NETGEAR WAC120 Reference Manual
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NETGEAR WAC120 Reference Manual

802.11ac wireless access point
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See also: Installation Manual
802.11ac Wireless Access Point
Model WAC120
R e f e r e n c e M a n u a l
August 2014
202-11353-01
350 East Plumeria Drive
San Jose, CA 95134
USA

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  • Page 1 802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 R e f e r e n c e M a n u a l August 2014 202-11353-01 350 East Plumeria Drive San Jose, CA 95134...
  • Page 2 See the regulatory compliance document before connecting the power supply. Trademarks NETGEAR, the NETGEAR logo, and Connect with Innovation are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. Information is subject to change without notice....

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Contents Chapter 1 Hardware Setup System Requirements..........6 Unpack Your Access Point .
  • Page 4 802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 Back Up the Configuration File ........51 Restore the Configuration File .

  • Page 5: Chapter 1 Hardware Setup

    Firmware updates with new features and bug fixes are made available from time to time at http://downloadcenter.netgear.com. Some products can regularly check the site and download new firmware, or you can check for and download new firmware manually. If the features or behavior of your product does not match what is described in this guide, you might need to update your firmware.

  • Page 6: System Requirements

    802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 • AC power adapter (plug varies by region) • Category 5 (Cat 5) Ethernet cable • Installation guide with cabling and access point setup instructions If any parts are incorrect, missing, or damaged, contact your NETGEAR dealer. Hardware Setup...

  • Page 7: Front And Side View

    802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 Front and Side View The status LEDs and icons on the front and side panels are shown in the following figure. WiFi On/Off button WPS button LEDs Figure 2. Front and side view LEDs and Buttons The LEDs on the wireless access point light to indicate wireless access point activity: Table 1.

  • Page 8: Rear View

    802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 Table 1. LEDs (continued) Description • Off. No link is detected. • Green. A 1000 Mbps link is detected. • Amber. A 100 Mbps or 10 Mbps link is detected. WiFi • Off. Both the 2.4G and 5G radios are off.

  • Page 9: Label

    802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 Label The label on the access point shows the login information, MAC address, and serial number. Default access information Preset WiFi Serial number and password MAC address Figure 4. The label shows unique information about your router...

  • Page 10: Chapter 2 Initial Setup

    Initial Setup This chapter covers the following topics: Install the Access Point • Connect to the Access Point and Log In • Specify the Access Point Name and Location • Set the Time • Configure the Basic IP Settings • Set Up and Test Wireless Connectivity •...

  • Page 11: Install The Access Point

    802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 Install the Access Point Make sure that your Internet service is active before you install your access point. To install your access point:  Prepare your network. Make sure that your modem is cabled only to the wall jack for your Internet service.
  • Page 12 802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 Add power to the access point: a. Connect the power adapter to the access point and plug the power adapter into an outlet. b. Wait for the Power LED on the front panel to light amber and turn green.

  • Page 13: Connect To The Access Point And Log In

    802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 Connect to the Access Point and Log In You can connect to the access point’s web management interface to view or change its LAN and wireless access settings. To connect to the access point: ...

  • Page 14: Set The Time

    From the Country/Region list, select the region where the access point is located. In the United States this setting cannot be changed. If your country or region is not listed, check with NETGEAR support for the correct selection. Click the Apply button.

  • Page 15: Configure The Basic Ip Settings

    802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 Select Configuration > System > Basic > Time. Adjust the following fields: • Time Zone. From the list, select the local time zone for your access point. The default is USA-Pacific. The access point gets the current time from the connecting computer.
  • Page 16 802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 The General screen displays. Select Configuration > IP. The IP Settings screen displays. If necessary, specify the following settings: • DHCP Client. By default, the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) client is disabled. If your LAN includes a DHCP server and you enable DHCP, the access...

  • Page 17: Set Up And Test Wireless Connectivity

    802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 Set Up and Test Wireless Connectivity This section covers the following topics: Basic Wireless Settings • Wireless On-Off Schedule • Wireless Security Options • Wireless Security Profiles • MAC Authentication • Connect Stations to the Wireless Access Point •...
  • Page 18 802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 Select Configuration > Wireless. Change any of the default settings that you want to change. Select a Wireless Mode radio button: • 11b. All 802.11b wireless stations can be used. (The 802.11g wireless stations can still be used if they can operate in 802.11b mode.)
  • Page 19 • If you are using multiple access points, it is better if adjacent access points use different channels to reduce interference. NETGEAR recommends channel spacing between adjacent access points of 5 channels (for example, use Channels 1 and 6, or 6 and 11).

