24

Chapter 5: Configuring the Wireless-G Home Router

The Wireless Tab - Wireless Security

Wireless-G Home Router

RADIUS

. This option features WEP used in coordination with a RADIUS server. (This should only be used when a

RADIUS server is connected to the Router.) First, enter the RADIUS server’s IP Address and port number, along

with a key shared between the Router and the server. Then, select a Default Transmit Key (choose which Key to

use), and a level of WEP encryption,

64 bits 10 hex digits

or

128 bits 26 hex digits

. Last, either generate a

WEP key using the Passphrase or enter the WEP key manually.

WEP

. WEP is a basic encryption method, which is not as secure as WPA. To use WEP, select a Default Transmit Key

(choose which Key to use), and a level of WEP encryption,

64 bits 10 hex digits

or

128 bits 26 hex digits

. Then

either generate a WEP key using the Passphrase or enter the WEP key manually.

When you finish making changes to this screen, click the

Save Settings

button to save the changes, or click the

Cancel Changes

button to undo your changes. Help information is shown on the right-hand side of the screen.

For additional help, click

More

.

For detailed instructions on configuring wireless security for the Router, turn to “Appendix B: Wireless Security.”

Figure 5-23: Wireless Tab - Wireless Security (RADIUS)

Figure 5-24: Wireless Tab - Wireless Security (WEP)

IMPORTANT:

If you are using WEP

encryption, always remember that each

device in your wireless network MUST use

the same WEP encryption method and

encryption key, or else your wireless network

will not function properly.

25

Chapter 5: Configuring the Wireless-G Home Router

The Wireless Tab - MAC Filtering

Wireless-G Home Router

The Wireless Tab - MAC Filtering

Wireless access can be filtered by using the MAC addresses of the wireless devices transmitting within your

network’s radius.

Wireless MAC Filter

. To filter wireless users by MAC Address, either permitting or blocking access, click

Enable

.

If you do not wish to filter users by MAC Address, select

Disable

.

Prevent

. Clicking this button will block wireless access by MAC Address.

Permit Only

. Clicking this button will allow wireless access by MAC Address.

Edit MAC Filter List

. Clicking this button will open the MAC Address Filter List. On this screen, you can list users,

by MAC Address, to whom you wish to provide or block access. For easy reference, click the

Wireless Client

MAC List

button to display a list of network users by MAC Address.

When you finish making changes to this screen, click the

Save Settings

button to save the changes, or click the

Cancel Changes

button to undo your changes. Help information is shown on the right-hand side of the screen.

For additional help, click

More

.

Figure 5-26: MAC Address Filter List

Figure 5-25: Wireless Tab - Wireless MAC Filter

26

Chapter 5: Configuring the Wireless-G Home Router

The Wireless Tab - Advanced Wireless Settings

Wireless-G Home Router

The Wireless Tab - Advanced Wireless Settings

This tab is used to set up the Router’s advanced wireless functions. These settings should only be adjusted by an

expert administrator as incorrect settings can reduce wireless performance.

Authentication Type

. The default is set to

Auto

, which allows either Open System or Shared Key authentication

to be used. With

Open System

authentication, the sender and the recipient do NOT use a WEP key for

authentication. With

Shared Key

authentication, the sender and recipient use a WEP key for authentication.

Basic Rate

. The Basic Rate setting is not actually one rate of transmission but a series of rates at which the

Router can transmit. The Router will advertise its Basic Rate to the other wireless devices in your network, so

they know which rates will be used. The Router will also advertise that it will automatically select the best rate

for transmission. The default setting is

Default

, when the Router can transmit at all standard wireless rates.

Other options are

1-2Mbps

, for use with older wireless technology, and

All

, when the Router can transmit at all

wireless rates. The Basic Rate is not the actual rate of data transmission. If you want to specify the Router’s rate

of data transmission, configure the Transmission Rate setting.

Transmission Rate

. The rate of data transmission should be set depending on the speed of your wireless

network. You can select from a range of transmission speeds, or you can select

Auto

to have the Router

automatically use the fastest possible data rate and enable the Auto-Fallback feature. Auto-Fallback will

negotiate the best possible connection speed between the Router and a wireless client. The default value is

Auto

.

CTS Protection Mode

. CTS (Clear-To-Send) Protection Mode should remain disabled unless you are having

severe problems with your Wireless-G products not being able to transmit to the Router in an environment with

heavy 802.11b traffic. This function boosts the Router’s ability to catch all Wireless-G transmissions but will

severely decrease performance.

Frame Burst

. Enabling this option should provide your network with greater performance, depending on the

manufacturer of your wireless products. If you are not sure how to use this option, keep the default,

Disable

.

