Hewlett Packard Enterprise WL605 User Manual

3Com® AirConnect 9550 11n 2.4+5GHz PoE Access Point

3Com® AirConnect 9150 11n 2.4GHz PoE Access Point

www.3com.com

M/N: WL-605 / WL-604 Published April 2008

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

Copyright © 2008, 3Com Corporation. All rights reserved. No part of this documentation may be reproduced in any form or by any means or used to make any derivative work (such as translation, transformation, or adaptation) without written permission from 3Com Corporation.

3Com Corporation reserves the right to revise this documentation and to make changes in content from time to time without obligation on the part of 3Com Corporation to provide notification of such revision or change.

3Com Corporation provides this documentation without warranty, term, or condition of any kind, implied or expressed, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties, terms or conditions of merchantability, satisfactory quality, and fitness for a particular purpose. 3Com may make improvements or changes in the product(s) and/or the program(s) described in this documentation at any time.

If there is any software on removable media described in this documentation, it is furnished under a license agreement included with the product as a separate document, in the hard copy documentation, or on the removable media in a directory file named LICENSE.TXT or !LICENSE.TXT. If you are unable to locate a copy, contact 3Com and a copy will be provided to you.

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT LEGEND

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 as a “commercial item” as defined in FAR 2.101(a) and as such is provided with only such rights as are provided in 3Com’s standard commercial license for the Software. Technical data is provided with limited rights only as provided in DFAR 252.227-7015 (Nov 1995) or FAR 52.227-14 (June 1987), whichever is applicable. You agree not to remove or deface any portion of any legend provided on any licensed program or documentation contained in, or delivered to you in conjunction with, this User Guide.

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3Com and the 3Com logo are registered trademarks of 3Com Corporation.

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IEEE and 802 are registered trademarks of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.

All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.

ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT

It is the policy of 3Com Corporation to be environmentally-friendly in all operations. To uphold our policy, we are committed to:

Establishing environmental performance standards that comply with national legislation and regulations.

Conserving energy, materials and natural resources in all operations.

Reducing the waste generated by all operations. Ensuring that all waste conforms to recognized environmental standards. Maximizing the recyclable and reusable content of all products.

Ensuring that all products can be recycled, reused and disposed of safely.

Ensuring that all products are labeled according to recognized environmental standards.

Improving our environmental record on a continual basis.

End of Life Statement

3Com processes allow for the recovery, reclamation and safe disposal of all end-of-life electronic components.

Regulated Materials Statement

3Com products do not contain any hazardous or ozone-depleting material.

Environmental Statement about the Documentation

The documentation for this product is printed on paper that comes from sustainable, managed forests; it is fully biodegradable and recyclable, and is completely chlorine-free. The varnish is environmentally-friendly, and the inks are vegetable-based with a low heavy-metal content.

INTRODUCTION

Key Product Features ......................................................................... 7

Security ....................................................................................... 8

Performance And Reliability ......................................................... 8

Manageability.............................................................................. 8

Wireless Network Standards ........................................................ 9

802.11a................................................................................. 9

802.11b/g............................................................................ 10

IEEE 802.3af ........................................................................ 11

INSTALLING YOUR 3COM WIRELESS ACCESS POINT

Unpacking the device ...................................................................... 13

Deciding where to place your AP..................................................... 16

Wall Mounting the Wireless Access Point......................................... 17

Checking the LED Indicators ...................................................... 21

Power up................................................................................... 22

Self test (POST) .......................................................................... 22

CONFIGURING THE WIRELESS ACCESS POINT

Networks with a DHCP Server.......................................................... 23

Networks without a DHCP Server .................................................... 24

Using the 3Com Installation CD ....................................................... 25

Launch the 3Com Wireless Infrastructure Device Manager (Widman)

utility ......................................................................................... 25

Launching the 3Com Wireless Infrastructure Device Manager 25

First Time Only ..................................................................... 28

System Status .................................................................................. 29

