3Com 3CRWE454A72 User Manual

OfficeConnect

Wireless 11a/b/g Access Point

(3CRWE454A72)

Installation Guide

3Com Corporation, Corporate Headquarters, 350 Campus Drive, Marlborough, MA 01752-3064

Microsoft, MS-DOS and Windows are registered trademarks of Micorsoft Corporation.

All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective companies.

Part number: DIA0045-4AAA01 Published: December 2003

Alert LED orange

Indicates a number of different conditions, as described below.

Off – The Access Point is operating normally.

Flashing quickly – Indicates one of the following conditions:

– the Access Point has just been started up and is running a self-test

routine

– the administrator has invoked the Reset to Factory Defaults command

– the system software is in the process of being upgraded

In each of these cases, wait until the Access Point has completed the current operation and the alert LED is Off.

Flashing slowly – The Access Point has completed the Reset to Factory Defaults process, and is waiting for you to reset the unit. To do this, release

the reset button and allow the unit to restart. The Access Point will then enter the start-up sequence and resume normal operation.

Continuously on – A fault has been detected with your Access Point during the start-up process. Refer to the main User Guide.

Power LED green

Indicates that the Access Point is powered on.

Wireless LAN (WLAN) Status LED green

If the LEDs are on it indicates that wireless networking is enabled. If the LED is flashing, the link is OK and data is being transmitted or received. If the LED is off, the Wireless LAN has been disabled in the Access Point, or there is a problem (refer to the User Guide).

LAN Status LED green (100Mbps link) / yellow (10Mbps link)

If the LED is on, the link between the port and the next piece of network equipment is OK. If the LED is flashing, the link is OK and data is being transmitted or received. If the LED is off, nothing is connected, or the connected device is switched off, or there is a problem with the connection (refer to the User Guide). The port will automatically adjust to the correct speed and duplex.

Wireless Antennae

The antennae on the product should be placed in a ‘V’ position.

Power Adapter socket

Only use the power adapter that is supplied with this Access Point. Do not use any other adapter.

Power Adapter OK LED green

Indicates that the power adapter is supplying power to the Gateway. If the LED is off, there may be a problem with the power adapter or adapter cable.

Ethernet port

Using suitable RJ45 cable, you can connect your Access Point to a computer, or to any other piece of equipment that has an Ethernet connection (for example, a hub or a switch). This port has an automatic MDI/MDIX feature, which means either straight-through or a crossover cable can be used.

Reset Button

If you want to reset your Access Point to factory default settings, and cannot access the web management interface (for example, due to a lost password), then you may use this button. Refer to the User Guide for further details.

21 3 4

OfficeConnect Wireless 11a / b / g Access Point

3CRWE454A72

LAN Status

WLAN

Alert 11g 11aPower

About Your Access Point (front)

About Your Access Point (back)

6 7

5 5

8 9

Ethernet

RESET

Introduction

As part of the installation process, you need to launch the OfficeConnect Discovery Application provided on the CD-ROM. This application configures your Access Point to work within the network by allocating an IP address to it. The Discovery Application must be run from a PC that is connected to the network. If your network has a DHCP server in it, the Access Point will obtain an IP address automatically. However, if the Access Point is unable to detect a DHCP server then it will automatically choose a free IP address within the same range that the Windows 98/Me/2000/XP AutoIP function uses (in the 169.254.x.x subnet). For more information about IP addressing, see the IP Addressing section in the Access Point User Guide.

Windows Installation

(95/98/2000/Me/NT)

1. Insert the Access Point CD-ROM in the CD-ROM drive on your computer. A menu will appear; select Discovery. Discovery will find the Access Point even if it is unconfigured or misconfigured.

2. When the Welcome screen is displayed click on Next and wait until the application discovers the Access Points connected to your LAN.

3. Figure 3 shows an example Discovered Devices screen. Highlight the Wireless Access Point by clicking on it, and press Next.

4. Click on Finish to launch a web browser and display the login page for the Access Point.

1. Login using the default password admin. The Wizard will attempt to launch automatically, but if it fails, select the Wizard option from the main menu.

2. The Wizard will ask for SSID, channels for 11a and 11g, and IP address. Most of these should be provided to you by your network administrator.

3. By default, 3Com recommends that you set the IP allocation mode for the Access Point as "Static". You should make a note of the new address :

The default wireless settings for the Access Point are:

If you do not have a Wireless LAN you can use the Access Point’s default settings. Ensure that your wireless clients have the default SSID, channel and WEP as detailed above.

If you have an existing Wireless LAN, configure the Access Point to use the same SSID and WEP/WPA settings to be compatible with your existing wireless network.

