HP hn200w User Manual

hp digital home networking

wireless gateway

model hn200w

wireless gateway

acknowledgements and notices

hewlett-packard company notices

The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice. Hewlett-Packard (HP) makes no warranty of any kind with regard to this material including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Hewlett-Packard shall not be liable for any errors or for incidental or consequential damages in connection with the furnishing, performance, or use of this material. All rights reserved. Reproduction, adaptation, or translation of this material is prohibited without prior written permission of Hewlett-Packard, except as allowed under copyright laws.

acknowledgements

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

conventions

The following conventions are used in this guide:

symbols

The > symbol guides you through a series of software steps. For example:

Click Start > Settings > Control Panel to view the active control panels.

warnings

A Warning indicates possible damage to the HP Gateway or to other equipment. A Warning can also indicate a possible harm to yourself or to others.

For example:

Warning: Plugging into a nongrounded electrical socket can damage your

Gateway.

contents

introduction .............................................................5

hp digital home networking wireless gateway .................... 5

features ......................................................................... 6

getting to know the wireless gateway .........................7

wireless gateway rear panel ............................................ 7

wireless gateway’s front panel LEDs .................................. 9

setting up a wireless network.......................................... 10

gateway system tray application ..............................11

overview...................................................................... 11

status notification windows............................................. 13

pop-up menu................................................................ 16

gateway control panel ............................................29

overview...................................................................... 29

accessing the gateway control panel............................... 30

gateway control panel screen......................................... 33

gateway control panel tabs............................................ 34

frequently asked questions (FAQs)............................39

gateway general information.......................................... 39

wireless networking information...................................... 41

installation and configuration options .............................. 42

supported software ....................................................... 44

supported features ........................................................ 46

upgrade information ..................................................... 47

wireless gateway

troubleshooting ......................................................49

appendix: the expert interface ................................. 51

advanced administration ............................................... 51

screens and functions .................................................... 52

setup ........................................................................... 53

setting WEP encryption.................................................. 56

password..................................................................... 59

status........................................................................... 61

DHCP.......................................................................... 63

log.............................................................................. 65

help ............................................................................ 66

advanced .................................................................... 67

specifications.........................................................79

general........................................................................ 79

environmental............................................................... 80

glossary ................................................................ 81

index....................................................................91

regulatory notices...................................................93

introduction

hp digital home networking wireless gateway

Congratulations on your purchase of the HP Digital Home Networking Wireless Gateway. The Wireless Gateway is the perfect solution for connecting your wireless network to a high-speed broadband cable modem or Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) Internet connection.

Your Gateway can be configured as a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server, which means that it can automatically assign Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to PCs in your Local Area Network (LAN). The Gateway becomes your only visible network device on the Internet.

The Gateway also serves as your Internet firewall, protecting your networked PC’s from access by external users. All incoming data is monitored and filtered using a firewall. You can configure your Gateway to permit playing Internet games and video conferencing. You also can use IP filtering to block your users from access to the Internet as needed. Now all of your network users can enjoy fast broadband Internet access and can share internal data.

A typical gateway (router) relies on a hub or switch to share its Internet connection, but the HP Wireless Gateway, in addition to its wireless capabilities, also channels the Internet connection through the full duplex speed of its built-in Ethernet 4-port switch. This combination of wireless gateway and switch technology eliminates the need to buy an additional hub or switch and extends the range of your wireless network. Now your entire wireless network can enjoy fast broadband Internet connections supported by its robust switched backbone. With the dual-function speed and power of the Wireless Gateway, your network will operate faster than you ever imagined.

wireless gateway

features

❑ Allows shared Internet access with all PCs on a Local Area Network (LAN) ❑ Compatible with other wireless equipment that is IEEE 802.11b (DSSS)

2.4 GHz compliant

❑ Provides filtering for roaming, best access point selection, load balancing, and

network traffic

❑ Provides wide operating range: up to 91 meters indoors or up to 457 meters

outdoors

❑ Provides up to 128-bit Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption ❑ Allows Media Access Control (MAC) address and internal Internet access

filtering

❑ Connects to a broadband modem (DSL or cable), a 10/100 Ethernet network,

and a wireless network

❑ Allows configuration through the Web browser of your networked personal

computer

❑ Supports Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) pass-through and Point-to-Point

Tunneling Protocol (PPTP)

❑ Functions as a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server for your

existing network if desired

getting to know the wireless gateway

wireless gateway rear panel

All Gateway connections are made on the rear panel.