System Summary........................................................................ 29

Wireless Station List ................................................................... 30

Event Log List............................................................................. 31

System Configuration ...................................................................... 31

Setup Wizard ............................................................................. 31

System Properties....................................................................... 35

Access Point mode ............................................................... 35

Wireless Workgroup Bridge mode (Client Bridge mode)........ 35

Ad-hoc mode (peer to peer) ................................................. 35

Repeater mode..................................................................... 35

Wireless Bridge mode........................................................... 36

FAT....................................................................................... 36

FIT........................................................................................ 36

IP Settings.................................................................................. 37

Wireless Network....................................................................... 38

Wireless Mode ..................................................................... 38

Channel / Frequency ............................................................ 39

Current Profiles .................................................................... 40

SSID..................................................................................... 40

BSSID................................................................................... 41

Suppressed SSID .................................................................. 41

VLAN ID............................................................................... 41

Station Separation ............................................................... 41

Security................................................................................ 41

WEP..................................................................................... 42

WPA Only ............................................................................ 43

WPA2-Only .......................................................................... 44

WPA2-Mixed........................................................................ 44

Profile (SSID) Isolation .......................................................... 45

Multi-BSSID.......................................................................... 45

WDS Link Settings ..................................................................... 45

WDS Security Settings................................................................ 47

Wireless Advanced Settings ....................................................... 48

Data Rate............................................................................. 48

Transmit Power .................................................................... 49

Beacon Interval .................................................................... 49

Data Beacon Rate (DTIM) ..................................................... 49

Fragment Length.................................................................. 49

RTS Threshold ...................................................................... 49

802.11d support .................................................................. 50

Antenna Type....................................................................... 50

Service............................................................................................. 51

Management VLAN.................................................................... 51

IAPP........................................................................................... 52

802.11F (IAPP) Support - Choose either Enable or Disable .... 52

QoS...................................................................................... 53

SNTP.......................................................................................... 56

Syslog function ................................................................................ 58

System Log ................................................................................ 58

Syslog Server.............................................................................. 58

Syslog Port................................................................................. 59

Syslog Level................................................................................ 59

Management................................................................................... 60

Administration ........................................................................... 60

SNMP ........................................................................................ 61

MAC Filtering............................................................................. 62

Rogue AP Detection ................................................................... 63

Backup/ Restore Settings............................................................ 64

Firmware Auto Update .............................................................. 65

Firmware Upgrade ..................................................................... 66

Rebooting.................................................................................. 68

Connecting through the Com Port .................................................. 69

Restoring factory settings ................................................................ 70

TROUBLESHOOTING

Diagnosing Problems....................................................................... 71

OBTAINING SUPPORT FOR YOUR 3COM PRODUCT

Solve Problems Online ..................................................................... 77

Purchase Extended Warranty and Professional Services .................... 78

Access Software Downloads............................................................ 78

Telephone Technical Support and Repair .......................................... 80

END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT

APPENDIX

Antennas Used per Mode................................................................ 83

Console Cable Pin-out ..................................................................... 85

INDEX

INTRODUCTION

The 3Com AirConnect 9550 11n 2.4+5GHz PoE Access Point / 3Com AirConnect 9150 11n 2.4GHz PoE Access Point is a high performance access point that allows you to join isolated wired Ethernet networks into a unified wireless local area network (WLAN). The Access Point (AP) supports Wi-Fi Protected Access security standards to provide a higher level of security for network data and communications. The 3Com AirConnect 9550 11n 2.4+5GHz PoE Access Point / 3Com AirConnect 9150 11n

2.4GHz PoE Access Point is also fully compatible with IEEE

802.11a (3Com AirConnect 9550 11n 2.4+5GHz PoE Access Point only), 802.11b, 802.11g and 802.11n.

Key Product Features

The product operates using 11a (3Com AirConnect 9550 11n

2.4+5GHz PoE Access Point only), 11b, 11g, or 11n modes. This access point creates an enterprise-class wireless LAN, supporting up to 64 simultaneous users.

