BenQ AWL-500 User manual

BENQ Corporation
Wireless LAN Access Point
AWL-500
User Manual
Version 1.1
June 2002

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Notice I
Copyright Statement
This manual cannot be reproduced in any form or by any means or used to make any
derivative such as translation, transformation, or adaptation without the prior
written permission of BenQ Corporation.
BenQ Corporation reserves the right to change this manual and the specifications to
improve products without prior notice. So you can get the most recent software and
user documentation for all BenQ Wireless LAN products on our web site.
http://www.BenQ.com
Trademarks
Copyright © 2002 BenQ Corporation.All rights reserved.
Contents subject to change without prior notice. BenQ is a registered trademark of
BenQ Corporation.All other trademarks belong to their respective proprietors.

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Notice II
FCC Warning
The AWL-500 compiles with Part 15 of the FCC rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions.
(1) This device may not cause harmful interference.
(2) This device must accept any interference received, including interference that
may cause undesired operation.
Note:
The AWL-500 has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B
digital device and a low power transmitter, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules.
These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference when the equipment is operated in a residential environment. This
equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if no
t
installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that
interference will not occur in a particular installation.

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Table of Contents
Wireless LAN Access Point ......................................1
Chapter 1 Introduction ..............................................1
Chapter 2 Hardware Installation ..........................2
2-1 Product Kit.............................................................2
2-2 System Requirements.............................................2
2-3 Mechanical Description..........................................3
2-4 Hardware Installation.............................................5
Chapter 3 Configuring the Access Point................6
3-1 Using the Access Point Search Tool......................6
3-2 Using the Web Management..................................9

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Chapter 1 Introduction
Thank you for choosing BenQ Wireless LAN Access Point AWL-500. The AWL500
Wireless LAN Access Point can be used with relevant BENQ wireless networking
devices such as the BENQ AWL100 Wireless LAN PC Card and BENQ AWL300
Wireless LAN USB Adapter, which would allow the users to access an office LAN
wirelessly, or share an xDSL/cable modem. The AWL500 could accommodate up to
32 network users a time and this high performance device is also extremely simple
to install.

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Chapter 2 Hardware Installation
This chapter describes initial setup of the Access Point.
2-1 Product Kit
Before installation, make sure that you have the following items:

 AWL500 Wireless LAN Access Point

 Software CD containing user manual and utility

 Quick Start Guide

 RJ-45 cable

 Power adapter

 Metal stand

 Screw pack

 Warranty card
2-2 System Requirements
Before using your AWL500, please check that you have the following required
items:

 Broadband access device (ADSL/cable modem) or Office LAN

 UTP Cat-5 cable for linking ADSL/cable modem/LAN and the AWL500

 Wireless LAN PC card (AWL100) or USB adapter (AWL300)

 Web browser (Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher, or Netscape Navigator 6.2 or
higher)

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2-3 Mechanical Description
Top panel of the Access Point
The following table provides an overview of each LED activity:
LED Definition Activity Description
PWR Continuous Green Power enabled
Off: No wireless activity
WLAN Flashing Green
Flashing: Wireless RX/TX activity
Off: No Ethernet traffic activity
LAN Flashing Green
Flashing: Wired LAN traffic activity

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Back panel of the Access Point:
Back Panel Description
Reset button Designed to reset the AWL500 after a system failure or crash.
When pressed, the AWL500 will reset.
PWR/DC jack
Where power is input to AWL500 through the power adapter
supplied with it. Please do not plug other power adapters into
this jack.
LAN port Where the AWL500 can be connected to ADSL/cable
modem/Ethernet LAN via an RJ-45 cable.
Antenna Where the radio signal carrying network data is transmitted and
received.
Powe
r
Socket
The power adapter plugs into the socket labeled “POWER”.
10/100Mbps Ethernet Ports
The Wireless LAN Access Point supports auto-detect, 10/100M MDI
Ethernet port.To connect the Access Point to a hub, use a straight-through
UTP cable; to connect the Access Point to a computer/station, use a
crossover UTP cable.
NOTE

