3Com WL306B Users Manual

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User Guide

11 Mbps Wireless LAN Outdoor Bridge Solution

3CRWEASY96A

Complete building-to-building outdoor wireless LAN kit

http://www.3com.com/

http://support.3com.com/registration/frontpg.pl/

Published October, 2002

Document Version 1.0.1

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Contents

Introduction

Product Overview 7
Point-to-Point Topology	7
Point-to-Multipoint Topology 8
Basic Operating Modes	9

Planning the Installation

Installation Guidelines		10
Proper Grounding		11
Alignment	11
Polarization	11
Thermal Conditions		12
Restrictions on Antenna Use			12
Administration Requirements			13

Installing the Bridge

Mounting the Bridge to a Mast	14
Connecting the Bridge to the LAN	15
Installing Software Utilities 16
Establishing Wireless Association	17

Conﬁguring the Bridge

Using the Device Manager 18

Launching a Wireless Device Conﬁguration 18 Using the Pre-IP Conﬁguration Wizard 20

Saving Conﬁguration Changes	20
Changing System Properties	21
Setting IP Network Properties	22

Setting up Protocol and Port Filtering 23

Setting Wireless Network Properties 24 Setting Advanced Performance Properties 26 Setting up an Ad Hoc Network 27

Setting up an Access Point Infrastructure Network 28

Changing Security Settings			29
No Security (Open System)			30
40-bit Shared Key (Wi-Fi)			30
128-bit Shared Key	31
128-bit Dynamic Security Link 31
Setting up the Wireless Network Login				31
Resetting the Bridge	32
Restoring a Bridge to Factory Defaults 32
Upgrading the System	32
Changing the Administration Password				33
Backing up a Conﬁguration			33
Restoring a Conﬁguration		34
Viewing the Client List	34
Resetting Statistics Listings			35
Clearing the Client List		35
Viewing Connection Status			35
Viewing the System Summary			35
Interoperating with Third-Party Equipment				35

Troubleshooting

Diagnosing Problems 36
Disconnecting the Bridge	38
Uninstalling Software and Documentation 38
Upgrading Bridge Firmware	38

Technical Support

Online Technical Services 39

Support from Your Network Supplier 40 Support from 3Com 40

Returning Products for Repair 42

Regulatory Compliance Information

Index

1 INTRODUCTION

PRODUCT OVERVIEW

The 3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN Outdoor Bridge Solution is a complete building-to-building outdoor wireless LAN kit that eliminates the need to evaluate, purchase and assemble separate components. The convenient package includes the 3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN Building-to-Building Bridge with an integrated high-power directional antenna and power-over-Ethernet cable in a durable, weatherproof enclosure—everything you need for an easy-to-manage building-to-building wireless LAN solution.

This all-in-one wireless LAN solution delivers three to four times the bandwidth of T1 links, with signiﬁcantly lower operational costs. The wireless bridge lets you connect cross-campus buildings, or portable or temporary classrooms, at distances up to 16 kilometers (10 miles). The building-to-building bridge interoperates seamlessly with other Wi-Fi certiﬁed access points in large multi-vendor environments.

The 3Com bridge can be used in two types of wireless network topologies:

■Point-to-point

■Point-to-multipoint

This guide explains these network topologies and their components, and explains how to install, conﬁgure, and administer the 3Com bridge.

POINT-TO-POINT TOPOLOGY

Point-to-point topology is the simplest way to use the 3Com bridge, and it offers the highest performance level. Two 3Com outdoor bridges form a direct wireless association between the wired LANs in two remote buildings. See the following diagram of the point-to-point topology.

POINT-TO-MULTIPOINT TOPOLOGY

Point-to-multipoint topology allows communication among three or more buildings. In one building, an access point equipped with an omnidirectional antenna provides wireless association among the wired LANs in several other buildings with 3Com outdoor bridges installed.

If a 3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN Access Point 8000 is used, this topology can connect wired LANs over distances up to 16 kilometers (10 miles).

NOTE: If an access point from another Wi-Fi compliant manufacturer is used, the WLAN can extend up to 3 kilometers (2 miles).

BASIC OPERATING MODES

Two operating modes relate to the basic WLAN topologies:

■Ad hoc mode. This is the basis for point-to-point topology. Operating in ad hoc mode, two outdoor bridges can associate without an access point, allowing the LANs to which they are connected to communicate.

■Access Point (Infrastructure) mode. This is the basis for point-to-multipoint topology. Operating in access point mode, multiple 3Com outdoor bridges act as clients to an Access Point 8000 or a Wi-Fi compliant access point from another manufacturer.

2 PLANNING THE INSTALLATION

The following items are required for installation:

■For a point-to point conﬁguration, two 3Com outdoor bridges.

■For a point-to-multipoint conﬁguration, one 3Com 11Mbps Wireless LAN Access Point 8000 (or other Wi-Fi compliant access point) with an omnidirectional antenna for one building, and one 3Com outdoor bridge for each other building.

■Mounting hardware (supplied with each bridge)

■Properly grounded outdoor mast or wall mount

■Lightning arrestor properly grounded at each building in the topology.

■3Com Integrated Power-over-Ethernet power supply.

If your LAN equipment complies with the IEEE 802.3af power-over-Ethernet standard, you can connect directly to the equipment, and the power supply is not needed.

■ Outdoor rated category 5 Ethernet cable (such as 3CWE487)

The cable must be long enough to reach the power-over-Ethernet LAN port.

If you use the power supply, you need an additional length of Ethernet cable to connect the bridge to the LAN.

INSTALLATION GUIDELINES

NOTE: Only professional network personnel should install the bridge, cables, and antennas.The importance of this is paramount, for the sake of compliance with FCC and other regulatory issues, as well as for the safety of people and equipment.

