3Com WL-308 User manual

http://www.3com.com/
http://support.3com.com/registration/frontpg.pl/
11 Mbps Wireless LAN
Workgroup Bridge
User Guide
Quickly and cost-effectively create Wi-Fi certified workgroups
Version 1
Published December, 2001
Version 1.0.3

3Com Corporation
5400 Bayfront Plaza
Santa Clara, California
95052-8145
Copyright © 2001 3Com Corporation. All rights reserved. No part of this documentation may be reproduced
in any form or by any means or used to make any derivative work (such as translation, transformation, or
adaptation) without written permission from 3Com Corporation.
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
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If there is any software on removable media described in this documentation, it is furnished under a license
agreement included with the product as a separate document, in the hard copy documentation, or on the
removable media in a directory file named LICENSE.TXT or !LICENSE.TXT. If you are unable to locate a copy,
please contact 3Com and a copy will be provided to you.
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT LEGEND
If you are a United States government agency, then this documentation and the software described herein
are provided to you subject to the following:
All technical data and computer software are commercial in nature and developed solely at private expense.
Software is delivered as “Commercial Computer Software” as defined in DFARS 252.227-7014 (June 1995)
or as a “commercial item” as defined in FAR 2.101(a) and as such is provided with only such rights as are
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not be registered in other countries.
3Com and NBX are registered trademarks and the 3Com logo is a trademark of 3Com Corporation.
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All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they
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EXPORT RESTRICTIONS: This product or software contains encryption code which may not be exported or
transferred from the US or Canada without an approved US Department of Commerce export license.

C ONTENTS
1
I
NTRODUCTION
Infrastructure and Ad Hoc Operating Modes 5
Example Configurations 5
Wireless Network for the Office or Classroom 5
Converged Connections in the Office 6
Workgroup Ad Hoc Networks 6
Product Registration and Support 6
2
I
NSTALLING THE
W
ORKGROUP
B
RIDGE
Before You Begin 7
Where should I Place the Bridge? 7
Do I Need to Configure the Bridge? 7
Connecting the Bridge 8
About the Client List 8
Hub Connection 9
3Com NBX Telephone Set Connection 9
Printer Connection 10
Computer Connection 10
Checking the LED Indicators 10
Summary of Configuration Steps 11
Installing the Infrastructure Device Manager 11
3
C
ONFIGURING
W
ORKGROUP
B
RIDGES
Locating a Wireless Device 13
Entering, Clearing, and Applying System Configuration Settings 14
Changing System Properties 14
Setting IP Network Properties 15
Refreshing the Client List 15
Setting Wireless Network Properties 16
Setting Advanced Performance Properties 16
Setting up an Ad Hoc Network 17
Changing Security Settings 18
No Security (Open System) 18
40-bit Shared Key (Wi-Fi) 18
128-bit Shared Key 18
128-bit Dynamic Security Link 19
Setting up the Wireless Network Login 19
Resetting the Bridge 19

Restoring a Bridge to Factory Defaults 19
Upgrading the System 19
Locating Upgrade Files 20
Installing an Upgrade 20
Changing the Administration Password 20
Backing up a Configuration 20
Restoring a Configuration 21
Viewing System Status 21
Interoperating with Third-Party Equipment 21
4
T
ROUBLESHOOTING
Disconnecting the Bridge 24
Uninstalling the Infrastructure Device Manager 24
Uninstalling Configuration Help Files 24
Upgrading Bridge Firmware 24
I
NDEX
R
EGULATORY
C
OMPLIANCE
I
NFORMATION

