Wireless Settings

5-17

Each radio supports two virtual access point (VAP) interfaces, referred to as WLAN1

and WLAN2. Each VAP functions as a separate access point, and can be configured

with its own Service Set Identification (SSID) and security settings. However, most

radio signal parameters apply to both VAP interfaces. The configuration options are

nearly identical, and are therefore both covered in this section of the manual.

Traffic to specific VAPs can be segregated based on user groups or application

traffic. Both VAPs can have up to 64 wireless clients, whereby the clients associate

with these VAPs the same as they would with a physical access point.

Note:

The radio channel settings for the access point are limited by local regulations,

which determine the number of channels that are available. See “Specifications”

on page B-1 for additional information on the maximum number channels

available.

Basic Settings

The Basic Setting page allows you to enable the wireless interface, select which

radio mode to use, choose the transmit frequency and configure SSIDs.

Click on “Wireless Settings,” followed by “Basic”.

Note:

There are several variables to consider when selecting a radio mode that make it

fully functional. Simply selecting the mode you want is not enough to ensure full

compatibility for that mode. Information on these variables may be found in the

Advanced Setting section.

Figure 5-15.

Basic Wireless Settings

System Configuration

5-18

•

Radio On/Off

– Enables or Disable the radio. (Default: Enable)

•

Network Mode

– Defines the radio mode for the VAP interface.

(Default: 802.11b/g/n Mixed)

Note:

Enabling the wireless AP/Router to communicate with 802.11b/g clients in both

802.11b/g/n Mixed and 802.11n modes also requires that HT Operation in the

Advanced Settings menu be set to Mixed. Setting HT Operation to Green Field is

exclusive for 802.11n client communication only and prevents 802.11 b/g

communication.

-

802.11b/g Mixed

: Both 802.11b and

802.11g clients can communicate with

the wireless AP/Router (up to 108

Mbps), but data transmission rates may

be slowed to compensate for 802.11b

clients. Any 802.11n clients will also be

able to communicate with the wireless AP/Router, but they will be limited to

802.11g protocols and data transmission rates.

-

802.11b only

: All 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11n clients will be able to

communicate with the wireless AP/Router, but the 802.11g and 802.11n clients

will be limited to 802.11b protocols and data transmission rates (up to 11 Mbps).

-

802.11g only

: Both 802.11g and 802.11n clients will be able to communicate

with the wireless AP/Router, but the 802.11n clients will be limited to 802.11g

protocols and data transmission rates (up to 54 Mbps). Any 802.11b clients will

not be able to communicate with the wireless AP/Router.

-

802.11b/g/n Mixed

: All 802.11b/g/n clients can communicate with the wireless

AP/Router (up to 300 Mbps), but data transmission rates may be slowed to

compensate for 802.11b/g clients.

•

Network Name (SSID)

– The name of the wireless network service provided by

the VAP. Clients that want to connect to the network must set their SSID to the

same as that of the VAP interface. (Default: “SMC”; Range: 1-32 characters)

-

Multiple SSID

– The number of wireless network interfaces (SSIDs) supported

on the device.

•

Broadcast Network Name (SSID)

– The wireless AP/Router will broadcast its

SSID.

•

AP Isolation

– The wireless AP/Router will isolate wireless clients in order to

protect them. Normally for users who are at hotspots

.

•

MBSSID AP Isolation

– The wireless AP/Router will isolate wireless clients from

different SSID.

•

BSSID

– The identifier (MAC address) of a wireless AP/Router in a Basic Service

Set (BSS) network.

Wireless Settings

5-19

•

WLAN Frequency

– The radio channel

that the wireless AP/Router uses to

communicate with wireless clients. When

multiple access points are deployed in the

same area, set the channel on

neighboring access points at least five

channels apart to avoid interference with

each other. For example, you can deploy

up to three access points in the same area

using channels 1, 6, 11. Note that wireless clients automatically set the channel to

the same as that used by the wireless AP/Router to which it is linked. Selecting

Auto Select enables the wireless AP/Router to automatically select an unoccupied

radio channel. (The supported channels are dependent on the country code

setting.)

Wireless Distribution System (WDS)

The WLAN1 radio interface can be configured to operate in a mode that allows it to

forward traffic directly to other access point units. To set up links between access

point units, you must configure the Wireless Distribution System (WDS) forwarding

table by specifying the wireless MAC address of all units to which you want to

forward traffic.

Traffic forwarded to WDS links is automatically converted to 802.11 four-address

format frame. This uses the MAC addresses of the station and that of the AP

connected to it on the transmitting LAN, and the MAC addresses of the AP

functioning as a wireless repeater/bridge and that of the station connected to it on a

neighboring LAN in the 802.11 frame header. Ethernet traffic follows a three-address

format that is reconstructed for WDS transmission. The wireless AP/Router will

reconstruct the frame format upon receival and transmission using the criteria of the

receiving and forwarding port location and whether it is Ethernet or wireless in type.