Wireless Gateway Rear Panel

234

RESET

LAN

UPLINKWAN

POWER

wireless gateway ports

WAN You will connect the DSL or cable modem

to the Wide Area Network (WAN) port.

LAN Ports 1–4 You can connect devices on your LAN,

such as PCs and print servers, to the four LAN ports.

wireless gateway

Uplink Port You can connect a cable from another

switch, router, or hub to the Uplink port to add it to your network. Since the Uplink port shares wiring with LAN Port 4, port 4 will be disabled if a cable is plugged into the Uplink port (and vice versa).

Power You will connect the included AC Power

Adapter to the Power port.

Antenna Jacks Connect the included antennas to the

antenna jacks.

reset button

To refresh Gateway connections and attempt to fix routing problems, very briefly depress the Reset button with a paper clip.

If you have exhausted all troubleshooting options (see the Troubleshooting section of this user’s guide) and continue to experience serious routing problems, depress the Reset button for about five seconds to clear all of the Gateway data and restore the factory default settings.

Warning: Resetting the Gateway may create conflicts between your PC’s actual IP

addresses and what the Gateway expects them to be. You may be forced to restart the entire system.

If the Gateway locks up, unplug the Power Adapter from the Gateway’s Power Port for 3 to 5 seconds (but not longer) and then plug it back in. Leaving the power off for too long could result in the loss of network connections.

wireless gateway’s front panel LEDs

Wireless Gateway’s Front Panel LEDs

WLAN

LINK

POWER

1234

LAN WAN

LAN indicators

WLAN Green. The Wireless LAN (WLAN) LED

lights green when there is wireless activity.

Link Green. The Link LED lights when the

wireless option is enabled. When the wireless option is disabled through the Web-based Utility, the LED is off.

Power Green. The Power LED lights when the

Gateway is powered on. There is no ON/OFF switch; simply plug or unplug the power to turn Gateway on or off.

LAN Green. If the LAN LED is continuously lit,

the Gateway is successfully connected to the device plugged into that port (1, 2, 3, or 4). If the LED is flickering, the Gateway is actively sending or receiving data through that port.

WAN Green. The WAN LED lights when a

successful connection is made between the Gateway and the Internet through your broadband modem.

wireless gateway

setting up a wireless network

network topology

A wireless Local Area Network (LAN) uses a wireless adapter to connect each computer to the network. Computers in a wireless network must be configured to share the same radio channel.

The Wireless USB Network Adapter provides wireless computers access to a wired network. This integrated wireless and wired network is called an “infrastructure” configuration. A group of wireless-network-adapter-equipped computers plus a wireless access point, such as the HP Wireless Network Access Point, is called a Basic Service Set (BSS). The wireless access point connects the wireless network to the conventional wired network. Each wireless-adapter-equipped computer can communicate with any computer in a wired network infrastructure via the wireless access point.

An infrastructure configuration doubles the effective wireless transmission range of two wireless-adapter-equipped PCs since the wireless access point forwards data within the network. It is essential to use a unique ID (a BSSID, or simply, an SSID) within a wireless network. All PCs within an independent wireless network that are configured without roaming options (see Roaming below) must be configured with the same wireless network ID.

The wireless network infrastructure configuration is appropriate for enterprise-scale wireless access to a central database and for mobile users.

roaming

Infrastructure mode also supports roaming capabilities for mobile users. Multiple wireless network can be configured as an “extended” wireless network, known as an Extended Service Set (ESS), allowing users to roam freely within it. All wirelessadapter-equipped PCs within one extended network must be configured with the same extended network ID (an ESSID, or taken generically with a BSSID as discussed above, often called an SSID,) and must use the same radio channel.

Before enabling an extended wireless network with roaming capability, select a feasible radio channel and an optimal location for the wireless access point. Proper wireless access point positioning and a clear radio signal will enhance performance.

gateway system tray application

overview

The Gateway installation wizard installed an application on your computer that functions as a tool kit for your Gateway. The application is accessed from a green, red, or yellow house icon in the Windows System Tray. The Window System Tray is in the recessed area of the Windows taskbar in the lower right of your screen.

