Copyright © 2001 Proxim, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA. All rights reserved. Covered by one or more of the following U.S. patents: 5,412,687; 5,844,900; 5,875,179; 5,913,174; 6,006,090; and 5,231,634. 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.
In no event shall Proxim, Inc. be responsible or liable for any damages arising: ❑ From the use of the product; ❑ From the loss of use, revenue, or profit of the product; or ❑ As a result of any event, circumstance, action, or abuse beyond the control of Proxim, Inc. Whether such damages be direct, indirect, consequential, special, or otherwise and whether such damages are incurred by the person to whom this warranty extends or a third party.
Contents 1. Introduction ............................................................... 1 Product Description ................................................................................2 Symphony HomeRF Hardware Products.........................................2 Software Products ............................................................................2 The Product Package...............................................................................3 System Requirements............................
6. Symphony Maestro Configuration Tool ................ 21 Base Station Management and Configuration Features ....................... 22 Monitor Communication With Base Station................................. 22 Configure Network Topology ....................................................... 22 Configure ISP TCP/IP Settings..................................................... 23 Configure Dial On Demand Settings ............................................ 24 Configure Internal TCP/IP Settings ..........
8. Using the Wireless Network ................................... 39 Networks Using Transparent Bridging Mode Only..............................39 Understanding Transparent Bridging ............................................39 TCP/IP Settings for Transparent Bridging Only Networks ...........39 Application Hints ..................................................................................40 Range of Symphony HomeRF Products........................................40 Reducing Interference..............
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1. Introduction Thank you for purchasing Proxim’s Symphony HomeRF Base Station, a member of the Symphony HomeRF 2.0 Network. Proxim has been a market leader in the wireless networking industry for over ten years providing award-winning technology to companies and individuals around the world. You can expect this same reliability from the Symphony HomeRF 2.0 products in your home and/or small office.
Product Description The Symphony HomeRF Base Station is a member of a product family that provides a complete wireless networking solution for the home or small office. The Symphony HomeRF 2.0 Network complies with the HomeRF specification 2.0 and operates at radio data rates up to 10 Mbps. Symphony HomeRF Hardware Products ❑ Symphony HomeRF PC Card Model 4440: a 3.3-volt Type II PCMCIA card that ships with a snap-on antenna.
❑ The Symphony Conductor Modem Sharing Software allows one computer to share its installed modem or Ethernet card with other computers on the wireless network. Note that you cannot use the Conductor program on a Symphony HomeRF 2.0 network that includes a Base Station. ❑ The Symphony Location Switcher provides a fast and convenient way to move a wireless computer between different locations by storing Internet and network configurations for multiple networks.
System Requirements In order to use a Symphony HomeRF Base Station, you must have the following: ❑ An external, Ethernet-ready device that provides broadband Internet access, such as a cable modem, DSL modem, or ISDN router (one of these devices is required to share Internet access) OR ❑ An Ethernet hub or a computer with an Ethernet card already installed (one of these devices is required to communicate with an Ethernet network) ❑ An account with an ISP (Internet Service Provider); this is required to
2. Wireless Networking With the Base Station What Is Wireless Networking? A “network” is two or more computers physically connected to each other. For example, if you connect two computers together with a cable, you have created a network. The two computers will communicate with each other over the cable. Networking technology enables two or more PCs, located throughout your home or small office, to communicate.
Supported Configurations The Base Station provides a wireless solution for a wide variety of small networking environments, including these three supported configurations: ❑ A Wireless Network Sharing Internet Access ❑ A Wireless Network Communicating With an Ethernet Network ❑ A Wireless Network Sharing Internet Access and Communicating With an Ethernet Network Each configuration is described below.
The Base Station links the broadband Internet device and the wireless computers so that each computer (laptops and desktops) on the Symphony network has simultaneous Internet access and can share files and printers with each other.
Communicating With an Ethernet Network If you already have a small network in your home or office, you can connect the Symphony HomeRF Base Station directly to an Ethernet cabling hub in order to provide connectivity between wireless computers and nodes on the wired Ethernet, as shown in Figure 2. Figure 2 Communicating With a Wired Ethernet Network Note: The Base Station is designed to provide connectivity to small Ethernet networks that contain up to seven Ethernet nodes.
