3COM 3CRWX120695A, 3CRWX440095A, CRWXR10095A User Manual

Wireless LAN Mobility System

Wireless LAN Switch Manager
User’s Guide

3CRWXR10095A, 3CRWX120695A, 3CRWX440095A

http://www.3com.com/

Part No. DUA-WXM10-AAA01
Published June 2005

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

Copyright © 2005, 3Com Corporation. All rights reserved. No part of this documentation may be reproduced
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If you are a United States government agency, then this documentation and the software described herein are
provided to you subject to the following:

All technical data and computer software are commercial in nature and developed solely at private expense.
Software is delivered as “Commercial Computer Software” as defined in DFARS 252.227-7014 (June 1995) or
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3Com is a registered trademark of 3Com Corporation. The 3Com logo is a trademark of 3Com Corporation.

Mobility Domain, Mobility Point, Mobility Profile, Mobility System, Mobility System Software, MP, MSS, and
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CONTENTS

ABOUT THIS GUIDE

Conventions 9
Documentation 10
Documentation Comments 11

1 GETTING STARTED

Hardware Requirements for 3WXM Client 13
Hardware Requirements for 3WXM Services 14
Software Requirements 14
Preparing for Installation 15

User Privileges 15
Serial Number, License Key and Activation Key 15
HP OpenView Network Node Manager 16
Resource Allocation 16
3WXM Services Options 16

Installing 3WXM 18

Unpacking Files 18
Using the Installation Wizard 18

Start the 3WXM Services 18
Connect 3WXM Clients to 3WXM Services 19
Configure 3WXM Services 19

3WXM Access Control 21

3WXM Interface 22

Display the Main Window 22
Using Menu Bar and Toolbars 24
Setting Preferences 24
Easy Configuration Using Wizards 25
View Topology 25
Shortcut to Wizards and Editing Properties 26
Getting Help 27

2 PLANNING AND MANAGING YOUR WIRELESS NETWORK WITH

3WXM

Overview 29
Which Services To Provide? 30
Network Plan 31
RF Coverage Area 31

RF Auto-Tuning 32
RF Auto-Tuning with Modelling 32
RF Planning 33
Which Planning Method Should I Use? 33

Configuration 35

Wireless Configuration 36
AAA Security Configuration 38

Authentication 38
Authorization 40
Accounting 40

System and Administration Configuration 40

Configure Basic WX Switch Properties 41
Configure WX Switch Connection Information 42

Configure Boot Information 42
Equipment Installation 42
Deployment 43
Management and Monitoring 44

Network Status 44
RF Monitoring 45
Client Monitoring 46
Rogue Detection 46
Event Logging 47
Verification 47
Reporting 47

RF Plan Optimization 49

3 CONFIGURING WIRELESS SERVICES

Overview 51
Configure Employee Access Services 52

Tas k Ta bl e 52
Step Summary 56
Example: Configure Employee Access 57

Create a Service Profile 57
Create a Radio Profile 59
Configure RADIUS Servers 61
Specify Network Access Rules 64

Set Up VLANs on WX Switches 66
What’s Next? 68
Configure Guest Access Services 69

Tas k Ta bl e 70
Step Summary 71
Optional: Configure Mobility Profiles 73

Configure Local Authentication 74
What’s Next? 76
Configure Voice over Wireless IP Service 77

Tas k Ta bl e 78

Step Summary 81

Configure Local Authentication 82

Configure Access Control Lists 84

Example: Creating an ACL for SpectraLink Wireless Phones 85
Example: Creating an ACL for Avaya Wireless Phones 87

What’s Next? 90

4 USING RF AUTO-TUNING

Overview 91
Place Your Equipment 92
Configure Initial WX Switch Connectivity 92
Upload the WX Switch Configuration into a 3WXM Network Plan 92
Create a Service Profile 94
Create a Radio Profile and Map the Service Profile to It 95
Create Your MAPs 97
Apply a Radio Profile to Each Radio 98
What’s Next? 98

