Ad-Hoc versus Infrastructure Mode 2Chapter 3: Getting to Know the Wireless NetworkAccess Point 4The Wireless Network Access Point’s Ports 4The Wireless Network Access Point’s LEDs 5Chapter 4: Connecting the Wireless Network Access Point 6Chapter 5: Setting Up the Wireless Network Access Point 7Chapter 6: Configuring the Wireless Network Access Point 15The Setup Tab 15The Password Tab 21The Status Tab 22The Log Tab 24The Help Tab 25The Filter Tab 26The Wireless Tab 28Appendix A: Troubleshooting 31Frequently Asked Questions 31Appendix B: Setting Up the TCP/IP Protocol 35Setting Up TCP/IP in Windows 35TCP/IP Setup for Windows 98 and Millennium 36TCP/IP Setup for Windows 2000 37TCP/IP Setup for Windows XP 38INDUSTRY CANADA (CANADA)This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est conforme à la norme NMB-003 du Canada.The use of this device in a system operating either partially or completely outdoors may requirethe user to obtain a license for the system according to the Canadian regulations.EC DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY (EUROPE)Linksys Group declares that the Instant Wireless®Series products included in the InstantWireless®Series conform to the specifications listed below, following the provisions of theEMC Directive 89/336/EEC and Low Voltage Directive 73/23/EEC:• ETS 300-826, 301 489-1 General EMC requirements for Radio equipment.• EN 609 50 Safety• ETS 300-328-2 Technical requirements for Radio equipment.Note: This equipment is intended to be used in all EU and EFTA countries. Outdoor use maybe restricted to certain frequencies and/or may require a license for operation. For moredetails, contact Linksys Corporate Compliance.Note: Combinations of power levels and antennas resulting in a radiated power level ofabove 100 mW are considered as not compliant with the above mentioned directive and arenot allowed for use within the European community and countries that have adopted theEuropean R&TTE directive 1999/5/EC and/or the CEPT recommendation Rec 70.03. Formore details on legal combinations of power levels and antennas, contact Linksys CorporateCompliance.• Linksys Group vakuuttaa täten että Instant Wireless IEEE 802.11 PC Card tyyppinen laiteon direktiivin 1999/5/EY, direktiivin 89/336/EEC ja direktiivin 73/23/EEC oleellisten vaa-timusten ja sitä koskevien näiden direktiivien muiden ehtojen mukainen.• Linksys Group déclare que la carte PC Instant Wireless IEEE 802.11 est conforme auxconditions essentielles et aux dispositions relatives à la directive 1999/5/EC, la directive89/336/EEC, et à la directive 73/23/EEC.• Belgique B L’utilisation en extérieur est autorisé sur le canal 11 (2462 MHz), 12 (2467MHz), et 13 (2472 MHz).Dans le cas d’une utilisation privée, à l’extérieur d’un bâtiment, au-dessus d’un espacepublic, aucun enregistrement n’est nécessaire pour une distance de moins de 300m.Pour une distance supérieure à 300m un enregistrement auprès de l’IBPT est requise.Pour une utilisation publique à l’extérieur de bâtiments, une licence de l’IBPT est req-uise. Pour les enregistrements et licences, veuillez contacter l’IBPT.• France F: Bande de fréquence restreinte: seuls les canaux 10, 11, 12, 13 (2457, 2462,2467, et 2472 MHz respectivement) doivent être utilisés en France. Toute utilisation,qu'elle soit intérieure ou extérieure, est soumise à autorisation. Vous pouvez contacterl'Autorité de Régulation des Télécommuniations (http://www.art-telecom.fr) pour laprocédure à suivre.• France F: Restricted frequency band: only channels 10, 11, 12, 13 (2457, 2462, 2467,and 2472 MHz respectively) may be used in France. License required for every indoorand outdoor installations. Please contact ART for procedure to follow.• Deutschland D: Anmeldung im Outdoor-Bereich notwending, aber nicht genehmi-gungspflichtig. Bitte mit Händler die Vorgehensweise abstimmen.• Germany D: License required for outdoor installations. Check with reseller for procedureto follow.• Italia I: E' necessaria la concessione ministeriale anche per l'uso interno. Verificare con irivenditori la procedura da seguire. L'uso per installazione in esterni non e' permessa.• Italy I: License required for indoor use. Use with outdoor installations not allowed.• the Netherlands NL License required for outdoor installations. Check with reseller forprocedure to follow.• Nederlands NL Licentie verplicht voor gebruik met buitenantennes. Neem contact opmet verkoper voor juiste procedure.
Instant Wireless®Series6Wireless Network Access PointChapter 1: IntroductionDon’t be bound by cabling restrictions any longer! The Wireless Access Pointfrom Linksys delivers the freedom to configure your network your way.Utilization of “state-of-the-art” wireless technology gives you the ability to setup workstations in ways you never thought possible; no cables to install meansless expense and less hassle. The Wireless Access Point’s high-powered antennas offer a wide range of oper-ation, so you get seamless roaming throughout your wireless LAN infrastruc-ture. An advanced user authentication feature ensures a high level of networksecurity, and Windows-based diagnostics and statistic tools ensure that you’llalways be in control. The Wireless Access Point is easy-to-install and easy-to-use—just plug it in and you’re ready to go!When all of these features come together in one compact, lightweight, andpower-efficient unit, you have the ultimate in flexible networking—the LinksysWireless Access Point.• High-Speed Data Transfer Rates of up to 11Mbps• Interoperable with IEEE 802.11b (DSSS), 2.4GHz Compliant Equipment• Provides Roaming, Best Access Point Selection, Load Balancing, andNetwork Traffic Filtering• Wireless Access Point Roaming and Bridging• Hardware Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)• Free Software Driver Upgrades• Compatible with Virtually All Major Operating Systems• Free Technical Support—24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week, Toll-Free USCalls• 1-Year Limited Warranty1Appendix C: Glossary 39Appendix D: Specifications 47Environmental 48Appendix E: Warranty Information 49Appendix F: Contact Information 50FeaturesThe Instant Wireless Network Access Point
