® A Division of Cisco Systems, Inc. 2.4 GHz Wireless-G 802.11g WIRELESS Access Point with Power Over Ethernet User Guide Model No. WAP54GP Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet Copyright and Trademarks Specifications are subject to change without notice. Linksys is a registered trademark or trademark of Cisco Systems, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and certain other countries. Copyright © 2005 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Other brands and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. WARNING: This product contains chemicals, including lead, known to the State of California to cause cancer, and birth defects or other reproductive harm. Wash hands after handling. How to Use this User Guide The user guide to the Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet has been designed to make understanding networking with the Access Point easier than ever. Look for the following items when reading this User Guide: This checkmark means there is a note of interest and is something you should pay special attention to while using the Access Point. This exclamation point means there is a caution or warning and is something that could damage your property or the Access Point. This question mark provides you with a reminder about something you might need to do while using the Access Point. In addition to these symbols, there are definitions for technical terms that are presented like this: word: definition. Also, each figure (diagram, screenshot, or other image) is provided with a figure number and description, like this: Figure 0-1: Sample Figure Description Figure numbers and descriptions can also be found in the "List of Figures" section. WAP54GP-UG-50926A BW Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction Welcome What's in this User Guide? 1 1 2 Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network Network Topology Roaming Network Layout The Front Panel The Back Panel 4 4 4 5 6 7 Chapter 3: Getting to Know the Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet 6 Chapter 4: Connecting the Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet Overview Connections for Setup Placement Options 8 8 8 9 Chapter 5: Configuring the Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet Overview Navigating the Utility Accessing the Utility The Setup Tab The Wireless - Basic Wireless Settings Tab The Wireless - Wireless Security Tab The Wireless - Wireless Network Access Tab The Wireless - Advanced Wireless Settings Tab The AP Mode Tab The Administration - Management Tab The Administration - Log Tab The Administration - Factory Default Tab The Administration - Firmware Upgrade Tab The Administration - Language Upgrade Tab The Administration - Reboot Tab The Administration - Config Management Tab The Status - Local Network Tab 10 10 10 12 12 14 16 20 21 23 26 28 29 29 30 30 31 32 Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet The Status - Wireless Tab The Status - System Performance Tab 33 34 Appendix A: Troubleshooting Frequently Asked Questions 36 36 Appendix B: Wireless Security Security Precautions Security Threats Facing Wireless Networks 40 40 40 Appendix C: Upgrading Firmware Appendix D: Windows Help Appendix E: Glossary Appendix F: Specifications Appendix G: Warranty Information Appendix H: Regulatory Information Appendix I: Contact Information 43 44 45 52 54 55 61 Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet List of Figures Figure 3-1: Front Panel Figure 3-2: Back Panel Figure 4-1: Connect the Ethernet Network Cable Figure 4-2: Connect the Power Figure 4-3: The Access Point's Stand Slots Figure 4-4: The Access Point's Wall-Mount Slots Figure 5-1: Login Screen Figure 5-2: Setup - Automatic Configuration - DHCP Screen Figure 5-3: Setup - Static IP Address Screen Figure 5-4: Wireless - Basic Wireless Settings Screen Figure 5-5: Wireless - Wireless Security (WPA-Personal) Screen Figure 5-6: Wireless Security - WPA-Enterprise Screen Figure 5-7: Wireless Security - RADIUS Screen Figure 5-8: Wireless Security - WEP Screen Figure 5-9: Wireless - Wireless Network Access Screen Figure 5-10: Select MAC Address Screen Figure 5-11: Wireless - Advanced Wireless Settings Screen Figure 5-12: AP Mode Screen Figure 5-13: Wireless Repeater Diagram Figure 5-14: Site Survey Screen Figure 5-15: Wireless Bridge Diagram Figure 5-16: Administration - Management Screen Figure 5-17: Administration - Log Screen Figure 5-18: Administration - Factory Default Screen Figure 5-19: Administration - Firmware Upgrade Screen Figure 5-20: Administration - Language Upgrade Screen Figure 5-21: Administration - Reboot Screen Figure 5-22: Administration - Config Management Screen 6 7 8 8 9 9 12 12 13 14 16 17 18 19 20 20 21 23 24 24 25 26 28 29 29 30 30 31 Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet Figure 5-23: Status - Local Network Screen Figure 5-24: Status - Wireless Screen Figure 5-25: Status - System Performance Screen Figure C-1: Firmware Upgrade 32 33 34 43 Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet Chapter 1: Introduction Welcome Thank you for choosing the Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet. This Access Point will allow you to network wirelessly better than ever. How does the Access Point do all of this? An access point allows for greater range and mobility within your wireless network while also allowing you to connect the wireless network to a wired environment. In fact, the Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet can support communications on up to eight wireless networks, using Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) technology. The Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet also offers the convenience of Power over Ethernet (PoE) capability, so it can receive data and power over a single Ethernet network cable. But what does all of this mean? Networks are useful tools for sharing computer resources. You can access one printer from different computers and access data located on another computer's hard drive. Networks are even used for playing multiplayer video games. So, networks are not only useful in homes and offices, they can also be fun. PCs on a wired network create a LAN, or Local Area Network. They are connected with Ethernet cables, which is why the network is called "wired". PCs equipped with wireless cards and adapters can communicate without cumbersome cables. By sharing the same wireless settings, within their transmission radius, they form a wireless network. This is sometimes called a WLAN, or Wired Local Area Network. The Access Point bridges wireless networks of both 802.11g and 802.11b standards and wired networks. Use the instructions in this Guide to help you connect the Access Point, set it up, and configure it to bridge your different networks. These instructions should be all you need to get the most out of the Access Point. ethernet: network protocol that specifies how data is placed on and retrieved from a common transmission medium. adapter: a device that adds network functionality to your PC. 802.11g: a wireless networking standard that specifies a maximum data transfer rate of 54Mbps, an operating frequency of 2.4GHz, and backward compatibility with 802.11b devices. 