By default, the Base Station performs both Network Address Translation (NAT) and Transparent Bridging. However, to communicate with the Ethernet network using TCP/IP, you should disable NAT. Refer to Chapter 6: “Configure Network Topology” on page 22 and Chapter 8: “Networks Using Transparent Bridging Mode Only” on page 39 for details. Sharing Internet Access And Communicating With An Ethernet Network As discussed above, a Symphony HomeRF Base Station can link a Symphony network to a wired Ethernet network.
The Ethernet hub in Figure 3 has three devices attached: an Ethernet-ready desktop computer, a DSL modem, and a Base Station. The Base Station links the Ethernet and wireless networks together so that all computers can share files, printers, and Internet access. In this configuration, the Base Station may perform both Network Address Translation (NAT) and Transparent Bridging or Transparent Bridging only.
3. Installing the Base Station The Symphony HomeRF Base Station is a stand-alone device which requires no software installation. Also, the Base Station has a built-in antenna which does not require installation. Note: Install the Base Station first before installing the Symphony HomeRF adapters that will communicate with it. Follow these steps to install the Base Station: 1. 2. Determine the best location for the Base Station.
Note: Use the Symphony HomeRF Base Station only with the power adapter supplied by Proxim with the product. Using another power supply may damage the Symphony HomeRF Base Station. The three LEDs on the top of the Base Station will momentarily light up. In addition, the green Link LED, located to the left of the Ethernet ports, should light up. 4. If the Link LED is on, go to Step #10; if the LED is not on, go to Step #5. 5. Remove the connector plug from Ethernet Port II. 6.
4. Software Installation for Adapters The following procedure describes how to install the Symphony software for the Symphony HomeRF adapters that you will communicate with the Base Station. The Symphony software supports Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition (ME), and Windows 2000 Professional. Note: The Symphony software does not support Windows 95 or Windows 2000 Server. Refer to Proxim’s Web site at http://www.proxim.
1. Windows 98/ME users: confirm that the Windows cabinet (CAB) files are installed on the computer. The CAB files are typically located in C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\INSTALL\ or C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS\. 2. Windows 98/ME users: if the computer does not have the CAB files installed, copy the Win98 or Win9x folder found on the Windows CD-ROM to a temporary folder on the computer. 3. Copy the contents of the Symphony Installation CD-ROM to a temporary folder on the computer.
2. Click to change the default installation directory; otherwise, click to continue with the standard installation. 3. Windows 2000 users: click to continue the installation if prompted that the software package does not contain a Microsoft digital signature. 4.
Note: PC Card users: Connect the snap-on antenna to the Symphony HomeRF PC Card before inserting the card into the computer’s PCMCIA slot. 5. Windows 98 and Windows ME users: insert the Windows installation CD if prompted. If you do not have a Windows installation CD, see “Pre-installation Considerations” on page 13. 6. Windows 2000 users: click to continue the installation if prompted that the Symphony HomeRF adapter’s software does not contain a Microsoft digital signature. 7.
5. Symphony Composer Installation Wizard After you have installed a Symphony HomeRF adapter, the Symphony Composer Installation Wizard will automatically appear to guide you through the setup and configuration of your wireless network. You need to complete the Composer Wizard on each computer in which you installed an adapter. The Composer provides a friendly user interface that helps you configure your network.
Important Note to Users in Transparent Bridging Mode Only This note is only for users who will use the Base Station to communicate with an Ethernet network. If you want the Base Station to bridge TCP/IP traffic, you must configure the Base Station to operate in Transparent Bridging mode only within the Maestro Configuration Tool. See Chapter 6: “Configure Network Topology” on page 22 for information on how to change the Base Station’s operating mode.
If problems persist, confirm that you have entered the correct Security Code and that the Base Station is powered on and operational. Also, try moving the computer and the Base Station closer together; the computer may be out of range. Configure TCP/IP Information When first powered on, the Base Station will request IP addressing information from your ISP’s DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server.
If you configure a drive with Read/Write or Read Only access, Proxim recommends that you establish a password to prohibit unauthorized access. Depending on the type of Internet connection you have, others may be able to see your computers in their Network Neighborhood or My Network Places icon and have unauthorized access to your drives. You may change the access type and establish passwords using the Symphony Maestro Configuration Tool.
6. Symphony Maestro Configuration Tool After the Composer configures the wireless network, a Symphony icon will appear in the Windows System Tray of each wireless computer, as shown below: Base Station icon The icon will change colors to reflect different states of connectivity. For example, the icon is gray when the network is functioning normally, and it is red when a wireless computer cannot communicate with the Base Station.