5 USING RF AUTO-TUNING WITH MODELLING

Overview 99
Add Site Information 100
Insert RF Obstacles 104
Create Your RF Coverage Area 106

Create a Wiring Closet 106
Create Your RF Coverage Area 107
Add MAPs 109
Associate MAPs to the Coverage Area 110

What’s Next? 112

6 USING RF PLANNING

Overview 113
Prepare the Floor Drawings 114
Define Site Information 115

Import a Floor Plan 120
Set the Scale 121

Clean Layout 122
Model RF Obstacles 125
Import a Site Survey 127
Plan RF Coverage 127

Add Wiring Closets 127

Create Coverage Areas 129

Compute and Place MAPs 134

Assign Channel Settings 136

Calculate Optimal Power 138

Display Coverage 139
Generate a Work Order 141
Install the Equipment 142
What’s Next? 142

7 MANAGING AND MONITORING YOUR NETWORK

Overview 143
Deploy Your Configuration 144
Perform Basic Administrative Tasks 146

Configuring WX Management Services 146
Distributing Image and Configuration Files 147

Using the Image Repository 148
Distributing System Images 148

Distributing WX Configuration Files 149
Saving Versions of Network Plans 150
Importing or Exporting Switch Configuration Files 151

Monitoring Examples 153

Monitor an Individual User 153

Find the User 154

Place User on Watch List 155

Locate the User 155

Display User Activity 157

View Long-Term User Statistics 158
Monitor a Group of Users 161
Monitor a Rogue 163

Configuring Countermeasures 166

8 OPTIMIZING A NETWORK PLAN

Overview 169
Using RF Measurements from MAPs 170
Using RF Measurements from an Ekahau Site Survey 172

Generating an Ekahau Site Survey Work Order 173
Importing RF Measurements from the Ekahau Site Survey 176

Optimizing the RF Coverage Model 179
Locating and Fixing Coverage Holes 181

Displaying the RF Coverage Area 181
Locking Down MAPs 183
Fixing a Coverage Hole 184
Computing and Placing New MAPs 184
Replanning Your Network 184

What’s Next? 185

INDEX

ABOUT THIS GUIDE

This manual shows you how to plan, configure, deploy, and manage a
Mobility System wireless LAN (WLAN) using the 3Com Wireless LAN
Switch Manager (3WXM).

Read this manual if you are a network administrator or a person
responsible for managing a WLAN.

If release notes are shipped with your product and the information there
differs from the information in this guide, follow the instructions in the
release notes.

Most user guides and release notes are available in Adobe Acrobat
Reader Portable Document Format (PDF) or HTML on the 3Com
World Wide Web site:

http://www.3com.com/

Conventions Table 1 and Table 2 list conventions that are used throughout this guide.

Tab le 1 Notice Icons

Icon Notice Type Description

Information note Information that describes important features or

instructions

Caution Information that alerts you to potential loss of data or

potential damage to an application, system, or device

10 CHAPTER : ABOUT THIS GUIDE

This manual uses the following text and syntax conventions:

Tab le 2 Text Conventions

Convention Description

Menu Name >
Command

Monospace text Sets off command syntax or sample commands and system

Bold text Highlights commands that you enter or items you select.

Italic text Designates command variables that you replace with

[ ] (square brackets) Enclose optional parameters in command syntax.

{ } (curly brackets) Enclose mandatory parameters in command syntax.

| (vertical bar) Separates mutually exclusive options in command syntax.

Keyboard key names If you must press two or more keys simultaneously, the key

Words in italics Italics are used to:

Indicates a menu item that you select. For example,
File > New indicates that you select New from the File
menu.

responses.

appropriate values, or highlights publication titles or words
requiring special emphasis.

names are linked with a plus sign (+). Example:

Press Ctrl+Alt+Del

n Emphasize a point.

n Denote a new term at the place where it is defined in the

text.

n Highlight an example string, such as a username or SSID.

Documentation The 3WXM documentation set includes the following documents.

 Wireless LAN Switch Manager (3WXM) Release Notes

These notes provide information about the system software release,
including new features and bug fixes.

