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3Com 6000 User Manual

11 mbps wireless lan access point
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Download this manual See also: User Manual, Installation Manual
http://www.3com.com/
http://support.3com.com/registration/frontpg.pl/
Published May, 2001
Version 2.0.2
11 Mbps Wireless LAN
Access Point 6000
User Guide
Full featured wireless local area networking made simple.
Version 2.0

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  • Page 1 11 Mbps Wireless LAN Access Point 6000 User Guide Full featured wireless local area networking made simple. Version 2.0 http://www.3com.com/ http://support.3com.com/registration/frontpg.pl/ Published May, 2001 Version 2.0.2...
  • Page 2 3Com Corporation reserves the right to revise this documentation and to make changes in content from time to time without obligation on the part of 3Com Corporation to provide notification of such revision or change. 3Com Corporation provides this documentation without warranty, term, or condition of any kind, either implied or expressed, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties, terms or conditions of merchantability, satisfactory quality, and fitness for a particular purpose.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    ONTENTS NTRODUCTION How Does a Wireless LAN Work? Network Association Roaming Security Ad Hoc Networks Setting Up a 3Com Wireless LAN All Wireless Networks Wired/Wireless Networks Product Registration and Support NSTALLING THE CCESS OINT Before You Begin Deciding Where to Place Equipment...
  • Page 4 Viewing System Status Upgrading the System Downloading Upgrade Files Installing an Upgrade Installing the Management Tool on a Computer Restoring an Access Point to Factory Defaults Interoperating with Third-Party Equipment ONDUCTING A URVEY Choosing Trial Locations Environmental Requirements Electrical Requirements Summary of the Survey Procedure Using the Site Survey Tool Setting up Equipment...
  • Page 5 SING THE IRELESS About the 3Com Icon Interpreting Status Icons Using the 3Com WLAN Configuration Utility Using 3Com Administrator Utilities ONFIGURING THE IRELESS LIENT Changing Network and Security Settings Network Settings Security Settings 40-bit Shared Key (Wi-Fi) Encryption Settings 128-bit Dynamic Security Link Settings...
  • Page 6 ECHNICAL UPPORT Online Technical Services World Wide Web Site 3Com Knowledgebase Web Services 3Com FTP Site Support from Your Network Supplier Support from 3Com Returning Products for Repair NDEX EGULATORY OMPLIANCE NFORMATION...

  • Page 7: Introduction

    3Com wireless technology brings the benefits of a local area network (LAN) to your office without the restraints and expense of network wiring. If your office already has an Ethernet LAN, the 3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN can extend the network without adding more wires.

  • Page 8: Setting Up A 3Com Wireless Lan

    All Wireless Networks The simplest 3Com wireless LAN consists of several clients associating in an ad hoc network without an access point. A simple configuration consists of one access point and several clients. The clients can associate with the wireless network anywhere within the coverage area of the access point.

  • Page 9: Product Registration And Support

    To register your product with 3Com, go to the following Web page: and Support http://support.3com.com/registration/frontpg.pl For support information, see “Technical Support” on page 61 or log on to the 3Com Web site at http://www.3com.com and navigate to the product support page.

  • Page 11: Installing The Access Point

    You should conduct a site survey before you install the access point permanently. A site survey tool is provided on the 3Com Administrator Utilities CD. To conduct the survey, you need to set up a wireless client with the administrator utilities.

  • Page 12: Placing The Access Point

    2: I HAPTER NSTALLING THE CCESS OINT Placing the Access The access point can be placed on a flat surface such as a table, desktop, or the Point top of a cabinet; or it can be mounted on a wall or to the T-rail grid of an acoustical ceiling.

  • Page 13: Mounting On A Ceiling

    Connecting Power Mounting on a Ceiling To mount an access point to the T-rail grid of an acoustical ceiling, you must first attach the mounting bracket to the access point as shown in the following illustration. Align the T-rail grips with the ceiling T-rail, adjust them so that they grip the T-rail snugly, and tighten the screws on the T-rail grip.

  • Page 14: Connecting To An Ethernet Network

    2: I HAPTER NSTALLING THE CCESS OINT outlet exists. To connect the power, see the following illustration. Make sure you connect the cable to the port labeled To Access Point on the power brick. When the access point receives power, the LEDs light. CAUTION: If you supply your own Ethernet cable for connecting power, be sure that it is standard cable that has not been altered in any way.

