Proxim Harmony 802.11b User manual

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Copyright
© 2000 Proxim, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA. All rights reserved. This user’s guide and the software
described in it are copyrighted with all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any
language in any form by any means without the written permission of Proxim, Incorporated.
Trademarks
Harmony, RangeLAN, the RangeLAN logo, RangeLAN2, and Proxim are trademarks of
Proxim, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Limited Warranty, Disclaimer, Limitation Of Liability
For a period of one (1) year from the date of purchase by the retail customer, Proxim warrants
the Harmony 802.11b Access Point Model 8550 against defects in materials and workmanship.
Proxim will not honor this warranty if there has been any attempt to tamper with or remove the
product’s external foil label.
This warranty does not cover and Proxim will not be liable for any damage or failure caused by
misuse, abuse, acts of God, accidents, or other causes beyond Proxim’s control, or claim by
any entity other than the original purchaser.
If, after inspection, Proxim determines there is a defect, Proxim will repair or replace the
Access Point at no cost to you. To return defective merchandise to Proxim please call Proxim
Technical Support 1-408-731-2640 to obtain a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA)
number.
In no event shall Proxim, Incorporated be responsible or liable for any damages arising:
❑From the use of the product
❑From the loss of use, revenue or profit of the product
❑As a result of any event, circumstance, action, or abuse beyond the control of
Proxim, Incorporated
Whether such damages be direct, indirect, consequential, special or otherwise and whether
such damages are incurred by the person to whom this warranty extends or a third party.
Harmony 802.11b Access Point Model 8550 User’s Guide
Part # 7360.0133
Rev. A

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WarrantyReturnPolicy
If you have a problem with the Harmony 802.11b Access Point Model 8550, please call Proxim
Technical Support at 1-408-731-2640. Proxim Technical Support will assist with resolving any
technical difficulties you may have with your Proxim product.
After calling Proxim Technical Support, if your product is found to be defective, you may return
the product to Proxim after obtaining an RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) number.
The product must be returned in its original packaging. The RMA number should be clearly
marked on the outside of the box. Proxim cannot be held responsible for any product returned
without an RMA number, and no product will be accepted without an RMA number.
FCC WARNING
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital
device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates,
uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not 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. If this equipment does
cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning
the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or
more of the following measures:
❑Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
❑Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver.
❑Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that which the
receiver is connected.
❑Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

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Contents
1. Introduction .................................................................5
The Harmony Family ............................................................................... 6
System Requirements ............................................................................... 7
The Product Package................................................................................ 7
2. Installation ...................................................................8
Installation Procedure............................................................................... 8
Mounting Option .................................................................................... 10
LED Indicators ....................................................................................... 10
Power Requirements .............................................................................. 12
3. Wirefree Operation ....................................................13
Harmony Architecture............................................................................ 13
The IEEE 802.11b Specification............................................................ 14
Roaming Between Harmony 802.11b Access Points............................. 14
Roaming Guidelines ............................................................................ 15
4. Configuration Parameters ........................................17
Basic Settings ......................................................................................... 17
AP Name .............................................................................................. 17
Physical Address .................................................................................. 18
Enable AP ............................................................................................ 18
Partnered APC ..................................................................................... 18
Channel ................................................................................................ 18
Supported Clients................................................................................. 19
SSID ..................................................................................................... 19
IP Addressing....................................................................................... 19
Security Settings..................................................................................... 20
WEP Encryption .................................................................................. 20
WEP Key Size...................................................................................... 21
WEP Keys ............................................................................................ 21
Advanced Settings.................................................................................. 22
Supported Rates ................................................................................... 22
RTS/CTS .............................................................................................. 22

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5. Performance Hints ....................................................24
Microwave Ovens .................................................................................. 24
Range...................................................................................................... 24
6. Troubleshooting ........................................................26
How to Obtain Help with Your LAN Installation.................................. 26
LED Error Codes.................................................................................... 26
Common Problems and Solutions .......................................................... 27
A. Parameters ................................................................30
B. IEEE 802.11b Direct Sequence Channels ...............31
C. Harmony 802.11b Access Point Specifications .....32
D. How to Reach Technical Support............................33
Index...............................................................................34