 Wireless LAN Switch and Controller Release Notes

These notes provide information about the system software release,
including new features and bug fixes.

 Wireless LAN Switch and Controller Quick Start Guide

This guide provides instructions for performing basic setup of secure
(802.1X) and guest (WebAAA™) access, for configuring a Mobility
Domain for roaming, and for accessing a sample network plan in
3WXM for advanced configuration and management.

Documentation Comments 11

 Wireless LAN Switch Manager Reference Manual

This manual shows you how to plan, configure, deploy, and manage a
Mobility System wireless LAN (WLAN) using the 3Com Wireless LAN
Switch Manager (3WXM).

 Wireless LAN Switch and Controller Installation and Basic

Configuration Guide

This guide provides instructions and specifications for installing a WX
wireless switch in a Mobility System WLAN, and basic instructions for
deploying a secure IEEE 802.11 wireless service.

 Wireless LAN Switch and Controller Configuration Guide

This guide provides instructions for configuring and managing the
system through the Mobility System Software (MSS) CLI.

 Wireless LAN Switch and Controller Command Reference

This reference provides syntax information for all MSS commands
supported on WX switches.

Documentation Comments

Your suggestions are very important to us. They will help make our
documentation more useful to you. Please e-mail comments about this
document to 3Com at:

[e-mail]

Please include the following information when contacting us:

 Document title

 Document part number and revision (on the title page)

 Page number (if appropriate)

Example:

 Wireless LAN Switch and Controller Configuration Guide

 Part number 730-9502-0071, Revision B

 Page 25

Please note that we can only respond to comments and questions about
3Com product documentation at this e-mail address. Questions related to
Technical Support or sales should be directed in the first instance to your
network supplier.

12 CHAPTER : ABOUT THIS GUIDE

1

GETTING STARTED

This chapter contains information about recommended system
requirements you should meet for optimum 3WXM performance,
installing 3WXM client and 3WXM Services software, and an introduction
to using the 3WXM interface.

Hardware Requirements for 3WXM Client

Table 3 shows the minimum and recommended requirements to run the
3WXM client in Windows.

Tab le 3 Hardware Requirements for Running 3WXM Client in Windows

Minimum Recommended

Processor Intel Pentium 4 2 GHz or

equivalent

RAM 512 MB 1 GB

Hard drive space
available

Monitor resolution 1024x768 pixels, 24-bit

CD-ROM drive CD-ROM or equivalent CD-ROM

.

100 MB 200 MB

color

Intel Pentium 4 3 GHz or
equivalent

1600x1200 pixels, 32-bit
color

14 CHAPTER 1: GETTING STARTED

Hardware Requirements for 3WXM Services

Software Requirements

Table 4 shows the minimum and recommended requirements to run the
3WXM Services in Windows.

Tab le 4 Hardware Requirements for Running 3WXM Services in Windows

Minimum Recommended

Processor Intel Pentium 4 2.4 GHz

or equivalent

RAM 1GB 2GB

Hard drive space available 1GB 2GB

Monitor resolution 1024x768 pixels, 24-bit

color

CD-ROM drive CD-ROM or equivalent CD-ROM

Intel Pentium 4 3.6 GHz
or equivalent

1600x1200 pixels, 32-bit
color

3WXM client and 3WXM Services are each supported on the following
operating systems:

 Microsoft Windows Server 2003

 Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack 1 or higher

 Microsoft Windows 2000 with Service Pack 4

You must use the English version of the operating system you select.
Operating system versions in other languages are not supported with
3WXM.

The following additional software is required for certain 3WXM features:

 HP OpenView Network Node Manager 6.4—Must be installed prior to

3WXM if you plan to use 3WXM in your HP OpenView environment.

 Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.x or later (or plug-in)—For reading the

Wireless LAN Switch Manager Reference Manual and release notes.

 Web browser (for example, Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.x or 6.x or

Netscape Navigator 6.x or 7.x)—For displaying 3WXM Help, work
orders and inventory reports.

