3Com 3CRWE876075 / WL-546 User manual

www.3Com.com
Part Number 10015153 Rev. AA
User Guide
3Com Wireless 8760 Dual-radio 11a/b/g
PoE Access Point
3CRWE876075 / WL-546
Published June, 2006

3Com Corporation
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Marlborough, MA
01752-3064
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3
Contents
1Introduction
Product Features 1-2
Security 1-2
Performance and Reliability 1-3
Virtual Access Point (VAP) Support 1-3
WDS Bridging and Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) Support 1-3
Manageability 1-4
Wireless Network Standards 1-4
802.11g 1-4
802.11a 1-5
Approved Channels 1-5
2Installing the Access Point
Installation Requirements 2-1
Power Requirements 2-2
Safety Information 2-2
Deciding Where to Place Equipment and
Performing A Site Survey 2-3
Before You Begin 2-4
Connecting the Standard Antennas 2-5
Connecting Power 2-6
Using the Power Supply 2-8
Using a Power-Over-Ethernet LAN Port 2-8
Checking the LEDs 2-9
Reset Button 2-9
Wall, Ceiling, or Electrical Box Mounting 2-10
Flat Surface Installation 2-12
Selecting and Connecting a Different Antenna Model 2-12
Installing Software Utilities 2-14

4
3Initial Configuration
Networks with a DHCP Server 3-1
Networks without a DHCP Server 3-1
Using the 3Com Installation CD 3-2
Launch the 3COM Wireless Infrastructure Device Manager (Widman)
utility 3-2
Launching the 3com Wireless Interface Device Manager 3-2
First Time Only 3-4
Using the Setup Wizard 3-4
4System Configuration
Advanced Setup 4-2
System Identification 4-4
TCP / IP Settings 4-5
RADIUS 4-8
Authentication 4-9
Filter Control 4-14
VLAN 4-16
SNMP 4-18
Configuring SNMP and Trap Message Parameters 4-18
Configuring SNMPv3 Users 4-21
Administration 4-22
Changing the Password 4-22
Telnet and SSH Settings 4-23
Upgrading Firmware 4-24
WDS and Spanning Tree Settings 4-27
System Log 4-33
Enabling System Logging 4-33
Configuring SNTP 4-34
Radio Interface 4-35
802.11a Interface 4-36
Configuring Radio Settings 4-36
Configuring Common Radio Settings 4-38
802.11b/g Interface 4-42
Configuring Wi-Fi Multimedia 4-44
Security 4-49
Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) 4-52

5
Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) 4-56
5Command Line Interface
Using the Command Line Interface 5-1
Accessing the CLI 5-1
Console Connection 5-1
Telnet Connection 5-2
Entering Commands 5-3
Keywords and Arguments 5-3
Minimum Abbreviation 5-3
Command Completion 5-3
Getting Help on Commands 5-3
Showing Commands 5-4
Partial Keyword Lookup 5-4
Negating the Effect of Commands 5-5
Using Command History 5-5
Understanding Command Modes 5-5
Exec Commands 5-5
Configuration Commands 5-6
Command Line Processing 5-6
Command Groups 5-7
6Troubleshooting
Index

6

7
TERMINOLOGY
Access Point—An internetworking device that seamlessly connects
wired and wireless networks.
Ad Hoc—An ad hoc wireless LAN is a group of computers, each with
wireless adapters, connected as an independent wireless LAN.
Backbone—The core infrastructure of a network. The portion of the
network that transports information from one central location to another
central location where it is unloaded onto a local system.
Base Station—In mobile telecommunications, a base station is the
central radio transmitter/receiver that maintains communications with the
mobile radiotelephone sets within its range. In cellular and personal
communications applications, each cell or micro-cell has its own base
station; each base station in turn is interconnected with other cells’ bases.
BSS—Basic Service Set. It is an access point and all the LAN PCs that are
associated with it.
CSMA/CA—Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance.
EAP—Extensible Authentication Protocol, which provides a generalized
framework for several different authentication methods.
ESS—Extended Service Set. More than one BSS is configured to become
an ESS. LAN mobile users can roam between different BSSs in an ESS
(ESS-ID, SSID).
Ethernet—A popular local area data communications network, which
accepts transmission from computers and terminals.
Infrastructure—An integrated wireless and wired LAN is called an
infrastructure configuration.
RADIUS—Remote Access Dial-In User Server is an authentication method
used in conjunction with EAP for 802.1x authentication and session
based keys.
Roaming—A wireless LAN mobile user moves around an ESS and
maintains a continuous connection to the infrastructure network.
RTS Threshold—Transmitters contending for the medium may not be
aware of each other (they are “hidden nodes”). The RTS/CTS mechanism
can solve this problem. If the packet size is smaller than the preset RTS
Threshold size, the RTS/CTS mechanism will not be enabled.

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VAP—Virtual Access Point. An access point radio capable of operating as
four separate access points.
VLAN—Virtual Local Area Network. A LAN consisting of groups of hosts
that are on physically different segments but that communicate as
though they were on the same segment.
WEP—Wired Equivalent Privacy is based on the use of security keys and
the popular RC4 encryption algorithm. Wireless devices without a valid
WEP key will be excluded from network traffic.
WDS—Wireless Distribution System.
WPA—Wi-Fi Protected Access.

1-1
1INTRODUCTION
The 3Com® Wireless 8760 Dual-radio 11a/b/g PoE Access Point offers a
dual-mode architecture that supports 802.11g, 802.11a, and 802.11b wireless
users on a single device. This means you can mix and match radio bands to meet
different coverage and bandwidth needs within the same area.
With their flexibility and unfettered access, wireless LANs are changing the way
people work. Now with 3Com’s enterprise-class wireless access point, you can
build a cost-effective, reliable, secure wireless network that provides users with
seamless connectivity to the Internet, company intranet, and the wired corporate
network from anywhere they happen to be—conference room, cafeteria or
office.
3Com’s dual-mode design supports 802.11g, 802.11a, and 802.11b wireless
standards on a single access point. This capability increases configuration and
coverage flexibility and protects your network investment for both existing and
emerging wireless standards.
Industry-leading security features and comprehensive management and
performance features combine to make these enterprise class wireless access
points an ideal choice for organizations ready to serve their increasingly mobile
workforce.

1-2
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
PRODUCT FEATURES
Access Point 8760—Creates an enterprise-class wireless LAN supporting up to
256 simultaneous users. The access point supports two radios and external
antennas including WDS bridging ability on both radios.
SECURITY
3Com offers one of the most robust suite of standards-based security on the
market today.
To protect sensitive data broadcast over the wireless LAN, 3Com supports WPA
and WPA2 security standards. 3Com strengthens this basic security mechanism
with additional security features, including:
MAC address access control lists
IEEE 802.1x per-port user authentication with RADIUS server support
IEEE 802.1x supplicant support
SSH v2
HTTP/HTTPS
SNMP v3
Legacy WEP 40/64 bit, 128 bit and 152 bit
Wireless Protected Access (WPA) and WPA2
Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) support: EAP-MD5, EAP-TLS,
EAP-TTLS, and PEAP