Extricom EXWO-404 User manual

Version 1.0
THE EXTRICOM WLAN SYSTEM:
WIRELESS OFFICE EDITION
EXWO-404
SER GIDE

Copyright
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form
or by any means, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written consent of Extricom Ltd.
No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of the information contained herein.
While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this publication, Extricom Ltd. assumes no
responsibility for errors or omissions. The information contained in this publication and features
described herein are subject to change without notice. Extricom Ltd. reserves the right at any time and
without notice, to make changes in the product.
Copyright 2007 © Extricom Ltd. All rights reserved. The products described herein are protected by
U.S. Patents and may be protected by other foreign patents, or pending applications.



Important Notice:
Read this user manual and safety instructions before installing and operating the
Extricom WLAN system.
Disclaimer
Extricom makes no representations or warranties, whether express or implied, that the Extricom
wireless local area network (WLAN) system or any component thereof shall meet the purchaser’s
operating requirements or that system operation will be uninterrupted or error-free. All
WLANs, including the Extricom WLAN system, can potentially be affected by outside sources of
interference such as other broadcasting devices, radiation, device immunity level, and other
external sources of interference.

Declaration of Conformity
Manufacturer’s Name: Extricom Ltd.
Declares under our sole responsibility that the products:
Products Name: Extricom EXSW400
Conforms to the following standard(s) or other normative document(s):
EMC: FCC Part 15 Sub Part B
EN 301
EN 55022
VCCI V-2/2001.04
Safety: EN-60950
UL-60950
IEC60950
Manufacturer’s Name: Extricom Ltd.
Declares under our sole responsibility that the product:
Product Name: Extricom EXRP-20
Conforms to the following standard(s) or other normative document(s):
EMC: FCC Part 15 Sub Part B
EN 55022
EN 301
EN 300328
ENV 301893
EN 300440
VCCI V-2/2001.04.
Safety: EN-60950
UL-60950
IEC60950

The Extricom EXWO-404 WLAN System User Guide i
Table of Contents
About This Guide .................................................................................................1
Audience..........................................................................................................................1
Conventions.....................................................................................................................1
Safety Precautions ...........................................................................................................1
Chapter 1 Introducing the Extricom Wireless LAN System ..............................................3
Overview of the Extricom WLAN System - Wireless Office Edition ............................3
Features and Benefits ......................................................................................................4
Overview of the Extricom EXWO-404 Wireless Package..............................................6
A Typical Extricom Wireless Network Topology...........................................................8
Chapter 2 Installing the Extricom WLAN System..............................................................9
Unpacking the Extricom EXWO-404 WLAN System....................................................9
Additional Equipment Needed ........................................................................................9
Determining the Location of the Extricom Access Points ..............................................9
The Extricom EXSW400...............................................................................................10
The Extricom Access Points..........................................................................................12
Connecting the Switch and Access Points.....................................................................13
Mounting the Access Points (Optional) ........................................................................13
Chapter 3 Configuring the Extricom WLAN System .......................................................15
Using the Extricom Web Configuration Pages .............................................................16
Configuring the LAN Parameters..................................................................................18
Configuring the WLAN Parameters..............................................................................21
Configuring SSIDs ........................................................................................................26
Configuring Security Definitions ..................................................................................31
Advanced Configuration of the Extricom WLAN Architecture ...................................33
Configuration of the Extricom WLAN Architecture Utilities.......................................34
Viewing the System Configuration File .....................................................................36
Configuration File Backup..........................................................................................36
Uploading a New Configuration File..........................................................................36
Restoring System Defaults..........................................................................................36
Upgrading the Extricom Firmware .............................................................................37

ii Table o Contents
Setting the Time and Date ..........................................................................................37
Rebooting the Extricom Switch..................................................................................37
Reconfigure Switch – Smart Configuration................................................................37
Setting Passwords in the Extricom Switch....................................................................38
Viewing a Summary of the Updated Configuration......................................................38
Viewing Extricom Information .....................................................................................40
Chapter 4 Troubleshooting..................................................................................................41
Appendix A Specifications...................................................................................................... 43
Extricom EXSW400 Switch Specifications ..................................................................43
Extricom EXRP-20 Access Point Specifications ..........................................................45
Appendix B Access Point Mounting Template..................................................................... 48

The Extricom EXWO-404 WLAN System User Guide 1
About This Guide
This guide provides detailed instructions for installing, configuring, and troubleshooting the
Extricom EXWO-404 Wireless Office Edition package. This solution is comprised of one (1) four-
port Extricom EXSW400 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) switch and four (4) Extricom
EXRP-20 UltraThin™ Access Points (APs).
Audience
This guide is intended for IT managers and system installers who are familiar with installing and
configuring networks.
Conventions



This is a note. It provides additional information to users.
-
This is a caution. A caution warns of possible damage to the equipment if a
procedure is not followed correctly.
!
A warning alerts you to the presence of important operating instructions.
Safety Precautions
Follow the instructions in the guide to ensure proper installation and operation of the switch and
APs.
!
The use of wireless devices is limited to the constraints imposed by local laws.


