August 2003

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August 2003

Contents

Chapter 1

About This Manual

Audience

.........................................................................................................................

1-v

Scope

.............................................................................................................................

1-v

Typographical Conventions

...........................................................................................

1-vi

Special Message Formats

.............................................................................................

1-vi

How to Use the HTML Version of this Manual

..............................................................

1-vii

How to Print this Manual

...............................................................................................

1-viii

Chapter 2

Introduction

About the ME103 802.11b ProSafe Wireless Access Point

...........................................

2-1

Key Features

..................................................................................................................

2-2

802.11b Standards-based Wireless Networking

......................................................

2-3

Autosensing Ethernet Connections with Auto Uplink

...............................................

2-4

Compatible and Related NETGEAR Products

.........................................................

2-4

System Requirements

....................................................................................................

2-5

What’s In the Box?

.........................................................................................................

2-5

Hardware Description

.....................................................................................................

2-5

ME103 Wireless Access Point Front Panel

..............................................................

2-6

ME103 Wireless Access Point Rear Panel

..............................................................

2-7

Left Side Primary and Right Side Secondary Detachable Antenna

...................

2-7

Restore to Factory Defaults Button

....................................................................

2-7

RJ-45 Ethernet Port

...........................................................................................

2-7

Power Socket

....................................................................................................

2-7

Chapter 3

Basic Installation and Configuration

Observing Placement and Range Guidelines

.................................................................

3-1

Cabling Requirements

..............................................................................................

3-2

Default Factory Settings

...........................................................................................

3-3

Understanding ME103 Wireless Security Options

..........................................................

3-4

Installing the ME103 802.11b ProSafe Wireless Access Point

.......................................

3-5

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How to Log In to the ME103 Using Its Default NetBIOS Name

......................................

3-8

How to Log In to the ME103 Using Its Default IP Address

...........................................

3-10

Understanding Basic Wireless Settings

........................................................................

3-11

Understanding Basic Wireless Security Options

..........................................................

3-12

Information to Gather Before Changing Basic Wireless Settings

...........................

3-14

How to Set Up and Test Basic Wireless Connectivity

............................................

3-15

How to Restrict Wireless Access by MAC Address

...............................................

3-16

How to Configure WEP

..........................................................................................

3-17

Using the Basic IP Settings Options

.............................................................................

3-18

Chapter 4

Maintenance

Viewing General, Log, Station, and Statistical Information

.............................................

4-1

Statistics

...................................................................................................................

4-3

Activity Log

...............................................................................................................

4-5

Viewing a List of Attached Devices

.................................................................................

4-6

Upgrading the Wireless Access Point Software

.............................................................

4-7

Configuration File Management

.....................................................................................

4-8

Saving and Retrieving the Configuration

..................................................................

4-9

Restoring the ME103 to the Factory Default Settings

..............................................

4-9

Using the Reset Button to Restore Factory Default Settings

...................................

4-9

Changing the Administrator Password

...................................................................

4-10

Chapter 5

Advanced Configuration

Configuring Advanced Security 802.1x Options

.............................................................

5-1

Basic Requirements for 802.1x

................................................................................

5-1

How to Configure the 802.1x Key Exchange Option

................................................

5-2

Understanding Advanced Wireless Settings

..................................................................

5-8

Configuring Wireless Operating Modes

........................................................................

5-10

How to Configure a ME103 as a Point-to-Point Bridge

..........................................

5-10

How to Configure Multi-Point Wireless Bridging

....................................................

5-11

Antenna Installation

......................................................................................................

5-13

Blank Configuration Worksheet

....................................................................................

5-14

Chapter 6

Troubleshooting

No lights are lit on the access point.

...............................................................................

6-1

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August 2003

The Wireless LAN activity light does not light up.

...........................................................

6-2

The LAN light is not lit.

....................................................................................................

6-2

I cannot access the Internet or the LAN with a wireless capable computer.

.................

6-2

I am using EAP-TLS security but get disconnected.

......................................................

6-3

I cannot connect to the ME103 to configure it.

...............................................................

6-3

When I enter a URL or IP address I get a timeout error.

................................................

6-3

Using the Reset Button to Restore Factory Default Settings

..........................................

6-4

Appendix A

Specifications

Specifications for the ME103

.........................................................................................

A-1

Appendix B

Wireless Networking Basics

Wireless Networking Overview

......................................................................................

B-1

Infrastructure Mode

.................................................................................................

B-1

Ad Hoc Mode (Peer-to-Peer Workgroup)

................................................................

B-2

Network Name: Extended Service Set Identification (ESSID)

................................

B-2

Authentication, WEP, and WPA

.....................................................................................

B-2

802.11 Authentication

..............................................................................................

B-3

Open System Authentication

...................................................................................

B-3

Shared Key Authentication

......................................................................................

B-4

Overview of WEP Parameters

................................................................................

B-5

Key Size

..................................................................................................................

B-6

WEP Configuration Options

....................................................................................

B-7

Wireless Channels

.........................................................................................................

B-7

Understanding 802.1x Port Based Network Access Control

.........................................

B-9

Appendix C

Network, Routing, Firewall, and Cabling Basics

Basic Router Concepts

..................................................................................................

B-1

What is a Router?

...................................................................................................

B-2

IP Addresses and the Internet

.......................................................................................

B-2

Netmask

..................................................................................................................

B-4

Subnet Addressing

..................................................................................................

B-4

Private IP Addresses

...............................................................................................

B-7

Single IP Address Operation Using NAT

.................................................................

B-7

IP Configuration by DHCP

......................................................................................

B-8

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Domain Name Server

..............................................................................................

B-9

Routing Protocols

....................................................................................................

B-9

RIP

....................................................................................................................

B-9

MAC Addresses and ARP

..............................................................................

B-10

Internet Security and Firewalls

....................................................................................

B-10

What is a Firewall?

.................................................................................................

B-11

Stateful Packet Inspection

......................................................................................

B-11

Denial of Service Attack

.........................................................................................

B-11

Ethernet Cabling

..........................................................................................................

B-12

Uplink Switches, Crossover Cables, and MDI/MDIX Switching

............................

B-12

Cable Quality

.........................................................................................................

B-13

Appendix D

Preparing Your PCs for Network Access

Preparing Your Computers for TCP/IP Networking

.......................................................

C-1

Configuring Windows 98 and Me for TCP/IP Networking

..............................................

C-1

Install or Verify Windows Networking Components

.................................................

C-1

Enabling DHCP to Automatically Configure TCP/IP Settings

.................................

C-3

Selecting Windows’ Internet Access Method

..........................................................

C-5

Verifying TCP/IP Properties

....................................................................................

C-5

Configuring Windows 2000 or XP for TCP/IP Networking

.............................................

C-6

Install or Verify Windows Networking Components

.................................................

C-6

DHCP Configuration of TCP/IP in Windows XP

......................................................

C-7

DHCP Configuration of TCP/IP in Windows 2000

..................................................

C-9

Verifying TCP/IP Properties for Windows XP or 2000

...........................................

C-11

Glossary

Index