Note:

The wireless AP/Router does not support the spanning tree algorithm. WDS links

should be configured appropriately to avoid causing loops on the network.

Up to four WDS links can be specified for each unit in the WDS network.

The WDS link can be configured in the following combinations:

1.

All units are configured as Gateway Mode

2.

Units can be configured as Gateway Mode and Bridge Mode combinations.

(ex: 2 units for Gateway Mode and 2 units for Bridge Mode)

3.

All units are configured as Bridge Mode

When both units are set to Gateway Mode, be sure to check these settings:

•

Be sure each unit is configured with a different LAN IP address.

•

Be sure that only one unit has Internet access on its WAN port.

System Configuration

5-20

•

Be sure the DHCP server is enabled only on one unit. If one unit is providing

Internet access, enable the DHCP server on that unit.

Note:

WDS Settings only apply to WLAN1. WLAN2 is pre-configured to Bridge mode

unless WLAN1 is configured to act as a bridge, in which case WLAN2 is disabled.

Figure 5-16.

WDS Settings

WDS Setting

— Configures WDS related parameters. Up to four MAC addresses

can be specified for each unit in the WDS network. WDS links may either be

manually configured (Bridge and Repeater modes) or auto-discovered (Lazy mode).

•

WDS Mode

– Selects the WDS mode of WLAN1. (Options: Disable/Lazy/Bridge/

Repeater. Default: Disable)

-

Disable

: WDS is disabled.

-

Lazy:

Operates in an automatic mode that detects and learns WDS peer

addresses from received WDS four-address format frame packets, without the

need to configure a WDS MAC list entry. This feature allows the wireless AP/

Router to associate with other wireless AP/Routers in the network and use their

WDS MAC list. In Lazy mode the wireless AP/Router sends a beacon.

-

Bridge

: Operates as a standard bridge that forwards traffic between WDS links

(links that connect to other AP/wireless bridges, or units in Repeater or Lazy

mode) and an Ethernet port. Only data destined for stations which are known to

be on the peer Ethernet link, multicast data or data with unknown destinations,

need to be forwarded through the WDS link. The Bridge mode does not transmit

a beacon, unlike the other three modes. In this mode the wireless AP/Router

may also function as a repeater.

Note:

Enabling “Bridge” mode disables WLAN2.

-

Repeater

: Operates as a wireless repeater, extending the range for remote

wireless clients and connecting them to an AP connected to the wired network.

WDS peers must be registered with the wireless AP/Router. Repeater mode

also supports the dual capability of the VAP functioning as an AP. In this mode,

traffic is not forwarded to the Ethernet port from the radio interface. In Repeater

mode the wireless AP/Router transmits a beacon.

Note:

WDS settings may only be configured for WLAN1, See “Wi-Fi Protected Setup

(WPS)” on page 5-35. WLAN2 only operates as an access point service.

Note:

Configuring WLAN1 to operate in WDS “Bridge” mode automatically disables

WLAN2.

Wireless Settings

5-21

HT Physical Mode Settings

Figure 5-17.

HT Physical Mode Settings

•

HT Operation Mode

– Packets from 802.11n clients are referred to as High

Throughput (HT) Greenfield packets, in other words packets that can be

transmitted at rates of up to 300 Mbps assuming that HT Channel Bandwidth is set

to 20/40Mhz, see HT Channel Bandwidth next page.

Note:

Some 802.11n wireless clients may be capable of transmission rates of up to

600 Mbps, however the wireless AP/Router will only be able to connect to them at

a maximum transmission rate of 300 Mbps.

802.11b/g packets are referred to as non-HT packets, being transmitted at lower

throughput rates. HT mixed format frames contain a preamble compatible with the

non-HT receivers. HT Greenfield frames do not contain a non-HT compatible part.

Support for HT Greenfield format is optional. An HT station that does not support

the reception of an HT Greenfield format frame must be able to detect that an HT

Greenfield format frame is an HT transmission (as opposed to a non-HT

transmission). In this case the receiver must decode the high throughput signal

(HT-SIG) in the packet header and determine if the HT-SIG cyclic redundancy

check (CRC) passes. (Default: Mixed)

•

HT Channel Bandwidth

– The wireless AP/Router provides a channel bandwidth

of 40 MHz by default giving an 802.11g connection speed of 108 Mbps (sometimes

referred to as Turbo Mode) and a 802.11n connection speed of up to 300 Mbps.

Setting the HT Channel Bandwidth to 20 MHz slows connection speed for 802.11g

and 802.11n to 54 Mbps and 74 Mbps respectively and ensures backward

compliance for slower 802.11b devices. (Default: 20/40MHz)

•

Guard Interval

– The guard interval between symbols helps receivers overcome

the effects of multipath delays. When you add a guard time, the back portion of

useful signal time is copied and appended to the front. (Default: Auto)