  • Page 15: Checking The Led Indicators

    Checking the LED Indicators Checking the LED Indicators LED Indicator Description Power On—Access point is receiving power. Off—Access point is not receiving power. Wireless Blinking—The access point is operating. The blink speed ranges from approximately once every 2.5 seconds to approximately 10 times per second, depending on the signal strength and transmission speed.

  • Page 17: Managing The Wireless Lan

    IRELESS Overview If your 3Com Wireless LAN has only one access point, a few clients, and no special security requirements, you can use the 3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN access point 6000 just as it was shipped from the factory. If your network is more complex, you will want to organize access points so that you can manage the wireless LAN easily, and you may want to add security.

  • Page 18: Selecting An Access Point For Configuration

    1 In the Windows system tray, click the 3Com icon to display the 3Com WLAN Launcher. If the 3Com WLAN Launcher is not already running, you can start it from the Windows Start menu. Select Start/Programs/3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN/3Com WLAN Launcher.

  • Page 19: Changing Access Point Properties

    Optionally, you can enter the location of the None access point. WLAN Service Area To enable clients to roam among multiple 3Com Wireless Network access points, the access points must have identical WLAN service areas. To maintain wireless association, the WLAN service area on the client and the access point with which it is associated must match exactly.

  • Page 20: Setting Network Properties

    3: M HAPTER ANAGING THE IRELESS Setting Network In the Configuration Management System navigation tree under System Properties Configuration, click Network Properties. The Network Configuration page appears, where you can change the settings shown in the table below. Setting Description Access Point Network This setting allows you to change the IP address of the access point.

  • Page 21: Setting Data Transmission Properties

    Channel list. Network Traffic Accelerator—To increase performance, click On (Enhanced performance). If you experience problems when equipment other than 3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN equipment is being used, click Off. Data Preamble—To increase performance, click Short (Enhanced performance).

  • Page 22: Setting Up Access Control

    Configuration templates help you to copy standard parameters from one access Templates point 6000 to another. Use of templates makes configuring access points easier and faster because after you save a template, you can load it to another access point.

  • Page 23: Loading A Template

    Saving Access Point Configurations 3 In the Save Configuration Template page, click Save Template. 4 Specify a name and location for the template, and click OK. Loading a Template 1 In the Wireless Network Tree, select an access point and click Configure. 2 In the Configuration Management System navigation tree under Save/Restore Files, click Load Template.

  • Page 24: Viewing System Status

    You can download firmware updates or updates of the Web server file system (the files that make up the Configuration Management System) from the 3Com Web site at http://.3com.com and install those updates on the access point. To avoid problems...

  • Page 25: Installing The Management Tool On A Computer

    However, some third party equipment may not support 3Com access point 6000 enhanced performance features. You may need to turn off the Network Traffic Accelerator and Data Preamble transmission properties to...

  • Page 27: Conducting A Site Survey

    Setting up a small office with a basic wireless LAN can be as simple as placing the 3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN access point 6000 in a central area, plugging it in, and setting up one or more clients. However, you can be certain that you have selected the best location if you conduct a site survey before permanently installing an access point.

  • Page 28: Electrical Requirements

    Available AC power. See “Electrical Requirements”. Electrical Requirements The 3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN access point 6000 draws power over Category 5 Ethernet cabling using a power brick. Because erratic electrical power can lead to serious transmission problems and loss of data, 3Com recommends using one of the following power alternatives.

  • Page 29: Using The Site Survey Tool

    1 In the Windows system tray, click the 3Com icon to display the 3Com WLAN Launcher. If the 3Com WLAN Launcher is not already running, you can start it from the Windows Start menu. Select Start/Programs/3Com WLAN Launcher. 2 In the 3Com WLAN Launcher, click the Hammer icon to display the 3Com WLAN Configuration Utility window.

  • Page 30: Running The Tests

    As you run the tests, the Site Survey utility keeps track of results and builds a list of Results access point locations rated from best to least desirable. In the 3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN Site Survey window you see the following information: Rated AP Test Locations—This list of access point locations appears in the...