8 Key Product Features

Security

3Com offers one of the most robust suites of standards-based security on the market today. To protect sensitive data broadcast over the wireless LAN, 3Com supports Wireless Equivalent Privacy (WEP) and Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA and WPA2). 3Com strengthens this basic security mechanism with additional security features, including MAC address access control lists, IEEE 802.1x per-port user authentication with RADIUS server authentication support, Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP), Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), Wireless Protected Access (WPA) and Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) support: EAP-MD5, EAP-TLS, EAP-TTLS, and PEAP.

Performance And Reliability

3Com wireless access point performance features ensure reliable and seamless connections for users wherever they roam. Automatic channel selection automatically finds the least loaded channel for interference-free communication. Auto network connect and dynamic rate shifting keep users connected through a wide variety of conditions by changing to the optimum connection speed as they move through the network.

Manageability

3Com offers a wide range of standards-based management support, from SNMP to 3Com Network Supervisor and HP OpenView for seamless integration with your wired network.

Wireless Infrastructure Device Manager and Wireless LAN Device Discovery tools let you configure parameters, run diagnostics, backup and restore configurations, and monitor performance from anywhere on the network using an embedded web server browser.

With Power over Ethernet (PoE) support, the same Category 5 cable that connects your access point to the data network also provides its power. A single cable installation dramatically improves your choice of mounting configurations because you no longer need to consider AC power outlet locations. PoE support makes it easier than ever to overcome installation problems with difficult-to-wire or hard-to-reach locations.

Wireless Network Standards

Key Product Features 9

Understanding the characteristics of the 802.11a and 802.11g standards can help you make the best choice for your wireless implementation plans.

802.11a

Ratified in 2002, 802.11a operates at the 5GHz band and supports data rates at up to 54Mbps. Because there are fewer devices in the 5GHz band, there’s less potential for RF interference. However, because it is at an entirely different radio spectrum, it is not compatible with 802.11b and 802.11g.

10 Key Product Features

The higher spectrum provides about 50m (164ft) of coverage. Consider 802.11a when you need high throughput in a confined space and you are:

■ Running high-bandwidth applications like voice, video, or

multimedia over a wireless network that can benefit from a five-fold increase in data throughput.

■ Transferring large files like computer-aided design files,

preprint publishing documents or graphics files, such as MRI scans for medical applications that demand additional bandwidth.

■ Supporting a dense user base confined to a small coverage

area. Because 802.11a has a greater number of non-overlapping channels, you can pack more wireless devices in a tighter space.

802.11b/g

802.11b, 802.11g and 802.11n all operate in the 2.4GHz band.

802.11b can support data rate up to 11Mbps. 802.11g can support data rate up to 54Mbps. 802.11n can support data rate up to 300Mbps.They all support the widest coverage – up to 100m (328ft). It is however, subject to a greater risk of radio interference because it operates in the more popular 2.4GHz band.

Consider 802.11n when you need wider coverage and vendor compatibility and you are:

Key Product Features 11

■ Maintaining support for existing 802.11b and 802.11g users

and the existing wireless investment while providing for expansion into 802.11n.

■ Implementing a complete wireless LAN solution, including

Ethernet Adapters, gateways, access points and clients; Wi-Fi certification guarantees compatibility among vendors.

■ Providing access to hot spots in public spaces such as coffee

shops or university cafeterias.

IEEE 802.3af

The IEEE 802.3af-2003 Power over Ethernet standard defines terminology to describe a port that acts as a power source (PSE) to a powered device (PD). The IEEE 802.3af standard states that power may be delivered by an end-point PSE, using either the active data wires of an Ethernet port or the spare wires, to a powered device. An end-point PSE, such as a Power over Ethernet capable Ethernet switch, may implement either scheme. If a mid-span PSE is used, then the mid-span PSE can only implement power delivery over the spare pairs of the copper cabling and cannot be used to deliver Power over Ethernet over 1000BASE-T connections. It should be noted that even if a device supports both methods of providing power, only one mechanism may be used to deliver power to a powered device.