Connecting to the Wireless LAN

When the Wizard has completed, follow the steps in section 4 to connect your wireless computer to the Access Point.

Refer to the User Guide if you cannot make contact with the Access Point.

Access Point's LAN IP Address _______._______._______._______

Safety Information

WARNING: Please read the ‘Important Safety Information’ section in the Support and Safety Information sheet before you start.

VORSICHT: Bitte lesen Sie den Abschnitt ‘Wichtige Sicherheitsinformationen’ sorgfältig durch, bevor Sie das Gerät einschalten.

AVERTISSEMENT: Veuillez lire attentivement la section "Consignes importantes de sécurité" avant de mettre en route.

When positioning your Access Point, ensure:

• The unit is centrally located to the wireless computers that will connect to

the Access Point. A suitable location might be on top of a high shelf or similar furniture to optimise wireless connections to computers in both horizontal and vertical directions, allowing coverage throughout.

• It is out of direct sunlight and away from sources of heat.

• Cabling is away from power lines, fluorescent lighting fixtures, and sources

of electrical noise such as radios, transmitters and broadband amplifiers.

• In order to meet FCC radiation exposure regulations the Access Point should

be located in a position that maintains a minimum distance of 20 cm (8 inches) from any personnel (refer to the User Guide for details).

• Water or moisture cannot enter the case of the unit.

• Air flow around the unit and through the vents in the side of the case is not

restricted. We recommend you provide a minimum of 25 mm (1 in.) clearance.

Using the Rubber Feet

Use the four self-adhesive rubber feet to prevent your Access Point from moving around on your desk or when stacking with other flat top OfficeConnect units. Only stick the feet to the marked areas at each corner of the underside of your Access Point.

Wall Mounting

There are two slots on the underside of the OfficeConnect Access Point which can be used for wall mounting.

When wall mounting your Access Point, ensure that it is within reach of the power outlet.

Connecting Your Access Point

1. Connect the power adapter to the Access Point and wait for the Alert LED

to stop flashing.

2. Ensure that your computer is switched on.

3. Connect your computer to the 10/100 LAN port on the Access Point.

Check that the LAN Port Status LED lights.

Connecting to a Hub or Switch

To connect your wireless network to your wired network you will need an additional Hub or Switch, this should be connected to the Ethernet port.

3Com3Co

tAccess Point

ess User

This Guide takes you through the basic steps necessary to install and configure your OfficeConnect Wireless 11a/b/g Access Point, and establish a connection from your wireless LAN to your wired LAN. Throughout this guide the OfficeConnect Wireless 11a/b/g Access Point is simply referred to as the Access Point.

Note: 3Com recommends that the Access Point is configured from a wired Ethernet computer during the initial set-up.

Your package contains:

• One OfficeConnect Wireless 11a/b/g Access Point

• One power adapter for use with the Access Point

• Four rubber feet

• One Ethernet cable

• One CD-ROM containing the Access Point Discovery program and the User

Guide

• This Installation Guide

• One Support and Safety Information Sheet

• One Warranty Flyer

System Requirements

Before starting, you must ensure the following:

• You have a computer that has an Ethernet connection available and is

already correctly configured for communication with the network. Your computer must have a Web browser installed.

• You have a computer with a wireless 802.11a, 802.11b or 802.11g adapter

card installed.

If one or more of these conditions are not met, refer to the comprehensive Access Point User Guide provided on the accompanying CD-ROM for further guidance.

1. Now you have configured the Access Point via the wired computer, you can connect to the Access Point via a wireless computer.

To connect via wireless all the wireless clients must have the same SSID and WEP settings as the Access Point. All wireless clients must use Infrastructure mode.

2. If your computer has both a wired and wireless NIC installed, you must ensure that only one NIC is used to communicate with the LAN. To use the wireless NIC, unplug the Ethernet cable and reboot your computer.

3. Launch your web browser and attempt to browse the IP address of the Access Point. If you can successfully access this site, then your wireless computer and Access Point have been successfully configured.

4. 3Com strongly recommends that you enable WEP/WPA encryption to improve the security of your wireless network and you change the SSID to something other than the default. Consult the on line help or the User Guide for details.

5. For more trouble shooting see http://knowledgebase.3com.com/3CRWE454A72.asp

Positioning and Installing your Access Point

step

Service Area Name / SSID is 3Com WEP Encryption is off

Channel 11

Using the OfficeConnect Discovery Application

step

Running the Setup Wizard

step

Connecting to the Wireless LAN

step

Service Area Name/SSID ______________________________

Channel Number ______________________________

Power AdapterPower Adapter

ComputerComputer

Hub / SwitchHub / Switch

Wireless 11a/b/g Wireless 11a/b/g

Poin

Wirel