  • Page 31: Site Survey Menus

    Site Survey Menus The following tables describe the command menus in the 3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN Site Survey window. File New Survey Start a new set of tests.

  • Page 33: Installing The Wireless Client

    NSTALLING THE IRELESS LIENT Installing a wireless client consists of inserting the 3Com Wireless LAN PC Card ® with XJACK Antenna in your computer and installing the software driver and utilities. If you have 3Com Administrator Utilities installed on a wireless client, you can manage access points or run a site survey.

  • Page 34: Disk Factory

    For the application software, label diskettes numerically (Disk 1, Disk 2, Disk 3...). 2 Put the 3Com CD in the CD-ROM drive. The setup program should start automatically. If it does not start, run it manually by selecting Run from the Start menu and specifying the srsetup.exe program (for example, d:\srsetup.exe).

  • Page 35: Installing The Software

    Installing the Software The antenna has two positions: extended and retracted. To extend or retract the antenna, gently but firmly press and release it. The antenna must be extended to make a network association. To prevent it from damage, the antenna should be retracted when not in use, when you are inserting the card in your computer, or when you are transporting the computer.

  • Page 36: Windows Wizard Installation

    After the computer restarts, the 3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN Client Setup window opens, in which you specify the PC Card configuration. 1 In the 3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN Client Setup window, select Typical and click Next. Typical configures the PC Card with the following default values: WLAN Service Area—Attach to any WLAN Service Area automatically...

  • Page 37: Install Utilities

    2 If the 3Com 11 Mbps WLAN Menu appears, click Exit. 3 From the Windows Start menu, select Start/Run. 4 In the run dialog box, type the path to the CardWizard installer on the 3Com CD. For example: d:\cw\disk1\setup.exe 5 Follow the prompts to install CardWizard.

  • Page 38: Installation Under Service Pack 5 And Above

    (for example, d:) and click OK. If you are installing from diskettes, enter the path to the diskette drive. 9 In the Select OEM Option window, select 3Com 3CRWE62092A Wireless LAN PC Card and click OK.

  • Page 39: Set Up The Pc Card

    4 Run the Setup program: a From the Windows Start menu, select Run. b In the Run dialog box, enter a path to the Setup program on the 3Com CD. For example, d:\srsetup.exe. The 3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN Setup program starts.

  • Page 40: Confirming The Installation

    Shortcut icon to the 3Com WLAN Launcher is on your desktop (unless you specified no icon during the installation). If you do not see the 3Com WLAN Launcher window, click the 3Com icon in the Windows system tray to display it.

  • Page 41: 128-Bit Dynamic Security Link Authentication

    4 Enter the password again to confirm it. 5 Click Next when finished. Installing the Documentation in PDF and HTML formats is supplied on the 3Com CD and is Documentation installed automatically during a typical installation. If you chose not to install documentation when you installed the PC Card and utilities, you can use Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel to install it.
  • Page 42 You need Acrobat Reader to read the documentation in PDF format and a Web browser to read the documentation in HTML format. The English versions of Acrobat Reader and the Internet Explorer Web browser are on the 3Com CD. You can obtain versions of Acrobat Reader in languages other than English from the Adobe Web site at www.adobe.com.

  • Page 43: Using The Wireless Lan

    To display the 3Com WLAN Launcher, click the 3Com icon in the Windows system tray. If the 3Com WLAN Launcher is not already running, you can start it from the Windows Start menu. Select Start/Programs/3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN/3Com WLAN Launcher.

  • Page 44: About The 3Com Icon

    Yellow circle with a black X indicates that the computer does not detect a PC Card. If the 3Com WLAN Launcher is hidden, click the 3Com icon to display it. You can also right-click the 3Com icon and select from these menu items: Open Displays the 3Com WLAN Launcher.
  • Page 45 A green dotted line with a padlock between the two icons indicates a good association with security. If you are using a 3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN access point 6000 and it is properly connected to an Ethernet network, a network icon is shown.

  • Page 46: Using The 3Com Wlan Configuration Utility

    Windows Start menu. Select Start/Programs/3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN/3Com WLAN Launcher. 2 In the 3Com WLAN Launcher, click the Padlock or the Hammer icon to display the 3Com WLAN Configuration Utility window. (The tab that appears on top depends on the icon used to open the window.) The 3Com WLAN Configuration Utility window contains these tabs:...

