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Chapter 1: Introduction

Welcome

Wireless-G VPN Broadband Router

Chapter 1: Introduction

Welcome

Thank you for choosing the Linksys Wireless-G VPN Broadband Router. The Wireless-G VPN Broadband Router

will allow you to network wirelessly better than ever, sharing Internet access, files and fun, easily and securely.

How does the Wireless-G VPN Broadband Router do all of this? A router is a device that allows access to an

Internet connection over a network. With the Wireless-G VPN Broadband Router, this access can be shared over

the four switched ports or via the wireless network, broadcast at either 11Mbps for Wireless-B or 54Mbps for

Wireless-G.

To protect your data and privacy, the Wireless-G VPN Broadband Router can encrypt all wireless transmissions

with up to 128-bit WEP encryption and supports the WPA standard, which provides greater security opportunities.

The Router also has a powerful Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) firewall and Network Address Translation (NAT)

technology to protect your PCs against intruders and most known Internet attacks. Its Virtual Private Network

(VPN) function creates encrypted “tunnels” through the Internet so up to 50 remote or traveling users can

securely connect to your office network from off-site, or users in your branch office can connect to a corporate

network. All of these security features, as well as full configurability, are accessed through the easy-to-use

browser-based utility.

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 cards or adapters can communicate without cumbersome cables. By sharing the

same wireless settings, within their transmission radius, they form a wireless network. The Wireless-G VPN

Broadband Router bridges wireless networks of both 802.11b and 802.11g standards and wired networks,

allowing them to communicate with each other.

With your networks all connected, wired, wireless, and the Internet, you can now share files and Internet

access—and even play games. All the while, the Wireless-G VPN Broadband Router protects your networks from

unauthorized and unwelcome users.

nat

(network address translation): NAT technology

translates IP addresses of a local area network to a

different IP address for the Internet

802.11b

: an IEEE wireless networking standard that

specifies a maximum data transfer rate of 11Mbps

and an operating frequency of 2.4GHz

spi

(stateful packet inspection)

firewall

: A

technology that inspects incoming packets of

information before allowing them to enter the

network

802.11g

: an IEEE 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

vpn (virtual private network)

: A security measure

to protect data as it leaves one network and goes to

another over the Internet

lan

(local area network): The computers and

networking products that make up the network in

your home or office

wpa

(wi-fi protected access): a wireless

security protocol using TKIP (Temporal Key

Integrity Protocol) encryption, which can be

used in conjunction with a RADIUS server

ethernet

: an IEEE standard network protocol that

specifies how data is placed on and retrieved from

a common transmission medium

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Chapter 1: Introduction

What’s in this Guide?

Wireless-G VPN Broadband Router

You should always use the Setup CD-ROM when you first install the Router. If you do not wish to run the Setup

Wizard on the Setup CD-ROM, then use the instructions in this Guide to help you connect the Wireless-G VPN

Broadband Router, 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 Wireless-G VPN Broadband Router.

What’s in this Guide?

This user guide covers the steps for setting up and using the Wireless-G VPN Broadband Router.

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Chapter 1: Introduction

This chapter describes the Wireless-G VPN Broadband Router applications and this User Guide.

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Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network

This chapter describes the basics of wireless networking.

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Chapter 3: Planning Your Virtual Private Network (VPN)

This chapter describes a VPN and its various applications.

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Chapter 4: Getting to Know the Wireless-G VPN Broadband Router

This chapter describes the physical features of the Router.

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Chapter 5: Connecting the Wireless-G VPN Broadband Router

This chapter instructs you on how to connect the Router to your network.

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Chapter 6: Configuring the Wireless-G VPN Broadband Router

This chapter explains how to use the Web-Based Utility to configure the settings on the Router.

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Chapter 7: Boingo Hot Spot in a Box for Hot Spot Businesses

This chapter explains how to sign up for the Boingo Hot Spot in a Box program.

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Appendix A: Troubleshooting

This appendix describes some problems and solutions, as well as frequently asked questions, regarding

installation and use of the Wireless-G VPN Broadband Router.

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Appendix B: Wireless Security

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

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Appendix C: Using the Linksys QuickVPN Software for Windows 2000 or XP

This appendix instructs you on how to use the Linksys QuickVPN software if you are using a Windows 2000 or

XP PC.

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Chapter 1: Introduction

What’s in this Guide?

Wireless-G VPN Broadband Router

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Appendix D: Configuring IPSec between a Windows 2000 or XP PC and the Router

This appendix instructs you on how to establish a secure IPSec tunnel using preshared keys to join a private

network inside the VPN Router and a Windows 2000 or XP PC.

