Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet and Rangebooster

Figure 6-20: Security Monitor - Basic Settings

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Figure 6-21: Security Monitor - Event Log

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Figure 6-22: Administration - Management

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Figure 6-23: Administration - Log

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Figure 6-24: Administration - Factory Default

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Figure 6-25: Administration - Firmware Upgrade

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Figure 6-26: Administration - Reboot

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Figure 6-27: Administration - Config Management

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Figure 6-28: Status - Local Network

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Figure 6-29: Status - Wireless

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Figure 6-30: Status - System Performance

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Figure 6-31: Status - Wireless

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Figure 6-32: Status - System Performance

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Figure C-1: Firmware Upgrade

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1

Chapter 1: Introduction

Welcome

Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet and Rangebooster

Chapter 1: Introduction

Welcome

Thank you for choosing the Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet and Rangebooster. This Access

Point will allow you to network wirelessly better than ever.

How does the Access Point do all of this? An access point allows for greater range and mobility within your

wireless network while also allowing you to connect the wireless network to a wired environment. In fact, the

Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet and Rangebooster can support communications on up to four

wireless networks, using Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) technology.

The Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet and Rangebooster also offers the convenience of Power

over Ethernet (PoE) capability, so it can receive data and power over a single Ethernet network cable. You can

even connect wired networks in two different buildings, by using two Access Points set to Wireless Bridge mode.

But what does all of this mean?

Networks are useful tools for sharing computer resources. You can access one printer from different computers

and access data located on another computer's hard drive. Networks are even used for playing multiplayer video

games. So, networks are not only useful in homes and offices, they can also be fun.

PCs on a wired network create a LAN, or Local Area Network. They are connected with Ethernet cables, which is

why the network is called “wired”.

PCs equipped with wireless client cards or adapters can communicate without cumbersome cables. By sharing

the same wireless settings, within their transmission radius, they form a wireless network. This is sometimes

called a WLAN, or Wireless Local Area Network. The Access Point bridges wireless networks of both 802.11g and

802.11b standards and wired networks.

Use the instructions in this Guide to help you connect the Access Point, set it up, and configure it to bridge your

different networks. These instructions should be all you need to get the most out of the Access Point.

802.11b:

a wireless networking standard that specifies a

maximum data transfer rate of 11Mbps and an operating

frequency of 2.4GHz.

802.11g:

a wireless networking standard that specifies a

maximum data transfer rate of 54Mbps, an operating

frequency of 2.4GHz, and backward compatibility with

802.11b devices.

adapter:

a device that adds network functionality to your

PC.

ethernet:

network protocol defined in IEEE 802.3 standard

that specifies how data is placed on and retrieved from a

common transmission medium.

lan

(local area network): the computers and networking

devices that make up your local network.

network:

a series of computers or devices connected

together.

poe

(power over ethernet): a technology enabling an

Ethernet network cable to deliver both data and power.

access point

: a device that allows wireless-equipped

computers and other devices to communicate with each

other and with devices on a wired network. Also used to

expand the range of a wireless network.

2

Chapter 1: Introduction

What’s in this User Guide?

Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet and Rangebooster

What’s in this User Guide?

This user guide covers the steps for setting up and using the Wireless-G Access Point.

•

Chapter 1: Introduction

This chapter describes the Wireless-G Access Point’s applications and this User Guide.

•

Chapter 2: Planning your Wireless Network

This chapter describes the basics of wireless networking.

•

Chapter 3: Getting to Know the Wireless-G Access Point

This chapter describes the physical features of the Access Point.

•

Chapter 4: Connecting the Wireless-G Access Point

This chapter instructs you on how to connect your Access Point to your network and placement options.

•

Chapter 5: Setting up the Wireless-G Access Point

This chapter explains how to perform the most basic setting changes through the web-based utility.

•

Chapter 6: Configuring the Wireless-G Access Point

This chapter provides a reference for the available configuration through the web-based utility.

•

Appendix A: Troubleshooting

This appendix describes some frequently asked questions regarding installation and use of the Wireless-G

Access Point with Power Over Ethernet and Rangebooster.

•

Appendix B: Wireless Security

This appendix explains the risks of wireless networking and some solutions to reduce the risks.

•

Appendix C: Upgrading Firmware

This appendix instructs you on how to upgrade the Access Point’s firmware.

•

Appendix D: Windows Help.

This appendix describes some of the ways Windows can help you with wireless networking.

•

Appendix E: Glossary

This appendix gives a brief glossary of terms frequently used in networking.

•

Appendix F: Specifications

This appendix provides the Access Point’s technical specifications.

3

Chapter 1: Introduction

What’s in this User Guide?

Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet and Rangebooster

•

Appendix G: Warranty Information

This appendix supplies the Access Point’s warranty information.

•

Appendix H: Regulatory Information

This appendix supplies the Access Point’s regulatory information.

•

Appendix I: Contact Information

This appendix provides contact information for a variety of Linksys resources, including Technical Support.

4

Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network

Network Topology

Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet and Rangebooster

Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network

Network Topology

A wireless network is a group of computers, each equipped with one or more wireless adapters. Computers in a

wireless network must be configured to share the same radio channel to talk to each other. Several PCs equipped

with wireless cards or adapters can communicate with each other to form an ad-hoc network without the use of

an access point.

Linksys also provides products to allow wireless adaptors to access wired network through a bridge such as the

wireless access point, or wireless router. An integrated wireless and wired network is called an infrastructure

network. Each wireless PC in an infrastructure network can talk to any computer in a wired or wireless network

via the access point or wireless router.

An infrastructure configuration extends the accessibility of a wireless PC to a wired network, and may double the

effective wireless transmission range for two wireless adapter PCs. Since an Access Point is able to forward data

within a network, the effective transmission range in an infrastructure network may be more than doubled since

Access Point can transmit signal at higher power to the wireless space.

Roaming

Infrastructure mode also supports roaming capabilities for mobile users. Roaming means that you can move your

wireless PC within your network and the access points will pick up the wireless PC's signal, providing that they

both share the same wireless network (SSID), wireless channel, and wireless security settings.

This Access Point has 802.11F Inter-Access Point Protocol (IAPP) to complete the roaming process in seconds. If

your wireless networks share the same IP subnet, this will not disrupt your data connection while moving around.

Before you consider roaming, choose a feasible radio channel and optimum access point position. Proper access

point positioning combined with a clear radio signal will greatly enhance performance.

infrastructure

: a wireless network that is bridged to a wired

network via an access point.

ad-hoc

: a group of wireless devices communicating directly

with each other (peer-to-peer) without the use of an access

point.

roaming

: the ability to take a wireless device from one

access point's range to another without losing the

connection.

ssid

: your wireless network's name