Intel Wireless EthernetAccess Point Installation Manual

Intel® Wireless Ethernet
Access Point

Installation Guide

2

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2001, Intel Corporation. All rights reserved.

Xircom is a registered trademark of Xircom, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary
of Intel Corporation. All other brands and names are the property of their
respective owners.

Neither this publication nor any part of this publication may be copied,
photocopied, reproduced, translated or reduced to any electronic medium or
machine-readable form without the prior written permission of Intel
Corporation.

Intel Corporation assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in this
document. Nor does Intel make any commitment to update the information
contained herein.

801-0313-001A Web release, September 2001

3

Contents

Introduction 5

Step 1. Select a Location 6

Step 2. Connect and Power Access Point 6

Step 3. Set or Change IP Address 10

Step 4: Advanced Configuration 15

Troubleshooting 21

Specifications 24

Regulatory Notices 25

Limited Lifetime Warranty 28

Software License Agreement 31

Intel Access Point Wall Mount Template 32

4

Blank Page

5

Introduction

Your Intel® Wireless Ethernet Access Point, when
used with Intel PRO/Wireless LAN Adapters or other

802.11b-compliant wireless Ethernet adapters, offers
an easy and economical way to add secure wireless
connectivity to a wired local area network (LAN) within
a building or office.

Intel Wireless Ethernet Access Points conform to the
IEEE 802.11b specification, which supports roaming,
remote management, and speeds up to 11 Mbps over
secure and reliable connections.

Package Contents

The following items are supplied in the Intel Wireless Ethernet Access Point
package:

x

Intel Wireless Ethernet Access Point model APWE

x

Mounting hardware

x

Power supply and power cord

x

CD-ROM containing configuration software

x

Installation Guide (this manual), including wall mount template (at end of
this manual)

Additional Requirements

To add wireless connectivity to your existing office LAN, you may need
additional hardware, software, and network information not supplied with the
Intel Wireless Ethernet Access Point. Follow the steps in this Installation
Guide to install one or more Access Points in accordance with the
requirements of your network environ ment.

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Step 1. Select a Location

Where Should I Put the Access Points?

Wireless Ethernet Access Points should be positioned for maximum
throughput and range between Access Points and wireless client stations.
Range and performance are dictated by the distance between the Access
Point and client radios, and by obstacles that may be present in a specific
building or office environment. The following positioning guidelines are
suggested:

x

If you’re installing two or more Access Points to make up a single
wireless Ethernet network, all Access Points must be connected to the
same wired Ethernet segment and subnet and must use the same
network ID (SSID). If WEP security is used, all Access Points and clients
must use the same WEP key.

x

Make a chart documenting all the Accent Points and client adapters you
wish to include in your wireless network. Record the MAC address of
each, and fill out the chart with the IP addresses of each (when set), as
well as the network ID (SSID), subnet mask, gateway, and WEP key, if
used.

x

Wired LAN and power connections must be available for the Access
Point at the desired location

x

If building blueprints or floor plans are available, use them to define
potential client workstation locations and likely roaming areas

x

Identify possible obstacles or sources of interference that could affect
signal strength (for example, walls, metal objects)

x

Define preliminary Access Point positioning based on the range of
Access Points and client adapters, which is approximately 100 feet (30
meters) indoors (for maximum throughpu t).

x

Mount the Access Point in the desired location using the mounting
screws, anchors, and template supplied. See Step 2.

x

Once Access Points have been installed and configured, use site survey
and monitoring utilities supplied with the client adapters to test signal
strength at various locations. Modify the positioning of the Access Points
and client stations as required for optimum performance.

Step 2. Connect and Power Access Point

The following network components are needed to set up wireless access to
your existing wired LAN using the Intel Wireless Ethernet Access Point.

7

What Components Do I Need?

To set up a wireless network you need at least one access point and at least
one wireless client workstation (a computer with a wireless Ethernet client
device installed).

A Intel Wireless Ethernet Access Point

x

Intel Wireless Ethernet Access Point model APWE

x

Access Point power supply and power supply cord

Note: On the bottom of the Access Point there is a 12-character
alphanumeric string called the “MAC” or hardware address. This
address identifies the Acces s Point. Make a note of this address for

each Access Points you plan to install.

