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TM
Instant Wireless Series
Dual-Band Wireless
Access Point
Use this guide to install: WAP51AB
User Guide
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COPYRIGHT & TRADEMARKS Copyright © 2002 Linksys, All Rights Reserved. Linksys is a registered trademark of Linksys. Instant Wireless is a trademark 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 Instant Wireless™ Dual-Band Wireless Access Point is free from physical defects in material and workmanshi
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TM Instant Wireless Series Dual-Band Wireless Access Point Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction TM The Instant Wireless Dual-Band Wireless Access Point Chapter 1: Introduction 1 TM The Instant Wireless Dual-Band Wireless Access Point 1 Features 1 Install an access point that protects your infrastructure investment without lim- Package Contents 2 iting you to a single type of wireless technology. The Instant Wireless™ Dual- System Requirements 2 Band Wireless Access Point works simultaneousl
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TM Instant Wireless Series Dual-Band Wireless Access Point Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network Network Topology 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 infra- structure configuration. A group of Instant Wire
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TM Instant Wireless Series Dual-Band Wireless Access Point T The Dual-Band Wireless Access Point’s Front Panel Chapter 3: Getting to Know the Dual-Band Wireless Access Point The Dual-Band Wireless Access Point’s Back Panel The Access Point’s ports, where a network cable is connected, are located on the Access Point’s back panel. Figure 3-2 Power Green. The Power LED lights up when the Access Point is powered on. Diag Red. The Diag LED indicates the Access Point’s self-diagnosis mode during boot-
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TM Dual-Band Wireless Access Point Instant Wireless Series Chapter 4: Connecting the Dual- Chapter 5: Setting Up the Dual- Band Wireless Access Point Band Wireless Access Point Have You: Connected the Access Point to a hub, switch or router 1. Locate an optimum location for the Access Point. The best place for the on your wired network as shown in Chapter 4: Connecting the Access Point is usually at the center of your wireless network, with line of Dual-Band Wireless Access Point? The Access P
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TM Instant Wireless Series Dual-Band Wireless Access Point 4. The next screen to appear, shown in Figure 5-3, will display a list of access points on your network along with the status information for each access point. If this is the only access point on your network, it will be the only one displayed. If there are more than one displayed, select the Access Point by clicking on it and click the Yes button to continue or No to exit the Setup Wizard. Figure 5-1 3. The following screen, shown in F
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TM Instant Wireless Series Dual-Band Wireless Access Point Figure 5-6 Figure 5-5 The WEP key can consist of the letters “A” through “F” and the numbers • Subnet Mask. The Access Point’s Subnet Mask must be the same as your “0” through “9” and should be 10 characters in length for 64-bit encryption, Ethernet network. 26 characters in length for 128-bit encryption, or 32 characters in length for 152-bit encryption. All points in your wireless network must use the same • Access Point Name. Assign a
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TM Instant Wireless Series Dual-Band Wireless Access Point 9. As shown in Figure 5-8, the Basic Settings screen for your 2.4 10. The Security Settings screen (Figure 5-9) for your 2.4 GHz/802.11b wire- GHz/802.11b wireless products will appear. Enter your wireless network’s less products will appear next. From this screen, you will set the Wired SSID and select the channel at which the network broadcasts its wireless Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption, 64-bit/128-bit, for your wireless signal.