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1. Introduction
Thank you for choosing Proxim’s Harmony 802.11b Access Point Model 8550, a
member of Proxim’s Harmony wirefree infrastructure family. The Harmony product
line is the first wirefree networking solution to support all current and future wireless
LAN standards, including OpenAir, IEEE 802.11b, and future 10 Mbps frequency
hopping and 5 GHz technologies, within a single, homogeneous architecture. Harmony
provides centralized management, configuration, and security for a wireless LAN.
Harmony protects current and future wirefree infrastructure investments by supporting
all leading and forthcoming wireless LAN protocols. Existing RangeLAN2 and
OpenAir-compatible products and existing IEEE 802.11b devices are all compatible
with Harmony. Customers can seamlessly transition to new LAN standards by adding
low-cost access points without changing the management interface or disturbing
existing users.
Harmony’s SmartArchitectureTM is the first wirefree management system to provide
one-click, system-wide security updates and remote office infrastructure management
through a single Web-based interface.
Harmony Access Points can be connected to any portion of the Ethernet network,
eliminating the need for special wirefree subnets common in other installations. Also,
Harmony clients can roam seamlessly anywhere there is wirefree coverage, without the
need for extra client software. In addition, Harmony SmartAttachTM software simplifies
installation by automatically discovering and configuring new access points upon
connection to the Ethernet network.
Proxim is the leading supplier of wirefree networking solutions. Proxim’s unmatched
expertise in spread spectrum radio networking technology, combined with the
company’s extensive experience serving the communication needs of the mobile
computing user, have kept Proxim at the forefront of the wireless LAN market.

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The Harmony Family
The Harmony 802.11b Access Point Model 8550 is a member of a product family that
provides a complete wirefree networking solution.
❑The Harmony Access Point Controller Model 7560 centralizes the manage-
ment, security, and filtering capabilities of a wireless LAN. The Access Point
Controller communicates with Harmony Access Points over the Ethernet
network to provide wirefree network access for mobile clients. The Access
Point Controller can support multiple Access Points, even if each Access Point
follows a different wireless standard.
❑The Harmony Access Point is a networking bridge that operates at Layer 2 of
the OSI networking model. Working in conjunction with a Harmony Access
Point Controller, the Access Point forwards packets between its radio and the
Ethernet network. Two models of the Harmony Access Point are available to
support either the OpenAir or IEEE 802.11b wireless standards: the OpenAir
Access Point Model 7550 and the 802.11b Access Point Model 8550. Note
that the Harmony Power System operates only with the 802.11b Access Point.
❑The Harmony PC Card is a wireless LAN adapter that fits into a PCMCIA
Type II slot in a laptop computer. Two models of the Harmony PC Cards are
available to support either the OpenAir or IEEE 802.11b wireless standards.
❑The optional Harmony Power System Model 7562 provides remote DC
power to Harmony 802.11b Access Points over the unused pins of a twisted
pair Ethernet cable.

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System Requirements
To begin using the Harmony 802.11b Access Point, you must have the following
minimum requirements:
❑At least one Harmony Access Point Controller
❑An Ethernet (10Base-T) LAN switch or hub
❑At least one 802.11b PC Card
The Product Package
Each Harmony 802.11b Access Point comes with:
❑One Harmony 802.11b Access Point Model 8550
❑One power adapter (12V, 1 Amp)
❑One Harmony 802.11b Access Point Model 8550 User’s Guide
❑One warranty registration card

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2. Installation
This chapter describes the installation procedure for the Harmony 802.11b Access
Point and includes a description of the LEDs found on the unit.
Installation Procedure
Follow these steps to install the Harmony 802.11b Access Point Model 8550.
Note:
YoumustinstallaHarmonyAccessPointControllerbeforeinstallingaHarmony
Access Point.
1. Determine the best location for the Harmony 802.11b Access Point. Keep in
mind the following considerations:
❑The length of the Ethernet cable that connects the Access Point to the network
must not exceed 100 meters.
❑Try to place the Access Point on a flat, sturdy surface as far from the ground
as possible, such as on top of a desk or bookcase, keeping clear of metal
obstructions and away from direct sunlight.
❑Try to centrally locate the Access Point so that it will provide coverage to all
of the mobile devices in the area.
❑If you are not using the Harmony Power System to supply power to the
Access Point, the distance between the Access Point and a power outlet
cannot exceed the length of the power adapter’s cable.
2. Place the Access Point in the desired location. An optional wall mount is avail-
able for the Access Point. Refer to the section entitled “Mounting Option” later
in this chapter for details.