Beacon Interval

. The default value is

100

. Enter a value between 1 and 65,535 milliseconds. The Beacon Interval

value indicates the frequency interval of the beacon. A beacon is a packet broadcast by the Router to synchronize

the wireless network.

DTIM Interval

. This value, between 1 and 255, indicates the interval of the Delivery Traffic Indication Message

(DTIM). A DTIM field is a countdown field informing clients of the next window for listening to broadcast and

multicast messages. When the Router has buffered broadcast or multicast messages for associated clients, it

sends the next DTIM with a DTIM Interval value. Its clients hear the beacons and awaken to receive the broadcast

and multicast messages. The default value is

1

.

Figure 5-27: Wireless Tab - Advanced Wireless Settings

27

Chapter 5: Configuring the Wireless-G Home Router

The Wireless Tab - Advanced Wireless Settings

Wireless-G Home Router

Fragmentation Threshold

. This value specifies the maximum size for a packet before data is fragmented into

multiple packets. If you experience a high packet error rate, you may slightly increase the Fragmentation

Threshold. Setting the Fragmentation Threshold too low may result in poor network performance. Only minor

reduction of the default value is recommended. In most cases, it should remain at its default value of

2346

.

RTS Threshold

. Should you encounter inconsistent data flow, only minor reduction of the default value,

2347

, is

recommended. If a network packet is smaller than the preset RTS threshold size, the RTS/CTS mechanism will

not be enabled. The Router sends Request to Send (RTS) frames to a particular receiving station and negotiates

the sending of a data frame. After receiving an RTS, the wireless station responds with a Clear to Send (CTS)

frame to acknowledge the right to begin transmission. The RTS Threshold value should remain at its default value

of

2347

.

STA Isolation

. Creates a separate virtual network for your wireless network. When this feature is enabled, each

of your wireless client will be in its own virtual network and will not be able to communicate with each other. You

may want to utilize this feature if you have many guests that frequent your wireless network.

Max Association

. The maximum number of wireless clients that are allowed to connect to the Router

concurrently. You can choose from 8, 16, 32, 64 and Best Effort.

The default value is set at 16. To achieve better

wireless performance on each wireless client, it is highly suggested to set the lowest value to be suitable for your

connection numbers. Please note that this is a sharing of the total bandwidth. The more you connect, usually the

less speed each client will have .It also depends on the network traffic density ,type of network application etc.

When you finish making changes to this screen, click the

Save Settings

button to save the changes, or click the

Cancel Changes

button to undo your changes. Help information is shown on the right-hand side of the screen.

For additional help, click

More

.

28

Chapter 5: Configuring the Wireless-G Home Router

The Security Tab - Firewall

Wireless-G Home Router

The Security Tab - Firewall

You can enable or disable the firewall, select filters to block specific Internet data types, and block anonymous

Internet requests. Use these features to enhance the security of your network.

Firewall Protection

. This feature employs Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) for a more detailed review of data

packets entering your network environment.

Additional Filters

Filter Proxy

. Use of WAN proxy servers may compromise the device's security. Denying Filter Proxy will disable

access to any WAN proxy servers. Select to enable proxy filtering, or deselect to disable this feature.

Filter Cookies

. A cookie is data stored on your computer and used by Internet sites when you interact with them.

Select to enable cookie filtering, or deselect to disable this feature.

Filter Java Applets

. Java is a programming language for websites. If you deny Java Applets, you run the risk of

not having access to Internet sites created using this programming language. Select to enable Java Applet

filtering, or deselect to disable this feature.

Filter ActiveX

. ActiveX is a programming language for websites. If you deny ActiveX, you run the risk of not

having access to Internet sites created using this programming language. Select to enable ActiveX filtering, or

deselect to disable this feature.

Block WAN Requests

Block WAN Requests

. Enable the Block WAN Request feature by checking the box beside

Block Anonymous

Internet Requests

and you can prevent your network from being pinged, or detected, by other Internet users.The

Block WAN Request feature also reinforces your network security by hiding your network ports. Both functions of

the Block WAN Request feature make it more difficult for outside users to work their way into your network. This

feature is enabled by default. Deselect to allow anonymous Internet requests.

Filter Multicast

. Multicasting allows for multiple transmissions to specific recipients at the same time. If

multicasting is permitted, then the Router will allow IP multicast packets to be forwarded to the appropriate

computers. Select to filter multicasting, or

Deselect

to disable this feature.

Filter Internet NAT Redirection

. This feature uses port forwarding to block access to local servers from local

networked computers. Select to filter Internet NAT redirection, or

Deselect

to disable this feature.

Filter IDENT (Port 113)

. This feature keeps port 113 from being scanned by devices outside of your local

network. Select to filter port 113, or

Deselect

to disable this feature.

Figure 5-28: Security Tab - Firewall