The Maestro has two functions: it monitors the current state of the wireless network and it allows the user to reconfigure network parameters. The following is a brief overview of Maestro’s key features for networks that include a Base Station. Refer to the On-line Help documentation for additional details on how to use each of these features and for information on additional features not discussed in this chapter.
I would like to use the Base Station to allow my wireless computers to communicate with Ethernet computers: This option corresponds to Transparent Bridging mode only. Use this option if you want the Base Station to bridge the TCP/IP protocol so that wireless computers and Ethernet computers are on the same LAN and IP network. I would like to use the Base Station to provide for both (above): This option is the default setting and the Base Station performs both NAT and Transparent Bridging simultaneously.
Configure Dial On Demand Settings Unlike static addressing or DHCP, PPPoE users are not necessarily always connected to the Internet. To determine when the Base Station will automatically connect or disconnect from the ISP, click under the Symphony Base Station Status heading and choose the Dial On Demand tab (this tab is only available if the ISP Connect Mode is set to PPPoE). By default, the Base Station is always connected to the Internet.
Configure Internal TCP/IP Settings When performing NAT, the Base Station uses two IP addresses: one to communicate with the ISP (see “Configure ISP TCP/IP Settings” above) and one to communicate with the wireless network (called the internal IP address). By default, the Base Station is assigned an internal IP address of 10.0.0.1 and a subnet mask of 255.0.0.0. Also, the Base Station acts as a DHCP server to automatically assign IP addresses within the 10.0.0.
2. Open Maestro on the wireless computer to which you downloaded the firmware file in Step #1, click under the Symphony Base Station Status heading, and select the Upgrade tab. 3. Write down the current version of the firmware as reported in the Upgrade screen. If the Base Station already has the latest version installed, there is no need to continue with the upgrade process.
Networking Features Maestro offers the following networking features for each Symphony HomeRF adapter: Obtain Network Status Information Click the button under the Symphony Network Status heading to view the Wireless Status screen, which reports the number of packets sent and received by the Symphony HomeRF adapter while communicating with the wireless network.
If you want to grant Read Only access to remote users, select the Read Only Access option. You may also set a Read Only Password to prevent unauthorized access. Finally, if you select the Depends on Password option, you may set two different passwords (one for Read/Write access and the other for Read Only access) to allow full access to some users and partial access to others.
assigned, the remote drive will appear to be another drive in the local computer’s My Computer icon. This process is also called “mapping” a network drive. A mapped network drive automatically reestablishes the connection each time the computer is restarted (unless the remote drive uses the Depends on Password security option). You can establish drive letters for not only remote shared drives but also remote shared directories. To create a remote drive share, follow these steps: 1.
Launch Symphony Location Switcher Click the button under the Symphony Network Status heading to launch the Symphony Location Switcher configuration screen. Administrative Features Maestro also includes the following administrative features: Determine Software Version in Use To view information about the Symphony software versions installed on a wireless computer, right-click the Symphony icon in the Windows System Tray and choose About from the drop-down list.
7. Symphony Location Switcher The installation procedure will automatically configure a Symphony HomeRF adapter with all of the parameters required to establish network communication. However, under some circumstances, you may want to move a computer from the wireless network to another network. For example, you may want to connect the computer to your office LAN (Local Area Network) that is in a different location and uses an Ethernet card to provide network access.
Location Switcher Icon After the Composer Wizard has configured a Symphony HomeRF adapter, the computer may automatically launch the Location Switcher program (depending on the computer’s configuration) and place the Location Switcher icon in the Windows System Tray. If the icon does not appear, the Location Switcher program can be launched from the Symphony section of the Start Menu’s Programs group. The Location Switcher icon is shown in the following example.
Alternatively, you can open the configuration screen by right-clicking the Switcher icon and choosing Edit or by selecting the Symphony Location Switcher entry in Start Menu > Programs > Symphony. Location Switcher Icon In Taskbar Depending on your computer’s configuration, the Location Switcher icon may appear in the Windows System Tray each time you restart the computer.
You can disable this feature by unchecking the Always prompt user at startup box within the Switcher configuration screen. Likewise, if the prompt does not appear, you can enable this feature by checking the box. This configuration option is not available on Windows ME computers.
Identification Identification configures the Computer Name, DNS Suffix, Workgroup affiliation, and Domain affiliation for the selected profile. If you are unfamiliar with these settings, Proxim recommends that you leave these parameters at their default value. For Windows 2000 users, Proxim recommends that you configure the computer to operate in a Workgroup rather than a Domain to simplify file sharing on a peer-to-peer network.