If you did not authorize installation of the icon during Gateway installation, or if you deleted the icon by choosing Exit from the pop-up menu, you can reinstall the icon from the Windows Start menu. Click Start > Programs > HP Digital Home Networking > Gateway System Tray Application. You can access the System Tray application from any computer on your network.

The color of the house icon (green, red, or yellow) reflects the status of the network’s Internet connection and your computer’s ability to communicate with the Gateway:

❑ Green: all is well This computer is connected to the home network with an

active Internet connection.

Gateway System Tray icon (green)

❑ Red: no Internet connection This computer is connected to the home

network, but there is no active Internet connection.

Gateway System Tray icon (red)

wireless gateway

❑ Yellow: connection to Gateway lost This computer is no longer

connected to the home network or to the Internet.

Gateway System Tray icon (yellow)

Besides providing constant feedback through the icon color, the Gateway System Tray application provides additional functionality:

❑ If there is any change in network status, a status notification window appears

on your screen describing the changed situation.

❑ Right-click the Gateway System Tray icon to bring up a menu allowing you to

access the Gateway Control Panel, generate special status or diagnostic reports, download and install software or firmware upgrades, and launch additional Gateway utilities.

status notification windows

Any change in network status generates a status notification window describing the change and, if needed, suggests actions to take. The change may also cause a color change in the System Tray icon. (These same windows appear when you select Get current network status from the System Tray pop-up menu. If all the results are "ok", the utility has not detected any connection problems. If you do receive an error message, however, see the table “Internet Connection Diagnostic” on page 25 for more information.)

Note: This automatic notification feature is controlled by a toggle option in the System Tray pop-up menu described in “Notify me when network events occur” on page 27.

The following are examples of status notification windows, along with explanatory comments (notice that the color of the house icon on the screen matches the color of the icon on the System Tray):

Internet Connection Down

wireless gateway

This window appears when the Gateway attempts to access the Internet and cannot detect a connection.

Connection to Gateway Lost

This window appears when your computer cannot establish a link to the Gateway.

Caution: If you reset the Gateway, be sure to do so only briefly (a second or

two) or the Gateway will be reset to the factory defaults and any modifications you have made will be lost.

status notification windows

Internet Connection Operational

This window appears when the Internet connection is restored. It also appears when when you first start your computer.

wireless gateway

pop-up menu

Right-clicking the Gateway System Tray icon to display the following pop-up menu:

Gateway System Tray pop-up menu

This menu provides convenient access to Gateway tools, which are described in this section.

Accessing a menu choice:

1 Right-click the icon, move cursor to highlight the desired option.

2 Highlight the desired option.

3 Left-click the option to launch it.

pop-up menu

Check for upgrade

Check for upgrade...

When a software or firmware upgrade becomes available on the HP Web site, you are notified automatically by a notification window (assuming you have enabled this option — see “Notify me when network events occur” on page 27) and prompted to download and install the upgrade.

Since the automatic notification may not be as frequent as you would like, you can also manually check for the availability of upgrades by selecting Check for upgrade... from the System Tray application pop-up menu. The application checks the HP Web site, determines which upgrade (if any) is available for your configuration, gives you an opportunity to confirm that you wish to download and install the upgrade, and performs the download and installation of your new software or firmware upgrade.

wireless gateway

Internet speed meter

Internet speed meter...

Selecting Internet speed meter... launches a utility that monitors your upstream and downstream Internet connection speed. When you select this choice, the following window appears:

speed meter start window

Click Start, and the following window appears displaying the speed of your Internet connection (it may take a few seconds to display both downstream and upstream parameters). With DSL, the downstream speed (the speed data is downloaded from the Internet to your computer) is typically much faster than the

pop-up menu

upstream speed (the speed at which data is uploaded from your computer to the Internet), as shown in the example. Contact your DSL or broadband cable provider for specifications.

speed meter report

Gateway control panel

Gateway control panel...