Wireless Network Access Point3If the wireless network is relatively small and needs to share resources onlywith the other computers on the wireless network, then the ad-hoc mode canbe used. (See Figure 2-2.) Ad-hoc mode allows computers equipped with wire-less transmitters and receivers to communicate directly with each other, elimi-nating the need for an access point. The drawback of this mode is that, in Ad-Hoc mode, wireless-equipped computers are not able to communicate withcomputers on a wired network. And, of course, communication between thewireless-equipped computers is limited by the distance and interference direct-ly between them.Instant Wireless®SeriesChapter 2: Planning YourWireless NetworkA wireless local area network (WLAN) is exactly like a regular local area net-work (LAN), except that each computer in the WLAN uses a wireless device toconnect to the network. Computers in a WLAN share the same frequencychannel and SSID, which is an identification name for wireless devices.Unlike wired networks, wireless networks have two different modes in whichthey may be set up: infrastructure and ad-hoc. An infrastructure configura-tion is a WLAN and wired LAN communicating to each other through anaccess point. An ad-hoc configuration is wireless-equipped computers com-municating directly with each other. Choosing between these two modesdepends on whether or not the wireless network needs to share data or periph-erals with a wired network or not.If the computers on thewireless network need tobe accessed by a wirednetwork or need to share aperipheral, such as a print-er, with the wired networkcomputers, the wirelessnetwork should be set upin infrastructure mode.(See Figure 2-1.) Thebasis of infrastructuremode centers around anaccess point, which servesas the main point of com-munications in a wireless network. Access points transmit data to PCs equippedwith wireless network cards, which can roam within a certain radial range ofthe access point. Multiple access points can be arranged to work in successionto extend the roaming range, and can be set up to communicate with yourEthernet (wired) hardware as well. 2Network TopologyAd-Hoc versus Infrastructure ModeFigure 2-1Figure 2-2
Wireless Network Access Point5Instant Wireless®SeriesChapter 3: Getting to Know theWireless Network Access PointThe Access Point’s ports, where a network cable is connected, are located onthe Access Point’s rear panel.Dipole Antenna Connectors These two round connections are where the antennas areconnected to the Access Point.LAN This LAN (Local Area Network) port connects toEthernet network devices, such as a hub, switch, orrouter.Power The Power port is where you will connect the poweradapter.Reset Button There are two ways to reset the Access Point’s factorydefaults. Briefly press the Reset Button for approximatelyten seconds, or use the Password tab of the Access Point’sWeb-based Utility. 4TPower Red. The Power LED lights up when the Access Point ispowered on.ACT Green. If the LED is flickering, the Access Point is activelysending or receiving data to or from one of the devices on thewireless network.LINK Orange. The LINK LED serves two purposes. If the LED iscontinuously lit up, the Access Point is successfully connect-ed to a device through the LAN port. If the LED is flicker-ing, it is an indication of any wired network activity.The Wireless Network Access Point’s LEDsFigure 3-2The Wireless Network Access Point’s PortsFigure 3-1Important: Resetting the Access Point will erase all of your settings(WEP Encryption, Wireless, and LAN settings, etc.) and replacethem with the factory defaults.
Wireless Network Access PointChapter 5: Setting Up theWireless Network Access PointNow that you’ve connected the Access Point to your wired network, you areready to begin setting it up. This Setup Wizard will take you through all thesteps necessary to get the Access Point connecting your wireless network toyour wired network and communicating more efficiently.1. Insert the Setup Wizard CD into your PC’s CD-ROM drive. Optimally, yourPC should be on your wired network. 2. The screen in Figure 5-1 should appear on your monitor. If it does not, thismeans the autorun is not functioning. Start the autorun manually by click-ing the Start button, selecting Run, and typing D:\setup.exe (if “D” is yourPC’s CD-ROM drive). Click the Setup button to run the Setup Wizard.Clicking the User Guide button opened this User Guide. To access theLinksys website on an active Internet connection, click the LINKSYSWEB button, or to exit this Setup Wizard, click the Exit button.7Instant Wireless®SeriesChapter 4: Connecting theWireless Network Access Point 1. Locate an optimum location for the Access Point. The best place for theAccess Point is usually at the center of your wireless network, with line ofsight to all of your mobile stations.2. Fix the direction of the antenna. Try to place it in a position which can bestcover your wireless network. Normally, the higher you place the antenna,the better the performance will be. The antenna’s position enhances thereceiving sensitivity. Both antennas should be perpendicular to the groundand parallel to each other.3. Connect the included Category 5 Ethernet network cable to the AccessPoint. Then, connect the other end of the Ethernet cable to a switch or hub.The Access Point will then be connected to your 10/100 network.4. Connect the AC power adapter to the Access Point’s Power port. Only usethe power adapter supplied with the Access Point. Use of a different adaptermay result in product damage.Now that the hardware installation is complete, proceed to “Chapter 5: SettingUp the Wireless Network Access Point” for directions on how to set up theAccess Point.6Have You: Connected the Access Point to a hub, switch, or routeron your wired network as shown in “Chapter 4: Connecting theWireless Network Access Point”?Note: While the Access Point has been designed to work correctlyright out of the box, setting it up on a wireless computer willrequire you to use the Linksys default settings. These settings canthen be changed through the Web-based Utility.Note: In order for all other wireless devices to communicate withthe Access Point, those devices must be operating in the infrastruc-ture mode. If any wireless devices are configured in the ad-hocmode, they will not be recognized by the Access Point.