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3. Attach one end of an Ethernet cable to the Access Point and attach the other end
to the 10Base-T port of a network hub, switch, router, or patch panel.
Note:
The Harmony 802.11b Access Point does not support 100Base-TX; it only
supports 10Base-T.
4. If you are not using the Harmony Power System to supply power to the Access
Point or want to connect the Access Point to both the Power System and an AC
power source, attach one end of the AC power adapter, included in the product
package, to the back of the Access Point and the other end to a power outlet.
Note:
Use the Access Point only with the power adapter supplied by Proxim in the
product package. Using another power supply may damage the Access Point. If
youwanttousetheAccessPointinconjunctionwiththeHarmonyPowerSystem,
refer to the Harmony Power System Model 7562 User’s Guide for instructions.
All three LEDs on the top of the Access Point will light up when the unit is powered
on. Next, the Status LED will turn amber and then green to indicate that the unit is
operational. Note that the Status LED will remain amber if the Access Point cannot
find an AP Controller to partner with.
In addition, the green Link LED will turn on to indicate that the Access Point has a
network connection.
5. The AP Controller will automatically detect and configure the Access Point over
the network. Refer to Chapter 4 and the Harmony Access Point Controller Model
7560 User’s Guide for more information on how to configure an Access Point.

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Mounting Option
The Harmony 802.11b Access Point is designed to sit on a desktop. In addition, an
optional mounting bracket is available for purchase so that the unit may be mounted to
a wall or ceiling.
Follow these steps to attach the mounting bracket to the Access Point:
1. Remove the two rubber feet on the bottom of the Access Point. Note that the
rubber feet are attached to the unit with an adhesive.
2. Underneath the rubber feet there are three unthreaded mounting holes that accept
M5 thread forming screws. Align the holes of the mounting bracket with these
holes.
3. Locate the screws provided with the mounting bracket.
4. Insert the screws into the three holes of the mounting bracket and Access Point
(that is, the holes aligned in Step #2 above).
5. Tighten the screws with a screwdriver to attach the mounting bracket to the
Access Point.
LED Indicators
There are three LEDs on the top panel of the Harmony 802.11b Access Point, as shown
in Figure 1.
❑Status LED: This LED, located on the left side (with the unit orientated so
that you can read the Proxim logo), is green when the unit is powered up and
operational. The LED is amber during initialization and when the Access
Point is not partnered with a Harmony AP Controller. This LED will blink red
in a repeating pattern if a problem occurs with the unit during operation. See
Chapter 6 for a discussion of these patterns.
❑Radio LED: This LED, located in the center of the three LEDs, blinks green
when the Access Point receives data packets over its radio.

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❑Ethernet LED: This LED, located on the right side, blinks green when the
Access Point receives data packets over the 10Base-T Ethernet port.
Figure 1
Harmony 802.11b Access Point’s Top Panel LEDs
There is also one LED on the back panel of the Harmony 802.11b Access Point.
❑Link LED: This LED, located between the power connector and the
10Base-T port, will turn green when the Access Point has a physical connec-
tion to the Ethernet network.
Status LED Radio LED Ethernet LED

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Power Requirements
The Harmony 802.11b Access Point requires power from either a Harmony Power
System or from an external power supply.
The voltage range for the Access Point’s power connector is 10-26 VDC.
The Harmony 802.11b Access Point ships with a UL listed, Class 2 power supply
(12V, 1 Amp).

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3. Wirefree Operation
Harmony Architecture
The Harmony wirefree infrastructure family provides network connectivity to mobile
clients without the use of wires or cabling.
Each Harmony network must include at least one Access Point Controller. The AP
Controller centralizes the management, security, and filtering capabilities of a wireless
LAN. In a traditional wireless LAN, each Access Point duplicates this functionality
adding additional, unnecessary cost to the network infrastructure. By consolidating
these functions into one or more AP Controllers, additional Access Points can easily be
added to the network as it grows. Also, as new wireless standards are introduced in the
future, additional Access Points may be added at a lower cost than with a traditional
Access Point infrastructure.
The AP Controller handles all of the configuration and management of an Access
Point. On a Harmony network, each Access Point acts as an intermediary between its
mobile clients and the AP Controller, converting radio signals into Ethernet packets
and vice versa.
A single AP Controller can support a maximum of 10 Access Points (an AP Controller
can support more than 10 Access Points but a maximum of 10 APs per AP Controller is
the recommended configuration for best performance). A network subnet can support
up to 10 AP Controllers to form a Harmony system that can be managed using a single
user interface. The number of clients that can be supported by one Access Point de-
pends on the amount of information that each client exchanges with the network.
Therefore, the number of clients that can be supported by one Access Point will vary
based on the applications in use and how frequently network information is accessed.
When a Harmony 802.11b Access Point is connected to the network for the first time,
the AP Controller automatically configures it with the AP AutoConfigure Default
settings. In addition, an Access Point may be manually configured via the AP
Controller’s Web browser interface. Refer to the Harmony Access Point Controller
Model 7560 User’s Guide for information on how to access the Web browser interface.

