Reference Manual for the NETGEAR ProSafe Wireless Access Point 802.11g WG302

2-2

Introduction

July 2005 v3.0

Key Features

The WG302 Access Point is easy-to-use and provides solid wireless and networking support.

Supported Standards and Conventions

The following standards and conventions are supported:

•

Standards Compliant

.

The Wireless Access Point complies with the IEEE 802.11g for

Wireless LANs.

•

WEP support.

Support for WEP is included. 64-bit, 128-bit, and 152-bit keys are supported.

•

Full WPA and WPA2 support.

WPA and WPA2 enterprise class strong security with

RADIUS and certificate authentication as well as dynamic encryption key generation.

WPA-PSK and WPA2-PSK pre-shared key authentication without the overhead of RADIUS

servers but with all of the strong security of WPA.

•

DHCP Client Support.

DHCP provides a dynamic IP address to PCs and other devices upon

request. The WG302 can act as a client and obtain information from your DHPC server.

•

SNMP Support.

Support for Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) Management

Information Base (MIB) management.

Key Features

The NETGEAR WG302 provides solid functionality, including these features:

•

AutoCell RF Management.

AutoCell provides advanced automated RF management that

improves performance and enhances security.

•

Multiple Operating Modes

–

Wireless Access Point.

Operates as a standard 802.11g.

–

Point-to-Point Bridge.

In this mode, the WG302 only communicates with another

bridge-mode wireless station. You must enter the MAC address (physical address) of the

other bridge-mode wireless station in the field provided. WEP should be used to protect

this communication.

–

Point-to-Multi-Point Bridge.

Select this only if this WG302 is the “Master” for a group

of bridge-mode wireless stations. The other bridge-mode wireless stations must be set to

Point-to-Point Bridge mode, using this WG302's MAC address. They then send all traffic

to this “Master”, rather than communicate directly with each other. WEP should be used to

protect this traffic.

Reference Manual for the NETGEAR ProSafe Wireless Access Point 802.11g WG302

Introduction

2-3

July 2005 v3.0

–

Wireless Repeater.

In this half-duplex mode, the WG302 only communicates with

another repeater-mode wireless station. You must enter the MAC address of both adjacent

repeater-mode wireless stations in the fields provided. WEP should be used to protect this

communication.

•

Wireless Multimedia (WMM) support.

WMM is a subset of the 802.11e standard. WMM

allows wireless traffic to have a range of priorities, depending on the kind of data.

Time-dependent information such as video or audio will have a higher priority than normal

traffic. For WMM to function correctly, wireless clients must also support WMM.

•

Rogue Access Point detection.

For enhanced security, you can scan the wireless network to

detect rogue access points.

•

Hotspot settings.

You can allow all HTTP (TCP, port 80) requests to be captured and

re-directed to the URL you specify.

•

Upgradeable Firmware.

Firmware is stored in a flash memory and can be upgraded easily,

using only your Web browser, and can be upgraded remotely.

•

Access Control.

The Access Control MAC address filtering feature can ensure that only

trusted wireless stations can use the WG302 to gain access to your LAN.

•

Simple Configuration.

If the default settings are unsuitable, they are easy to change.

•

Hidden Mode.

The SSID is not broadcast, assuring only clients configured with the correct

SSID can connect.

•

Secure Telnet Command Line Interface.

The Telnet command line interface enables direct

access over the serial port and easy scripting of configuration of multiple WG302 across an

extensive network via the Ethernet interface. An SSH client is required.

•

Configuration Backup.

Configuration settings can be backed up to a file and restored.

•

Secure and Economical Operation.

Adjustable power output allows more secure or

economical operation.

•

Power over Ethernet.

Power can be supplied to the WG302 over the Ethernet port from any

802.3af compliant mid-span or end-span source such as the NETGEAR FSM7326P Managed

Power over Ethernet Layer 3 managed switch.

•

Autosensing Ethernet Connection with

Auto Uplink

I

nterface.

Connects to 10/100 Mbps

IEEE 802.3 Ethernet networks.

•

LED Indicators.

Power, test, LAN speed, LAN activity, and wireless activity are easily

identified.

AutoCell—The Self-Organizing Wireless Network

AutoCell

TM

, an embedded control system for 802.11 WLANs. AutoCell increases available

bandwidth and reduces WLAN installation and operating costs significantly.