The first mechanism is to use the data pairs (pins 1, 2 & 3, 6) to transmit power, which is sometimes referred to as "phantom" power. The second power delivery mechanism is to use the

12 Key Product Features

unused, from a 10/100BASE-T perspective, pairs (pins 4, 5 & 7, 8) to deliver power that is supported within mid-span power delivery.

Unpacking the device 13

INSTALLING YOUR 3COM WIRELESS ACCESS POINT

This chapter contains the information you need to install and set up the Wireless Access Point. It covers the following topics:

■ Unpacking the device

■ Decide where to place the AP

■ Connecting the Access Point

■ Checking the LED indicators

■ For first time use - Installing Device Manager

Unpacking the device

Make sure that you have the following items in the box:

• One 3Com AirConnect 9550 11n 2.4+5GHz PoE Access Point or one 3Com AirConnect 9150 11n 2.4GHz PoE Access Point

• Wall-mounting hardware:

• Wall/table top bracket/stand

14 Unpacking the device

• Four screws

• Four wall anchors

• Eight adhesive rubber feet

• One CD-ROM containing the Setup Wizard software and a

copy of the Quick Start Guide.

■ One Warranty Flyer

Unpacking the device 15

The Figure below shows the the AP, including the LEDs and connecting ports.

Reset Hole

LEDs

RJ-45 Console Port

Antenna Connectors

Wall Mounting Bracket / Table Top Stand

Ethernet Port

16 Deciding where to place your AP

Deciding where to place your AP

Place the AP in a dry, clean location near the hub, switch, computer or printer that will be connected to the AP. The location must have a power source and be within the following distance of a Wi-Fi compliant wireless LAN access point or wireless access point.

The key to maximizing the wireless range is to follow these basic guidelines:

■ Keep your product away (at least 3-6 feet or 1-2 meters) from

electrical devices or appliances that generate RF noise. The location should be away from transformers, heavy-duty motors, fluorescent lights, microwave ovens, refrigerators.

■ Keep the number of walls and ceilings between the AP and

other network devices to a minimum - each wall or ceiling can reduce your AP’s range from 3-90 feet (1-30 meters.) Position your devices so that the number of walls or ceilings is minimized.

■ Be aware of the direct line between network devices. A wall

that is 1.5 feet thick (0.5 meters), at a 45-degree angle appears to be almost 3 feet (1 meter) thick. At a 2-degree angle it looks over 42 feet (14 meters) thick! Position devices so that the signal will travel straight through a wall or ceiling (instead of at an angle) for better reception.

■ Building materials can impede the wireless signal - a solid

metal door or aluminum studs may have a negative effect on

Wall Mounting the Wireless Access Point 17

range. Try to position wireless devices and computers with wireless adapters so that the signal passes through drywall or open doorways and not other materials.

Wall Mounting the Wireless Access Point

Use the mounting bracket that comes with your Access Point to install it on a wall or electrical box.

To wall-mount the Access Point:

1 Screw the mounting bracket to a wall or electrical box

(NEMA enclosure):

• If mounting to drywall, use the four screws and four wall

anchors.

• If mounting to an EU electrical box (60.3mm), use two

threaded screws and insert into the holes maked “A” in the diagram shown below.

18 Wall Mounting the Wireless Access Point

• If mounting to a US electrical box (83.3mm), use two

threaded screws and insert into the holes maked “B” in the diagram shown below..

2 Connect the Ethernet cable (for power and network

connection) to the port on the back of the Access Point.

Wall Mounting the Wireless Access Point 19

3 Mount Access Point onto the mounting bracket.

20 Wall Mounting the Wireless Access Point

Tabletop Mounting

To install the Access Point on a flat surface such as a table or desktop:

1 Attach the mounting bracket/table stand to the side of the

Access Point.

