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Chapter 5: Configuring the Router

The Wireless Tab - Wireless Security

WPA-RADIUS

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

when a RADIUS server is connected to the Router.) Select

TKIP

or

AES

from the

WPA Algorithm

drop-down

menu. Enter the RADIUS server’s IP address and port number, along with the Shared Key, which is the key

shared between the Router and the server. Last, enter the Key Renewal Timeout period, which instructs the

Router how often it should change the encryption keys.

When you have finished making changes on this screen, click the

Save Settings

button to save the changes, or

click the

Cancel Changes

button to undo your changes.

RADIUS

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

used when a RADIUS server is connected to the Router.) Enter the RADIUS server’s IP address and port number,

along with the Shared Key, which is the key shared between the Router and the server.

To indicate which WEP key to use, select the appropriate

Default Transmit Key

number. Select a level of WEP

encryption,

64 bits 10 hex digits

or

128 bits 26 hex digits

. If you want to use a Passphrase, then enter it in

the

Passphrase

field and click the

Generate

button. If you want to enter the WEP key(s) manually, then enter it

in the

Key 1-4

field(s).

When you have finished making changes on this screen, click the

Save Settings

button to save the changes, or

click the

Cancel Changes

button to undo your changes.

Figure 5-14: Wireless Tab -

Wireless

Security (RADIUS)

Figure 5-13: Wireless Tab -

Wireless

Security (WPA-RADIUS)

radius

: a protocol that uses an

authentication server to control

network access.

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29

Chapter 5: Configuring the Router

The Wireless Tab - Wireless Security

WEP

. WEP is a basic encryption method, which is not as secure as WPA.

To indicate which WEP key to use,

select the appropriate

Default Transmit Key

number. Select a level of WEP encryption,

64 bits 10 hex digits

or

128 bits 26 hex digits

. If you want to use a Passphrase, then enter it in the

Passphrase

field and click the

Generate

button. If you want to enter the WEP key(s) manually, then enter it in the

Key 1-4

field(s).

When you have finished making changes on this screen, click the

Save Settings

button to save the changes, or

click the

Cancel Changes

button to undo your changes.

Figure 5-15: Wireless Tab -

Wireless

Security (WEP)

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Chapter 5: Configuring the Router

The Wireless Tab - Wireless MAC Filter

The Wireless Tab - Wireless MAC Filter

Wireless MAC Filter

Wireless MAC Filter

. If you want to filter wireless access by MAC address, select

Enable

. Otherwise, select

Disable

.

Click

Prevent

to block access for the designated computers, or click

Permit only

to permit access for the

designated computers. Click the

Update Filter List

button, and the

Mac Address Filter List

screen will appear.

Enter the MAC addresses of the computers you want to designate. To see a list of MAC addresses for wireless

computers or clients, click the

Wireless Client MAC List

button.

The

Wireless Client MAC List

screen will list Client Host Names, IP Addresses, and MAC Addresses for your

wireless devices. Click the

Refresh

button to get the most up-to-date information. To add a specific computer to

the Mac Address Filter List, click the

Enable MAC Filter

checkbox and then the

Update Filter List

button. Click

the

Close

button to return to the

MAC Address Filter List

screen.

On the

MAC Address Filter List

screen, click the

Save Settings

button to save this list, or click the

Cancel

Changes

button to remove your entries.

When finished making your changes on this tab, click the

Save Settings

button to save these changes, or click

the

Cancel Changes

button to undo your changes.

Figure 5-16: Wireless Tab -

Wireless

MAC Filter

Figure 5-18: Wireless Client MAC List

Figure 5-17: MAC Address Filter List

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Chapter 5: Configuring the Router

The Wireless Tab - Advanced Wireless Settings

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.

Advanced Wireless Settings

Preamble Type

. The preamble defines the length of the CRC block for communication between the Router and

the roaming wireless adapters. (High network traffic areas should use the shorter preamble type.) Select the

appropriate preamble type for your network. If you are not sure which setting to select, then keep the default

setting,

Long Preamble

.

Authentication Type

. The default is set to

Auto

, which allows Open System and Shared Key authentication. For

Open System authentication, the sender and the recipient do not use a WEP key for authentication but can use

WEP for data encryption. For Shared Key authentication, the sender and recipient use a WEP key for both

authentication and data encryption. To only allow Open System authentication, select

Open

. To only allow

Shared Key authentication, select

Shared Key

. In most cases, you should keep the default setting,

Auto

,

because some clients cannot be configured for Shared Key.

CTS Protection Mode

. CTS (Clear-To-Send) Protection Mode function boosts the Router’s ability to catch all

Wireless-G transmissions but will severely decrease performance. Keep the default setting,

Auto

, so the Router

can use this feature as needed, when the Wireless-G products are not able to transmit to the Router in an

environment with heavy 802.11b traffic.

CTS Protection Type

. CTS Protection Type specifies the type of traffic covered by the CTS Protection Mode.

Select

CTS-only

or

RTS-CTS

from the drop-down menu. If you are not sure which setting to select, then keep

the default setting,

CTS-only

.

Figure 5-19: Wireless Tab - Advanced

Wireless Settings

beacon interval

: data transmitted

on your wireless network that

keeps the network synchronized.

cts

(clear to send): a signal sent by

a wireless device, signifying that it

is ready to receive data.

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Chapter 5: Configuring the Router

The Wireless Tab - Advanced Wireless Settings

Power Level

. You can adjust the output power of the Router to get the appropriate coverage for your wireless

network. Select the percentage of power you need for your environment. If you are not sure which setting to

select, then keep the default setting,

Full

.

Beacon Interval

. 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. The default value is

100

.

DTIM Interval

. This 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

3

.

Fragmentation Length

. 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 Length 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. In most cases, keep the default value,

2347

.

When you have finished making changes on this screen, click the

Save Settings

button to save the changes, or

click the

Cancel Changes

button to undo your changes.

rts

(request to send): a networking

method of coordinating large packets

through the RTS Threshold setting.

dtim

: a message included in data

packets that can increase wireless

efficiency.

fragmentation

: breaking a packet

into smaller units when

transmitting over a network

medium that cannot support the

original size of the packet.