To make a new drive share, click and assign a drive letter and network path (if necessary, click
Creating and Deleting Profiles Within the Location Switcher configuration screen, you may create a new profile or delete an existing one. There is no limit to the number of profiles that you can create. To create a new profile, follow these steps: 1. Click . This will make a copy of an existing profile. 2. Assign a new name to the duplicate profile. 3. Change the network settings of the new profile using the Edit Profile options discussed earlier in this chapter.
6. Select the Original Profile (or another profile you have created specifically for the office) at the Switcher prompt at boot-up. The Location Switcher will restore all of your office LAN’s settings, and the laptop will be ready to communicate with the office LAN without further configuration. Alternatively, you can change the profile setting by right-clicking the Location Switcher icon or by clicking the button in the Switcher configuration screen and restarting the computer if prompted.
8. Using the Wireless Network This chapter contains additional information for users who have configured the Base Station to use Transparent Bridging mode only as well as information on using Symphony with popular computer applications and accessories. Networks Using Transparent Bridging Mode Only For networks that use NAT, the Symphony software automatically configures the TCP/IP properties for wireless computers. However, for networks that do not use NAT (i.e.
In order for Ethernet computers and wireless computers to communicate as part of the same LAN using TCP/IP, you must configure all devices (Ethernet and Symphony) to use the same IP network. By default, a Symphony adapter is configured to accept an IP address from a DHCP server. If a DHCP server is not present, then the adapter will automatically configure itself with an IP address in the 169.254.0.0 network (this address range is reserved for private networks and is not valid on the Internet).
Reducing Interference The Symphony HomeRF 2.0 Network communicates using frequency hopping spread spectrum technology in the 2.4-GHz band. This is the same frequency band used by microwave ovens and 2.4-GHz telephones. Frequency hopping technology is designed to minimize interference so while you may notice a degradation in performance, your devices will not cease to function. Proxim recommends against installing the base station of a 2.4-GHz telephone between two Symphony HomeRF adapters.
Accessing E-Mail Each computer on the wireless network can send and receive e-mail exactly as if you were directly connected to the Internet (assuming that each computer has e-mail software installed and configured). Typically, when you access e-mail, messages are downloaded from your ISP’s mail server and stored on the computer’s hard drive. Later, you can go back to that same computer to review your messages.
9. About the Base Station This chapter describes the LED Indicators, Ethernet ports, and buttons found on the Symphony HomeRF Base Station. LED Indicators The Base Station has four functional LEDs: three on the top of the unit (shown in Figure 4) and one on the back panel (shown in Figure 5).
❑ Link LED: Located to the left of the Ethernet ports. This LED lights up when a physical connection exists between the Base Station and an attached Ethernet device. The LED will not light up if a damaged or improper Ethernet cable is attached. Ports and Buttons The ports and buttons on the Base Station’s back panel (shown in Figure 5) are described below: ❑ Ethernet Port I: This 10/100 Mbps port is wired like a standard NIC (network interface card).
Port II (with connector plug inserted) Learn button Link LED Port I Teach button Figure 5 Back Panel 45 Power connector
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10. Uninstalling Symphony Products This chapter describes how to uninstall Symphony HomeRF products. Uninstalling the Base Station To uninstall the Symphony HomeRF Base Station, unplug the power adapter from the wall outlet and disconnect the Ethernet cable from the attached Ethernet device. Uninstalling Adapters Proxim provides an uninstall tool to remove a Symphony HomeRF adapter and the Symphony software from a computer. The Symphony installation procedure copies the file UNINSTAL.
7. When prompted, shut down the computer and remove the Symphony HomeRF adapter from the computer. Note: The Uninstall program will reconfigure the computer with the network settings stored in the Original Profile, if any exist. For more information on profiles, refer to Chapter 7 beginning on page 31. If you decide to reinstall the Symphony HomeRF adapter at a later date, follow the installation instructions in Chapters 4 and 5.
11. Troubleshooting The Symphony HomeRF 2.0 Suite of products is designed to be very easy to install and operate. If you do experience difficulties, however, use the information in this chapter and on Proxim’s Symphony Web site to help diagnose and solve your problems. If you cannot resolve a problem, contact Proxim, as described in Appendix A: “How to Reach Technical Support” on page 53.