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Appendix E: Configuring VPN Tunnels

This appendix describes how to configure VPN IPSec tunnels using the VPN Routers and a VPN client.

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Appendix F: Finding the MAC Address and IP Address for your Ethernet Adapter.

This appendix describes how to find the MAC address for your computer’s Ethernet adapter so you can use

the MAC filtering and/or MAC address cloning feature of the Router. It also explains how to find the IP address

for your computer.

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Appendix G: SNMP Functions

This appendix explains SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol).

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Appendix H: Upgrading Firmware

This appendix instructs you on how to upgrade the firmware on your Router should you need to do so.

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Appendix I: Windows Help

This appendix describes how you can use Windows Help for instructions about networking, such as installing

the TCP/IP protocol.

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Appendix J: Glossary

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

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Appendix K: Specifications

This appendix provides the technical specifications for the Router.

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Appendix L: Warranty Information

This appendix supplies the warranty information for the Router.

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Appendix M: Regulatory Information

This appendix supplies the regulatory information regarding the Router.

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Appendix N: Contact Information

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

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Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network

Network Topology

Wireless-G VPN Broadband Router

Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network

Network Topology

A wireless local area network (WLAN) is exactly like a regular local area network (LAN), except that each

computer in the WLAN uses a wireless device to connect to the network. Computers in a WLAN share the same

frequency channel and SSID, which is an identification name shared by the wireless devices belonging to the

same wireless network.

Ad-Hoc versus Infrastructure Mode

Unlike wired networks, wireless networks have two different modes in which they may be set up: infrastructure

and ad-hoc. An infrastructure configuration is a WLAN and wired LAN communicating to each other through an

access point. An ad-hoc configuration is wireless-equipped computers communicating directly with each other.

Choosing between these two modes depends on whether or not the wireless network needs to share data or

peripherals with a wired network or not.

If the computers on the wireless network need to be accessible by a wired network or need to share a peripheral,

such as a printer, with the wired network computers, the wireless network should be set up in Infrastructure

mode. The basis of Infrastructure mode centers around an access point or wireless router, such as the

Wireless-G VPN Broadband Router, which serves as the main point of communications in a wireless network. The

Router transmits data to PCs equipped with wireless network adapters, which can roam within a certain radial

range of the Router.

You can arrange the Router and multiple access points to work in succession to extend the

roaming range, and you can set up your wireless network to communicate with your Ethernet hardware as well.

If the wireless network is relatively small and needs to share resources only with the other computers on the

wireless network, then the Ad-Hoc mode can be used. Ad-Hoc mode allows computers equipped with wireless

transmitters and receivers to communicate directly with each other, eliminating the need for a wireless router or

access point. The drawback of this mode is that in Ad-Hoc mode, wireless-equipped computers are not able to

communicate with computers on a wired network. And, of course, communication between the wireless-

equipped computers is limited by the distance and interference directly between them.

Network Layout

The Wireless-G VPN Broadband Router has been specifically designed for use with both your 802.11b and

802.11g products. Now, products using these standards can communicate with each other.

infrastructure

: a wireless network

that is bridged to a wired network via

an access point

ssid

: your wireless network’s name

ad-hoc

: a group of wireless devices

communicating directly to each other

(peer-to-peer) without the use of an

access point

access point

: a device that allows wireless-

equipped computers and other devices to

communicate with a wired network. Also used

to expand the range of a wireless network

adapter

: a device that adds

network functionality to your PC

ethernet

: IEEE standard network protocol that

specifies how data is placed on and retrieved

from a common transmission medium

network

: a series of computers or devices

connected for the purpose of data sharing,

storage, and/or transmission between users

lan

(local area network): The computers and

networking products that make up the network in

your home or office

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Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network

Network Layout

Wireless-G VPN Broadband Router

The Wireless-G VPN Broadband Router is compatible with all 802.11b and 802.11g adapters, such as the

Notebook Adapters (WPC54G, WPC11) for your laptop computers, PCI Adapter (WMP54G, WMP11) for your

desktop PC, and USB Adapter (WUSB54G, WUSB11) when you want to enjoy USB connectivity. The Broadband

Router will also communicate with the Wireless PrintServer (WPS54GU2, WPS11) and Wireless Ethernet Bridges

(WET54G, WET11).

When you wish to connect your wireless network with your wired network, you can use the Broadband Router’s

three LAN ports. To add more ports, any of the Broadband Router's LAN ports can be connected to any of

Linksys's switches (such as the EZXS55W or EZXS88W).

With these, and many other, Linksys products, your networking options are limitless. Go to the Linksys website at

www.linksys.com for more information about products that work with the Wireless-G VPN Broadband Router.

Figure 2-1: Network Diagram