Anyone here experienced with Linksys wireless APs?

[FisionChips]

Hi,
I am having a little problem configuring Linksys Wireless Access Points - I can't get the browser configuration to work from the network to which the Access Point is connected. I think I have an IP issue ... anyone here able to advise?

[Micron]

Whats the model of the WAP?

Also, how is the network set up? The more info you can give us the better.

[FisionChips]

http://castlecops.com/zx/FisionChips/blakeconfig.jpg

WAP54G.

The hub doesn't act as a DHCP server and I haven't specifically set up any of the PC's to either... could this be the problem.

The CD config works OK - and I set an ip address for the 54G unit according to the instructions. I read somewhere that the Access Points could be chained to extend the range but have since read on the Linksys website that you need two other pieces of kit to extend the wireless network range. I am unsure about this because it works as it is - I am a little suspicious that Linksys might just be trying to sell me extra hardware. This still doesn't explain why I can't configure the Access Points (singly/either of them) from a PC browser. I have tried FireFox and IE and from different machines on the network....

[Micron]

Try connecting the WAP only to 1 PC. Once connected you can then use the following details to configure it for the other PC's, You will neeed the MAC Address of each PC on the Network. If running XP press Start > Run > type cmd and in the dos box type getmac then enter.

Also, check firewall config's to see if its blockocking the WAP.

Configuring this access point is fairly simple. The included "Quick Installation Guide" covers most of the things you need to know to get you started with the configuration wizard. However, there's a whole lot of things that's not covered by the configuration wizard, so you'll have to use a web browser to connect to the device and change some settings there.

While using the configuration wizard to set up the Access Point, there's only a few things you need to bother with: Set the IP address of the device to match your IP address scheme and change the SSID to some temporary value. Doesn't matter what you pick as SSID at first, it'll be changed later on. Finish up with the wizard, and start up your favorite browser. (Note that you should use a computer on the wired network to configure the AP).

Note: It appears that the device will reboot itself whenever a change is applied to the configuration. That means it may take a few seconds before you're able to re-connect to the Access Point.

Password

Using a web browser, connect to the AP with the IP address you gave it using the wizard. The first thing you should do, is change the password to administer the device. Click on the "Password" tab, and change it to a good password (at least 8 characters long, using letters, numbers and special characters).

SSID

Next, go to the setup screen, and change the "SSID Broadcast" value to "disabled". Apply the change, and then change the SSID value to something else. Don't use anything easily guessed (like your dogs' name, your car model); try to be a little creative. Since you have to type this SSID into the configuration of your Wireless Networkcards, you should probably curb the creativity a little bit. And, best security practice suggests that the SSID is changed on a regular basis, so overly complicating things may discourage you from changing the SSID.

Channel number

Change the channel number. The default is channel six, so everyone who is too eager to get things up a running are leaving all the default values. There's no need to be on channel six, and since so many others are probably on channel six, pick something else.

Encryption

It's definately recommended that you encrypt your wireless connections. Although WEP encryption is not the best, it is still better than transmitting all your data in cleartext. Click the "Edit WEP settings" button on the "Setup" screen, select 128Bit, type in a passphrase and click the "generate" button. This is the easy way to generate encryption keys. Doing it this way will create 4 identical keys. The key actually used is the one matching the "Default Transmit Key" at the top of the "WEP Keys" page. You can manually enter 4 different keys, and then change the "Default Transmit Key" to select the one to be used. You'll have to type in the correct key into your Wireless Network card configuration as well...

Version 1.08 of the firmware for the Linksys WAP54G supports WPA. WPA uses different encryption algorythms, including AES, which is very good. There's only two downsides: The 1.08 firmware seems to have some issues. Every time I made changes to the configuration, the device would crash, and I had to powercycle it to get it working again... The other downside is that WPA is not directly supported by the drivers for the Linksys WPC54G network cards. Windows XP users can get an upgrade from Microsoft that'll take care of it, but Windows 2000 users has to purchase a 3rd party client software to reap the benefits of WPA. Sad, but true...

UPDATE: Release 2.06 for the WAP54G resolves the crashing described above. Since it's now possible to use WPA rather than WEP for encryption, now is a good time to upgrade. Installing the newest drivers for the WPC54G card (1.30 is what I have) comes with the Odyssey client from Funk software integrated, and you can now use WPA on Windows2000 (and W98?). Unfortunately, it seems that only WPA works with this version of the drivers (for the card), so don't bother installing it if you don't have an Access Point capable of doing WPA.