1
I
NTRODUCTION
3Com wireless technology has all the benefits of a local area network (LAN)
without the restraints and expense of network wiring. 3Com 11 Mbps Wireless
LAN products provide easy, affordable, flexible ways to extend wireless networks
to more users.
This guide shows how you can use the 3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN Workgroup
Bridge in your office or classroom to connect groups of wired Ethernet client
devices to your wireless LAN.
Infrastructure and Ad
Hoc Operating Modes
Operating in infrastructure mode and connected to an Ethernet hub, a single
workgroup bridge can combine up to four client devices—such as computers with
network adapters, printers, and 3Com NBX
®
telephone sets—into a multiclient
workgroup . The workgroup associates with the wired network through a wireless
LAN access point such as the 3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN Access Point 6000.
Infrastructure configurations extend your wireless LAN to devices that would
otherwise have to be connected to the wired network.
Operating in
ad hoc mode, two or more bridges can associate among themselves
at close range without an access point, allowing their workgroups to
communicate. You may wish to set up an ad hoc network, for example, if a group
is working away from the office, or if a group in the office needs to share files
apart from the wired LAN.
Example
Configurations
The following examples illustrate ways you can use the wireless workgroup bridge
to configure Ethernet client devices into workgroups. (Details for setting up
specific configurations are in “Installing the Workgroup Bridge” on page 7.)
Wireless Network for
the Office or Classroom
You can connect several computers, including those with non-Windows operating
systems, and printers, as shown below.

6 C
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1: I
NTRODUCTION
Converged Connections
in the Office
You can provide converged voice and data services by connecting the bridge and a
computer to a 3Com NBX
®
telephone set as shown below.
Workgroup Ad Hoc
Networks
You can provide flexible wireless network association for small groups in areas that
cannot be wired as shown below.
Product Registration
and Support
To register your product with 3Com, go to the following Web page:
http://support.3com.com/registration/frontpg.pl
For support information, log on to the 3Com Web site at http://www.3com.com
and navigate to the product support page.

2
I
NSTALLING THE
W
ORKGROUP
B
RIDGE
Before You Begin Make sure that you have the following items, which are included with the
3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN Workgroup Bridge:
■
Power supply and power cord.
■
Standard Category 5 unshielded twisted pair (UTP) Ethernet cable.
To connect the bridge to a hub that does not have an uplink (MDIX) port, you
need an Ethernet crossover cable (not supplied).
Before you connect the bridge, decide where to place it and whether you need to
configure it.
Where should I Place the
Bridge?
You should place the bridge in a dry, clean location near the hub, telephone,
computer, or printer that will be connected to the bridge. The location must have
a power source and be within 300 feet (100 meters) of a Wi-Fi compliant wireless
LAN access point. The location should be away from transformers, heavy-duty
motors, fluorescent lights, microwave ovens, refrigerators, or other equipment
that could cause radio signal interference.
Do I Need to Configure
the Bridge?
If your network has a DHCP server and no special security requirements, you can
use the workgroup bridge just as it is shipped from the factory. If your network is
more complex, you will want to organize devices so that you can manage the
wireless LAN easily and keep it secure. The following table shows the workgroup
bridge configuration factory defaults.
To configure the bridge, you need a computer running one of the following
operating systems and one of the following browsers:
Operating Systems Browsers
Windows XP Netscape 4.7 or later
Windows 2000 Internet Explorer 5.0 or later
Windows NT 4.0
Windows Me
Windows 98
Windows 95
Property Default Setting
Device Name 3ComWWB
Device Location None

8 C
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NSTALLING THE
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ORKGROUP
B
RIDGE
If the factory defaults meet your requirements, you can connect the bridge as
described in the following topics:
■ “Hub Connection” on page 9
■
“3Com NBX Telephone Set Connection” on page 9
■
“Computer Connection” on page 10
■ “Printer Connection” on page 10.
Connecting the Bridge The workgroup bridge supports up to four specific Ethernet devices. It uses a
client list of MAC addresses to keep track of specific devices that have
been connected.
About the Client List Each time a new device is connected to the bridge, either directly or through a
hub, that device’s MAC address is added to the client list. After four different
devices have been connected, the client list is full, and you must refresh it before
the next new device can associate with the network through the bridge. To refresh
Help File Location Local Drive
Help File Path c:\Program Files\3Com\Management Help
IP Network Setting Obtain IP address automatically
IP Address Obtained automatically
Subnet Mask Obtained automatically
Gateway IP Address Obtained automatically
Clear Channel Select Off
Channel Uses access point channel.
Wireless LAN Service Area Attach to any WLAN Service Area automatically
Network Mode Access Point (infrastructure)
Access Point Privacy Mode Off
Network Traffic Accelerator Off (Wi-Fi interoperable)
Data Preamble Long (Wi-Fi interoperable)
Security Setting No Security (Open System)
Administration Password None
TFTP Server IP Address None (Uses TFTP port 69.)
Property Default Setting
If the configuration that was set at the factory does not meet your network
requirements, or if you want to customize settings, see “Summary of
Configuration Steps” on page 11 before connecting the bridge.

