NDC comm NWH660 manual Roaming

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Roaming

InstantWave products allow wireless stations to roam freely within an infrastructure domain composed of multiple APs with overlapping signal coverage (as in the Type 3 network configuration described in the previous section). For example, roaming enables Station 1 to move from the AP 1 signal coverage area to the AP 2 signal coverage area without disconnecting from the network. The handover is achieved transparently; the Station 1 user would not realize he had moved from AP 1 to AP 2.

The requirements for a roaming environment are:

a)Multiple APs with overlapping signal coverage (see “Multiple AP Installation,” page 18)

b)The APs must be configured to have the same domain name (SSID) and security (WEP) settings (see “Encryption,” page 27).

c)The mobile stations must have the same domain name (SSID) and security (WEP) settings as the APs.

It is advisable that APs on different TCP/IP subnets be given different domain names to avoid roaming confusion (see the note below).

Note: For a mobile station to move between APs without losing its network link, the Roaming function must be enabled on the station, and the APs that the station roams to must be configured with the same domain name. If a station detects that the signal quality on the link to the current AP is poor, it will search for an AP in the same domain with better signal quality and automatically associate (establish a connection) with it. The station’s IP address, however, will not change. A TCP/IP router will not route packets to a mobile station that has associated with an AP on a different TCP/IP subnet. In other words, if your network consists of two subnets connected by a router, a mobile station may roam to a different subnet with the same domain name and then be unable to communicate with other network devices via TCP/IP. To avoid this problem, you must assign different domain names to different TCP/IP subnets.

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Contents Technical Support MbpsUser’s Guide National Datacomm CorporationTrademarks Your NWH660 package should contain the following items Packing ListContents Advanced Settings Figures Igure Introduction Snmp InstantWave Wireless LAN ProductsAutomatic Discovery of InstantWave Devices Iwms The InstantWave Management SystemWindows NT Windows 95/98Windows 2000/XP Iwms Hardware and Software Requirements Regulatory Domain Terminology Used in this GuideSee Using the InstantWave Management How to Use this GuideSee Hardware Pre-configuration, page 22, for See Installing the InstantWave ManagementInfrastructure Network Types Access PointWireless Computer-1 Computer-2 Planning the NetworkSingle AP Network Wired Computers Server Access Point Wireless ComputersSales Domain Multiple AP Installation Single AP InstallationPlanning an Infrastructure Network Roaming Hardware Description LED IndicatorsColor Meaning Function Connectors and SwitchesInstalling the AP Management Tools Hardware Pre-configurationAP COMFig/Password Using the AP COMFig ToolAP COMFig Tool/Password AP COMFig/ServiceGeneral Configuration/GeneralBasic Rates AP Alias NameDomain Name Transmission RateEncryption Configuration/EncryptionInstantWave 11-Mbps Wireless Access Point Filter DhcpConfiguration/Filter Configuration/SNMP Access Control Snmp Access ControlPerform AP Self Diagnostic Test Hardware Diagnosis Upgrade AP FirmwareInstantWave Product Placement Guidelines Reset AP ConfigurationInstantWave 11-Mbps Wireless Access Point Click Next Installing the InstantWave Management SystemImportant Issues Click Next again Figure Auto-Discovery Using the InstantWave Management SystemInstantWave Management System Popup Menu ConfigurationIP Configuration Next panel in the configuration dialog box is Filter Figure Name WirelessChannel BroadcastTransmission RateMAC Access Control Address MAC Address List StatusIdentifier Click the Encryption tab to set up the security options New/Edit Address dialog box will open Figure New/Edit Address Trap ServerConfiguration/Trap Server Trap View Monitor MonitorStatistics Summary InformationMonitor/Statistics Load Default ResetUpgrade Firmware Upgrade Firmware Partition the network according to the physical location Advanced SettingsBatch mode operation Manage Iwms Host TableCreate Host Table via Automatic Discovery New/Edit/Delete a Host Address on Host Table Import Host Table to check device’s availabilityNew/Edit/Delete a Host Address Export the Configuration profile to a FileImport the Configuration Profile from a File Import the Configuration Profile from a FileEncryption Question Answer FAQsSymptom Suggested Solutions TroubleshootingLocation of the wireless PC or AP Support from Your Network Supplier Technical SupportHardware NDC Limited WarrantyLimited Warranty Service Procedures Services after Warranty Period Specifications Radio Frequency Range Firmware UpgradeTemperature Emission TypeMHz AppendixChannel Center Spain France Japan Number FrequencyEncryption 13, 27, 48 IndexSsid