The Gateway Control Panel allows you to adjust the settings of your Gateway. Access to the Control Panel requires the Gateway’s administrative password.

wireless gateway

Save the current Gateway configuration

Save the current Gateway configuration...

This option provides a backup copy of your current Gateway settings in the event that you need to restore them. This is especially useful if you modify your settings using the Gateway Control Panel, upgrade Gateway software or firmware, or experience a system crash.

1 Select Save the current Gateway configuration… The following screen

appears:

Save configuration backup file location

pop-up menu

2 Click Browse to select a location to store the Gateway configuration backup

file. The following dialog box appears:

Choose location for configuration backup file

3 Navigate to a location of your choice for the backup file, or accept the default.

4 Click Save to save the file. The file is identified by a date and time, so you can

save a series of different configurations if desired.

Note: It is recommended that you save the current Gateway configuration on a

diskette for safekeeping after installing the Gateway.

wireless gateway

Restore a previous Gateway configuration

Restore a previous Gateway configuration...

Select this choice to restore a previously saved configuration. If you have saved more than one configuration, you can select a specific one.

Internet connection diagnostic

Internet connection diagnostic... menu choice

pop-up menu

This utility checks your Internet connection to identify problems when a loss of connection occurs. Select the Internet connection diagnostic... to display the Internet connection diagnostic start window:

Internet connection diagnostic start window

The utility checks for Internet connections via the Gateway or directly from your computer.

wireless gateway

Click Start to begin the diagnostic routine. The Internet Connection Diagnostic screen appears:

Internet connection diagnostic report window

pop-up menu

If all results are “ok”, the utility has not detected any connection problems.

Internet Connection Diagnostic

Parameter Message Meaning

Connection to the Gateway

Connection to the Internet via Gateway (Ping)

Connection to the Internet (Ping)

Ping primary DNS Failed Contact your ISP.

Failed Requires a “soft” reset of

the Gateway. Depress the Reset button briefly (one or two seconds) with a paperclip. Depressing the Reset button longer that two seconds can cause the factory default settings to activate.

Failed Contact your ISP.

Interpreting a “failed” report for any parameter:

❑ Connection to the Gateway. “Failed” means you should perform a soft reset of

your Gateway. To do this, briefly depress the Reset button (only a second or two) on your Gateway with a paper clip or pencil tip. Be careful not to hold it down any longer than one to two seconds or the Gateway will be reset to the factory defaults and any modifications you have made will be lost.

❑ Connection to the Internet via Gateway. “Failed” means you should contact

your Internet service provider (ISP).

❑ Connection to the Internet. “Failed” means you should contact your Internet

service provider.

❑ Ping primary DNS. “Failed” implies an Internet Service Provider problem.

Contact your ISP to report the problem.

wireless gateway

Get current network status

Get current network status...

Selecting this choice generates one of the status notification windows discussed and illustrated in the section “status notification windows” on page 13. If all is well and the diagnostic utility detects no changes, the window appears:

example of a current network status window

pop-up menu

Notify me when network events occur

Selecting this option displays the status notification windows discussed in “status notification windows” on page 13. If you do not wish to receive these notifications select it and verify that the checkmark no longer appears next to this option (if a checkmark is present, make the selection again).

About HP Digital Home Networking

Selecting this option displays a window giving the version number of the Gateway System Tray application.

Exit

Selecting the Exit option removes the Gateway System Tray icon from the System Tray and prevents the program from launching when you next restart the computer.

To restore the icon to the System Tray, select Start > Programs > HP Digital

Home Networking > Gateway System Tray Application.

wireless gateway

gateway control panel

overview

The Gateway Control Panel allows you to configure additional functions beyond those installed through the Installation Wizard. This tool is a simplified alternative to the Expert Interface, which is described in the Appendix of this user’s guide. The functions of the Gateway Control Panel eliminate the need to use the Expert Interface in most cases.

However, you may wish to refer to the Appendix for supplementary information for some of the options described in this chapter.

Caution: Only one user can access the Gateway Control Panel at a time.

The Gateway Control Panel is a typical Windows control panel with tabs which provide access to the following functions:

❑ My Network ❑ Password ❑ Internet Access ❑ Application Access ❑ Application Hosting ❑ Expert Interface ❑ FAQ & Troubleshooting ❑ Remote Support

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