Wireless Network Access Point94. The next screen to appear, shown in Figure 5-3, will display a list of accesspoints on your network, along with the status information for each accesspoint. If there is only one access point on your network, it will be the onlyone displayed. If there are more than one displayed, select the Access Pointby clicking on it, and click the Yes button to continue or No to exit the SetupWizard.5. On the Enter Network Password screen, enter the default password, admin,in the Password field. Then click the OK button. For added security,remember to change this password later through the Web-based Utility’sPassword screen.Figure 5-3Instant Wireless®Series3. You can configure the Access Point through any PC connected to yourEthernet network. Make sure the Access Point is connected to one of yournetwork switches or hubs. Click the Next button to continue or Exit to exitthe Setup Wizard.8Figure 5-2Figure 5-1Figure 5-4
Wireless Network Access Point7. As shown in Figure 5-6, the Basic Settings screen will now appear. Enteryour wireless network’s SSID, and select the channel at which the networkbroadcasts its wireless signal. Then, click the Next button to continue orBack to return to the previous page.• SSID. The SSID is the unique name shared among all points in a wirelessnetwork. The SSID must be identical for all points in the wireless net-work. It is case-sensitive and must not exceed 32 characters, which maybe any keyboard character. Make sure this setting is the same for allpoints in your wireless network.• Channel. Select the appropriate channel from the list provided to corre-spond with your network settings, between 1 and 11 (in North America).All points in your wireless network must use the same channel in orderto function correctly.11Instant Wireless®Series6. As shown in Figure 5-5, the IP Settings screen will appear next. Enter an IPAddress and Subnet Mask appropriate to your network. Then enter a uniquename in the AP Name field. Click the Next button to continue or Back to returnto the previous page.• IP Address. This IP address must be unique to your network. (Thedefault IP address is 192.168.1.251.) As this is a private IP address, thereis no need to purchase a separate IP address from your service provider. • Subnet Mask. The Access Point’s Subnet Mask must be the same as yourEthernet network.• AP Name. You may assign any name to the Access Point. Unique, mem-orable names are helpful, especially if you are using multiple accesspoints on the same wireless network.10Figure 5-6Figure 5-5
Wireless Network Access Point9. The second Security Settings screen, shown in Figure 5-8, shows the WEPkey. If you entered a passphrase, then the Key 1 field will display the auto-matically generated WEP key. If you did not enter a passphrase, then entera WEP key in the Key 1 field. Each point in your wireless network must usethe same WEP key for the network to function properly. Click the Next but-ton to continue or Back to return to the previous page.• Key 1. WEP keys enable you to create an encryption scheme for wire-less LAN transmissions. If the WEP key hasn’t been automatically gen-erated, then manually enter a set of values. (Do not leave the field blank,and do not enter all zeroes. These are not valid key values.) If you areusing 64-bit WEP encryption, then each key must consist of exactly 10hexadecimal characters in length. If you are using 128-bit WEP encryp-tion, then each key must consist of exactly 26 hexadecimal characters inlength. Valid hexadecimal characters are “0”-“9” and “A”-“F”.13Instant Wireless®Series8. The Security Settings screen (Figure 5-7) will appear next. From thisscreen, you will set the Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption foryour wireless network. Select a WEP configuration method and apassphrase. Click the Next button to continue or Back to return to the pre-vious page.• WEP (Disable/64-bit (10 hex digits)/128-bit 26 hex digits). In order toutilize WEP encryption, select the WEP setting from the pull-downmenu, 64-bit (10 hex digits) or 128-bit (26 hex digits). If you do notwish to utilize WEP encryption, make sure Disabled is selected. TheAccess Point’s WEP encryption is unique to Linksys and may conflictwith other vendors’ WEP encryption.• Passphrase. Instead of manually entering WEP keys, you can enter aPassphrase. This Passphrase is used to generate one or more WEP keys.It is case-sensitive and should not be longer than 16 alphanumeric char-acters. (The Passphrase function is compatible with Linksys wirelessproducts only. If you want to communicate with non-Linksys wirelessproducts, you will need to enter your WEP keys manually on the non-Linksys wireless products.)12Figure 5-8Figure 5-7
Wireless Network Access Point15Instant Wireless®Series10. The next screen (Figure 5-9) will allow you to review your settings. If thesesettings are correct, click the Yes button to save these settings. If there areany problems with the settings, click the No button to exit the Setup Wizard.10. At this point, the configuration performed with the Setup Wizard is com-plete, as shown in Figure 5-10. To configure any other access points in yournetwork, you can run this Setup Wizard again. Click the Exit button to exitthe Setup Wizard.14Chapter 6: Configuring theWireless Network Access PointThe Access Point has been designed to be functional right out of the box, withthe default settings in the Setup Wizard. However, if you’d like to change thesesettings, the Access Point can be configured through your web browser with theWeb-based Utility. This chapter explains how to configure the Access Point inthis manner.Open your web browser and type theIP Address you entered in the SetupWizard (the default IP address is192.168.1.251). Press the Enter keyand the following screen, shown inFigure 6-1, will appear. Leave theUser Name field blank. The first timeyou open the Web-based Utility, usethe default password admin. You canset a new password on the Passwordscreen shown in Figure 6-7.The first screen that appears, shown in Figure 6-2, is the Setup tab. This allowsyou to change the Access Point’s general settings. Change these settings asdescribed here, and click the Apply button to apply your changes or Cancel tocancel your changes. If you require online help, click the Help button.• Firmware Version. This displays the current version of the Access Point’sfirmware. Firmware should only be upgraded if you experience problemswith the Access Point and can be upgraded from the Help tab.• AP Name. You may assign any name to the Access Point. Unique, memo-rable names are helpful, especially if you are employing multiple accesspoints on the same network. Verify this is the name you wish to use andclick the Apply button to set it.Figure 6-1The Setup TabNote: The Access Point is designed to function properly afterusing the Setup Wizard. This chapter is provided solely for thosewho wish to perform more advanced configuration or monitoring.Figure 5-10Figure 5-9
Wireless Network Access Point17Instant Wireless®Series16• SSID. The SSID is the unique name shared among all points in a wirelessnetwork. The SSID must be identical for all points in the wireless network.It is case-sensitive and must not exceed 32 alphanumeric characters, whichmay be any keyboard character. Make sure this setting is the same for allpoints in your wireless network.• Channel. Select the appropriate channel from the list provided to corre-spond with your network settings, between 1 and 11 (in North America). Allpoints in your wireless network must use the same channel in order to func-tion correctly.