The 11 Mbps Wireless LAN Outdoor Bridge Solution is housed in a durable, watherproof enclosure and is speciﬁcally designed for outdoor use in most climates. Optimal performance can be maintained at outdoor temperature ranges from -20˚ C to 50˚C (-4˚F to 122˚F). It is extremely important that the unit not be

mounted in any area where it could be vulnerable to extreme or hazardous conditions of any kind.

PROPER GROUNDING

To ensure the physical safety of anyone near the bridge and to prevent damage to the unit, follow the building codes for antenna installations in your area. Make certain that bridges and masts are appropriately grounded to prevent injury or damage from lightning strikes.

A lightning arrestor, properly grounded and installed at each building in the topology, will protect networking equipment in the building, as well as the people working there, from lightning-induced surges that travel on Ethernet cables.

CAUTION: A lightning arrestor will not prevent damage from direct lightning strikes. This is why it is extremely important to ensure that the bridge is installed at least 1 meter (3 feet) below the top of the mast.

ALIGNMENT

Position each bridge so that they are aimed at each other wherever possible. While maintaining a direct line of sight between antennas helps to ensure a strong signal, it is not strictly necessary, nor is it always possible. Conditions such as long distances, mountainous regions, and architectural barriers will make a direct line of sight nearly impossible to achieve.

In a campus setting, where buildings are short distances apart, and especially in a point-to-point conﬁguration, align each unit to point at the antenna with which it will communicate. If you place two units at different heights, tilt them up or down toward each other for optimal signal strength.

POLARIZATION

Polarization is a physical phenomenon of radio signal propagation. In general, any two antennas that are to communicate with each other must be set for the same horizontal or vertical polarization. If polarization on both antennas does not match—a situation called cross-polarization—the link will either work poorly or not at all. Follow these polarization guidelines:

■Vertical polarization is required for point-to-multipoint conﬁguration and is preferred for point-to-point conﬁguration.

■For point-to-multipoint conﬁgurations, the omnidirectional antenna connected to the access point should be vertically aligned in relation to the ground.

■Unidirectional antennas that link with omnidirectional antennas should always be oriented for vertical polarization.

Bridges should be identically polarized, either horizontally or vertically.

THERMAL CONDITIONS

As mentioned in a previous section, optimal performance is maintained at temperature ranges between -20˚C to 50˚C (-4˚F to 122˚F).

RESTRICTIONS ON ANTENNA USE

The following restrictions apply to the use of the bridge’s 18 dBi antenna:

CAUTION: FCC regulations require that in the United States, use of channels 12 and 13 in conjunction with an 18 dBi antenna is allowed only at very reduced power.

■The highest allowable power level will be set automatically when the country selection is made from the pulldown menu in the conﬁguration tool.

■To comply with power restrictions on 18 dBi antennas, bridges must be separated by at least 200 meters (218 yards).

ADMINISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

To use the administration tool, which helps you select 3Com wireless LAN devices and launch their conﬁguration management systems, you need a computer running one of the following operating systems and one of the

following browsers:

■Operating Systems: Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows NT 4.0, Windows Me, Windows 98

■Browsers: Netscape 6.0 or later, Internet Explorer 5.0 or later.

(If you want to conﬁgure the bridge using a non-Windows computer, refer to the readme ﬁle on the 3Com CD.)

3 INSTALLING THE BRIDGE

The bridge can be placed in any outdoor location as described in Installation Guidelines.

Note: Only professional network personnel should install the bridge unit, antennas and cables. This helps to ensure compliance with all local and national buiding codes, regulatory restrictions, FCC rules, and the safety of people and equipment.

MOUNTING THE BRIDGE TO A MAST

Refer to the adjustable mount instruction sheet that comes with the bridge mounting hardware, and review the illustration below.

Mast should extend

above bridge 1 meter (3 ft).

Outdoor Ethernet cable 3CWE487

Bridge may be installed to freestanding or roof mounted mast.

To indoor connection

CAUTION: As shown in the illustration, avoid damage from direct lightning strikes by mounting the bridge at least 1 Meter (3 feet) below the top of the mast.

WARNING: Do not install the bridge near overhead power lines, electric light or power circuits, or where it can come into contact with such circuits. When installing the bridge, do not come into contact with such circuits, which can cause serious injury or death. Follow local and national codes for proper installation and grounding of antennas.

WARNING: Do not install the bridge or connect and disconnect cables during periods of lightning activity.

Make sure that all bridges are properly oriented for polarization as described in Polarization. Use the polarization indicators on the antenna panel to guide orientation. VERT POL indicates vertical polarization and HORIZ POL indicates horizontal polarization.

CONNECTING THE BRIDGE TO THE LAN

The bridge complies with the IEEE 802.3af power-over-Ethernet standard. It receives power over an Ethernet cable. There are two ways to supply power to the bridge:

■Use the 3Com Integrated Power-over-Ethernet power supply. In this case, you need to supply a second Ethernet cable to connect to the wired LAN.

The power supply can be located at any point between the bridge and the LAN access port, wherever a convenient power outlet exists.

When connecting the power, be sure to connect the cable to the port labeled “To Access Point” on the power supply.

Use another standard Ethernet cable to connect the bridge to an Ethernet network. Be sure that the Ethernet cable connected to the LAN port is plugged into the “To Hub/Switch” port on the power supply.

Caution: To avoid damaging other components connected to the network, make sure that the Ethernet cable connected to the LAN port is plugged into the “To Hub/Switch” port on the power supply (not the “To Access Point” port).

■Connect the bridge directly to your own power-over-Ethernet hub or switch. In this case, your equipment must also comply with the IEEE 802.3af standard. If your LAN equipment complies with the IEEE 802.3af power-over-Ethernet standard, you can connect the bridge directly to a LAN port.

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