MAC Address Filtering

MAC address filtering allows you to specify which network cards are allowed to connect to your Access Point. Although it might be a hassle to type these in, this is perhaps the best way to keep snoopers out of your wireless network. Click on the "Advanced" (yellow) tab, and then on the "Filters" tab. Switch the "Filtered MAC Address" to "Enable", select "Permit", and type in the MAC address(es) of your Wireless Networkcard(s). On the WPC54G, these are printed on the underside of the cards, and looks something like "000C41xxxxxx". Once these are entered, hit "Apply", and you're done!.

Trouble connecting with your wireless card?

So did I. For some reason, I was unable to get an IP address using DHCP, so I hardcoded the IP address on my laptop. Once I did that, my connection worked just fine.

Other things to look for :

Passphrase/WEP key - Verify that the keys match. One little typo means no go...

MAC address - Double check that you entered the MAC address correctly

Log - Check the log on the Access Point.

Upon further examination, in order for DHCP to work when WEP is enabled, the SSID Broadcast setting must be set to "enabled".

Additional Security

You may want to consider installing a desktop firewall on your wireless computer. Set it up to be very restrictive for inbound connections, preferably block all inbound connections to your computer. If your wireless network is compromised, the hacker will be on the same LAN as you, so you can't even trust your own LAN ...

Note: The "Linksys Configuration Utility" that comes with the WPC54G cards (I assume there are similar "utilities" with their other wireless cards as well) actually generates quite some network traffic on it's own. It does a large number of DNS lookups for "www.microsoft.com", and it also attempts to connect to a number of servers on the internet using the Daytime protocol... I don't know if it's trying the set the time on the computer or what, but ... there's no way of turning it off that I've found, so I've blocked it using whichever desktop firewall I'm using at the moment...

[FisionChips]

Much Thanks for that Micron. I won't be visiting thst site again until later in November. I'll give your suggestions a go. I'll have to set the whole lot up again anyway... someone told the owner that the WAP54G was a broadband router and said he didn't need it - so the owner disconnected the whole lot and put it in a cupboard - I then got a call saying the laptops couldn't connect. hmmmmm.

SSID and MACs were all set up OK I had set WEP 128 bit encryption but shall set up AES on your advice after I have re-established the wireless network.

The wireless cards I am using are ASUS so they don't have the same problem (I presume) as the Linksys ones.

Cheers for now

[Micron]

Your welcome. Im always on hand if your stuck, I never sleep lol. I hate wireless, great invention but it's a pain in the bum to troubleshoot.

[FisionChips]

I totally agree. I used a wireless gateway (also Linksys) for a while with my Pc's cabled into it - I would occasionally use it to test a wireless card after installation - I ended up changing it for the non wireless flavour because it kept dropping the line. I think the wireless phones were interfering with it.
No problems at all since.

[Micron]

Yeah, its a freequancy issue most of the time, especially when wireless phones are introduced. I found that changing the freq on the phones usually helped the network from dropping.

Give me Cat5 anytime.

[FisionChips]

Glad to hear someone echoing my feelings on it - I simply don't like the hit and miss affair with wireless.

[Micron]

Not to mention it's security. Most people forget to set up WEP, and if someone passed your house or office using something like Network Stumbler (http://www.netstumbler.com/downloads/netstumblerinstaller_0_4_0.exe) anyone will have access to your PC.

I use AirSnare to protect WLAN's and a MOD Program called wLAB. If you dont use any protection its like leaving your front door open when you go on holiday.

[FisionChips]

Yeah. you get caught both ways. doesn't work when you want it to from your own office, but works well enough for your neighbour to abuse your bandwidth. lol.

Thanks for the security tips though - I will upgrade the security on the sites I have set up (reluctantly) so far. I always put in WEP and was told by someone supposedly 'in the know' that this was sufficient.

Do you use a wireless sniffer?

[Micron]

WEP is sufficient at home and with a decent firewall, but in an enterprise situation, you need strong security.

It's Illegal in the US to poach a WLAN Connection, should be illegal here too.

If my neighbour used my network, id setup a virus server so when he/she connected it would dump the whole database into his/her startup group haha.

[FisionChips]

http://img116.exs.cx/img116/1231/z7shysterical.gif Wicked!

I'd do similar and then go round and charge for cleaning the mess up!

[Micron]

haha yeah. Great Minds eh!

[xpgeek]

It's Illegal in the US to poach a WLAN Connection, should be illegal here too.

Technically, yes it is, but, its something that happens like a billion times a day in the US, and law enforcement doesn't really seem to care that much unless something much more illegal was happening at the same time.

I've done it myself. Had a laptop I borrowed from someone with a WiFi card, was staying at my brothers for a week, guy next door or across the street had an open network, probably never even knew I was on it.

I think, if the networks open, its there, might as well use it. If you don't want people using it, then secure it.