• WEP. The WEP Encryption method is set to Disable by default. To enableWEP, click the Mandatory radio button, and then click the WEP KeySetting button to configure the WEP settings.SETTING WEP ENCRYPTION:If the Disable radio button isselected and you click the WEPKey Setting button, then the screenshown in Figure 6-3 will appear.Click the OK button to enableWEP encryption or Cancel toreturn to the Setup screen.Set WEP Encryption through the Web-based Utility by clicking the WEP KeySetting button on the Setup screen as shown in Figure 6-2. This will open the WEP Key Setting screen, Figure 6-4. From this screen, youcan select the type of WEP encryption to use and set the Passphrase for thatencryption.From the pull-down menu at the top of the screen, select 64-bit or 128-bit WEPencryption.The Mode pull-down menu will allow you to set the Passphrase in hexadecimalor ASCII characters. Hexadecimal characters on your keyboard are the letters“A” through “F” and the numbers “0” through “9”, while ASCII characters areany character on your keyboard.Figure 6-3Important: Always remember that each point in your wireless net-work MUST use the same WEP encryption method and encryptionkey, or else your wireless network will not function properly. • Obtain an IP Address Automatically. Click this radio button to allow theAccess Point to obtain a dynamic IP address from a DHCP server.• Specify an IP Address. This IP address must be unique to your network.We suggest you use the default IP address of 192.168.1.251. As this is a pri-vate IP address, there is no need to purchase a separate IP address fromyour service provider. Verify the address and click the Apply button to savechanges.• Subnet Mask. The Access Point’s Subnet Mask (or IP Mask) must be thesame as your Ethernet network. Verify this is correct and click the Applybutton to set it. • Gateway. If you have assigned a static IP address to the Access Point, thenenter the IP address of your network’s Gateway, such as a router, in theGateway field. If your network does not have a Gateway, then leave thisfield blank.Figure 6-2
Wireless Network Access Point19Instant Wireless®Series18less clients. A separate network attached to the Access Point Client can thenbe wirelessly bridged to the remote access point. Enter the required LANMAC address of the remote access point in the Remote AP MAC Addressfield.• Wireless Bridge - If you are trying to make a wireless connection betweentwo wired networks, as shown in Figure 6-5, select Wireless Bridge. Thismode connects two physically separated wired networks with two accesspoints. To configure a Wireless Bridge environment, click Wireless Bridge andenter the LAN MAC address of the remote access point in the RemoteBridge MAC Address field. The remote access point also needs to be set upas a Wireless Bridge.Note: All devices on each wired network must be connected through a hubor switch. • Wireless Bridge Point to MultiPoint- If you are trying to make a wirelessconnection between more than two wired networks, as shown in Figure 6-6, Note: In Wireless Bridge mode, the Access Point can ONLY beaccessed by another access point in Wireless Bridge mode. In orderfor your other wireless devices to access the Access Point, you mustreset it to Access Point mode. The two modes are mutually exclusive. Figure 6-5There are two ways to create WEP encryption keys. The first method is by typ-ing a Passphrase into that field and clicking the Generate button. This willgenerate WEP encryption keys based upon that passphrase. A second methodis to manually enter the WEP encryption keys in the available fields. Click the Clear button to clear the Passphrase and Key 1-4 fields.In the Default TX Key drop-down menu, select the number of the key you wantto use.Click the Apply button to apply your changes, or click Undo to cancel yourmost recent change.SETTING THE AP MODE:The Access Point offers four modes of operation: Access Point, Access PointClient, Wireless Bridge, and Wireless Bridge Point to MultiPoint. For all bridg-ing modes, make sure the channel, SSID, and WEP keys are the same.• Access Point - The Operational Mode is set to Access Point by default.This connects your wireless PCs to a wired network. In most cases, nochange is necessary.• Access Point Client - When set to Access Point Client mode, the AccessPoint Client is able to talk to one remote access point within its range. Thismode allows the Access Point Client to act as a client of a remote accesspoint. The Access Point Client cannot communicate directly with any wire-Figure 6-4
Wireless Network Access PointThe Password tab, shown in Figure 6-7, allows you to change the Access Point’spassword and restore factory defaults.Changing the password for the Access Point is as easy as typing the passwordinto the AP Password field. Then, type it again into the second field to confirm.To restore the Access Point’s factory default settings, click the Yes buttonbeside Restore Factory Defaults.Click the Apply button to apply your changes or Cancel to cancel yourchanges. If you require online help, click the Help button.21Instant Wireless®Seriesselect Wireless Bridge Point to MultiPoint. This mode allows you to con-struct a network that has multiple access points bridging wirelessly.To configure a Wireless Bridge Point to MultiPoint environment, clickWireless Bridge Point to MultiPoint for the access point used in LAN 1.No MAC address binding is needed. Then, set the access points in LAN 2and LAN 3 to Wireless Bridge, and have them look for the MAC address ofthe access point in LAN 1.Only one of the access points must be in Point to MultiPoint mode. For allother bridged access points, select the Wireless Bridge option, and enterthe Remote LAN MAC Address of the Access Point set to Point toMultiPoint.• Backup and Restore. Clicking the Backup button will store the AccessPoint’s configuration to your PC’s hard drive. You can restore this informa-tion by clicking the Restore button.Click the Apply button to apply your changes or Cancel to cancel yourchanges. If you require online help, click the Help button.20The Password TabImportant: Restoring the Access Point’s factory defaults will eraseall of your settings (WEP Encryption, Wireless and LAN settings,etc.), replacing them with the factory defaults. Do not reset theAccess Point if you want to retain these settingsNote: Linksys recommends bridging no more than three remoteLANs in Wireless Bridge Point to MultiPoint mode. Bridging addi-tional remote LANs will result in a significant decrease in bandwidth.Figure 6-6Figure 6-7
Wireless Network Access Point• Gateway. This displays the IP address of your network’s Gateway.• Send and Recv. The Send and Recv fields display the number of success-ful or dropped packets that have been sent or received. Wireless• SSID. The unique name shared among all points in your wireless networkis displayed here.• Encryption Function. The encryption method you chose in the SetupWizard or changed from the Setup tab of this Web-based Utility is displayedhere.• Channel. The wireless channel shared by all wireless devices connected tothis Access Point is displayed here.• Send and Recv. The Send and Recv fields display the number of success-ful or dropped packets that have been sent or received. Some packet loss isnormal in wireless networking.23Instant Wireless®SeriesThe Status tab, shown in Figure 6-8, will display current information on theAccess Point, its settings, and its performance.• Firmware Version. This displays the current version of the Access Point’sfirmware. Firmware should only be upgraded if you experience problemswith the Access Point and can be upgraded from the Help tab.LAN • IP Address. This IP address is the unique IP address of the Access Point.• Subnet Mask. The Access Point’s Subnet Mask (also known as an IPMask), matches the Subnet Mask of your Ethernet network.22Figure 6-8The Status Tab
Wireless Network Access PointFor help on the various tabs in this Web-based Utility, along with upgrading theAccess Point’s firmware and viewing this User Guide, click the Help tab,shown in Figure 6-10.The help files for the various tabs in this Web-based Utility are listed by tabname on the lefthand side of the screen.Click the Linksys Website link to connect to the Linksys homepage forKnowledgebase help files and information about other Linksys products, pro-vided you have an active Internet connection.For an Online manual in PDF format, click that text link. The User Guide willappear in Adobe pdf format. If you do not have the Adobe PDF Reader installedon your computer, click the Adobe Website link or go to the Setup Wizard CD-ROM to download this software. (To access the Adobe website, you will need anactive Internet connection.) To download from the CD-ROM, click the Start but-ton and select Run. Type D:\Acrobat (if “D” is the letter of your CD-ROM drive).25Instant Wireless®SeriesTo view a log of the Access Point’s activity, select the Log tab, shown in Figure6-9.To enable permanent logging activity, click the Enable radio button besideAccess Log. The default setting for this function is Disable.If you have chosen to monitor the Access Point’s traffic, then you can designatea PC that will receive permanent log files periodically. In the Send Log to field,enter the IP address of this PC. To view these permanent logs, you must useLogviewer software, which can be downloaded free of charge fromwww.linksys.com.To see a temporary log of the Access Point’s most recent activities, click theView Log button.Click the Apply button to apply your changes or Cancel to cancel yourchanges. If you require online help, click the Help button.24The Log TabFigure 6-9The Help TabFigure 6-10