Reference Manual for the NETGEAR ProSafe Wireless Access Point 802.11g WG302

2-4

Introduction

July 2005 v3.0

AutoCell is completely automatic: It is a continuous communication system that relies on a

lightweight protocol to monitor changes on the wireless domain while keeping overhead very low.

Among AutoCell's inherent advantages:

•

Elimination of manual site surveys and channel maps

•

Dynamic load balancing

•

Plug-and-play-implementation

•

Transparent fault recovery and failover

Since AutoCell is completely self-organizing, it holds human intervention to a minimum. That

reduces the people costs associated with deployment, management, and maintenance—making

802.11 WLANs practical, efficient, and cost-effective.

802.11g Standards-based Wireless Networking

The NETGEAR ProSafe Wireless Access Point 802.11g WG302 provides a bridge between

Ethernet wired LANs and 802.11g compatible wireless LAN networks. It provides connectivity

between Ethernet wired networks and radio-equipped wireless notebook systems, desktop

systems, print servers, and other devices. Additionally, the WG302 supports the following wireless

features:

•

Distributed coordinated function (CSMA/CA, Back off procedure, ACK procedure,

retransmission of unacknowledged frames)

•

RTS/CTS handshake

•

Beacon generation

•

Packet fragmentation and reassembly

•

Short or long preamble

•

Roaming among access points on the same subnet

Autosensing Ethernet Connections with Auto Uplink

The WG302 can connect to a standard Ethernet network. The LAN interface is autosensing and

capable of full-duplex or half-duplex operation.

Reference Manual for the NETGEAR ProSafe Wireless Access Point 802.11g WG302

Introduction

2-5

July 2005 v3.0

The wireless access point incorporates Auto Uplink

TM

technology. The Ethernet port will

automatically sense whether the Ethernet cable plugged into the port should have a ‘normal’

connection such as to a computer or an ‘uplink’ connection such as to a switch or hub. That port

will then configure itself to the correct configuration. This feature also eliminates any concerns

about crossover cables, as Auto Uplink will accommodate either type of cable to make the right

connection.

Compatible and Related NETGEAR Products

For a list of compatible products from other manufacturers, see the Wireless Ethernet

Compatibility Alliance Web site (WECA, see

).

The following NETGEAR products work with the WG302 Access Point:

•

WAG511 ProSafe 108 Mbps Dual Band PC Card

•

WAG311 ProSafe 108 Mbps Dual Band PCI Card

•

WG311T 802.11g 108 Mbps Wireless PCI Card

•

WG511T 802.11g 108 Mbps Wireless CardBus Adapter

•

WG511 802.11g 54 Mbps Wireless CardBus Adapter

•

WG111 801.11g 54 Mbps Wireless Bridge

System Requirements

Before installing the WG302, make sure your system meets these requirements:

•

A 10/100 Mbps Local Area Network device such as a hub or switch

•

The Category 5 UTP straight through Ethernet cable with RJ-45 connector included in the

package, or one like it

•

A 100-240 V, 50-60 HZ AC power source

•

A Web browser for configuration such as Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 or above, or

Netscape Navigator 4.78 or above

•

At least one computer with the TCP/IP protocol installed

•

802.11b or 802.11b-compliant devices, such as the NETGEAR WG511 Wireless Adapter

Reference Manual for the NETGEAR ProSafe Wireless Access Point 802.11g WG302

2-6

Introduction

July 2005 v3.0

What’s In the Box?

The product package should contain the following items:

•

NETGEAR ProSafe Wireless Access Point 802.11g WG302

•

Power adapter and cord (12 V dc, 1.2 A)

•

Straight through Category 5 Ethernet cable

•

WG302 802.11g ProSafe Wireless Access Point Installation Guide

•

Resource CD for the NETGEAR WG302 ProSafe 802.11g Wireless Access Point

which

includes this manual.

•

Support Registration card

Contact your reseller or customer support in your area if there are any missing or damaged parts.

You can refer to the Support Information Card for the telephone number of customer support in

your area. You should keep the Support Information card, along with the original packing

materials, and use the packing materials to repack the WG302 if you need to return it for repair. To

qualify for product updates and product warranty registrations, we encourage you to register on the

NETGEAR Web site at:

.

Hardware Description

The WG302 front and rear hardware functions are described below.

Figure 2-1:

WG302 front panel