Preparing for Installation 15

Preparing for Installation

User Privileges Before you install 3WXM, make sure that you are logged in as a user who

Serial Number,

License Key and

Activation Key

Before you install 3WXM, make sure you have the appropriate
administrative privileges on the system and a license key if required. If you
plan to install the HP OpenView plug-in for 3WXM, which allows you to
integrate 3WXM into an HP OpenView environment, make sure that HP
OpenView is already installed.

has permission to install software, or as an administrator.

After you install 3WXM, you can configure 3WXM access privileges for
the user accounts on the machine. Likewise, you can configure access
privileges for 3WXM Services, if installed. Access privileges for the 3WXM
client are completely independent of access privileges for 3WXM Services,
and are configured separately.

The serial number is generated automatically when the 3WXM software
is installed.

The license key is included with your 3WXM software packaging. You will
need a separate license key for each host on which you plan to run
3WXM. The license supplied with 3WXM allows you to manage up to 10
wireless switches. If you plan to manage more wireless switches, you will
also need an Unlimited Device license key (3CWXMUPA). You will need a
separate Unlimited Device license key for each host on which you plan to
run 3WXM to manage more than 10 devices.

If you do not have a license key, you can run 3WXM for 30 days. Once
this trial period is over you will need to purchase a license to continue
running the 3WXM software.

When you initially run the 3WXM software, it will ask if it is to be run as a
trial or as a fully licensed version. In the latter case, it will then ask for the
license key. The software will then display the serial number and ask for
an activation key.

To obtain an activation key, you must register the product with 3Com. If
you press the Get Activation Key button, your web browser will be
automatically launched at the correct pages for registering the product.
Once registration is complete, your activation key will then be displayed
and e-mailed to you.

16 CHAPTER 1: GETTING STARTED

Once the activation key has been accepted, you may enter an Unlimited
Device license key. This will require its own activation key, which can be
obtained in the same manner.

If you are registering your product using the web browser on a different
host, and you wish to register for the 30-day trial, then you will need to
select 3CWXMA as the software that you are registering. If you have a
license key, then you should select 3CWXM10A. This will register both
the software and the license. The Unlimited Device license is registered as
3CWXMUPA.

HP OpenView

Network Node

Manager

If you want to integrate 3WXM into your HP OpenView environment, you
have the option of installing the HP OpenView plug-in required to use
Network Node Manager with 3Com products. Make sure that HP
OpenView is already installed before installing 3WXM with the plug-in.

Resource Allocation Table 5 contains general recommended guidelines for hardware

requirements and memory allocation based on the number of radios and
WX switches your server will support. A larger number of WX switches
implies more connections and data processing, and consequently, more
CPU is required. A larger number of radios implies more data (including
client sessions) which requires more RAM and storage.

Tab le 5 Recommended Server Hardware Allocation

Number of
Radios 1-25 WX Switches 25-50 WX Switches 50+ WX Switches

1 – 1000 - 2.4 MHz P4

- 500 MB RAM

- 1 GB HD

1000 – 2000 - 2.4 MHz P4

- 1 GB RAM

- 2 GB HD

- 2.8 MHz P4

- 500 MB RAM

- 1 GB HD

- 3.0 GHz P4

- 1 GB RAM

- 2 GB HD

- 3.2 MHz Xeon

- 1 GB RAM

- 1 GB HD

- 3.6 GHz Xeon

- 2 GB RAM

- 2 GB HD

3WXM Services

Options

3WXM Services can be installed either in standalone mode or shared
mode. Standalone mode is when 3WXM client and 3WXM Services are
installed on one machine. Standalone mode is primarily used for trying
out 3WXM, while shared mode is used in a working environment. In
shared mode, the administrator sets up 3WXM Services on a single host
(typically with more resources) and other hosts with the client 3WXM

Preparing for Installation 17

application share 3WXM Services to access network plans and monitoring
information. See Figure 1.

Figure 1 3WXM Services in Shared Mode

During the 3WXM installation, you can select to install the 3WXM
Services and 3WXM client, or the client only. If you select the option that
installs 3WXM Services, the services are installed with default settings
that are adequate for getting started.

