This Guide takes you through the basic steps necessary to install and configure your OfficeConnect Wireless 11a/b/g Access Point, and establish a connection from your wireless LAN to your wired LAN. Throughout this guide the OfficeConnect Wireless 11a/b/g Access Point is simply referred to as the Access Point.
Note: 3Com recommends that the Access Point is configured from a wired Ethernet computer during the initial set-up.
Your package contains:
•One OfficeConnect Wireless 11a/b/g Access Point
•One power adapter for use with the Access Point
•Four rubber feet
•One Ethernet cable
•One CD-ROM containing the Access Point Discovery program and the User Guide
•This Installation Guide
•One Support and Safety Information Sheet
•One Warranty Flyer
System Requirements
Before starting, you must ensure the following:
•You have a computer that has an Ethernet connection available and is already correctly configured for communication with the network. Your computer must have a Web browser installed.
•You have a computer with a wireless 802.11a, 802.11b or 802.11g adapter card installed.
If one or more of these conditions are not met, refer to the comprehensive Access Point User Guide provided on the accompanying CD-ROM for further guidance.
Safety Information | Using the Rubber Feet |
| WARNING: Please read the ‘Important Safety Information’ section in the | Use the four self-adhesive rubber feet to prevent your Access Point from |
| Support and Safety Information sheet before you start. | moving around on your desk or when stacking with other flat top |
| VORSICHT: Bitte lesen Sie den Abschnitt ‘Wichtige Sicherheitsinformationen’ | OfficeConnect units. Only stick the feet to the marked areas at each corner of |
| the underside of your Access Point. |
| sorgfältig durch, bevor Sie das Gerät einschalten. |
| | | | | | | |
| AVERTISSEMENT: Veuillez lire attentivement la section "Consignes | | | | | | | |
| importantes de sécurité" avant de mettre en route. | | | | | | | |
When positioning your Access Point, ensure: | | | | | Computer |
| | | | | | |
• | The unit is centrally located to the wireless computers that will connect to | | | | | | | |
| the Access Point. A suitable location might be on top of a high shelf or | | | | | | | |
| similar furniture to optimise wireless connections to computers in both | | | | | | | |
| horizontal and vertical directions, allowing coverage throughout. | | | | | | | |
• | It is out of direct sunlight and away from sources of heat. | Power Adapter |
| | | | | HubHub // SwitchSwitch |
| | | | | | |
• | Cabling is away from power lines, fluorescent lighting fixtures, and sources | | | | | | | |
| of electrical noise such as radios, transmitters and broadband amplifiers. | | | | | | | |
| | | 3Com | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
• | In order to meet FCC radiation exposure regulations the Access Point should | Wireless 11a/b/g |
| | | | |
| Access Point |
| be located in a position that maintains a minimum distance of 20 cm (8 | | | | | | | |
| inches) from any personnel (refer to the User Guide for details). | | | | | | | |
• | Water or moisture cannot enter the case of the unit. | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
• | Air flow around the unit and through the vents in the side of the case is not | | | | | Wireless Userr |
| | | | | | |
restricted. We recommend you provide a minimum of 25 mm (1 in.)
Wireless User
clearance.
Wall Mounting
There are two slots on the underside of the OfficeConnect Access Point which can be used for wall mounting.
When wall mounting your Access Point, ensure that it is within reach of the power outlet.
Connecting Your Access Point
1.Connect the power adapter to the Access Point and wait for the Alert LED to stop flashing.
2.Ensure that your computer is switched on.
3.Connect your computer to the 10/100 LAN port on the Access Point. Check that the LAN Port Status LED lights.
Connecting to a Hub or Switch
To connect your wireless network to your wired network you will need an additional Hub or Switch, this should be connected to the Ethernet port.
Using the OfficeConnect
Discovery Application
As part of the installation process, you need to launch the OfficeConnect Discovery Application provided on the CD-ROM. This application configures your Access Point to work within the network by allocating an IP address to it. The Discovery Application must be run from a PC that is connected to the network. If your network has a DHCP server in it, the Access Point will obtain an IP address automatically. However, if the Access Point is unable to detect a DHCP server then it will automatically choose a free IP address within the same range that the Windows 98/Me/2000/XP AutoIP function uses (in the 169.254.x.x subnet). For more information about IP addressing, see the IP Addressing section in the Access Point User Guide.
Windows Installation
(95/98/2000/Me/NT)
1.Insert the Access Point CD-ROM in the CD-ROM drive on your computer. A menu will appear; select Discovery. Discovery will find the Access Point even if it is unconfigured or misconfigured.
2.When the Welcome screen is displayed click on Next and wait until the application discovers the Access Points connected to your LAN.
3.Figure 3 shows an example Discovered Devices screen. Highlight the Wireless Access Point by clicking on it, and press Next.
4.Click on Finish to launch a web browser and display the login page for the Access Point.
Running the Setup Wizard
1.Login using the default password admin. The Wizard will attempt to launch automatically, but if it fails, select the Wizard option from the main menu.
2.The Wizard will ask for SSID, channels for 11a and 11g, and IP address. Most of these should be provided to you by your network administrator.
3.By default, 3Com recommends that you set the IP allocation mode for the Access Point as "Static". You should make a note of the new address :
Access Point's LAN IP Address | _______._______._______._______ |
The default wireless settings for the Access Point are: |
Service Area Name / SSID is 3Com | WEP Encryption is off |
Channel 11
If you do not have a Wireless LAN you can use the Access Point’s default settings. Ensure that your wireless clients have the default SSID, channel and WEP as detailed above.
If you have an existing Wireless LAN, configure the Access Point to use the same SSID and WEP/WPA settings to be compatible with your existing wireless network.
Service Area Name/SSID | ______________________________ |
Channel Number | ______________________________ |
Connecting to the Wireless LAN
Connecting to the Wireless LAN
1.Now you have configured the Access Point via the wired computer, you can connect to the Access Point via a wireless computer.
To connect via wireless all the wireless clients must have the same SSID and WEP settings as the Access Point. All wireless clients must use Infrastructure mode.
2.If your computer has both a wired and wireless NIC installed, you must ensure that only one NIC is used to communicate with the LAN. To use the wireless NIC, unplug the Ethernet cable and reboot your computer.
3.Launch your web browser and attempt to browse the IP address of the Access Point. If you can successfully access this site, then your wireless computer and Access Point have been successfully configured.
4.3Com strongly recommends that you enable WEP/WPA encryption to improve the security of your wireless network and you change the SSID to something other than the default. Consult the on line help or the User Guide for details.
5.For more trouble shooting see http://knowledgebase.3com.com/3CRWE454A72.asp
When the Wizard has completed, follow the steps in section 4 to connect your wireless computer to the Access Point.
Refer to the User Guide if you cannot make contact with the Access Point.
