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Basic Network Configuration: Dell™ TrueMobile™ 1150 Series AP1000 User's Guide

	Introduction
	Configuring Infrastructure Networks

Introduction

This chapter will describe how to configure the TrueMobile network for:

• Peer-to-Peer workgroups, and
  
  
• Infrastructure networks
  
  

Peer-to-Peer Workgroups

A Peer-to-Peer workgroup consists of several wireless stations communicating directly to each other without bridging data via the access point (see the "Peer-to-Peer workgroup" figure).

To set up a Peer-to-Peer workgroup operating with the standard protocols, do the following:

• Set all stations to connect to a Peer-to-Peer workgroup.
  
  
• Set all stations to use the same Network Name.
  
  
• Set all stations to use an identical encryption key.
  
  

For more information about Peer-to-Peer workgroups refer to the TrueMobile PC Card Quick Start Guide.

Peer-to-Peer workgroup

Infrastructure Networks

The number of network configurations that you could create using TrueMobile access points and TrueMobile products is unlimited. Therefore, we have divided the rest of this chapter into three sections that should help you get your network up and running.

• The instructions for "Configuring Infrastructure Networks" will work fine in most networking environments.
  
  
• More advanced configurations settings are described in
  "Advanced Network Configurations".
  
  
• The Advanced Parameters may help you tailoring the TrueMobile access point configuration to meet your networking requirements.
  
  
• Configuring Large Networks provides a procedure to manage TrueMobile access point devices more efficiently.
  
  

What you Need

To manage your TrueMobile access points, you must assign a unique IP address to each access point within your network.

Furthermore, your TrueMobile management station must also have an IP address. The TCP/IP connection of your station should either:

• Be connected to the same subnet as the TrueMobile access points, as described in Basic Infrastructure Networks, or
  
  
• Provide access to the subnet of the TrueMobile access points via routers, gateways or another type of LAN connection that supports the TCP/IP protocol.
  
  

Configuring Infrastructure Networks

Basic Configuration

Introduction

This section will describe a 4-step installation approach to configure your TrueMobile access points to service a roaming network environment for (mobile) wireless stations.

Looking at the example pictured in the "Basic Access Network" figure each wireless cell is serviced by one TrueMobile access point that has been set to "access point Services". All access points share the same TrueMobile Network Name.

Basic Access Network

To connect a wireless station to the TrueMobile network, each station must be configured with the same Network Name as the TrueMobile access point.

To configure the wireless stations, follow the instructions as described in the "PC Card Getting Started" guide.

To install and configure the TrueMobile access point perform the following steps:

1. Install the access points hardware¹.
   
   
2. Connect to the access point with the TrueMobile AP Manager program.
   
   
3. Set the Network Name and save configuration to the access point.
   
   
4. Create a backup file of the new configuration settings (optional but recommended).

Repeat steps 2 to 4 for each of the access points that you wish to install.

Step 1 - Installing the access point

For installation instructions of the TrueMobile access point hardware, please refer to the Quick Start Guide that was shipped with the access point.

Step 2 - Connecting to the access point

To connect to the TrueMobile access point, you need to address each access point via its IP address.

• If your network includes a BOOTP or DHCP server, the IP address will be assigned automatically (refer to for more information about BOOTP/DHCP.
  
  
• In situations where no IP addresses are assigned automatically, the IP address will be 153.69.254.254.
  
  

You must change this factory-set IP address (153.69.254.254) upon first configuration.

To connect to the TrueMobile access point proceed as follows:

1. Start the TrueMobile AP Manager program.
   
   
2. Select the access point that you wish to configure from the list or enter the IP address in the field Enter the IP address for a specific access point (see the "Main AP Manager window" figure).
   
   
   • A new access point is marked with a special icon.
     
     
   • This list will display all access points located on the same IP subnet as your TrueMobile management station (see also "Modifying the Configuration").
     