Connecting the Bridge 9
the list, you must access the bridge’s configuration management system. Details
on this procedure are in “Refreshing the Client List” on page 15.
Hub Connection You can supply network connections for up to four devices, such as computers
and printers, by connecting the bridge to an Ethernet hub, as shown below.
3Com NBX
Telephone Set
Connection
You can provide converged voice and data services in an office cubicle that is not
wired for Ethernet by connecting the bridge to a 3Com NBX telephone set as
shown below. The NBX server is connected to the same switch or router to which
the access point is connected.
Uplink port
Make sure that the workgroup bridge Ethernet cable is plugged into the hub
uplink (MDIX) port. If your hub does not have an uplink port, you must use an
Ethernet crossover cable (not provided), which can be connected in any port.

10 C
HAPTER
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NSTALLING THE
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ORKGROUP
B
RIDGE
Printer Connection You can connect the bridge directly to a printer as shown below. Used this way,
the workgroup bridge allows you to place a printer in an area that is not wired
for Ethernet.
Computer Connection You can connect the bridge directly to a computer as shown below. Used this way,
the workgroup bridge can convert a desktop computer to a wireless computer.
This connection also allows you to configure a bridge before connecting it to
another device.
Checking the LED
Indicators
When the bridge is connected to power, two LEDs indicate activity as described
below.
LED Indicator Location Description
Wireless
association On the top of
the bridge
■
On—Unit is receiving power.
■
Off—Unit is not receiving power.
■
Blinking—The unit is transmitting or receiving. Faster
blinking indicates faster transmission speed.
Ethernet
connection At the RJ45 Ethernet
connector
■
On—Unit is receiving power.
■
Off—The unit is not receiving power.
■ Blinking—Wired LAN traffic is detected. Faster blinking
indicates heavier traffic.

Summary of Configuration Steps 11
Summary of
Configuration Steps
The default configuration settings are shown in “Do I Need to Configure the
Bridge?” on page 7. To change these settings, follow these steps:
1 Install the 3Com Wireless Infrastructure Device Manager on a computer as
described in “Installing the Infrastructure Device Manager” on page 11.
2 The first time you configure the workgroup bridge, it is recommended that you
connect it directly to the computer where the device manager is installed.
Once the bridge has been configured to associate with the wireless network, you
can change its configuration at any time from any location on the network.
3Launch the device manager and select the bridge as described in “Locating a
Wireless Device” on page 13.
4Use the 3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN Workgroup Bridge Configuration
Management System to change and save the settings. For details, see
“Configuring Workgroup Bridges” on page 13.
5After you save the configuration, disconnect the bridge from the computer and
connect it in its permanent place in the network.
For details on various ways to connect the bridge, see “Connecting the Bridge” on
page 8.
Installing the
Infrastructure Device
Manager
The 3Com installation CD contains the 3Com Wireless Infrastructure Device
Manager, a tool that helps you select 3Com wireless LAN devices and launch their
configuration management systems. The device manager must be installed on a
computer that has an Ethernet adapter and is running one of the Windows
operating systems and Web browsers listed in “Before You Begin” on page 7.
Follow these steps to install the device manager on your computer:
1Turn on the computer.
2Put the 3Com CD in the CD-ROM drive.
The setup menu appears. If it does not appear, you can start the setup menu from
the Windows Start menu. For example: Start/Run/D:setup.exe.
3In the menu, click Install the Tools and Documentation.
4In the next screen, click Install the Administration Tool.
5Follow the instructions on the screens to complete the installation.
Optionally, you can install documentation before you reboot. You must reboot the
computer before you can launch the tool.
6To launch the tool from the Windows Start menu. Select Start/Programs/3Com
Wireless Infrastructure Device Manager/3Com Wireless Infrastructure
Device Manager
For details on using the tool, see “Locating a Wireless Device” on page 13.