Wireless Network Access PointThen, type the MAC Address(es) you wish to filter in the MAC Address fields.When you’ve completed making any changes on this tab, click the Apply but-ton to save those changes or Undo to cancel your changes. For more informa-tion on this tab, click the Help button.27Instant Wireless®SeriesNew firmware versions are posted at www.linksys.com and can be downloadedfor free. If the Access Point is not experiencing difficulties, then there is noneed to download a more recent firmware version, unless that version has anew feature that you want to use. Loading new firmware does not alwaysenhance the speed or quality of your Internet connection.To upgrade the Access Point’s firmware:1. Download the firmware upgrade file from the Linksys website.2. Extract the firmware upgrade file.3. Click the Upgrade Firmware button on the Help screen.4. Enter the location of the firmware upgrade file in the File Path field, orclick the Browse button to find the firmware upgrade file.5. Double-click the firmware upgrade file.6. Click the Upgrade button, and follow the on-screen instructions.Click the Cancel button to cancel the firmware upgrade.To access the Filter tab, first click the Advanced tab. The Filter tab, shown inFigure 6-11, allows you to control which computers may or may not commu-nicate with the Access Point—depending on their MAC addresses.To enable filtering of computers by their MAC Addresses, click the Enableradio button. To disable this feature, click the Disable radio button. Next, determine if the Access Point will deny access only to the MAC address-es you will specify, OR if the Access Point will allow access only to the MACAddresses you will specify. Click the radio button next to the option that isappropriate.Above the MAC Address fields, there is a pull-down menu. This pull-downmenu is for selecting the number of computers on your wireless network. Forcomputers one through ten on your wireless network, 1~10 is selected bydefault. If you have more than ten computers on your wireless network, use thispull-down menu to select 11~20, 21~30, etc., up to a maximum of 50 MACAddresses.26Figure 6-11The Filter TabNote: When you upgrade the Access Point’s firmware, you maylose the Access Point’s current configuration settings.
Wireless Network Access Point29Instant Wireless®SeriesBefore making any changes to the Wireless tab, shown in Figure 6-12, pleasecheck your wireless settings on your other systems, as these changes will alterthe effectiveness of the Access Point. In most cases, these wireless settings donot need to be changed.• Beacon Interval. This value indicates the frequency interval of the beacon.A beacon is a packet broadcast by the Access Point to keep the network syn-chronized. A beacon includes the wireless LAN service area, the APaddress, the Broadcast destination addresses, a time stamp, Delivery TrafficIndicator Maps, and the Traffic Indicator Message (TIM).28• RTS Threshold. This value should remain at its default setting of 2346.Should you encounter inconsistent data flow, only minor reductions are rec-ommended.• Fragmentation Threshold. This value specifies the maximum size for apacket before data is fragmented into multiple packets. It should remain atits default setting of 2346. A smaller setting means smaller packets, whichwill create more packets for each transmission. Only minor reductions ofthis value are recommended.• DTIM Interval. This value indicates the interval of the Delivery TrafficIndication Message (DTIM). A DTIM field is a countdown field informingclients of the next window for listening to broadcast and multicast mes-sages. When the Access Point has buffered broadcast or multicast messagesfor associated clients, it sends the next DTIM with a DTIM Interval value.Access Point Clients hear the beacons and awaken to receive the broadcastand multicast messages. • Basic Rates. The basic rate is the minimum speed at which a wireless clientis allowed to connect to the Access Point.• Transmission Rates.The transmission rates should be set depending on thespeed of your wireless network. You must select 1-2 (Mbps) if you haveolder 802.11 compliant equipment on your network, such as wirelessadapters that support only 1 or 2 Mbps. Selecting 1-2 (Mbps), however,does NOT limit the transmission rates of faster adapters.• Preamble Type. The preamble defines the length of the CRC block forcommunication between the Access Point and a roaming wireless networkadapter. (High network traffic areas should use the shorter preamble type.)Select the appropriate preamble type and click the Apply button to set it.All wireless points (nodes) on your network should use the same preambletype.• Authentication Type. You may choose between Open System, SharedKey, and Both. The Authentication Type default is set to Open System.Shared Key is when both the sender and the recipient share a secret key. Allpoints on your network must use the same authentication type. It is recom-mended that you use the default setting.• Antenna Selection. This selection is for choosing which antenna transmitsdata. By default, the Diversity Antenna selection, used to increase recep-tion, is chosen. The Wireless TabFigure 6-12
Wireless Network Access Point31Instant Wireless®Series• SSID Broadcast. For security purposes, this selection can be disabled,allowing only those wireless network adapters with the Access Point’s SSIDto communicate with the Access Point. By default, this selection is enabled,allowing all wireless network adapters in your wireless network to commu-nicate with the Access Point.When you’ve completed making any changes on this tab, click the Apply but-ton to save those changes or Cancel to cancel your changes. For more infor-mation on this tab, you can click the Help button.30Appendix A: TroubleshootingThis chapter provides a list of questions and answers regarding the operation ofthe Access Point. Read the description below to solve your problems. If youcan’t find an answer here, check the Linksys website at www.linksys.com.Can the Access Point act as my DHCP Server?No. The Access Point is nothing more than a wireless hub, and as such, cannotbe configured to handle DHCP capabilities.Can I run an application from a remote computer over the wireless network?This will depend on whether or not the application is designed to be used overa 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 is the IEEE 802.11b standard?It is one of the IEEE standards for wireless networks. The 802.11b standardallows wireless networking hardware from different manufacturers to commu-nicate, provided that the hardware complies with the 802.11b standard. The802.11b standard states a maximum data transfer rate of 11Mbps and an oper-ating frequency of 2.4GHz. What IEEE 802.11b features are supported?The product supports the following IEEE 802.11 functions: • CSMA/CA plus Acknowledge protocol • Multi-Channel Roaming • Automatic Rate Selection • RTS/CTS feature • Fragmentation • Power Management What is ad-hoc mode?When a wireless network is set to ad-hoc mode, the wireless-equipped com-puters are configured to communicate directly with each other. The ad-hocwireless network will not communicate with any wired network. Frequently Asked QuestionsImportant: The Access Point will not be recognized by “site-sur-vey” utilities, such as the Microsoft®Windows®XP ZeroConfiguration Utility, if SSID Broadcast is disabled.