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Instant Wireless™ Series Dual-Band Wireless Access Point 11. The following Security screen, shown in Figure 5-7, will allow you to enter your WEP key. Each point in your wireless network must use the same WEP key for the network to function properly. Verify that the appropriate key is entered and click the Next button to continue or Back to return to the pre- vious page. The WEP key can consist of the letters “A” through “F” and the numbers “0” through “9” and should be 10 characters in length f
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TM Instant Wireless Series Dual-Band Wireless Access Point • Static IP Address. This IP address must be unique to your network. (The Chapter 6: Configuring the Dual- default IP address is 192.168.1.250. As this is a private IP address, there is no need to purchase a separate IP address from your service provider.) Verify the address and click the Apply button to save changes. Band Wireless Access Point • Subnet Mask. The Access Point’s Subnet Mask (or IP Mask) must be the Note: The Access Point
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TM Instant Wireless Series Dual-Band Wireless Access Point • Channel. Select the appropriate channel from the list provided to corre- spond with your network settings. This should be between 1 and 11 (in North America) for 2.4GHz/802.11b devices and 36 and 64 (in North America) for 5GHz/802.11a devices. All points in your wireless network must use the same channel in order to function correctly. • WEP. The WEP Encryption method is Disabled by default. To enable WEP, click the WEP Key Setting but
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Instant Wireless™ Series Dual-Band Wireless Access Point The Password Tab The Status Tab Figure 6-7 Figure 6-8 The “Password” tab, shown in Figure 6-7, allows you to change the Access Point’s password and restore factory defaults. The “Status” tab, shown in Figure 6-8, will display current information on the Access Point, its settings and performance. Changing the sign-on password for the Access Point is as easy as typing the • Firmware Version. This displays the current version of the Access Po
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Instant Wireless™ Series Dual-Band Wireless Access Point UPGRADING FIRMWARE: The Help Tab Before upgrading the Access Point’s firmware, be sure to download the firmware from Linksys’s website at www.linksys.com. Once that is done, click the Upgrade Firmware link on the Help Tab. This will bring up the screen shown in Figure 6-10. Type in the location of the firmware’s file or click the Browse but- ton to find the file. Then, click the Upgrade button to upgrade the firmware. Figure 6-9 For help o
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Instant Wireless™ Series Dual-Band Wireless Access Point Figure 6-11 When you’ve completed 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. To clear any of the information you’ve typed by not yet applied, click the Clear but- ton. For more information on this tab, you can click the Help button. Figure 6-12 The Wireless Tab • Fragmentation Length. This specifies the maximum size a data packet will be befor
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Instant Wireless™ Series Dual-Band Wireless Access Point • Turbo Mode. (5GHz/802.11a only) Click the radio button beside Enable Appendix A: Troubleshooting to increase the speed of your wireless transmissions to 72 Mbps, keeping in mind that the Access Point’s range diminishes in Turbo Mode. If you do not wish to utilize Turbo Mode, make sure the radio button beside Disable is This chapter provides solutions to problems usually encountered during the selected. installation and operation of the
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Instant Wireless™ Series Dual-Band Wireless Access Point What is Ad-hoc? What is ESSID? An Ad-hoc wireless LAN is a group of computers, each with a WLAN adapter, An Infrastructure configuration could also support roaming capability for connected as an independent wireless LAN. An Ad-hoc wireless LAN is appli- mobile workers. More than one BSS can be configured as an Extended Service cable at a departmental scale for a branch or SOHO operation. Set (ESS). Users within an ESS could roam freely bet
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Instant Wireless™ Series Dual-Band Wireless Access Point Would the information be intercepted while transmitting on air? You may also try using different channels, as this may eliminate interference WLAN features two-fold protection in security. On the hardware side, as with affecting only one channel. Also, due to FCC regulations, more power may be Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum technology, it has the inherent security fea- transmitted, using 802.11a, on channels 52, 56, 60 and 64, than on
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Instant Wireless™ Series Dual-Band Wireless Access Point The following instructions are provided as examples for reference only. For Appendix B: Setting Up the TCP/IP and complete instructions on installing and troubleshooting TCP/IP and IPX, con- sult your Windows operating system documentation. IPX Protocols TCP/IP Setup for Windows 95, 98, and Millennium Setting Up TCP/IP in Windows 1. Click the Start button, select Settings, and open the Control Panel. Inside Before a computer can communicat
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Instant Wireless™ Series Dual-Band Wireless Access Point 2. When the Network window appears, click the Protocols tab. Then, click TCP/IP Setup for Windows NT 4.0 the Add button. 1. Click the Start button, select Settings, and open the Control Panel. Inside 3. Find the IPX/SPX protocol in the Select Network Protocol field. Click it the Control Panel, double-click the Network icon. once and click the OK button. 2. When the Network window appears, click the Protocols tab. Then, click TCP/IP Setup
