Dell Sonicwall Sonicpoint Ace Getting Started Manual

Dell SonicWALL
SonicPoint-ACe

Getting Started Guide

Draft Document

©

2014 Dell Inc.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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Trademarks

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SonicPoint-ACe Getting Started Guide
Updated - 12 – 2014
Software Version - Rev. 00
P/N 232-00XXXX-XX

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CAUTION: A CAUTION icon indicates potential damage to hardware or loss of data if instructions are not followed.

WARNING: A WARNING icon indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury, or death.

IMPORTANT NOTE, NOTE, TIP, MOBILE, or VIDEO: An information icon indicates supporting information.

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In this guide

This Getting Started Guide provides instructions for basic installation and configuration of the Dell SonicWALL SonicPoint-ACe wireless
appliances in single-unit or distributed wireless deployments.

Chapter 1 Sections Include

Before you begin, page 3 • Check package contents, page 4

• What you need to begin, page 5

• SonicPoint top panel/status LEDs, page 6

Chapter 2 Sections Include

Introduction to secure wireless, page 7 • Wireless RF introduction, page 8

• Placing access points, page10

• Dell SonicWALL wireless firewalling, page 13

Chapter 3 Sections Include

Registering your appliance, page 15 • Creating a MySonicWALL account, page 16

• Registering and licensing your appliance on MySonicWALL,

page 16

• Using Dell SonicWALL security services for wireless clients,

page 17

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Additional information

The following sections provide additional information for the SonicP oint-ACe.

Support and training options, page 35
Product safety and regulatory information, page 41

Chapter 4 Sections Include

Configuring your appliance for wireless, page 19 • An introduction to zones and interfaces, page 20

• Configuring wireless access, page 20

Chapter 5 Sections Include

Setting up your SonicPoint, page 27 • Installing antennas, page 28

• Connecting Ethernet cable, page 28

• Mounting using ceiling brackets, page 30

• Mounting using anchor screws, page 31

• Verifying operation, page 32

• Verifying WAN (Internet) connectivity, page 33

• Troubleshooting tips, page 33

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Before you begin

In this section:

This section provides a basic checklist of materials and information needed before you begin.

• "Check package contents" on page 4

• "What you need to begin" on page 5

• "SonicPoint top panel/status LEDs" on page 6

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Check package contents

Before continuing, ensure that your SonicPoint package contains the following materials:

*The included power cord is approved for use only in specific countries or regions. Before using a power cord, verify that it is rated
and approved for use in your location.

Any items missing?

If any of the items corresponding to your product are missing from the package, contact Dell SonicWALL Technical Support at

https://support.software.dell.com/manage-service-request

A listing of the most current support documents are available online at:

https://support.software.dell.com/

SonicPoint-ACe Appliance Checklist

Getting Started Guide
SonicPoint-ACe Appliance
Mounting Kit (Ceiling Braces, Anchor and Screw Kit)
Front LED/Logo Cover Plate
Antennas (6)
Power Adaptor*

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What you need to

begin

This page provides basic network hardware and software
prerequisites as a baseline for SonicPoint-ACe deployments.

Hardware/firmware
requirements

The Dell SonicWALL SonicPoint-ACe access points are centrally
managed by any of the following Dell SonicWALL appliances
running SonicOS 5.6 or higher:

• SuperMassive 9000 Series

• NSA Series (including NSA 2400MX)

• TZ 215/205/105 Series

• TZ 210/200/100 Series

Network deployment
requirements

In addition to the aforementioned SonicOS firmware and
hardware requirements, ensure that your network deployment
includes:

• An 802.3af compliant PoE injector or PoE-capable
switch

• An active Internet connection

• A configured interface on the Dell SonicWALL security

appliance set to a zone type of “wireless”

• A location selected for placement of your SonicPoint
such as a wall or ceiling

• Clients capable of 802.11n wireless communications.
Note that although clients with 802.11 a/b/g hardware
are supported, the presence of these legacy clients
within range of your network may affect the
connection speed of your 802.11n clients.