Network plans are stored on the server. By default, only local access is
allowed. Remote clients cannot access the server unless you enable
remote access.

To learn more about RF monitoring and client monitoring, see
“Managing and Monitoring Your Network” on page 143.

18 CHAPTER 1: GETTING STARTED

Installing 3WXM The same 3WXM install program installs either just the 3WXM client or

both the 3WXM client and 3WXM Services.

This section contains information about the following topics:

 “Unpacking Files” on page 18

 “Using the Installation Wizard” on page 18

Unpacking Files To unpack files on Windows systems:

1 Insert the 3WXM CD in the CD-ROM drive. If Autorun is enabled, wait

briefly for the install program to start. For more information about using
the installation wizard, see “Using the Installation Wizard” below.

If Autorun is disabled, follow these steps:

a In Windows Explorer, navigate to your CD-ROM drive.

b In the Windows\VM directory, double-click install.exe.

The Introduction page of the 3WXM installation wizard appears.

2 Click Next to display the Choose Installation Type page of the installation

wizard, and go to “Using the Installation Wizard”.

Using the Installation

Wizard

To use the Installation Wizard:

1 On the Choose Installation Type page, choose one of the following:

 To install both the 3WXM server and the client, click the 3WXM

Services icon.

 To install only the 3WXM client, click the 3WXM client icon.

For detailed installation instructions, see “Installing 3WXM” in the
Wireless LAN Switch Manager Reference Manual.

Start the 3WXM Services

The 3WXM Services are automatically started when you install it on a
Windows system.

Installing 3WXM 19

Connect 3WXM Clients to 3WXM Services

To connect the client to Services:

1 Select Start > Programs > 3Com > 3WXM > 3WXM. The 3WXM

Services Connection wizard is displayed.

2 Enter the IP address or fully-qualified hostname of the machine on which

the service is installed.

If 3WXM Services is installed on the same machine as the one you are
using to run 3WXM client, enter 127.0.0.1 as the IP address. This is a
standard IP loopback address.

3 Specify the service port, if different from the port number in the Service

Port listbox.

The port number used by the monitoring service must not be used by
another application on the machine where the monitoring service is
installed. If the port number is used by another application, change the
port number on the monitoring service. (See “Configure 3WXM Services”
below.)

4 Click Next to connect to the server.

5 If the Certificate Check dialog is displayed, click Accept.

If you left the Open Network Plan option on the 3WXM Services
Connection dialog selected, the server opens a new (blank) network plan.

Configure 3WXM Services

You can change the properties of 3WXM Services.

If a firewall is enabled on the host where you install 3WXM Services,
3WXM Services will not be able to communicate with 3WXM client or
with WX switches unless the firewall is configured to allow through
traffic for the SSL and SNMP ports (443 and 162 by default).

20 CHAPTER 1: GETTING STARTED

To configure 3WXM Services:

1 Select To ol s > 3WXM Services Setup dialog box from the 3WXM main

tool bar. The 3WXM Services Setup wizard is displayed.

2 You can optionally configure the following:

 Select the arrow buttons to change the HTTPS Server Port, which is

the port on which 3WXM Services listens for requests from 3WXM
client.

 Select the arrow buttons to change the SNMP Trap Receiver Port,

which is the port on which SNMP traps are received. Also select the
trap type (SNMPv1 or SNMPv3) you want 3WXM Services to receive
from WX switches.

Installing 3WXM 21

On each switch in the network plan, you must enable notifications and
configure 3WXM Services as a notification target (trap receiver).

3WXM Services does not start listening for SNMP notifications from
switches until you save the network plan.

 From the Key Store area of the window, specify security settings.

 From the Access Control area, define user accounts. For more

information about access control, see “3WXM Access Control” on
page 21.

By default, a username and password are not required to access 3WXM
Services from 3WXM client, but only local connections (connections from
client to server on the same host) are allowed. To change these settings,
use the Service Settings tab of the 3WXM Services Setup dialog.