  • Page 47: Using 3Com Administrator Utilities

    If the 3Com WLAN Launcher is not already running, you can start it from the Windows Start menu. Select Start/Programs/3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN/3Com WLAN Launcher. 2 In the 3Com WLAN Launcher, click the Hammer icon to display the Tools tab in 3Com WLAN Configuration Utility window. The Tools tab contains these tools: Access Point Management—Allows you to select an access point and launch...
  • Page 48 6: U HAPTER SING THE IRELESS Firmware Upgrade—Upgrades the firmware on the wireless client PC Card. See “Upgrading PC Card Firmware” on page 55. Diagnostics—Runs diagnostics on the wireless client PC Card. See “Running Diagnostics” on page 49. Site Survey—See “Conducting a Site Survey” on page 21.

  • Page 49: Configuring The Wireless Client

    1 In the Windows system tray, click the 3Com icon to display the 3Com WLAN Launcher. If the 3Com WLAN Launcher is not already running, you can start it from the Windows Start menu. Select Start/Programs/3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN/3Com WLAN Launcher.

  • Page 50: Security Settings

    An encryption string is a string of characters between 6 and 30 characters long. The string can be any combination of letters and numbers and is case sensitive. The encryption string can be used only with other 3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN PC Cards and access point 6000 units.

  • Page 51: 128-Bit Dynamic Security Link Settings

    Setting up Auto Network Connect Hexadecimal keys are sequences of hexadecimal digits arranged into four keys. A hexadecimal digit may be a letter from A to F or a number from 0 to 9. This type of encryption is compatible with Wi-Fi certified equipment from other manufacturers.

  • Page 52: Setting Up An Ad Hoc Network

    1 In the Windows system tray, click the 3Com icon to display the 3Com WLAN Launcher. If the 3Com WLAN Launcher is not already running, you can start it from the Windows Start menu. Select Start/Programs/3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN/3Com WLAN Launcher.

  • Page 53: Joining An Ad Hoc Network Session

    1 In the Windows system tray, click the 3Com icon to display the 3Com WLAN Launcher. If the 3Com WLAN Launcher is not already running, you can start it from the Windows Start menu. Select Start/Programs/3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN/3Com WLAN Launcher.

  • Page 54: Changing Your Password

    1 In the Windows system tray, click the 3Com icon to display the 3Com WLAN Launcher. If the 3Com WLAN Launcher is not already running, you can start it from the Windows Start menu. Select Start/Programs/3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN/3Com WLAN Launcher.

  • Page 55: Running Diagnostics

    1 In the Windows system tray, click the 3Com icon to display the 3Com WLAN Launcher. If the 3Com WLAN Launcher is not already running, you can start it from the Windows Start menu. Select Start/Programs/3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN/3Com WLAN Launcher.
  • Page 56 7: C HAPTER ONFIGURING THE IRELESS LIENT Item Description Network Name If the network type is Ad hoc, shows the name of the ad hoc network. For information on ad hoc networks, see “Setting up an Ad Hoc Network” on page 46. If the network type is access point, this item does not appear in the list.

  • Page 57: Troubleshooting

    ROUBLESHOOTING Diagnosing Problems The icons in the 3Com WLAN Launcher window indicate the network status and can help you diagnose problems. To display the 3Com WLAN Launcher, double click the 3Com icon in the Windows system tray. Access Point If you have difficulty with the access point, try the solutions in the following table.

  • Page 58: Pc Card

    DHCP server when it has an assigned assign it an IP address. IP address. PC Cards other than 3Com The cards may not support the access point’s enhanced 11 Mbps Wireless LAN PC performance features. Try turning the Network Traffic Cards cannot communicate Accelerator and Data Preamble transmission properties off.
  • Page 59 PC Card drivers. You may have had no CD or the wrong CD inserted in the drive, or the 3Com CD may not have been ready when the wizard looked for the drivers. Remove the unknown device and repeat the installation procedure.