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SonicPoint top panel/status LEDs

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Status LEDs

Power

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Wireless Link

Wireless Activity

1000mbps 100mbps 10Mbps

Ethernet Activity

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Power Port

(SonicPoint-Ne only)

Provides 12VDC power connection

LAN/PoE Port

Provides Power over Ethernet (PoE)

and Ethernet connection

Console Port

Provides management connection using
CLI->DB9 cable (for command line management only)

Reset Button

Press and hold to manually reset

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Introduction to secure wireless

In this section:

This section contains excerpts from the Dell SonicWALL Secure Wireless Network Integrated Solutions Guide. The content is meant to
provide a brief introduction to Radio Frequency (RF) technology as it pertains to different deployment scenarios.

• "Wireless RF introduction" on page 8

• "Placing access points" on page 10

• "Dell SonicWALL wireless firewalling" on page 13

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Wireless RF

introduction

There are currently four widely adopted standards for 802.11
wireless network types: a, b, g, and n. Although 802.11n is the
newest and highest capacity standard, each of the four
standards has its own strengths and weaknesses. This section
provides overviews of these standards.

The following section provides a brief overview of RF
technologies:

• "Frequency Bands and Channels" on page 8

• "802.11 comparison chart" on page 9

• "Radio frequency barriers" on page 9

• "RF interference" on page 10

Frequency Bands and
Channels

To allow multiple separate wireless networks in a shared and
confined space, the RF medium is divided into channels. For
devices in the 5GHz range (802.11a), this means the possibility
of up to 23 discrete channels. For devices using the 2.4GHz
range (802.11b, 802.11g), the wireless space is limited to a
maximum of 14 overlapping channels. As a result of these
overlapping channels, 2.4GHz technology provides only a total
of three discrete channels.

The newer 802.11n technology does not fit into either of these
categories, as it is capable of using both 2.4GHz and 5GHz,
but is limited to 14 overlapping channels for backward
compatibility.

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802.11 comparison
chart

The following table compares signal characteristics as they
apply to the current 802.11 standards:

NOTE: Although 802.11b/g/n standards provide between 11

and 14 channels, only three of those channels are fully
discrete (non-overlapping ) ch an n els.

For more information on this topic, refer to the
Dell SonicWALL Secure Wireless Networking Integrated
Solutions Guide.

Radio frequency
barriers

Determining the location of RF barriers can be a painful part
of the placement process, but keep in mind that they can be
used beneficially in an attempt to block signals where you do
not want coverage.

The following table lists some common RF barrier types:

802.11a 802.11b 802.11g 802.11n
# of Channels in USA2311 1111
# of Channels in EU 23 13 13 13
# of Channels in

Japan

15 14 14 14

Frequency Band 5GHz 2.4GHz 2.4GHz 2.4/

5GHz

Max. Data Rate 54Mbps 11Mbps 54Mbps 150Mbps

300Mbps

Radius (Range) 90ft/

25m

120ft/
35m

120ft/
35m

300ft/
90m

Barrier Type RF Signal Blocking

Open air Very Low
Glass, drywall, cube partitions Low
Stone floors and walls (brick/marble/

granite)

Medium

Concrete, security glass, stacked books/
paper

High

Metal, metal mesh (chicken wire), re­enforced concrete, water

Very High

Faraday cage Extremely High

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RF interference

RF interference from home, office, and medical equipment is
a common source of frustration in wireless deployments from
the smallest home office to the largest multi-building campus.

The following table lists several common sources of RF
interference:

NOTE: Most newer model microwave ovens have sufficient

shielding to negate possible RF interference.

Placing access points

Physical placement of an access point has a measurable effect
on who can and cannot access your wireless signal. The
following sections provide an overview of wireless access
point placement, signal strength, and signal direction in
common wireless deployment situations:

• "Making hardware decisions" on page 10

• "Solutions to RF interference and barriers" on page 11

TIP: For the latest SonicPoint wireless deployment

information from switching recommendations to
site survey, see the Dell SonicWALLSonicPoint Deployment

Best Practices Guide at: https://support.software.dell.com/

Making hardware
decisions

The first decision in hardware is the access point. While
access point technology (802.11a/b/g/n) is one factor in
determining your placement, based on distance served and

Interference Source

Possible RF
Interference

Band(s)
Affected

2.4GHz phones Entire range
(hundreds of feet)

802.11b/g/n

Bluetooth devices Within 30 feet 802.11b/g/n
Microwave oven Within 10-20 feet 802.11b/g/n
Scientific and medical

equipment

Short distance, varies 802.11b/g/n

Off-network access
points

Entire range All

RF reflective objects Long-range wireless

bridging

All

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bandwidth needed, taking note of other hardware-based
factors is just as important.