Wireless Network Access PointWhat 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 thecase of narrowband transmission, but the trade-off produces a signal that is, ineffect, louder and thus easier to detect, provided that the receiver knows theparameters of the spread-spectrum signal being broadcast. If a receiver is nottuned to the right frequency, a spread-spectrum signal looks like backgroundnoise. 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 thatchanges frequency in a pattern that is known to both transmitter and receiver.Properly synchronized, the net effect is to maintain a single logical channel. Toan unintended receiver, FHSS appears to be short-duration impulse noise.Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) generates a redundant bit pattern foreach 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 berecovered. Even if one or more bits in the chip are damaged during transmis-sion, statistical techniques embedded in the radio can recover the original datawithout the need for retransmission. To an unintended receiver, DSSS appearsas low power wideband noise and is rejected (ignored) by most narrowbandreceivers. Would the information be intercepted while transmitting on air?Instant Wireless products feature two-fold protection in security. On the hard-ware side, as with Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum technology, it has theinherent security feature of scrambling. On the software side, Instant Wirelessproducts offer the encryption function (WEP) to enhance security and accesscontrol. 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, WindowsNT/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 40/64bit shared key algorithm, as described in the IEEE 802.11 standard. 33Instant Wireless®SeriesWhat is infrastructure mode?When a wireless network is set to infrastructure mode, the wireless network isconfigured to communicate with a wired network through a wireless accesspoint.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 asingle wireless network access point. Before using the roaming function, theworkstation must make sure that it is the same channel number as the wirelessnetwork access point of the dedicated coverage area. To achieve true seamless connectivity, the wireless LAN must incorporate anumber of different functions. Each node and wireless network access point,for example, must always acknowledge receipt of each message. Each nodemust maintain contact with the wireless network even when not actually trans-mitting data. Achieving these functions simultaneously requires a dynamic RFnetworking technology that links wireless network access points and nodes. Insuch a system, the user’s end node undertakes a search for the best possibleaccess to the system. First, it evaluates such factors as signal strength and qual-ity, as well as the message load currently being carried by each wireless net-work access point and the distance of each wireless network access point to thewired backbone. Based on that information, the node next selects the rightwireless network access point and registers its address. Communicationsbetween end node and host computer can then be transmitted up and down thebackbone.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 wireless networkaccess point or whether it should seek a new one. When a node no longerreceives acknowledgment from its original wireless network access point, itundertakes a new search. Upon finding a new wireless network access point, itthen re-registers, and the communication process continues.What is ISM band?The FCC and their counterparts outside of the U.S. have set aside bandwidthfor unlicensed use in the ISM (Industrial, Scientific and Medical) band.Spectrum in the vicinity of 2.4 GHz, in particular, is being made availableworldwide. This presents a truly revolutionary opportunity to place convenienthigh speed wireless capabilities in the hands of users around the globe. 32
Wireless Network Access Point35Instant Wireless®SeriesWhat is a MAC Address? The Media Access Control (MAC) address is a unique number assigned by themanufacturer to any Ethernet networking device, such as a network adapter,that allows the network to identify it at the hardware level. For all practical pur-poses, this number is usually permanent. Unlike IP addresses, which canchange every time a computer logs on to the network, the MAC address of adevice stays the same, making it a valuable identifier for the network.34Appendix B: Setting Up the TCP/IPProtocolBefore a computer can communicate with the Access Point, it must be config-ured with the TCP/IP 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/IPinstalled on all of the computers that need to communicate with the AccessPoint. If you are unable to successfully install TCP/IP on one or more comput-ers after following the directions, contact the manufacturer of your computer’snetwork operating system for further assistance. Check with your networkadministrator 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 needto use specific IP addresses or DHCP settings.First, each computer on the network will require an IP address, which is a seriesof numbers, separated by periods, identifying the PC on the network. To makethings 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 1 to 254. Eachcomputer must have its own unique X number. Note: Never use 0 or 255 for X.These numbers are reserved by TCP/IP for other uses. For example, if you have three computers, you could number them as follows: 192.168.1.17192.168.1.44192.168.1.126In this case, 17, 44, and 126 are arbitrary numbers between 1 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 you’re notsure which mask to use, the following mask is recommended:255.255.255.0 Setting Up TCP/IP in Windows
Wireless Network Access Point1. At the Windows 2000 desktop, right-click My Network Places. Then,right-click Local Area Connection. Choose Properties.2. If the TCP/IP Protocol is listed for your network adapter, go to step five.Otherwise, click the Install button.3. When the Component Type window appears, select Protocol, and click theInstall button.4. Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) from the list, and click the OK button.5. When the Network window reappears, select TCP/IP, and click theProperties button.6. Select Use the following IP Address. 7. Enter an IP Address for the computer, along with a Subnet Mask andDefault Gateway. Then, click the OK button. If you do not have these val-ues, consult your network administrator.8. When the Network window reappears, click the OK button. Restart yourcomputer. TCP/IP has now been successfully installed.37Instant Wireless®SeriesThe following instructions are provided as examples for reference only. Forcomplete instructions on installing and troubleshooting TCP/IP, consult yourWindows operating system documentation.1. Click the Start button, and select Settings. Open the Control Panel. Insidethe 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.3. When the Component Type window appears, select Protocol, and click theAdd button.4. Select Microsoft in the Manufacturers list and choose TCP/IP in theNetwork Protocols list. Then, click the OK button.5. When the Network window reappears, click TCP/IP, and then click theProperties button.6. Select Specify an IP Address. 7. Enter an IP Address for the computer, along with a Subnet Mask. Click theOK button. If you do not have these values, consult your network adminis-trator.8. When the Network window reappears, click the OK button. Restart yourmachine. TCP/IP has now been successfully installed.36TCP/IP Setup for Windows 2000TCP/IP Setup for Windows 98 and Millennium
Wireless Network Access Point39Instant Wireless®Series1. At the Windows XP desktop, click Start. Then click the Control Panelicon. Click Network and Internet Connections. Click NetworkConnections. Then double-click the appropriate Local Area Connection,and click the Properties button. 2. If the TCP/IP Protocol is listed for your network adapter, go to step five.Otherwise, click the Install button.3. Select Protocol, and then click the Add button.4. Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) from the list, and click the OK button.5. Select TCP/IP, and click the Properties button.6. Select Use the following IP Address. 7. Enter an IP address for the computer, along with a Subnet mask and Defaultgateway address. Then, click the OK button. If you do not have these val-ues, consult your network administrator.8. When you’re finished, click the Close button. Restart your computer.TCP/IP has now been successfully installed.38Appendix C: GlossaryAdapter - Printed circuit board that plugs into a PC to add to capabilities orconnectivity to a PC. In a networked environment, a network interface card isthe typical adapter that allows the PC or server to connect to the intranet and/orInternet.Ad-hoc Network - An ad-hoc network is a group of computers, each with awireless adapter, connected as an independent 802.11 wireless LAN. Ad-hocwireless computers operate on a peer-to-peer basis, communicating directlywith each other without the use of an access point. Ad-hoc mode is alsoreferred to as an Independent Basic Service Set (IBSS) or as peer-to-peermode, and is useful at a departmental scale or SOHO operation.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 howmuch data the facility can transmit in a fixed amount of time; expressed in bitsper second (bps).Beacon Interval - A beacon is a packet broadcast by the Access Point to keepthe network synchronized. A beacon includes the wireless LAN service area,the AP address, the Broadcast destination addresses, a time stamp, DeliveryTraffic 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 atand 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 userinterfaces that let you browse text files online. BSS (Basic Service Set) - An infrastructure network connecting wirelessdevices to a wired network using a single access point.Buffer - A buffer is a shared or assigned memory area used by hardwaredevices or program processes that operate at different speeds or with differentsets of priorities. The buffer allows each device or process to operate withoutTCP/IP Setup for Windows XP