Operate the switch and APs in an indoor environment.

2 Introducing the Extricom Wireless LAN System


Disconnect the switch and APs from power before servicing.


The switch and AP enclosure should not be opened by anyone other than an authorized
service representative.


To comply with FCC RF exposure compliance requirements, maintain a minimal separation
distance of at least 20 cm/8 inches between the AP and all persons.


The switch contains an internal battery.
!


Always replace the battery with the same type to avoid the risk of explosion.


Dispose of used batteries according to the instructions provided with the battery.

The Extricom EXWO-404 WLAN System User Guide 3
Chapter 1
Introducing the Extricom Wireless
LAN System
A Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) based on the IEEE 802.11 standard enables laptops,
PDAs, phones, and other “Wi-Fi” equipped devices to wirelessly connect to the network.
However, large scale deployments of traditional cell-based WLANs, in which each access point
(AP) operates on a different channel than that of adjacent APs, have been hindered by issues such as
poor coverage, low capacity, high-latency mobility, and expensive interference analysis or site
survey and maintenance costs.
Extricom’s WLAN, on the other hand, is a completely new solution. Referred to as the Interference-
Free™architecture, it eliminates the coverage and capacity trade-offs of traditional cell-based
WLAN architecture. In addition, the need for cell planning and interference analysis, a highly
expensive aspect of owning a WLAN, is also eliminated. Finally, Extricom’s innovative approach
does away with most WLAN maintenance tasks. Extricom’s WLAN System is specifically designed
to provide increased network capacity, seamless mobility, high level of security, and easy
installation and configuration.
Overview of the Extricom WLAN System - Wireless
Office Edition
The Extricom WLAN system eliminates the concept of cell-planning and replaces it with the
“channel blanket” topology. In this topology, each Wi-Fi radio channel is used on every access
point to create continuous “blankets” of coverage. By using multi-radio APs, the Extricom system is
able to create multiple overlapping channel blankets from the same physical set of devices, as
illustrated in Figure 1.

4 Introducing the Extricom Wireless LAN System
Figure 1. Two Channel Blanket Coverage
The Extricom solution is based on a fully centralized WLAN architecture, in which the switch
makes all of the decisions for packet delivery on the wireless network. In this configuration, the
access points (APs) simply function as radios, with no software, storage capability, or IP address.
Even the basics of connecting are different: clients associate directly with the switch, not with the
AP. The AP acts as an “RF conduit” to rapidly funnel traffic between the clients and the switch. The
Extricom architecture has essentially centralized the 802.11 logic in the switch, while distributing
the wireless electronics in the APs.
Centralization of the Wi-Fi environment enables organizations to deploy 802.11a/b/g channels at
every AP, creating multiple overlapping “channel blankets” that leverage each of the radios in the
multi-radio UltraThin AP. Each channel’s bandwidth is delivered across the blanket’s service area
(i.e. the combined coverage of all APs connected to the switch), with interference-free operation
and consistent capacity throughout.
As the client moves throughout the blanket, different APs will be in the best position to serve the
client at different times. The switch always uses the uplink and downlink path that is optimal to
serve the client. While this is going on “behind the scenes,” the client never experiences an AP-to-
AP handoff (i.e. de-association and re-association), resulting in seamless mobility.
Within each channel blanket, the switch avoids co-channel interference by preventing different APs
from simultaneously transmitting on the same channel.
Features and Benefits
Extricom’s WLAN system solution offers the following features:


Ease of deployment - No cell planning
Extricom’s architecture requires no cell planning and experiences no constraints due to RF
interference or channelization. Consequently, Extricom APs can be deployed wherever needed,
in any density or even varying density, to meet the desired end-client service level (stipulated in
terms of connection rate). The traditional site survey is therefore reduced to just physical
equipment installation planning.