12 CHAPTER 2: INSTALLING THE WORKGROUP BRIDGE

3CONFIGURING WORKGROUP BRIDGES
If the workgroup bridge configuration that was set at the factory does not meet
your network requirements, or if you want to customize the settings, you can use
these tools to change the configuration:
3Com Wireless Infrastructure Device Manager—Helps you locate 3Com
wireless LAN devices on the network, select a device and view its properties,
and launch the device’s configuration management system. The device
manager must be installed on a computer that has an Ethernet adapter and is
running one of the Windows operating systems and Web browsers listed in
“Before You Begin” on page 7.
■3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN Workgroup Bridge Configuration
Management System—Resides on the 3Com workgroup bridge and lets you
configure that bridge through your Web browser.
Locating a Wireless
Device Make sure that the 3Com Wireless Infrastructure Device Manager is installed. The
device to be configured must be either connected directly to the computer or
associating with the wireless network, and it must connected to power. If you
have more than one device connected, make a note of the MAC address of the
device you want to select so that you can identify it in the device manager.
1To launch the device manager, select Start/Programs/3Com Wireless Infrastructure
Device Manager/3Com Wireless Infrastructure Device Manager.
If you have more than one network adapter installed on your computer, you may
be prompted to choose a network adapter. Choose the appropriate adapter and
click OK.
The Wireless Network Tree appears in the 3Com Wireless Infrastructure Device
Manager window. The tree lists all WLAN service areas on the network and
expands to show the 3Com wireless LAN devices that are associated to each
service area. Devices in a different subnet than your computer are identified with
exclamation points (!). You can refresh this display by clicking Refresh. You should
refresh the display, for example, after you change a device IP address.
2In the Wireless Network Tree, select the device you want to configure.
If more than one wireless LAN device appears in the tree and you are not sure that
you have selected the right one, click Properties and check the MAC address to
verify that it is the one you want.
3Click Configure.
If the selected device is on the same subnet as your computer, the Configuration
Management System main page appears in your Web browser.
If the selected device is on a different subnet, the device manager helps you to
assign an IP address on the same subnet as your computer. You may accept the
address offered or enter an address and click Next. The next window prompts for

14 CHAPTER 3: CONFIGURING WORKGROUP BRIDGES
an administrative password to allow the new IP address to be set. If this is the first
time the device is being configured, leave the password field blank and click Next.
The Configuration Management System main page appears in your Web browser.
The following table describes the functions of the buttons in the 3Com Wireless
Infrastructure Device Manager window.
Entering, Clearing,
and Applying System
Configuration
Settings
Some pages in the configuration have three buttons: Enter, Clear all Changes, and
Apply all Changes. Here is how to use these buttons:
■Enter stores settings temporarily in the device cache memory, but does not
apply them permanently in the device nonvolatile memory. You can use Enter
to save changes while you are configuring, but you cannot see the changes on
the System Summary Page until after you click Apply all Changes. You can use
Enter when you are making changes on multiple configuration pages, but you
do not want the changes to take effect until after all have been set.
■Clear all Changes returns the settings in the device cache memory to the values
they had before you last clicked Apply all Changes.
■Apply all Changes stores the settings permanently in the device nonvolatile
memory. After you click Apply all Changes, the new configuration settings take
effect and you can see the changes on the System Summary page.
Changing System
Properties Under System Configuration, click System Properties. The System Properties page
displays the properties of the selected device. You can change properties by
entering values in the fields and clicking the radio buttons (see the following
table). When you are finished, click Enter or Apply all Changes.
The following table describes the properties.
Button Description
Properties Displays the following properties of the selected device: Device Name, Device
Type, ESSID, IP Address, Subnet Mask, and MAC Address.
Configure Launches the Configuration Management System for the selected device. If
the selected device is on a different subnet, you are prompted to assign an
address on the same subnet as your computer.
Refresh Scans the network and displays the connected 3Com 11 Mbps Wireless
LAN devices.
Choose NIC If your computer has more than one network interface card installed, allows
you to choose which card you want to use.
Close Closes the device manager window and ends the session.
Help Launches the device manager help page in your browser.
If you forget to Enter or Apply all Changes before moving to a new configuration
page, your changes to the current page are lost. If you forget to Apply all
Changes before closing the browser, your changes are lost.
Property Description Default Value
Device Name This name appears in the System Summary
window. You can change the default name to
one of your choice.
3ComWWB