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The IEEE 802.11b Specification
In 1997, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) adopted the 802.11
standard for wireless devices operating in the 2.4 GHz frequency band. This standard
includes provisions for three radio technologies: direct sequence spread spectrum,
frequency hopping spread spectrum, and infrared. Devices that comply with the 802.11
standard operate at a data rate of either 1 or 2 Mbps.
In 1999, the IEEE created the 802.11b standard. 802.11b is essentially identical to the
802.11 standard except 802.11b provides for data rates of up to 11 Mbps for direct
sequence spread spectrum devices. Under 802.11b, direct sequence devices can oper-
ate at 11 Mbps, 5.5 Mbps, 2 Mbps, or 1 Mbps. This provides interoperability with
existing 802.11 direct sequence devices that operate only at 2 Mbps.
Direct sequence spread spectrum devices spread a radio signal over a range of frequen-
cies. The IEEE 802.11b specification allocates the 2.4 GHz frequency band into 14
overlapping operating Channels. Each Channel corresponds to a different set of fre-
quencies. If operating multiple 802.11b Access Points in the same vicinity, the dis-
tance between the center frequencies must be at least 25 MHz to avoid interference.
See Appendix B to determine the center frequency used by each Channel.
In the United States, the 802.11b standard allocates 11 operating Channels for direct
sequence devices. Channels 1, 6, and 11 are independent and do not overlap with each
other. To avoid interference between 802.11b Access Points, Proxim recommends that
you configure the Access Points using only Channels 1, 6, and 11.
The 802.11b operating parameters are described in Chapter 4.
Roaming Between Harmony 802.11b Access Points
If there are multiple Harmony 802.11b Access Points on the network, then a mobile
client may seamlessly roam from one Access Point to another.
Each Access Point creates its own wirefree cell or coverage area. This is also known as
a Basic Service Set (BSS). A mobile device can communicate with a particular Access
Point if it is within the Access Point’s coverage area.

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If the cells of multiple Access Points overlap, then the mobile client may switch from
one Access Point to another as it travels throughout the facility. During the hand-off
from one Access Point to another, the mobile client maintains an uninterrupted connec-
tion to the network. This is known as “roaming.”
Multiple Access Points connected to a common Ethernet network form an Extended
Service Set (ESS). All members of an Extended Service Set are configured with an ID,
known as the SSID or ESSID. Mobile clients must be configured with the same SSID
as the Access Points on the network; a client can only roam between Access Points that
share the same SSID.
Roaming Guidelines
❑An 802.11b PC Card can only roam between 802.11b Access Points. An
802.11b PC Card cannot communicate with Harmony OpenAir Access Points.
❑All Harmony 802.11b Access Points must have the same SSID.
❑All workstations with Harmony 802.11b PC Cards must have the same SSID
as the Access Points that they will roam between.
❑If WEP encryption is enabled, then all 802.11b Access Points and PC Cards
must use the same encryption level and WEP Key(s) to communicate.
❑The Access Points’ cells must overlap to ensure that there are no gaps in
coverage and to ensure that the roaming client will always have a connection
available.
❑All Access Points in the same vicinity should use a unique, independent
Channel. There are three independent Channels for 802.11b Access Points.
❑Access Points that use the same Channel should be installed as far away from
each other as possible to reduce potential interference.

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❑Proxim strongly recommends that you perform a site survey to determine the
best location for each Access Point in the facility, as described in Proxim’s
free one-day technical training class. See Proxim’s web site at
http://www.proxim.com/support/ for more information on the technical
training class.
❑An 802.11b Access Point and an OpenAir Access Point installed in the same
vicinity will interfere with each other. If you use both 802.11b and OpenAir
Access Points on your network, Proxim recommends that you test for potential
interference first before deploying the equipment.

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4. Configuration Parameters
The first time a Harmony 802.11b Access Point is connected to the network, the AP
Controller will automatically configure the Access Point using the AP AutoConfigure
Default settings.
In addition, a Harmony 802.11b Access Point may be manually configured via the
Harmony system’s Web browser interface. Refer to the Harmony Access Point
Controller Model 7560 User’s Guide for information on how to access the Web
browser interface.
This chapter describes the configuration parameters for a Harmony 802.11b Access
Point.
You may configure the following parameters for a Harmony 802.11b Access Point
using the Web browser interface:
❑Basic Settings
❑Security Settings
❑Advanced Settings
Each of these options is discussed in detail below.
Basic Settings
The Basic Settings tab allows you to configure the following parameters.
AP Name
You can assign a name to the Harmony 802.11b Access Point. The AP Name cannot
exceed 63 characters. The AP Controller assigns an AP Name to each Access Point
that it automatically detects and configures. By default, the AP Name is the device’s
physical address.