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2-4 Hardware Installation
 Connect the Ethernet Cable
The 11Mbps Wireless LAN Access Point supports 10/100M Ethernet connection.
Attach your UTP Ethernet cable to the RJ-45 connector on the Access Point.
Then connect the other end of the RJ-45 cable to a hub or a station. Please be
sure to use the MDI port to connect the Access Point to a hub. Otherwise,
please use the MDI-X port to connect the Access Point to a computer/station.
 Plug the Power Cable
Plug the power adapter to the power socket on the Access Point, and plug the
other end of the power into an electrical outlet.
ONLY use the power adapter supplied with the Access Point.
Otherwise, the product may be damaged.
NOTE

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Chapter 3 Configuring the Access Point
The 11Mbps Wireless LAN Access Point is shipped with default parameters, which
will be suitable for the typical infrastructure wireless LAN. Just simply install
the Access Point, power it on, and it is now ready to work. Nevertheless, you can
still adjust configuration settings depending on how you would like to manage your
wireless network. The 11Mbps Wireless Access Point allows its user to configure
via the browse TCP/IP (HTTP).
3-1 Using the Access Point Search Tool
The Access Point Search tool is useful for first time configuration and forgot Access
Point IP. The following steps will guide you through the installations of the Access
Point Search utility.
After finishing hardware installation, put the supplied Software CD into the
CD-ROM drive of your PC, and locate the “device_search.exe” file in the AWL500
directory. Double-click its icon with the left button of your mouse to execute the
file.Then follow the steps below:
I. After double-clicking on the icon, a small window will appear showing the status
in searching for Access Points.

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II. After searching for a few seconds, information on the result of the search will be
shown in a window.
III. When the Access Point is found within the network, a configuration window will
appear. You will see the basic information of the Access Point, such as MAC
Address、SSID 、IP 、Channel、WEP Mode and Firmware Version.
ITEM Description
MAC Address It is a hardware identification number on the network Access Point
SSID SSID is a unique ID on the network Access Point
IP Address Current Access Point IP Address
CH Access Point channel id
Mode Access Point WEP Mode
Firmware Version Displays the firmware version that is equipped with your hardware

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Change IP Address
1. When both Access Point and host are not on the same subnet, you can choose
it and change IP Address .
2. Configure IP address to the Access Point. You may either give a fixed IP address
to your Wireless Access Point, or choose DHCP client with the Enable DHCP
item selected. It will obtain the IP address automatically from your DHCP
server.
.

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3. When both Access Point and host on the same subnet, please select IE icon ,
into Web Management.
3-2 Using the Web Management
The Wireless Access Point has a build-in web management server. The built-in Web
Management provides you with user-friendly web pages to manage your Wireless
Access Points. Using web browser connected to the Wireless Access Point (e.g.
http://192.168.1.1) will allow you to monitor and configure the Wireless Access
Point. The Access Point Search Tool described in the previous section may help you
to find out the IP address of the Wireless Access Point if you forget its IP.
1. Open your web browser.
2. Enter the IP address of your Wireless Access Point in the Address field (e.g.
http://192.168.1.1). You will have access to the Wireless Access Point Web
Pages of the Wireless Access Point.
3. Enter the password to login onto the Wireless Access Point. Both the default id
and password are admin. The main page will show up.

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The Wireless Access Point main page contains few items on the left for you to
manage your Wireless Access Point.
Quick Installation Wizard
This tool displays the Firmware Version of this Wireless Access Point. And you may
adjust the settings on the Wireless Access Point such as DHCP, Fixed IP, IP Address,
Netmask, ESSID, Channel, RTS Threshold, Fragment Threshold, Basic Rates, TX Rates
and Preamble Type.
SSID: The SSID is a unique ID given to the Access Point. Wireless clients
associating to the Access Point must have the same SSID. The SSID can have up to
32 characters.
Channel: You may select any of the available channels as an operational channel for
your Access Point.
RTS Threshold: RTS Threshold is a mechanism implemented to prevent the
“Hidden Node” problem. “Hidden Node” is a situation occurred when two