Setting IP Network Properties 15
Setting IP Network
Properties Under System Configuration, click IP Network. The IP Network Properties page
appears, where you can change the settings shown in the table below.
If you change the IP address and click Apply all Changes, you cannot continue to
configure the device using the old IP address. Therefore, you should click Enter if
want to continue configuring this device after you make this change. Otherwise,
you must do the following:
1Close your browser.
2Return to the 3Com Wireless Infrastructure Device Manager and click Refresh.
3Select the device and click Configure to start a new configuration session.
Refreshing the Client
List The workgroup bridge supports up to four specific clients (for example, computers
and printers) and keeps track of the clients with a list of their MAC addresses.
After the client limit is reached, you must refresh the client list to allow a new
client to associate with the network. For example, in a hub configuration with four
clients connected, if you disconnect a desktop computer and connect a new
laptop in its place, you must refresh the client list to establish network association
for the laptop. Follow these steps:
1Disconnect a client by unplugging its Ethernet cable from the hub or the bridge.
2Use the 3Com Wireless Infrastructure Device Manager to select the workgroup
bridge and launch its configuration management system.
Device Location Optionally, you can enter the location of the
device. None
Help File Location ■Web Server: Help files are located on the
network at the specified Help File Path.
■Local Drive: Help files are located on the
client at the specified Help File Path.
Local Drive
Help File Path The location of the Configuration
Management System help files on the web
server or on the local drive.
If you want to have access to help when you
click the ? in the configuration pages, you must
install the help from the 3Com CD in the
default location on the local computer. If you
install the help in a different location on the
local disk or on a web server, you must set the
Help File Path to the correct location.
c:\Program Files\3Com\
Management Help
Property Description Default Value
Setting Description
IP Network Setting This setting allows you to change the IP address of the device.
To let the device get an IP address automatically from a DHCP server,
click Obtain an IP address automatically and click Enter.
To specify an IP address, click Specify an IP address, enter the IP address
parameters in the spaces provided, and click Enter.
IP Address
Subnet Mask
Gateway IP Address
Parameters for use when you click Specify an IP address. Enter the
parameters in the spaces provided, and click Enter.

16 CHAPTER 3: CONFIGURING WORKGROUP BRIDGES
3Under System Configuration, click IP Network. The IP Network Properties page
appears. Click Refresh Client List.
4Connect the new client by plugging its Ethernet cable into the hub or the bridge.
Setting Wireless
Network Properties Under System Configuration, click Wireless Network Properties. The Wireless
Network Properties page appears, where you can select radio channel settings and
advanced performance settings. When you are finished, click Enter or Apply all
Changes.
■Network Mode—Click Access Point (Infrastructure) to associate with an
access point. Click Ad-hoc (Peer-to-Peer) to associate in ad hoc mode.
■Wireless LAN Service Area—Click Attach to any WLAN Service Area (ESSID)
automatically to allow the bridge to associate with any access point that is also
set to use any ESSID. In this mode, the bridge detects access points set for any
ESSID and uses the ESSID of the access point with the best signal strength. This
mode is not available when the network mode is Ad-hoc (Peer-to-Peer).
Click Specify the Wireless LAN Service Area and type the WLAN service area
name to allow the bridge to associate only with access points with the same
service area. You must specify the WLAN service area when the network mode
is Ad-hoc (Peer-to-Peer).
To maintain wireless association, the WLAN service area on a bridge and the
access point with which it is associated must match exactly. Therefore, if you
change the access point WLAN service area, make sure to change the bridge
WLAN service area also.
■Clear Channel Select—When the network mode is Access Point
(Infrastructure), this option is enabled automatically and cannot be changed.
When this option is enabled, the device scans the primary channels to
determine the traffic on those channels and chooses the channel with the least
number of packets.
To allow the device to find a channel automatically, click On (automatically
select the best channel).
To select a specific channel, click Off (specify the channel) and choose a
channel from the Channel list. This option can be used only when the network
mode is Ad-hoc (Peer-to-Peer).
■Access Point Privacy Mode—This mode only applies when the network
mode is Access Point (Infrastructure) and should only be used when access
points are set with privacy enabled. Click Onto associate with access points set
with privacy mode enabled. Click Off to associate with access points set with
privacy mode disabled. When privacy mode is on, you must specify a Wireless
LAN Service Area, which must match the access point service area exactly.
Setting Advanced
Performance
Properties
When the network mode is Access Point (Infrastructure) the advanced
performance properties are set automatically to match the access point. When the
mode is Ad-Hoc (Peer-to-Peer) you may specify these properties.
Under System Configuration, click Wireless Network Properties. On the Wireless
Network Properties page, click the link to go to advanced wireless network
configuration. The Advanced Wireless Network page appears, where you can

