HP ProCurve 420 Manual

1
Read Me First
for the HP ProCurve Wireless Access Point 420
Software Version 2.0.37 (or Greater)
Contents
About Your HP ProCurve Wireless Access Point 420 Manual Set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 1
Software Updates Are . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 2
HP ProCurve Networking Support Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 2
Operation Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 3
Setting the Country Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 3
Configuring Security Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 3
External Antenna Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 3
About Your HP ProCurve Wireless Access Point 420 Manual Set
The access point manual set includes the following:
Document Available on the HP
ProCurve Website
Shipped With
the Access Point
Read Me First (this document)1Yes Hardcopy
Installation and Getting Started Guide1Yes Hardcopy and CD3
Management and Configuration Guide1, 2 Yes CD 2
Release Notes (for software updates) 1, 4 Yes No
1The latest edition is always available in PDF format and downloadable at
http://www.hp.com/go/hpprocurve.
2These manuals cover the software features supported by the HP ProCurve Wireless Access
Point 420.
3The Product Documentation CD-ROM shipped with your access point.
4Available only in downloadable electronic (PDF) form on the HP ProCurve website.
See “Register for Automatic Notification of Updates” on page 2.

2
How To Read or Print Manuals Included On the CD-ROM. To access manuals included on the
CD (in PDF format), use the Adobe® Acrobat® Reader. For PCs, HP recommends version 5.0 (or
greater) of the Reader.
For MAC and UNIX® Platforms. You can download a Reader from the Adobe website at
http://www.adobe.com.
Software Updates
Hewlett-Packard periodically provides software updates on the HP ProCurve
website for various HP ProCurve products you may have in your network. To
access the latest software updates, go to the HP ProCurve website at
http://www.hp.com/go/hpprocurve then click on Software upgrades to go to the “HP
ProCurve Networking Software Updates” page.
Register for Automatic Notification of Updates. From the “Software
Updates” page you can also register yourself to automatically receive email notice
of new updates for your managed ProCurve networking products. Just follow the
instructions on that page for how to receive the update notices.
To determine whether you have the latest software, you can compare the software version that is
available on the website with the version that is currently installed on your access point. Follow the
instructions below to determine the current software version on your access point.
To Determine the Current Software Version in Your Access Point. Use any of the following
methods to view the version:
■If you already have a console session going, at the Exec level prompt enter the show version
command. The resulting display lists the current software version.
■In the web browser interface, click on the Identity tab. The current software version is listed
as the number in the Firmware Version line.
HP ProCurve Networking Support Services
HP offers a wide variety of onsite and offsite support services for all HP ProCurve networking
products. For a list of services available for this ProCurve product, visit
http://www.hp.com/go/procurveservices

3
Operation Notes
Setting the Country Code
The correct Country Code must be set for the country in which you operate the access point so that
it uses the correct authorized radio channels for wireless network devices.
The North America product, J8130A, comes with the Country Code pre-configured; the worldwide
product, J8131A, does not. The radio is disabled if the Country Code is not set. Once the Country
Code is set, the radio is enabled.
If you are using the worldwide product, J8131A, before configuring radio settings on the access point,
you must first use the CLI to set the Country Code. You can display the available country codes in
the CLI by using the country ? command from the Exec level. After a Country Code is entered the
country command is removed from the Command Line Interface (CLI). If an invalid Country Code
has been entered, reboot the access point by pressing the reset button for at least five seconds. This
restores the factory default settings.
Configuring Security Settings
The access point is configured by default as an “open system,” enabling anyone with a wireless
network card to connect to the access point and gain access to network resources.
To protect your network from intruders, you should implement one of the access point’s security
features, either Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) shared keys, MAC address filtering, IEEE 802.1x
authentication, or Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA). For more information, see the Management and
Configuration Guide that is on the Product Documentation CD-ROM shipped with your access
point.
External Antenna Support
Software version 2.0.37 adds support for the HP ProCurve family of omnidirectional and directional
antennas, extending the reach of the HP ProCurve Wireless Access Point 420. Extend wireless
connectivity within an office setting, warehouse, or retail environment. Expand your wireless
network to provide campus-wide indoor and outdoor coverage. The following antennas are
supported.
Antenna Type Part Number Mounting Horizontal
Beamwidth (3dB)
Vertical
Beamwidth (3dB)
2 dBi indoor omnidirectional
diversity
J8442A Ceiling grid 360 Degrees 80 Degrees
5 dBi indoor/outdoor
omnidirectional
J8441A Ceiling or mast 360 Degrees 31 Degrees
6.5 dBi indoor/outdoor directional
diversity
J8445A Flush wall mount,
articulating mount for
wall or mast
80 Degrees 55 Degrees

For more information visit the HP ProCurve web site at: http://www.hp.com/rnd/products/wireless/
420_series/summary.htm.
7 dBi indoor/outdoor directional J8443A Flush wall mount with
integrated
articulating feature
65 Degrees 50 Degrees
8 dBi outdoor omnidirectional J8444A* Mast 360 Degrees 12 Degrees
11 dBi indoor/outdoor wide angle
directional
J8446A* Flush wall mount, tilt
mount for mast
120 Degrees 13 Degrees
* These antennas are not permitted for use in North America.
Antenna Type Part Number Mounting Horizontal
Beamwidth (3dB)
Vertical
Beamwidth (3dB)
© Copyright 2001, 2004 Hewlett-Packard Devel-
opment Company, LP. All rights reserved. The
information contained herein is subject to
change without notice.
Part Number: 5990-6008
May 2004
Printed in Taiwan
*5990-6008*