802.11b: a wireless networking standard that specifies a maximum data transfer rate of 11Mbps and an operating frequency of 2.4GHz. access point: a device that allows wireless-equipped computers and other devices to communicate with a wired network. Also used to expand the range of a wireless network. network: a series of computers or devices connected together. lan (local area network): the computers and networking products that make up your local network. poe (power over ethernet): a technology enabling an Ethernet network cable to deliver both data and power. Chapter 1: Introduction Welcome 1 Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet What's in this User Guide? This user guide covers the steps for setting up and using the Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet. · Chapter 1: Introduction This chapter describes the Access Point's applications and this User Guide. · Chapter 2: Planning your Wireless Network This chapter describes the basics of wireless networking. · Chapter 3: Getting to Know the Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet This chapter describes the physical features of the Access Point. · Chapter 4: Connecting the Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet This chapter instructs you on how to connect the Access Point to your network. · Chapter 5: Configuring the Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet This chapter explains how to use the Access Point's Web-based Utility for advanced configuration. · Appendix A: Troubleshooting This appendix describes some frequently asked questions regarding installation and use of the Access Point. · Appendix B: Wireless Security This appendix explains the risks of wireless networking and some solutions to reduce the risks. · Appendix C: Upgrading Firmware This appendix instructs you on how to upgrade the Access Point's firmware. · Appendix D: Windows Help This appendix describes some of the ways Windows can help you with wireless networking. · Appendix E: Glossary This appendix gives a brief glossary of terms frequently used in networking. · Appendix F: Specifications This appendix provides the Access Point's technical specifications. · Appendix G: Warranty Information This appendix supplies the Access Point's warranty information. · Appendix H: Regulatory Information This appendix supplies the Access Point's regulatory information. Chapter 1: Introduction What's in this User Guide? 2 Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet · Appendix I: Contact Information This appendix provides contact information for a variety of Linksys resources, including Technical Support. Chapter 1: Introduction What's in this User Guide? 3 Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network Network Topology A wireless network is a group of computers, each equipped with one wireless adapter. Computers in a wireless network must be configured to share the same radio channel. Several PCs equipped with wireless cards or adapters can communicate with one another to form an ad-hoc network. Linksys wireless adapters also provide users access to a wired network when using an access point, such as the Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet, or wireless router. An integrated wireless and wired network is called an infrastructure network. Each wireless PC in an infrastructure network can talk to any computer in a wired network infrastructure via the access point or wireless router. An infrastructure configuration extends the accessibility of a wireless PC to a wired network, and may double the effective wireless transmission range for two wireless adapter PCs. Since an access point is able to forward data within a network, the effective transmission range in an infrastructure network may be doubled. ad-hoc: a group of wireless devices communicating directly with each other (peer-to-peer) without the use of an access point. infrastructure: a wireless network that is bridged to a wired network via an access point. Roaming Infrastructure mode also supports roaming capabilities for mobile users. Roaming means that you can move your wireless PC within your network and the access points will pick up the wireless PC's signal, providing that they both share the same channel and SSID. Before using the roaming capabilities, choose a feasible radio channel and optimum access point position. Proper access point positioning combined with a clear radio signal will greatly enhance performance. roaming: the ability to take a wireless device from one access point's range to another without losing the connection. ssid: your wireless network's name Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network Network Topology 4 Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet Network Layout The Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet has been designed for use with 802.11g and 802.11b products. The Access Point is compatible with 802.11g and 802.11b adapters, such as the Notebook Adapters for your laptop computers, PCI Adapters for your desktop PCs, and USB Adapters for when you want to enjoy USB connectivity. These wireless products can also communicate with a 802.11g or 802.11b Wireless PrintServer. To link your wired network with your wireless network, connect the Access Point's Ethernet network port to any switch or router. If you want to use Power Over Ethernet (POE), then connect the Access Point to any switch or router that complies with the POE standard (802.3af)--or you can use a POE injector, such as the Linksys WAPPOE or WAPPOE12. With these, and many other, Linksys products, your networking options are limitless. Go to the Linksys website at www.linksys.com for more information about wireless products. Chapter 2: Planning ...