  • Page 20: Wireless On-Off Schedule

    802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 Select the available channel width of the access point. A wider channel improves the performance, but some legacy devices can operate only on either 20 MHz or 40 MHz. The following channel width options are available: •...

  • Page 21: Wireless Security Options

    Several types of encryption are available: Wi-Fi Protected Access II (WPA2), WPA, and Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP). WPA2 is the latest and most secure. NETGEAR recommends that you use this option if your equipment supports it. Initial Setup...

  • Page 22: Wireless Security Profiles

    802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 WEP and TKIP provide only legacy (slower) rates of operation. NETGEAR recommends AES encryption so that you can use the 11n rates and speed. Wireless Security Profiles For more information, see on page 22.
  • Page 23 802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 To edit the security profile settings:  Launch a web browser on the computer that is connected to the access point. Enter http://192.168.0.100 in the address field of the browser. A login prompt displays.

  • Page 24: Mac Authentication

    802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 The fields that display depend on the settings. To change the wireless network name, in the WIreless Network Name (SSID) field, enter the new wireless network name. To broadcast the wireless network name, select the Broadcast Wireless Network Name (SSID) Yes radio button.
  • Page 25 802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 Enter http://192.168.0.100 in the address field of the browser. A login prompt displays. Enter the user name and password. The user name is admin and the default password is password. The General screen displays.

  • Page 26: Connect Stations To The Wireless Access Point

    802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 Your settings are saved. Connect Stations to the Wireless Access Point Connect wireless devices such as desktops, laptops, smartphones, and tablets to your access point. You can connect these WiFi devices either manually or using the WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) method.
  • Page 27 802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 To enable WPS, MAC authentication must be in its default state of disabled. For more MAC Authentication information, see on page 24. To configure WPS:  Launch a web browser on the computer that is connected to the access point.
  • Page 28 802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 A login prompt displays. Enter the user name and password. The user name is admin and the default password is password. The General screen displays. Select Configuration > WPS > Add WPS Client. Click the Next button.

  • Page 29: Qos Settings

    802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 • PIN Number. Select the PIN Number radio button and enter the wireless client’s security PIN in the field that displays. Click the Next button. Within two minutes, go to the wireless device and use its WPS software to join the network without entering a password.

  • Page 30: Deploy The Access Point

    802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 The General screen displays. Select Configuration > Wireless > Basic > QoS Settings. Select the Enable Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM) Enable or Disable radio button. Select the WMM Powersave Enable or Disable radio button. Click the Apply button.

  • Page 31: Position Your Access Point

    802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 Position Your Access Point The access point lets you access your network anywhere within the operating range of your wireless network. However, the operating distance or range of your wireless connection can vary significantly depending on the physical placement of your access point. For example, the thickness and number of walls the wireless signal passes through can limit the range.

  • Page 32: Chapter 3 Network Settings

    Network Settings This chapter covers the following topics: Set Up an 802.1Q VLAN • Advanced Wireless Settings • Advanced QoS Settings • Wireless Bridging and Repeating •...

  • Page 33: Set Up An 802.1Q Vlan

    802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 Set Up an 802.1Q VLAN A Spanning Tree Protocol provides network traffic optimization in locations where multiple access points are present. The 802.1Q VLAN protocol on the access point separates traffic logically on the same physical network. The following choices are available: •...

  • Page 34: Advanced Wireless Settings

    802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 Select Configuration > System > Advanced > General. Select the Spanning Tree Protocol Enable or Disable radio button. To require all VLANs to be configured as tagged VLANs, clear the Untagged VLAN check box.
  • Page 35 802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 To configure the advanced wireless settings for the 2.4 GHz band, select Configuration > Wireless > Advanced > Wireless Settings > 802.11b/bg/ng. To change the default settings, enter the appropriate information in the following fields: •...
  • Page 36 802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 • Preamble Type. A long transmit preamble can provide a more reliable connection or a slightly longer range. A short transmit preamble gives better performance. The Auto setting automatically handles both long and short preambles. The default is Auto.

  • Page 37: Advanced Qos Settings

    802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 • Beacon Interval (100–1000). The time interval between 100 ms and 1000 ms for each beacon transmission, which allows the access point to synchronize the wireless network. The default is 100. • DTIM Interval (1-255). The delivery traffic indication message. Specifies the data beacon rate between 1 and 255.
  • Page 38 802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 The General screen displays. Select Configuration > Wireless > Advanced > QoS Settings. The QoS Setting fields are the same for the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. To change the default settings of the access point EDCA settings, enter the appropriate information in the AP EDCA parameters fields.

