Harmony 802.
Copyright © 2000 Proxim, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA. All rights reserved. This manual 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.
Warranty Return Policy 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 Materials Authorization) number. The product must be returned in its original packaging.
Contents 1. Introduction ................................................................. 4 The Harmony Family ............................................................................... 5 System Requirements ............................................................................... 6 2. Installation ................................................................... 7 Installation Procedure ............................................................................... 7 Mounting Option ........
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 embrace all current and future wirefree LAN standards, including OpenAir, IEEE 802.11b, and future 10 Mbps frequency hopping and 5 GHz technologies, in a single, homogeneous architecture.
The Harmony Family The Harmony Wirefree Infrastructure Family includes the following products: ❑ The Harmony 7560 Access Point Controller centralizes the management, security, and filtering capabilities of a wirefree 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 wirefree standard.
System Requirements To begin using the Harmony 802.11b Access Point, you need the following minimum requirements: ❑ At least one Harmony Access Point Controller; ❑ An Ethernet (10Base-T) or Fast Ethernet (100Base-TX) LAN switch or hub; and ❑ At least one 802.11b PC Card.
2. Installation This chapter describes the installation procedure for the Harmony 802.11b Access Point and the LEDs found on the unit. Installation Procedure Follow these steps to install the Harmony 802.11b Access Point Model 8550: Note: You must install a Harmony Access Point Controller before installing a Harmony Access Point. 1. Determine the best location for the Harmony 802.11b Access Point.
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 8550 Access Point does not support 100Base-TX; it only supports 10Base-T. 4.
1. Remove the 2 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 3 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 hardware. 4. Insert the screws into the 3 holes of the mounting bracket and Access Point (i.e., the holes aligned in Step #2 above). 5.
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 wirefree LAN. In a traditional wirefree LAN, each Access Point duplicates this functionality adding additional, unnecessary cost to the network infrastructure.
The IEEE 802.11b Specification In 1997, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) adopted the 802.11 standard for wirefree 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.
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 connection 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 ESSID.
❑ 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 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.
4. Configuration Parameters The first time that a Harmony 802.11b Access Point is connected to the network, the AP Controller will automatically configure it using the AP AutoConfig default settings. In addition, a Harmony 802.11b Access Point may be manually configured via the AP Controller’s Wireless Network Management interface. Refer to the Harmony Access Point Controller Model 7560 User’s Manual for information on how to access the Wireless Network Management interface.
Partnered AP Controller Each Access Point is partnered with one of the AP Controllers 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 drop-down list 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.
Note that allowing 2 Mbps clients to communicate with 802.11b products may significantly reduce the 802.11 products’ data rate. ESSID The ESSID is a string of up to 32 ASCII characters that must match on all communicating 802.11b devices within the same network. ESSID stands for Extended Service Set ID. All Harmony 802.11b Access Points and Harmony 802.11b PC Cards must have the same ESSID to allow a mobile client to roam between Access Points. By default, the ESSID is set to “proxim.
WEP Settings The Harmony 802.11b products support both 40 and 128-bit encryption using the Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) algorithm. You may configure the Harmony 802.11b Access Point to use encryption only during authentication (the “Authentication” option), during authentication and when sending data (the “All Traffic” option), or to not use encryption at all (the “Off” option). In addition, each Access Point can store four 40-bit and four 128-bit Encryption Keys. All 802.11 Access Points and 802.
RTS/CTS Threshold The 802.11b specification supports optional RTS/CTS communication based on packet size. Without RTS/CTS, a sending radio listens to see if another radio is already using the medium before transmitting a data packet. If the medium is free, the sending radio transmits its packets. However, there is no guarantee that another radio is not transmitting a packet at the same time, causing a collision.
5. Performance Hints This section provides the user with ideas for how to increase performance and network satisfaction on a Harmony 802.11b network. Microwave Ovens Microwave ovens operate in the same frequency band as the Harmony 802.11b Access Point. Therefore, if you use a microwave within range of the Access Point you may notice network performance degradation. However, both your microwave and your Access Point will continue to function.
Proper antenna placement can help improve range. Here are some guidelines: ❑ The antenna should be placed so that it emits its signal in the appropriate direction. The Harmony 802.11b Access Point comes with an integral diversity antenna. For best results, place the antenna in the up or vertical position. ❑ Place the antenna as high as possible. In an office environment, try to place it above cubicle walls. ❑ Do not place a sheet of metal (like a filing cabinet) between two antennas.
6. Troubleshooting The Harmony 802.11b Access Point is designed to be very easy to install and operate. However, if you experience difficulties, use the information in this chapter to help diagnose and solve problems. Also, refer to the Harmony Access Point Controller Model 7560 User’s Manual for additional troubleshooting suggestions. If you cannot resolve a problem, contact Proxim, as described in Appendix A, “How to Reach Technical Support.
2. Try recycling power to the unit. The Access Point will try to contact an AP Controller during boot-up. Therefore, if you are using the external AC power supply, you should connect the Access Point to the Ethernet network before turning on the unit. 3. If neither of the above solves the problem, try to manually add the Access Point as described in the Harmony Access Point Controller Model 7560 User’s Manual. Problem 2: My Harmony 802.11 PC Card will not associate with the Harmony 802.11b Access Point.
Problem 3: The Status LED is amber. Solution 3: The Status LED will turn amber under two conditions: 1. The unit is initializing; 2. The unit has successfully initialized but could not find an AP Controller to partner with. Confirm that the Access Point has successfully partnered with the AP Controller via the Wireless Network Management interface.
A. How to Reach Technical Support If you’re having a problem using the Harmony 802.11b Access Point, gather the following information and contact Proxim Technical Support: ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ What Harmony products are installed on the network? What were you doing when the error occurred? What error indication did you see? Can you reproduce the problem? You can reach Proxim Technical Support by voice, fax, e-mail, or mail: Tel: 800-477-6946 or 408-731-2640 Fax: 408-731-3676 Web: http://www.proxim.
B. Harmony 802.11b Access Point Specifications The following technical specification is for reference purposes only. Actual product’s performance and compliance with local telecommunications regulations may vary from country to country. Proxim, Inc. will only ship products that are type approved in the destination country. Network Interfaces Ethernet 10Base-T (Twisted-Pair) Data Rate 11, 5.5, 2, and 1 Mbps —IEEE 802.11b 10 Mbps — Ethernet Media Access Protocol IEEE 802.
