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Introducing the ZyXEL Device

This chapter introduces the main applications and features of the ZyXEL Device. It also introduces the ways you can manage the ZyXEL Device.

1.1 Introducing the ZyXEL Device

Your ZyXEL Device extends the range of your existing wired network without additional wiring, providing easy network access to mobile users.

It is highly versatile, supporting up to eight BSSIDs simultaneously. The Quality of Service (QoS) features allow you to prioritize time-sensitive or highly important applications such as VoIP.

Multiple security profiles allow you to easily assign different types of security to groups of users. The ZyXEL Device controls network access with MAC address filtering, rogue AP detection, layer 2 isolation and an internal authentication server. It also provides a high level of network traffic security, supporting IEEE 802.1x, Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), WPA2 and WEP data encryption.

Your ZyXEL Device is easy to install, configure and use. The embedded Web-based configurator enables simple, straightforward management and maintenance.

See the Quick Start Guide for instructions on how to make hardware connections. At the time of writing, this User’s Guide covers the following models.

Table 1 Models Covered

NWA-3160: IEEE 802.11a/b/g Business WLAN Access Point

NWA-3163: IEEE 802.11b/g Business WLAN Access Point

1.2 Applications for the ZyXEL Device

The ZyXEL Device can be configured to use the following WLAN operating modes

1AP

2Bridge/Repeater

3AP+Bridge

4MBSSID

Applications for each operating mode are shown below.

 

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ZyXEL NWA-3160 Series User’s Guide