Symptom/Question Possible Solution/Answer I can share files and printers between the computers on the wireless network, but I can’t access the Internet. Confirm that you have configured the Base Station with the appropriate Topology setting. Also, if you are using NAT, confirm that the Base Station’s ISP TCP/IP settings have been properly configured. See Chapter 6 for details. The Symphony icon in the Windows System Tray is red.
Symptom/Question Possible Solution/Answer I can't find another computer on the wireless network. 1. Confirm that the other computer is listed in the Symphony Network Map in the Maestro tool. 2. Test the strength of the wireless connection between the two computers from within the Maestro tool. The computers may be too far apart. 3. Confirm that you successfully logged onto the network. If you are unsure, go to the Start Menu and log off the current user to bring up the Network Logon prompt. 4.
General Questions Symptom/Question Possible Solution/Answer Can I connect the Base Station to my office Ethernet network so that my laptop can access the network? The Symphony HomeRF Base Station can only be connected to small hubs with no more than 7 devices attached. If your office has more than 7 Ethernet devices networked together, then you should not attempt to use the Base Station to provide network connectivity to a wireless laptop. Can I use two Base Stations on the same wireless network? No.
A. How to Reach Technical Support If you’re having a problem using any of the Symphony HomeRF 2.
B. Specifications The following technical specification is for reference purposes only. Actual product 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. Ethernet Interface: 10/100Base-TX (Twisted-Pair) Ethernet Data Rate: 10/100 Mbps (auto-sensing) Radio Data Rate: 10 Mbps, 5 Mbps, 1.6 Mbps, 800 Kbps Frequency Band: 2.4-2.4835 GHz (in the U.S.
C. Regulatory Information FCC WARNING This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
Index A Allow Internet Connection to Be Brought Up Automatically 24 Always Prompt User at Startup 33–34 Always Show Switcher Icon in Taskbar 33 Always Stay Connected to the Internet 24 Antenna Base Station 11 Symphony HomeRF PC Card 16 Symphony HomeRF USB Adapter 2 Attach to Share 29 Automatically Disconnect After the Specified Minutes of Inactivity 24 C CAB Files.
Domain 35 Drive Mappings. See Remote Drive Sharing.
IPX/SPX 10, 23, 49 IPX/SPX Switcher Options 35 ISDN Router 7 ISDN Terminal Adapter 7 ISP Connect Mode 19, 23, 26 ISP TCP/IP Settings 23, 50 L Learn Button 44 LED Indicators 43 Link LED 12, 44, 51 Location Switcher. See Symphony Location Switcher M Maestro Tool.
Port II 12, 44, 51 Power Adapter 3, 11 Power Indicator LED 43, 51 Power Supply 54 PPPoE 19, 23, 24 Prevent Mail Check From Bringing Up Connection Automatically 24 Printing Over the Wireless Network Troubleshooting Suggestions 50 Product Package 3 Proxy Server Settings 31, 35 R Range 40, 54 RangeLAN2 Status Monitor 36 Read Only Drive Access 19, 27 Read/Write Drive Access 19, 27 Registering Symphony Products 20, 30 Regulatory Information 55 Remote Drive Sharing 28–29, 35 S Scanner 42 Security 41 Security Co
Symphony HomeRF Base Station 2 Antenna 11 Establishing Communication 18–19 Installation 11–12 LED Indicators 43 Management Tools 22–26 Ports and Buttons 44–45 Status 26 Topology and Operating Mode 22–23 Upgrade Procedure 25–26 PC Card 2 Antenna 16 Installation Instructions 13–16 USB Adapter 2 Antenna 2 Installation Instructions 13–16 Symphony Icon 21, 50 Symphony Location Switcher 3, 30, 31–38, 52 Icon 32–33 Prompt at Boot-up 20, 33–34 Symphony Maestro Configuration Tool 2, 21–30 Symphony Network Map 28, 29
2.4-GHz Operating Band 41, 54 2.4-GHz Telephones 41 U UNINSTAL.EXE 47 Uninstall Instructions 47–48 Upgrade from Disk 26 Upgrade Procedure 25–26 User Name Network 16 PPPoE 23 W Windows 2000 IP Configuration Tool 40 Professional 4, 13 Server 4, 13 Windows 95 4, 13 Windows 98/ME 4, 13 Cabinet (CAB) Files 13 Installation CD 13, 16 IP Configuration Tool 40 Windows System Tray 21, 32 WINIPCFG.