To select monitoring settings:

All monitoring options are enabled by default. You do not need to enable
them and you do not need to specify the switches you want to monitor.
However, for 3WXM Services to receive trap data from WX switches,
SNMP notifications must be enabled on the switches. (See “Deploy Your
Configuration” on page 144.)

To start gathering data for monitoring, deploy your configuration to the
network. For information about deploying your configuration, see
“Deploy Your Configuration” on page 144.

3WXM Access Control You can create a user account with administrator, provision, or monitor

privileges. See Table 6 for privilege definitions.

Tab le 6 User Privilege Levels

Privilege Level Access Control Configuration Monitoring

Administrator yes yes yes

Provision no yes yes

Monitor no no yes

To configure access control:

1 Select To ol s > 3WXM Services Setup from the 3WXM main tool bar.

The 3WXM Services Setup window is displayed.

2 In the Access Control area of the window, deselect Allow all users.

22 CHAPTER 1: GETTING STARTED

3 Select Add Admin Account, Add Provision Account, or Add Monitor

Account. A dialog box is displayed.

4 Enter the account name and the password and click OK.

5 To remove an account, click Remove Account.

3WXM Interface This section contains the following topics:

 “Display the Main Window” on page 22

 “Using Menu Bar and Toolbars” on page 24

 “Setting Preferences” on page 24

 “Easy Configuration Using Wizards” on page 25

 “View Topology” on page 25

 “Shortcut to Wizards and Editing Properties” on page 26

 “Shortcut to Wizards and Editing Properties” on page 26

 “Getting Help” on page 27

Display the Main

Window

When you open a network plan or create a network plan using the
Network Planning wizard, 3WXM displays the Main window. The Main
window is divided into four panels (see Figure 2 on page 23):

1 Organizer panel displays a network tree representing your WLAN’s

devices and configurations on those devices. You can use it to navigate to
Policy configurations, Equipment within your network, and network Sites.

When you select a device or configuration in the tree, the
context-sensitive information about the device or configuration is
displayed to the right in the Content and Information panels. Select the
Details checkbox at the top of the Organizer panel to display detailed
configuration information about items in the tree.

2 Content panel displays context-sensitive information about the device or

configuration selected from the tree in the Organizer panel. From the
Content panel, view 3Com devices and their status, verify 3Com device
configurations in the network plan and in the network, and display event
logs and Rogue detection results.

3 Alerts panel displays a summary of alerts, including network and

configuration verification, Rogue detection, and local and network
changes. Click on a summary to display details.

3WXM Interface 23

4 Information panel displays information about an object you select from

the navigation tree under the Organizer panel. The information is
dependent upon the object selected.

The Network Activity icon displays statistics for management traffic
between 3WXM and the WX switches in the network plan. You can click
on the icon to display more details.

The Lock icon indicates whether the network plan has been locked.
When you make changes to a network plan, 3WXM locks it on the server.
The lock prevents other clients who open the network plan from
modifying it while you are making changes. The network plan remains
locked until you save your changes, after which the lock is released.

Figure 2 3WXM Main Window

Organizer panel

Content panel

Toolbar

Lock

icon

Alerts panel

Object Details panel (hidden by default)

Network Activity icon

24 CHAPTER 1: GETTING STARTED

Using Menu Bar and

Toolbars

The Main window and individual panels have a menu bar at the top to
select certain actions. Select an item from the menu bar, then select an
action from the dropdown menu. See Figure 3.

Figure 3 Menu Bar with Dropdown Menu

Setting Preferences You can set network and user interface preferences, as well as

preferences for save interval and autosave, certificate handling,
RF monitoring, and logging.

1 Select To ol s > Preferences from the 3WXM main tool bar.

The Preferences wizard is displayed.

Figure 4 Preferences Wizard

2 Select any of the tabs, make modifications in the fields, and select

Reset All to reset preferences.

3WXM Interface 25

Easy Configuration

Using Wizards

Wizards help walk administrators through configuration steps. There are
several wizards in the 3WXM application.