Wireless Network Access Point41Instant Wireless®Series40DHCP supports static addresses for computers containing Web servers thatneed a permanent IP address. Download - To receive a file transmitted over a network. In a communicationssession, download means receive, upload means transmit. Driver - A workstation or server software module that provides an interfacebetween 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 bitpattern for all transmitted data. This bit pattern is called a chip (or chippingcode). Even if one or more bits in the chip are damaged during transmission,statistical techniques embedded in the receiver can recover the original datawithout the need for retransmission. To an unintended receiver, DSSS appearsas low power wideband noise and is rejected (ignored) by most narrowbandreceivers. However, to an intended receiver (i.e. another wireless LAN end-point), the DSSS signal is recognized as the only valid signal, and interferenceis inherently rejected (ignored).DTIM (Delivery Traffic Indication Message) - A DTIM field is a countdownfield informing clients of the next window for listening to broadcast and mul-ticast messages. When the AP has buffered broadcast or multicast messages forassociated clients, it sends the next DTIM with a DTIM Interval value. APClients hear the beacons and awaken to receive the broadcast and multicastmessages.Dynamic IP Address - An IP address that is automatically assigned to a clientstation in a TCP/IP network, typically by a DHCP server. Network devices thatserve multiple users, such as servers and printers, are usually assigned static IPaddresses. Encryption - A security method that applies a specific algorithm to data inorder to alter the data's appearance and prevent other devices from reading theinformation. ESS (Extended Service Set) - A set of more than two or more BSSs (multipleaccess points) forming a single network.Ethernet - IEEE standard network protocol that specifies how data is placedon and retrieved from a common transmission medium. Has a transfer rate ofbeing held up by the other. In order for a buffer to be effective, the size of thebuffer and the algorithms for moving data into and out of the buffer need to beconsidered by the buffer designer. Like a cache, a buffer is a "midpoint holdingplace” but exists not so much to accelerate the speed of an activity as to sup-port the coordination of separate activities. CSMA/CA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance) - In localarea 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 ifthe 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 LANaccess method used in Ethernet. When a device wants to gain access to the net-work, it checks to see if the network is quiet (senses the carrier). If it is not, itwaits a random amount of time before retrying. If the network is quiet and twodevices access the line at exactly the same time, their signals collide. When thecollision is detected, they both back off and each wait a random amount of timebefore retrying. 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 networkadministrators manage centrally and automate the assignment of InternetProtocol (IP) addresses in an organization's network. Using the Internet's set ofprotocol (TCP/IP), each machine that can connect to the Internet needs aunique 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 IPaddress must be entered. DHCP lets a network administrator supervise and dis-tribute IP addresses from a central point and automatically sends a new IPaddress when a computer is plugged into a different place in the network. DHCP uses the concept of a “lease” or amount of time that a given IP addresswill be valid for a computer. The lease time can vary depending on how long auser is likely to require the Internet connection at a particular location. It's espe-cially useful in education and other environments where users change fre-quently. Using very short leases, DHCP can dynamically reconfigure networksin which there are more computers than there are available IP addresses.
Wireless Network Access Point43Instant Wireless®Series42Infrastructure Network - An infrastructure network is a group of computersor other devices, each with a wireless adapter, connected as an 802.11 wirelessLAN. In infrastructure mode, the wireless devices communicate with eachother and to a wired network by first going through an access point. An infra-structure wireless network connected to a wired network is referred to as aBasic Service Set (BSS). A set of two or more BSS in a single network isreferred to as an Extended Service Set (ESS). Infrastructure mode is useful ata corporation scale, or when it is necessary to connect the wired and wirelessnetworks.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 theInternet. When you request an HTML page or send e-mail, the InternetProtocol part of TCP/IP includes your IP address in the message (actually, ineach of the packets if more than one is required) and sends it to the IP addressthat is obtained by looking up the domain name in the Uniform ResourceLocator you requested or in the e-mail address you're sending a note to. At theother end, the recipient can see the IP address of the Web page requestor or thee-mail sender and can respond by sending another message using the IP addressit received. ISM band - The FCC and their counterparts outside of the U.S. have set asidebandwidth 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-venient high-speed wireless capabilities in the hands of users around the globe.LAN - A local area network (LAN) is a group of computers and associateddevices that share a common communications line and typically share theresources of a single processor or server within a small geographic area (forexample, within an office building). MAC (Media Access Control) Address - A unique number assigned by themanufacturer 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.10 Mbps. Forms the underlying transport vehicle used by several upper-levelprotocols, including TCP/IP and XNS.FHSS (Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum) - FHSS continuously changesthe center frequency of a conventional carrier several times per second accord-ing to a pseudo-random set of channels, while chirp spread spectrum changesthe carrier frequency. Because a fixed frequency is not used, illegal monitoringof spread spectrum signals is extremely difficult, if not downright impossibledepending on the particular method.Firmware - Code that is written onto read-only memory (ROM) or program-mable read-only memory (PROM). Once firmware has been written onto theROM or PROM, it is retained even when the device is turned off.Fragmentation - Breaking a packet into smaller units when transmitting overa network medium that cannot support the original size of the packet. Gateway - A device that interconnects networks with different, incompatiblecommunications 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 computerfrom the program you put in it to make it do things. The program came to beknown as the software.Hub - The device that serves as the central location for attaching wires fromworkstations. Can be passive, where there is no amplification of the signals; oractive, where the hubs are used like repeaters to provide an extension of thecable that connects to a workstation.IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) - The IEEEdescribes itself as “the world's largest technical professional society, promotingthe development and application of electrotechnology and allied sciences forthe benefit of humanity, the advancement of the profession, and the well-beingof our members.” The IEEE fosters the development of standards that often become national andinternational standards. The organization publishes a number of journals, hasmany local chapters, and several large societies in special areas, such as theIEEE Computer Society.