Some of the more important hardware decisions include:

• Number of access points versus user density – If too
many users are serviced by a single access point,
maximum transfer rates are reached and that point
may become a bottleneck for the whole system.

•Bandwidth – How much data is moving upstream and
downstream for a given type of user?

• Ethernet cabling – Where are you running the powered
Ethernet (PoE) cable to and how are you securing that
cable. Is your PoE switch able to power all access
points?

•Hubs / Switches – Your wireless de ployment has to tie
back into your network security appliance and LAN
resources at some point. What speed is needed for your
Ethernet connection to accommodate the number of
access points you are installing? Also consider where
your key networking devices are deployed and how
they will connect efficiently with your wireless
appliances.

• Upgrade your Ethernet connections for 802.11n – In
most cases, 802.11n wireless hardware requires more
bandwidth than a single (or even dual) 10/100 Ethernet
connection can handle. Gigabit Ethernet connectivity

between the WLAN and the LAN is required to take full
advantage of 802.11n speed.

• Power up that PoE for 802.11n – Part of your wireless
network planning should include verifying that your P oE
equipment is 802.3af compliant, and that a full 15
watts of power can be supplied to each SonicPoint.

Solutions to RF
interference and
barriers

These days, finding an environment with no RF interference or
noise is nearly impossible. Only if you are setting up an office
in a secluded redwood grove can you count on RF interference
to be a non-issue. Even then, the redwood trees might just be
among those fitted with high-gain cellular antennas, an all­too-common occurrence today. Regardless, you should expect

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to deal with some level of signal interference in your
deployment.

Location A – rogue
access points or
wireless test lab

•Problem – Wireless product test labs and other (non-

malicious) rogue access points are problems in many
Wi-Fi deployments.

•Solution – Either eliminate all rogue access points, or
force their owners to use a set channel that does not
overlap with your distributed wireless solution.

Location B – spectrum
noise for 2.4GHz and
5GHz

•Problem – Your phone system is partially wireless and

uses the 2.4GHz spectrum.

•Solution – Give VoIP a try. VoIP will work in tandem
with your wireless network, instead of against it. For
more on Dell SonicWALL VoIP implementation and

A

C

B

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capabilities, refer to the Configuring VoIP SonicOS
feature module available at: https://

support.software.dell.com/

Location C – off-network
access points

•Problem – Your neighbors need wireless, too!

Unfortunately, only a few sheets of drywall separate
you. Solution – Overpowering your neighbors with high­gain antennas is an option, but not a particularly
neighborly one. Instead, you could simply use a
different channel for wireless access points bordering
this wall and ensure that your neighbors do the same.
Performance in some dual-channel wireless devices
may take a hit, but it is better than dropped
connections—or unhappy neighbors.

Dell SonicWALL

wireless firewalling

When a wireless device uses an access point to communicate
with a device on another subnet or on a completely different
network, traffic between the devices is forced to traverse the
network gateway. This traversal enables security services to
be enforced at the gateway.

Standard practice for wireless firewalling (where one wireless
client is communicating with another) bypasses many of the
critical security services. The following illustration shows the
standard practice for wireless firewalling.

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Many security products on the market share this potential
vulnerability when two users connected by a common hub or
wireless access point wish to exchange data.

Dell SonicWALL addresses this security shortcoming by
managing the SonicPoint access points from the network
security appliance. This allows complete control of the
wireless space, including zone enforcement of security
services and complete firewalling capabilities, as shown in the
following illustration.

WLAN Zone

Security Services

?

Content Filtering Service

Client Anti-Virus Enforcement

Gateway Anti-Virus

Gateway Anti-Spyware

Intrusion Prevention Service

Other Security Appliance

WLAN Zone

Security Services

SonicWALL

appliance

SonicWALL

SonicPoint

Content Filtering Service

Client Anti-Virus Enforcement

Gateway Anti-Virus

Gateway Anti-Spyware

Intrusion Prevention Service

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