Enter the required fields and click Next at the bottom of the wizard to
display the next step. Click Cancel to discard any changes made with the
wizard. When you are done, click Finish to save changes.

You can right-click on many objects to display the Insert option. Select

Insert to create a new object that is a “child” of the selected object.

View Topology You can display a topology view of managed devices in your WLAN and

their relationships to each other. You can also click on the devices in the
topology view to display summary monitoring information about each
one.

To display a topology view of your network:

1 In the Equipment section of the Organizer panel, select a mobility domain

or a WX switch.

2 From the main 3WXM window, select Monitor > New Monitor.

3 Select Explore from the drop-down list in the Monitor tab. The topology

view of the selected object is displayed.

26 CHAPTER 1: GETTING STARTED

Shortcut to Wizards

and Editing

Properties

Shortcuts are built into the 3WXM interface to quickly access wizards and
for editing properties for selected objects.

To use shortcuts:

1 Right-click an object from the topology tree in the Organizer panel.

2 Select one of the options displayed. You can select Edit to edit object

properties, or Insert to display a wizard that assists you to create a new
object.

3WXM Interface 27

Getting Help Click Help from the Main menu bar to access different types of help:

1 Select Help > 3WXM Help to display HTML help about configuring and

using 3WXM.

2 Select Help > Licensing to view product licensing information, or to add

an Unlimited Device license to the installation.

3 Select Help > Report Problem to report a problem to 3Com Technical

Support.

4 Select Help > About 3WXM to display information about 3WXM and to

display the Release Notes. You also can click Force GC (garbage
collection) to free resources.

28 CHAPTER 1: GETTING STARTED

PLANNING AND MANAGING YOUR

S

2

WIRELESS NETWORK WITH
3WXM

This chapter contains information about planning and managing your
wireless network with 3WXM. Planning your wireless network is highly
recommended because it not only helps you configure and deploy it, but
also aids in scaling and monitoring your network. 3Com provides you
with flexible tools to assist with network planning.

Overview You plan your wireless network to support the services you want to offer

your employees, guests, or customers. Figure 5 describes the process you
will follow to establish services in your company or organization,
beginning with determining the services you want to offer. Each step in
the process is described in this chapter.

Figure 5 Process to Establish Wireless Services

Determine which

TART order and install

services to
provide

Configure
services

Optimize
services

Plan for network
equipment and
coverage

Monitor
services

Generate work

equipment

Deploy
services

30 CHAPTER 2: PLANNING AND MANAGING YOUR WIRELESS NETWORK WITH 3WXM

Which Services To Provide?

A service is a concept (not a selectable item in the 3WXM interface) that
represents a set of options you configure and deploy on your wireless
network.

You configure services to support the different levels of network access
you need to provide. For example, a service configured to support
employee access will have different options configured to provide greater
access to the network. In contrast, a service configured for guest access
typically restricts users to limited or no internal network access, but easily
provides a gateway connection to the Internet.

A service can be fully isolated and independent of other services on the
network (multi-hosted access is typically isolated), or you can reuse part of a
service configuration for another service you want to provide. Each service
has potential authentications (802.1X, web page, MAC address, or “last
resort”) and potential encryptions (802.11i, WPA, WEP, or unencrypted).

The purpose of this section is to provide information about services that you
can configure using 3WXM. Understanding the services you can configure
with 3WXM is the first step in planning and configuring your network.

The first step you need to do when planning your wireless network is to
determine which services your organization requires. The three common
types of services are:

 Employee access

 Guest access

 Voice over Wireless IP (VoWIP)

Employee access is typically secure, encrypted access to the wireless
network. Guest access is access (possibly unencrypted) for visitors at your
location. If you intend to resell services to other providers, you will need
to provide multi-hosted access.

Determining the services you will need at the beginning of the planning
process results in configuration data. The configuration data is used to
create service profiles and AAA rules for each service. A service profile is a
subset of a radio profile. A radio profile is a common set of configuration
parameters that can be applied to many MAP radios.

See “Create a Service Profile” on page 94 for information about
configuring services.