  • Page 60: Using The Tools Window

    In the Tools window you can change your password, run diagnostics, or upgrade Window the PC Card firmware. If you have 3Com Administrator Utilities, you can also connect to the access point and perform management administration functions. See the following topics for more information: “Changing Your Password”...

  • Page 61: Uninstalling Software Utilities

    Uninstalling Software Utilities Uninstalling Software If you want to uninstall the 3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN software utilities, you Utilities can either use the standard operating system procedure for removing programs or use the following shortcut procedure: 1 From the Windows Start menu, select Programs, then 3Com 11Mbps Wireless LAN, then Uninstall 3Com 11Mbps Wireless LAN.

  • Page 63: Without Networking Installed

    If the 3Com 11 Mbps WLAN Menu appears, click Exit. From the Windows Start menu, select Start/Run. In the run dialog box, type the path to the CardWizard installer on the 3Com CD. For example: d:\cw\disk1\setup.exe Follow the prompts to install CardWizard.
  • Page 64 The Windows NT Setup windows asks for the location of the Windows NT installation files. Remove the 3Com CD from the CD-ROM drive, put the Windows NT CD in the drive and wait for it to spin up to speed. Make sure that the correct path to your CD-ROM drive appears in the entry box (for example, d:) and click Continue.

  • Page 65: Install Cardwizard

    When prompted to run the Setup program, click OK. Run the Setup program: From the Windows Start menu, select Run. In the Run dialog box, enter a path to the Setup program on the 3Com CD. For example, d:\srsetup.exe. The 3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN Setup program starts.

  • Page 66: Install Utilities

    A: W NT I HAPTER INDOWS NSTALLATION ITHOUT ETWORKING NSTALLED Install Utilities Read the Welcome page and click Next. Read the Software License Agreement and click Yes. (If you click No, the installation stops.) Select a destination folder for the software files and click Next. In the Setup Type window, select the type of installation for the software: Typical—Installs the software and documentation.

  • Page 67: Technical Support

    3Com recommends that you access the 3Com Corporation World Wide Web site. Online Technical 3Com offers worldwide product support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, through Services the following online systems: World Wide Web site...

  • Page 68: Support From Your Network Supplier

    Diagnostic error messages Details about recent configuration changes, if applicable Here is a list of worldwide technical telephone support numbers. These numbers are correct at the time of publication. Refer to the 3Com Web site for updated information. Country Telephone Number Asia, Pacific Rim...
  • Page 69 0800 966197 Latin America Brazil 0800 13 3266 Mexico 01 800 849CARE Puerto Rico 800 666 5065 Central and South America AT&T +800 998 2112 North America 1 800 NET 3Com (1 800 638 3266) Enterprise Customers: 1 800 876-3266...

  • Page 70: Returning Products For Repair

    ECHNICAL UPPORT Returning Products Before you send a product directly to 3Com for repair, you must first obtain an for Repair authorization number. Products sent to 3Com without authorization numbers will be returned to the sender unopened, at the sender’s expense. To obtain an...
  • Page 71 3Com CDs maintenance for access points media 3Com End User Utilities CD templates typical 3Com icon, in Windows system tray utility installation media requirements 3Com Knowledgebase Web Services Configuration Management System Internet Protocol address 3Com URL configuring network settings interoperating with third-party 3Com WLAN Configuration Utility...
  • Page 72 3Com WLAN Launcher setting status power, 24-hour requirement warranty, registration display, Ethernet product registration Web browser requirements icons Web server file system, upgrading...
  • Page 73 XPOSURE OTICE body to antenna distance of 20 cm. This product does not contain any user serviceable components. Any unauthorized product changes or modifications will invalidate 3Com’s warranty and all applicable regulatory certifications and approvals. FCC P 15 N OTICE This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules.
  • Page 74 - CE UROPEAN OMMUNITY Marking by the symbol: OTICE indicates compliance of this equipment to the R&TTE Directive 1999/5/EC. Such marking is indicative that this equipment meets or exceeds the following technical standards: ETS 300 328 - Electromagnetic compatibility and Radio spectrum Matters (ERM); Wideband Transmission systems; data transmission equipment operating in the 2,4 GHz ISM band and using spread spectrum modulation techniques ETS 300 826 - Electromagnetic compatibility and Radio spectrum Matters (ERM);...

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