An Existing Wired Network and Wired Workstation

x

A fully installed and operational wired Ethernet local area network
(LAN) running at 10 or 100 Mbps.

x

A shielded RJ-45 cable to connect the Access Point to the wired
LAN

x

DHCP or BOOTP server support on the network (optional)—if your
network supports DHCP or BOOTP, a network IP address will be
assigned automatically to the Access Point when it is connected to
the network and powered on. Without a DHCP or BOOTP server,
you will have to manually input a network IP address for the Access
Point using the “KickStart” software supplied with the Access Point.

x

An accessible RJ-45 wall or hub connection through which to
connect the Access Point to the wired LAN

x

An accessible wall outlet or other AC power source for connection
of the Access Point power supply

x

A workstation connected to the wired LAN and equipped with a CD­ROM drive, running Microsoft Windows 2000, 98SE, ME, 95 OSR2,
or NT, with one of the following web browsers installed: Microsoft
Internet Explore 5.0 or 5.5, Netscape Navigator 4.78 or 6.0. This
workstation is required for configuration of the Access Point and
must be connected to the same Ethernet segment or subnet as the
Access Point being installed. (The Access Point cannot be
configured from a wireless workstation.)

8

Wireless Client Stations

x

One or more client workstations equipped with an 802.11b­compliant wireless client adapter. Client workstations must have the
same network configuration and WEP security key (if used) as the
Access Points they will connect to. (See the documentation
supplied with the client adapter for installation and configuration
instructions.)

Wired LAN workstation

for Access Point

management

Wireless Ethernet

Access Point

W

ireless workstation

w

ith client adapter (PC

C

ard)

W

ired LAN

9

How Do I Install and Power On the Access Point?

x

Make a note of the 12-character MAC address on the bottom of the
Access Point before attaching the Access Point to a wall or other
surface. You will need this information during configuration (you can
configure the Access Point before permanently attaching it, as long as
it’s connected to the same network segment during and after
configuration).

x

Mount the Access Point on a desk or wall, using the mounting screws
and anchors supplied (a mounting template is provided at the end of this
manual), in the location defined in Step 1.

Desk location, antenna
at 90 degree angle

Wall mounted, lowered
antenna

Wall mounted, antenna
fully raised vertically

x

Place the antenna in vertical position for best radio performance.

x

Plug the power cord into the Access Point power supply and into a wall
outlet or other source of power. Plug the thin power supply cable into the
round connector to the right of the RJ-45 on the Access Point.

x

When the Access Point is powered on, the POWER LED will illuminate
green and the wireless Activity (ACT) LED will blink, indicating that the
Access Point is searching for a wireless client.

10

x

Connect a shielded RJ-45 cable to the Access Point and to an Ethernet
hub or wall connection. The LINK indicator next to the RJ-45 connector
will light.

Power supply connector

Wireless
Activity

Power Wired

Link

Reset button
pinhole

Ethernet
connection

x

Continue with Step 3. Set or Change IP Address

Step 3. Set or Change IP Address

How do I configure the Access Point?

Two types of configuration software are supplied with the Intel Wireless
Ethernet Access Point.

KickStart - a utility program that must be used for preliminary configuration
of the Access Point, in particular to verify or configure the IP settings
required for communication on the network. Install KickStart from the Intel
Wireless Ethernet CD-ROM onto a computer connected to the same wired
network and same network segment and subnet as the Access Point, and
use it as described below. See Installing KickStart and the following
headings.

AP Configurator – a browser-based utility that resides on the Access Point
itself. This utility’s web interface can be accessed from a computer
connected to the Access Point, using a web browser such as Microsoft
Internet Explorer version 5.0 or 5.5 or Netscape Navigator version 4.78 or

6.0. Use the web address prefix http:// followed by the IP address of the
Access Point to display the AP Configurator. See Step 4: Advanced
Configuration. The browser and web interface will automatically open when
you click Finish in KickStart.