  • Page 39: Wireless Bridging And Repeating

    802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 Decreasing this value increases the priority of the queue. Valid values for maximum burst length are 0.0 through 999.9. To change the default settings of the station EDCA settings, enter the appropriate information in the Station EDCA parameters fields.
  • Page 40 802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 • Wireless point-to-point bridge mode. The access point communicates with one other bridge-mode wireless station. You can associate wireless clients with this access point. AP1 and AP2 in point-to-point bridge mode with each other...

  • Page 41: Wireless Point-To-Point Bridge Mode

    802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 • Wireless point-to-multi-point bridge mode. The access point serves as the base station for a group of bridge-mode wireless stations. You can associate wireless clients with this access point. AP2 (base station) in point-to-multi-point bridge mode...
  • Page 42 802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 • LAN address range. Each access point must be configured to operate in the same LAN network address range as the LAN devices. • DHCP. If you are using DHCP, all access points must be set to obtain an IP address Configure the Basic IP Settings automatically.

  • Page 43: Wireless Point-To-Multi-Point Bridge Mode

    802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 Click the Edit button. In the Remote MAC Address field, enter the MAC address of the other access point. Under Authentication Settings, specify the authentication settings for your bridge network. Click the Apply button.
  • Page 44 You can extend this multi-point bridging by adding additional access points configured in point-to-point bridge mode for each additional LAN segment. You can also extend the range of the wireless network with NETGEAR wireless antenna accessories. To configure a point-to-multi-point wireless base station: ...
  • Page 45 802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 Select the Wireless Point-to-Multi-Point Bridge radio button. To enable wireless client association, select the Enable Wireless Client Association check box. Select the radio button for the first access point that you want to connect to the base station and click the Edit button.

  • Page 46: Client Mode

    802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 • Only the base station access point is configured in wireless point-to-multi-point bridge mode and all the other access points are in wireless point-to-point bridge mode. • For all point-to-point access point, the MAC address of the base station access point must be specified in their Remote AP MAC Address fields.
  • Page 47 802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 Select Configuration > Wireless Bridge. Select the band that you want to use for the bridge: • To set up the bridge on the 2.4 GHz band, click the 802.11b/bg/ng tab. • To set up the bridge on the 5 GHz band, click the 802.11a/ag/na tab.

  • Page 48: Chapter 4 Manage The Access Point

    Manage the Access Point This chapter covers the following topics: Change the admin Password • Upgrade the Firmware • Manage the Configuration File • Enable a Syslog Server •...

  • Page 49: Change The Admin Password

    Your settings are saved. Upgrade the Firmware The firmware is stored in flash memory and can be updated as NETGEAR releases new firmware. You can download upgrade files from the NETGEAR website. If the upgrade file is compressed (.zip file), you must first extract the image (.rmt) file before sending it to the access point.
  • Page 50 To upgrade the firmware:  Download the new software file from the NETGEAR website, save it to your hard disk, and unzip it. Visit http://www.netgear.com. Launch a web browser on the computer that is connected to the access point.

  • Page 51: Manage The Configuration File

    Your browser extracts the configuration file from the access point and prompts you for a location on your computer to store the file. Give the file a meaningful name, such as WAC120.cfg and click the Save button. Restore the Configuration File To restore the access point settings from a saved configuration file: ...

  • Page 52: Restore The Factory Default Settings

    802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 A login prompt displays. Enter the user name and password. The user name is admin and the default password is password. The General screen displays. Select Maintenance > Upgrade > Restore Defaults. Click the Browse button.

  • Page 53: Enable A Syslog Server

    802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 The General screen displays. Select Maintenance > Reset > Restore Defaults. Select the Yes radio button. Click the Apply button. The access point password is password, the access point DHCP client is disabled, the default LAN IP address is 192.168.0.100, and the access point name is reset to the name...
  • Page 54 802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 Select Configuration > System > Advanced > SysLog. If your LAN includes a syslog server, select the Enable Syslog check box. In the Syslog Server IP Address field, type the IP address of your syslog server.

  • Page 55: Chapter 5 Monitoring

    Monitoring This chapter covers the following topics: View System Information • View Available Wireless Stations • Activity Log • View Network Traffic Statistics •...

  • Page 56: View System Information

    802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 View System Information You can view a summary of the current access point configuration settings, including current IP settings and current wireless settings. This information is read-only, so any changes must be made on other screens.