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stations are within range of the same Access Point, but are not within range of each
other. Therefore, they are hidden nodes to each other. When a hidden station
starts data transmission with the Access Point, it might not notice that the other
station is already using the wireless media. When these two stations send data at
the same time, they might collide when arriving simultaneously at the Access Point.
The collision will most certainly result in a loss of messages for both stations. Thus,
the RTS Threshold mechanism will provide the solution to prevent data collisions.
When the RTS is activated, the station and its Access Point will use a Request to
Send/Clear to send protocol (RTS/CTS). The station will send an RTS to the
Access Point, informing that it is going to transmit the data. Upon receipt, the
Access Point will respond with a CTS message to all station within its range to notify
all other stations to defer transmission. It will also confirm to the requesting station
that the Access Point has reserved the channel for transmission.
Fragmentation Threshold: Fragmentation mechanism is used for improving the
efficiency when there is high traffic within the wireless network. If you transmit
large files in a wireless network, you can enable the Fragmentation Threshold and
specify the packet size. The mechanism will split the packet into the packet size you
set.
Rate Set: By default, the unit adaptively selects the highest possible rate for
transmission. In case of obstacles or interference, the system will step down. Select
the Basic Rates to be used among the following options: 1 - 2 (Mbps), 1 - 2 - 5.5 –
11 (Mbps). Select the TX Rate set among the following options, (1 – 2 - 5.5 - 11
Mbps) or (1 - 2 Mbps).
Preamble Type (Short/Long): Preamble is the first sub field of PPDU, which is
the appropriate frame format for transmission to PHY (Physical layer). There are
two options, Short Preamble and Long Preamble.
Information
Statistics
This item displays the Ethernet and wireless network traffic:

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Associated Table
This is a list of all the stations that have ever associated. This table provides
information to track how many stations have ever associated with the Access Point.

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Advanced Setting
Security Setup
To prevent unauthorized wireless stations from accessing data transmitted over the
network, the 11Mbps Wireless LAN Access Point offers WEP (Wired Equivalency
Privacy). You can set up 4 encryption keys to encrypt your data.
The 11Mbps Wireless Access Point allows you to create 4 data encryption keys to
secure your data from being eavesdropped by unauthorized wireless user. To
activate and set the WEP keys, please do the following:
 From the WEP encryption item, list three options:
Disable – Allows wireless adapters to communicate with Wireless Access Points
without any data encryption.
WEP64 – Requires wireless stations to use data encryption with 64 bit
algorithm when communicating with the Wireless Access Point.
WEP128 - Allows wireless clients to communicate with the Wireless Access
Point with data 128 Bit encryption algorithms.
 When WEP64 is selected, enter 10 digit hexadecimal values in the range of “A-F”,
“a-f” and “0-9”, (e.g. 1234567890).
 When WEP128 is selected, enter 26 digit hexadecimal values in the range of
“A-F”,“a-f” and “0-9” (e.g. 11223344556677889900aabbdd).

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Enter the 4 WEP keys in the Key 1, Key 2, Key 3 and Key 4 entry filed. Select one
WEP key as an active key before enabling use of encryption
Access Control
The Access Control Table enables you to restrict wireless stations accessing the
Wireless Access Points by identifying the MAC address of the wireless devices.
Use the following buttons to manage the Access Control Table:
Enable – allow network access from stations in the list
The WEP key must be set up exactly the same on the Wireless Access Points
as they are on the wireless client stations. If you use Key 1 on the Wireless LAN Access
Point, the same value must be assigned to Key 1 for all client stations.
NOTE

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Reverse Access – Change to Enable for reverse access (Only those Mac Address in
the table are prohibited )
Change – to change and add the entries in the table if you enter the incorrect MAC
address
Delete – to remove MAC addresses one at a time
802.1x Security setup
802.1x is enterprise-class security mechanism. It gives user higher security and
protection by way of backend radius server. Please reference IEEE 802.1x, RFC 2284,
RFC 2138 and RFC 2866 for details.
Be sure to press “Apply” bottom after modifying the configuration
before leave this page or “Save Setting”
NOTE

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 MAC Authenticate Parameter
Wireless Interface– Enable RADIUS authentication through MAC address of Wireless LAN card.
LAN Interface– Enable RADIUS authentication through MAC address of Ethernet LAN card.
 EAP Authenticate Parameter
Wireless Interface– Enable EAP-MD5 certification for wireless interface.
 Radius Parameters
Radius IP – A specify IP address of the remote RADIUS server.
Radius Port – For auth-port port-number, specify the UDP destination port for authentication
requests.
Radius Secret Key– For key string, specify the authentication and encryption key used between the
Authenticator and the RADIUS daemon running on the RADIUS server. The key is a text string
that must match the encryption key used on the RADIUS server.
Radius NAS ID – The RADIUS Client authenticate name.