Wireless Network Access PointSoftware - Instructions for the computer. A series of instructions that performsa particular task is called a “program.” The two major categories of software are“system software” and “application software.” System software is made up ofcontrol programs such as the operating system and database management sys-tem (DBMS). Application software is any program that processes data for theuser.A common misconception is that software is data. It is not. Software tells thehardware how to process the data.SOHO (Small Office/Home Office) - Market segment of professionals whowork 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 efficiencyfor reliability, integrity, and security. In other words, more bandwidth is con-sumed than in the case of narrowband transmission, but the trade off producesa signal that is, in effect, louder and thus easier to detect, provided that thereceiver knows the parameters of the spread-spectrum signal being broadcast.If a receiver is not tuned to the right frequency, a spread-spectrum signal lookslike background noise. There are two main alternatives, Direct SequenceSpread Spectrum (DSSS) and Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS).SSID (Service Set Identifier) - A unique name shared among all points in awireless network. The SSID must be identical for each point in the wirelessnetwork and is case-sensitive. Also known as “ESSID.”Static IP Address - A permanent IP address that is assigned to a node in an IPor 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 with the IPaddress 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. Adevice for making, breaking, or changing the connections in an electrical cir-cuit.TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) - A method (protocol) used along withthe IP (Internet Protocol) to send data in the form of message units (datagram)45Instant Wireless®SeriesNetwork - A system that transmits any combination of voice, video and/or databetween users. Node - A network junction or connection point, typically a computer or workstation.Packet - A unit of data routed between an origin and a destination in a network.Passphrase - Used much like a password, a passphrase simplifies the WEPencryption process by automatically generating the WEP encryption keys forLinksys 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 aswitch or router. For example, the serial and parallel ports on a personal com-puter are external sockets for plugging in communications lines, modems andprinters. RJ-45 (Registered Jack-45) - A connector similar to a telephone connector thatholds up to eight wires, used for connecting Ethernet devices.Roaming - In an infrastructure mode wireless network, this refers to the abili-ty to move out of one access point's range and into another and transparentlyreassociate and reauthenticate to the new access point. This reassociation andreauthentication should occur without user intervention and ideally withoutinterruption to network connectivity. A typical scenario would be a locationwith multiple access points, where users can physically relocate from one areato another and easily maintain connectivity.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 throughputrates than bridges. RTS (Request To Send) - An RS-232 signal sent from the transmitting stationto the receiving station requesting permission to transmit. Server - Any computer whose function in a network is to provide user accessto files, printing, communications, and other services. 44
Wireless Network Access PointAppendix D: SpecificationsStandards IEEE 802.3 (10BaseT), IEEE 802.3u (100BaseTX)IEEE 802.11b (Wireless) Channels 11 Channels (US, Canada)13 Channels (Europe)14 Channels (Japan)Ports One 10/100 RJ-45 PortCabling Type UTP Category 5 or betterData Rate Up to 11Mbps (Wireless), 10/100Mbps (Ethernet) LEDs Power,Act, Link (Wired - Link/Activity)Transmit 18 dBmReceive Sensitivity -84 dBmModulation DSSS, BPSK, QPSK, CCKNetwork Protocols TCP/IP47Instant Wireless®Seriesbetween network devices over a LAN or WAN. While IP takes care of handlingthe actual delivery of the data (routing), TCP takes care of keeping track of theindividual units of data (called packets) that a message is divided into for effi-cient delivery over the network. TCP is known as a "connection oriented" pro-tocol due to requiring the receiver of a packet to return an acknowledgment ofreceipt to the sender of the packet resulting in transmission control.TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) - The basic com-munication language or set of protocols for communications over a network(developed specifically for the Internet). TCP/IP defines a suite or group ofprotocols and not only TCP and 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 thedevices on the network are connected and the distances between them. Themost 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-areaconnections.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 telephonewiring. Twisted pair is the ordinary copper wire that connects home and manybusiness computers to the telephone company. To reduce crosstalk or electro-magnetic induction between pairs of wires, two insulated copper wires aretwisted 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 singlecable. WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) - A data privacy mechanism based on a 64-bit, 128-bit, or 256-bit shared key algorithm, as described in the IEEE 802.11standard. 46
Wireless Network Access Point49Instant Wireless®Series48Appendix E: WarrantyInformationBE SURE TO HAVE YOUR PROOF OF PURCHASE AND A BARCODEFROM THE PRODUCT’S PACKAGING ON HAND WHEN CALLING.RETURN REQUESTS CANNOT BE PROCESSED WITHOUT PROOF OFPURCHASE. IN NO EVENT SHALL LINKSYS’S LIABILITY EXCEED THE PRICEPAID FOR THE PRODUCT FROM DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCI-DENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THEUSE OF THE PRODUCT, ITS ACCOMPANYING SOFTWARE, OR ITSDOCUMENTATION. LINKSYS DOES NOT OFFER REFUNDS FOR ANYPRODUCT. LINKSYS OFFERS CROSS SHIPMENTS, A FASTER PROCESS FOR PRO-CESSING AND RECEIVING YOUR REPLACEMENT. LINKSYS PAYSFOR UPS GROUND ONLY. ALL CUSTOMERS LOCATED OUTSIDE OFTHE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND CANADA SHALL BE HELDRESPONSIBLE FOR SHIPPING AND HANDLING CHARGES. PLEASECALL LINKSYS FOR MORE DETAILS.Dimensions 7.31" x 6.16" x 1.88" (186 mm x 154 mm x 48 mm)Power 5V, 2.5 ACertifications FCC Class B, CE Mark Operating Temp. 0ºC to 40ºC (32ºF to 104ºF) Storage Temp. 0ºC to 70ºC (-4ºF to 158ºF) Operating Humidity 10% to 85%, Non-CondensingStorage Humidity 5% to 90%, Non-CondensingEnvironmental
Instant Wireless®Series50Appendix F: Contact InformationFor help with the installation or operation of this product, contact LinksysTechnical Support at one of the phone numbers or Internet addresses below.Sales Information 800-546-5797 (LINKSYS)Technical Support 800-326-7114RMA (Return MerchandiseAuthorization) Issues www.linksys.com (or call 949-271-5461)Fax 949-265-6655E-mail support@linksys.comWeb http://www.linksys.comFTP Site ftp.linksys.com
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