  • Page 57: View Available Wireless Stations

    802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 • Wireless MAC Address for 5 GHz. The MAC address of the access point’s 5 GHz wireless port. • Band Steering. Indicates whether band steering is enabled or disabled. • Country/Region. The domain or region for which the access point is licensed for use.

  • Page 58: Activity Log

    802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 The General screen displays. Select Monitoring > Wireless Stations. You can view the MAC address, IP address, BSSID, SSID, channel rate, state, type, AID, mode, and status (whether the station is allowed to communicate with the access point).

  • Page 59: View Network Traffic Statistics

    802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 The General screen displays. Select Monitoring > Logs. The Logs screen displays: To update the display, click the Refresh button. To clear the log content, click Clear button. To save the log contents in a file on your computer or to save the file to a disk drive, click the Save As button.
  • Page 60 802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 The General screen displays. Select Monitoring > Statistics. The following information is displayed: • Packets. The number of packets sent and received on the Ethernet port since the access point was restarted. • Bytes. The number of bytes sent and received on the Ethernet port since the access point was restarted.

  • Page 61: Chapter 6 Troubleshooting And Debugging

    Troubleshooting with the LEDs • Cannot Connect to the Access Point to Configure It • Wireless Access to the Network • Time-Out Error for URL or IP Address • Note: For up-to-date WAC120 installation details and troubleshooting guidance, visit http://support.netgear.com.

  • Page 62: Troubleshooting With The Leds

    If it is plugged directly into the wall, verify that it is not a switched outlet. • Make sure that you are using the correct NETGEAR power adapter supplied with your access point. LAN LED Is Off A hardware connection problem occurred.

  • Page 63: Cannot Connect To The Access Point To Configure It

    802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 Cannot Connect to the Access Point to Configure It Check these items: • The access point is installed correctly, LAN connections are OK, and the access point is powered on. Check that the LAN port LED is green to verify that the Ethernet connection is OK.
  • Page 64 802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 • If the access point is configured correctly, check your Internet connection (DSL or cable modem, and so on) to make sure that it is working correctly. • Try again. Troubleshooting and Debugging...

  • Page 65: Appendix A Supplemental Information

    Supplemental Information This appendix covers the following topics: Factory Settings • Technical Specifications •...

  • Page 66: Factory Settings

    802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 Factory Settings You can return the access point to its factory settings. Use the end of a paper clip or a similar object to press and hold the Reset button on the back of the router for at least seven seconds.
  • Page 67 802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 Table 2. Factory default settings (continued) Feature Description Wireless modes 11ng 11ac Wireless network names (SSIDs) NETGEAR_11ng NETGEAR_11ac Broadcast network names (SSIDs) Enabled Radio frequency channels 11ng: Auto 11ac: Auto MCS index/data rate (transmission...
  • Page 68 802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 Table 2. Factory default settings (continued) Feature Description AP EDCA parameters (QoS settings) • AIFS. The Arbitration Inter-Frame Spacing (AIFS) interval specifies, in milliseconds, the wait time between data frames. Higher AIFS values mean higher priority to that queue.
  • Page 69 802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 Table 2. Factory default settings (continued) Feature Description Default Wireless Profile and Profile Security Profile name NETGEAR Wireless network names (SSIDs) NETGEAR_11ng NETGEAR_11ac Broadcast wireless network names Enabled (SSIDs) Network authentication Open system (no authentication)

  • Page 70: Technical Specifications

    802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 Technical Specifications Table 3. WAC120 access point specifications Feature Description 802.11b/bg/ng Wireless Specifications 802.11b data rates 1, 2, 5.5, and 11 Mbps, and auto-rate capable 802.11bg data rates 1, 2, 5.5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54 Mbps, and auto-rate capable 802.11ng MCS index and...
  • Page 71 802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 Table 3. (continued)WAC120 access point specifications (continued) Feature Description 802.11na data rates Data rates for a 20 MHz channel width and an automatic guard interval: 0 / 14.4 Mbps, 1 / 28.9 Mbps, 2 / 43.3 Mbps, 3 / 57.8 Mbps, 4 / 86.7 Mbps, ...
  • Page 72 802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC120 Table 3. (continued)WAC120 access point specifications (continued) Feature Description Physical specifications • Dimensions (h x w x d): 178.6 x 169.4 x 57 mm (7.0 x 6.7 x 2.24 in.) • Weight: 322g (0.71 lb) Environmental Operating temperature: 0 to 50°C (32 to 122°F)...

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