Setting up an Ad Hoc Network 17
change the settings shown below. When you are finished, click Enter or Apply all
Changes.
■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 (Wi-Fi Interoperable).
■Data Preamble—To increase performance, click Short (Enhanced
performance). When equipment that does not support short preamble is also
being used, click Long (Wi-Fi Interoperable).
Setting up an Ad Hoc
Network Operating in ad hoc mode, two or more bridges can associate among themselves
at close range without an access point, allowing their workgroups to
communicate. You may wish to set up an ad hoc network, for example, if a group
is working away from the office, or if a group in the office needs to share files
apart from the wired LAN.
Follow these steps to set up an ad hoc network with two workgroup bridges.
1Use the 3Com Wireless Infrastructure Device Manager to select the first
workgroup bridge and launch its configuration management system.
2Under System Configuration, click Wireless Network.
3In the Wireless Network page:
aLocate the Network Mode field and click Ad-hoc (Peer-to-Peer).
bThe Wireless LAN Service Area defaults to Any ESSID and Clear Channel Select
defaults to On (automatically select the best channel. Optionally, you can
specify the Wireless LAN Service Area and the Channel as described in “Setting
Wireless Network Properties” on page 16.
cClick Enter or Apply all Changes.
dClick To go to advanced wireless network configuration.
4In the Advanced Wireless Network page:
aSet the Data Preamble.
To increase performance, click Short (Enhanced performance). When
equipment that does not support short preamble is also being used, click Long
(Wi-Fi Interoperable).
bClick Enter or Apply all Changes.
5Security settings default to No Security (Open System). Optionally, you can set
40-bit Shared Keys security as described in “40-bit Shared Key (Wi-Fi)” on
page 18. (You cannot use 128-bit security options in ad hoc mode.)
6When you are finished, click Apply all Changes.
7End the browser session.
8Repeat the procedure with the second workgroup bridge. Make sure you
configure bridge settings to match exactly. When you are finished, click Apply all
Changes and end the browser session.
To ensure correct operation, the settings on the two bridges must match exactly.

18 CHAPTER 3: CONFIGURING WORKGROUP BRIDGES
9Connect the Ethernet devices to the bridges. If you use hubs, make sure that the
workgroup bridges are connected through the hub uplink ports.
Changing Security
Settings Under System Configuration, click Security Settings. The Security Settings page
appears, where you can select the type of security to be used on the bridge. The
bridge can be configured to support one type of security at a time. You can
change the settings by clicking the radio buttons and entering values in the fields.
When you are finished, click Enter or Apply all Changes.
The following sections describe the settings. To maintain wireless association, the
settings on clients and the access points they associate with (or other members of
an ad hoc network) must match exactly.
If you are configuring through a wireless association (not on the wired LAN) and
you reconfigure both the WLAN service area and the security settings, be sure to
click Enter to save changes temporarily until you are finished. Then click Apply all
Changes. If you apply one set of changes and not the other, the bridge may lose
association with one access point before it is configured to associate with another.
No Security (Open
System) No encryption is used. The network communications could be intercepted by unintended recipients.
40-bit Shared Key (Wi-Fi) This option encrypts the wireless transmissions to protect data, but still allows
communication among compatible wireless LAN clients and access points from
third-party manufacturers that are Wi-Fi certified.
This type of security requires you to set up encryption in one of the following
ways:
■String—For use only with other 3Com 11 Mbps wireless LAN devices, an
encryption string is a case-sensitive string of characters between 6 and 30
characters long. To enter the string, click Enter a string to generate shared keys.
Then type any combination of letters and numbers in the space provided and
click Enter or Apply all Changes.
■Shared keys—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 equipment from other
manufacturers that use Wi-Fi certified 40-bit encryption. To enter the keys, click
Specify shared keys and which to use. Then click To specify and select the
shared keys. In the shared keys window, enter all the keys in the provided
spaces, then click a radio button in the Selected Key column to specify which
key to use and click Enter or Apply all Changes.
128-bit Shared Key This option can be used with other 3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN devices and with
equipment from certain manufacturers that also support 128-bit shared key
encryption. It provides a higher level of security than the 40-bit Shared Key (Wi-Fi)
option and uses a more complicated type of encryption. This type of security
requires you to set up encryption using a string or shared keys as described in
“40-bit Shared Key (Wi-Fi)” on page 18.