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Physical Address
A Harmony 802.11b Access Point’s physical address is assigned at the factory and
cannot be changed by the end user. The physical address or MAC address is a 48-bit
unique identifier assigned to each networking device. The physical address is com-
monly written as six pairs of two hexadecimal digits separated by colons (for example,
00:60:b3:6e:00:77).
Enable AP
When enabled, the Access Point operates normally and provides mobile clients with
access to the Ethernet network. When disabled, the Access Point cannot partner with
an AP Controller or communicate with mobile clients.
Partnered APC
Each Access Point is partnered with one of the AP Controllers (APCs) on the network.
If you do not wish to specify which AP Controller the Access Point should partner
with, then select the Any option. Otherwise, you can select an AP Controller from the
list of available devices and the Access Point will partner with it.
Channel
By default, an AP Controller will automatically provide a Channel assignment to a
Harmony 802.11b Access Point. The Harmony system will assign Channel 6 to the
first 802.11b Access Point, Channel 1 to the second 802.11b Access Point, Channel 11
to the third 802.11b Access Point, Channel 6 to the fourth 802.11b Access Point, and
so on.
If necessary, you may manually configure the Channel assignment of an 802.11b
Access Point. To minimize interference, use only Channels 1, 6, and 11. If you have
more than three Access Points on the network, make sure that units that share the same
Channel are as far away from each other as possible, based on the results of your site
survey of the facility.

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Note:
Proxim recommends that you manually assign Channels if you have more than
three Harmony 802.11b Access Points on one network.
Supported Clients
802.11b products can operate at 11 Mbps, 5.5 Mbps, 2 Mbps or 1 Mbps. This allows
802.11b devices to communicate with any existing 802.11 direct sequence devices that
operate only at 1 or 2 Mbps.
By default, the Harmony 802.11b Access Point will support both 802.11b and 2 Mbps
802.11 direct sequence clients. If you want the Harmony 802.11b Access Point to only
support 11 Mbps 802.11b clients, select the 11 Mbps clients only option.
SSID
The SSID is a string of up to 32 ASCII characters that must match on all communicat-
ing 802.11b devices within the same network. SSID stands for Service Set ID. The
SSID is also referred to as the “ESSID” or “Extended Service Set ID.”
All Harmony 802.11b Access Points and Harmony 802.11b PC Cards must have the
same SSID to allow a mobile client to roam between Access Points.
By default, the SSID is set to “proxim.”
IP Addressing
An Access Point can receive an IP address assignment in one of three ways:
❑From a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server on the network
❑From an AP Controller if there is no DHCP server on your network
❑Manually via the Harmony system’s Web browser interface
If you do not have a DHCP server on the network and the AP Controller has not been
assigned a static IP address, then it will assign IP addresses in the 169.254.0.0 network
to the Harmony Access Points.

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If you want the Access Point to receive an IP address via the first or second method
described above, then choose the Use DHCP option within the Access Point’s configu-
ration screen (accessed via the Harmony system’s Web browser interface). Note that
Use DHCP is the Access Point’s default setting.
Otherwise, select Specify IP and enter a static IP address, subnet mask, and default
gateway in the fields provided.
Click <Save> within the Access Point’s configuration screen to save these changes.
Note that you will need to recycle power on the AP if you change any of its IP
parameters.
Security Settings
The IEEE 802.11b standard specifies an optional encryption feature, known as Wired
Equivalent Privacy or WEP, that is designed to provide a wireless LAN with a security
level equal to what is found on a wired Ethernet network.
WEP encrypts the data portion of each packet exchanged on the 802.11b network using
either a 40-bit or 128-bit encryption algorithm. In addition, WEP is also used in con-
junction with the optional Shared Key Authentication algorithm to prevent unautho-
rized devices from associating with an 802.11b network.
WEP Encryption
The Harmony 802.11b Access Point offers three configuration options for WEP
Encryption: Authentication, All Traffic, and Off.
When set to Off, the Access Point does not use WEP.
When set to Authentication, the Access Point uses WEP only during authentication;
this corresponds to Shared Key Authentication.
When set to All Traffic, the Access Point uses WEP during authentication and when
exchanging data.