     
   • To gain access to access points on a different subnet or via a dial-up connection, enter a specific IP address in the field Enter the IP address for a specific access point.
     
     

Main AP Manager window

3. Click the Edit button.
   If the access point that you select is identified by the factory-set IP address 153.69.254.254, you will be prompted to change this IP address.
   
   
   1. Enter a unique IP address for the TrueMobile access point in the field access point IP Address.
      
      
   2. Record the IP address on the "access point Configuration Record" located in "Startup Configuration".
      
      
4. Enter the Read Write password and click OK (default password is "public").
   
   
   • If the access point is found and if you entered the right passwords, a new window appears with parameter tabs to change the configuration (see the "AP Manager Wireless Interfaces tab" figure).
     
     
   • If the access point is not found in the network and/or the configuration is not read, or if the wrong password is entered, the message "Invalid password" appears.
     Click OK to return to the main TrueMobile AP Manager window and try again.
     
     

You are now ready to change the TrueMobile access point configuration settings.

Step 3 - Set Network Name and Save Configuration

When installing the TrueMobile network, you are advised to modify the default settings of the TrueMobile network interfaces. Although the access point will work fine with its factory-set values, changing the TrueMobile parameters to unique values will differentiate your TrueMobile network from possible neighboring networks.

1. Select the tab Wireless Interfaces (see the "AP Manager Wireless Interfaces tab" figure).
   
   
2. (For the AP1000 only) Choose the slot of the TrueMobile access point (PC Card Slot A or B) that contains the TrueMobile PC Card that you wish to configure.

NOTE: The integrated Wireless Network Interface of the TrueMobile AP500 is called Interface 'A' in this guide.

AP Manager Wireless Interfaces tab

3. Enter the identification designator in the field Network Name for the service type that this interface should use:

The TrueMobile network name can be any alphanumeric string from 1 to 32 characters in the range of "a" to "z", "A" to "Z" and "0" to "9".

The TrueMobile network name should be the same for all TrueMobile network interfaces that will service wireless stations that belong to the network.

The network name distinguishes your TrueMobile access points from access points that belong to a neighboring network.

For information on other TrueMobile Interface parameters (like the Advanced and Security button), see "Advanced Network Configurations".

4. When finished changing parameters, click OK to save the configuration to the access point and to return to the main AP Manager window (as pictured in the "Main AP Manager window" figure).

At this stage, the IP address and other settings are stored in the volatile memory of the TrueMobile access point.

NOTE: If you save the configuration to the access point (by clicking the OK button), the access point reboots automatically.

This will complete the basic configuration of your TrueMobile access point. This basic configuration will work efficiently in most networking situations. You are advised to make a backup file of this configuration as described in "Step 4 - Create a Backuup of the Configuration".

More advanced parameter settings are discussed in "Advanced Network Configurations".

Step 4 - Create a Backup of the Configuration

At all times when you change the configuration of the TrueMobile access point, we recommend that you create a backup file of the configuration. You can use this backup file to quickly restore the TrueMobile access point configuration in situations where:

• Your access point goes out of service.
  
  
• You would like to recreate the original configuration of the access point that you had to replace (for example following a repair).
  
  
• When you need to perform a forced reload as described in
  "Forced Reload Procedure".
  
  

To create a backup file, proceed as follows:

1. Start the AP Manager program.
   
   
2. Select the access point you want to create a backup of.
   
   
3. From the access point menu select Download Config File.
   
   
4. When prompted for a name, enter a name that allows you to easily recognize the relationship between the file name and the access point.
   
   
5. Record the filename and the location where the access point will be installed on the "access point Configuration Record" in Startup Configuration .

To install and configure other access points, refer back to "Step 1 - Installing the access point".

¹ Subject to the decisions you made in "Setting Up your LAN Administrator Station", you may either install the access points at your desk and configure them one by one, or have the access points mounted directly in their various locations prior to configuring them via a network connection.

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