Resetting the Bridge 19
128-bit Dynamic Security
Link This option can only be used with other 3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN devices. It is the highest level of security, requiring a user name and password to access the
wireless LAN. The user name and password set up on the bridge must match those
set up on the access point. Each network session creates a unique, one-time
encryption code.
If you choose this type of security, you must also set up a login as described in
“Setting up the Wireless Network Login”.
Setting up the Wireless
Network Login If you configure a bridge for 128-bit Dynamic Security Link, you must also set up a login user name and password, which must match a listing in the access point
access control list.
In the Security Settings page, click 128-bit Dynamic Security Link. Then click the
link to modify the wireless network login. In the Wireless Network Login page,
enter a login name and password, and confirm the password in the spaces
provided. When you are finished, click Save.
Resetting the Bridge If the bridge stops responding correctly, you can perform a reset, which disrupts
the network association temporarily, but does not affect the bridge configuration
settings. To reset the bridge, under Tools, click Reset Wireless Workgroup Bridge.
In the next page, click Reset.
Restoring a Bridge to
Factory Defaults You can restore bridge settings to the defaults that were set at the factory
as follows:
1Under Tools, click Restore Factory Defaults.
2Click Restore.
You can also restore the bridge factory settings by inserting a pointed object (such
as the end of a paper clip that you have unbent) into the reset hole on the front
near the RJ-45 connector and holding for five seconds.
If the bridge was using an IP address setting other than the default, restoring the
factory defaults will change the IP address. If you want to continue configuring the
bridge, do the following:
1Close your browser.
2Return to the 3Com Wireless Infrastructure Device Manager and click Refresh.
3Select the device and click Configure to start a new configuration session.
Upgrading the System You can download firmware updates or updates of the configuration
management system from the 3Com Web site and install those updates on
the bridge.
The upgrade uses the 3Com customer support Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP)
server. The workgroup bridge acts as a TFTP client to receive the download.
To avoid problems that could occur if a wireless association were interrupted
during the upgrade, it is recommended that you perform the upgrade from a

20 CHAPTER 3: CONFIGURING WORKGROUP BRIDGES
computer that is wired to the LAN and has access to the device you want to
upgrade.
Locating Upgrade Files To locate upgrade files:
1Log on to the 3Com Web site at http://www.3com.com.
2Navigate to the product support page.
3Navigate to the software download page and locate the files you want
to download.
4Read the instructions on the download page, and make a note of the file names
and the IP address of the 3Com TFTP server.
Installing an Upgrade After you obtain the upgrade file names and TFTP server IP address, perform the
following steps on a computer that is wired to the network and has access to the
device you want to upgrade:
1Use the 3Com Wireless Infrastructure Device Manager to select the device and
launch its configuration management system.
2Under Tools, click Upgrade System.
3Select the item to upgrade:
To upgrade the configuration management system, click Configuration
Management System.
To upgrade firmware, click Wireless Workgroup Bridge Firmware.
4Verify that the file name displayed is the same as the name you got from the
3Com Web site. If it is not the same, delete it and enter the name you got from
the Web site.
5Enter the IP address of the 3Com TFTP server.
6Click Upgrade.
Changing the
Administration
Password
The first time you launch the Configuration Management System on the device or
after you reset a device to factory defaults, you are prompted to set an
administrative password. Although a password is not required, 3Com
recommends that you set a password to protect against unauthorized access.
After you set the password, you must enter a user name and password each time
you launch the configuration for the device.
Under Tools, click Change Administration Password. The Change Administration
Password page appears, where you can change the administration password for
the device. Enter the current password and new password in the spaces provided
and click Save.
Backing up a
Configuration As part of system maintenance, you should save and back up the configurations of
individual bridges in case you need to reload them in the future. The backup saves
If you upgrade both the firmware and the configuration management system,
be sure to upgrade the Web server file system first.