2 Place the Access Point and table stand on the table.

3 Connect the Ethernet cable (for power and network

connection) to the port on the back of the Access Point.

Checking the LED Indicators

When the AP is connected to power, LEDs indicate activity as follows:

Indicator Color State Description

Wall Mounting the Wireless Access Point 21

LED 1 (Power/ System)

LED 2 (2.4G) Green Off Administratively disabled

LED 3 (5G) (3Com AirConnect 9550 11n

2.4+5GHz PoE Access Point only)

LED 4 (Ethernet)

Amber On CPU or system fail

Green On Powered on and ready for

Green Off Administratively disabled

Off No power

Blinking System initiation or reset

(software self testing and loading)

operation

On Associated with network,

but no activity

Blinking Activity

On Associated with network,

but no activity

Blinking Activity

Off No 10/100/1000 base T link

detected, or administratively disabled

Amber On 10/100 base T link

detected, but no activity

Blinking 10/100 base T link activity

Green

On 1000 base T link detected,

but no activity

Blinking 1000 base T link activity

22 Wall Mounting the Wireless Access Point

Power up

Self test (POST)

At power up, the product will carry out a self-test (POST). POST will run a test on the wireless circuit to check it is functioning correctly.

When running the POST test, LED 1 (Power/System) will blink amber.

When firmware is corrupted, LED 1 (Power/System) will be solid amber.

Networks with a DHCP Server 23

CONFIGURING THE WIRELESS ACCESS POINT

If the default AP configuration does not meet your network requirements, or if you want to customize the settings for your own network, you can use these tools to change the configuration:

1 Launch the 3Com Wireless Infrastructure Device Manager

(Widman) utility

2 Directly connect to the device through its Ethernet port or

console port

Networks with a DHCP Server

If your network has a DHCP server, an IP address is automatically assigned to the AP. It takes between one and two minutes for the Access Point to determine if there is a DHCP server on the network. Use the 3Com Wireless Infrastructure Device Manager (Widman) included on the 3Com Installation CD to locate the Access Point on the network and view its IP address.

24 Networks without a DHCP Server

After you determine the AP’s IP address, you can enter that IP address into a web browser on a computer on the same subnet to view the Access Point’s system status or change its configuration.

Networks without a DHCP Server

If your network does not have a DHCP server, the Access Point uses a factory assigned IP address (169.254.2.2). You can use that IP address to configure the Access Point, or you can assign a new IP address to the Access Point.

To verify that the Access Point is using the default IP address assigned at the factory:

1 Connect a computer directly to the Access Point using the supplied standard Category 5 UTP Ethernet cable.

2 Enter the Access Point’s default IP address (169.254.2.2) into the computer’s web browser. If the Configuration Management System starts, the Access Point is using the factory assigned IP address. You can configure the Access Point with the following login information:

■ Login name: admin

■ Password: password

If the Configuration Management System does not start, the Access Point is on a different subnet than the computer. Install and start the 3Com Wireless Infrastructure Device Manager to discover the Access Point’s IP address.

Using the 3Com Installation CD 25

Using the 3Com Installation CD

The 3Com Installation CD contains the following tools and utilities:

3Com Wireless Infrastructure Device Manager—an administration tool that helps you select 3Com wireless LAN devices and launch their configurations in your Web browser.

Launch the 3Com Wireless Infrastructure Device Manager (Widman) utility

1 Turn on the computer.

2 Insert the 3Com Installation CD into the CD-ROM drive.

The CD will Autorun. If it does not Autorun, you can start the setup menu from the Windows Start menu. For example: Start >

Run > d\:setup.exe.

3 In the menu click Tools and Utilities.

4 In the next screen, click the software you want to install.

5 Follow the on screen instructions to complete the installation.

Reboot the computer if prompted to do so.

Launching the 3Com Wireless Infrastructure Device Manager

To be able to configure the Access Point you need to run the Wireless Infrastructure Device Manager. Go to Start >

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