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Wireless access points
On a wireless network a wireless access point is a place where a user can jump onto the wireless network. Wireless access points (base stations) are connected to an Ethernet hub or server and transmit a radio frequency over an area of several hundred to a thousand feet which can penetrate walls and other non-metal barriers. Roaming users can be handed off from one access point to another like a cellular phone system. Laptops use wireless modems that plug into an existing Ethernet port or that are self contained on PC cards, while stand-alone desktops and servers use plug-in cards.
Manuals and help files
For "private" access points, i.e. those not part of the DNO-maintained Yale Wireless System, ITS REQUIRES that encryption and authentication provided by WPA be employed all the time (although the older standard, WEP is acceptable if WPA is not supported). We may disconnect access points not meeting this requirement after appropriate notice.
For "public" access points at YSM, connection is only possible by using VPN, thus ensuring encryption and authentication.
Definitions
SSID
The
SSID is the unique name
shared among all points in a wireless network. The SSID must be identical
for all points in the wireless network. It
is case sensitive and
must not exceed 32 characters.
Channel
Select
the appropriate channel from the list provided to correspond with your
network settings, between 1 and 11. All points in your wireless network
must use the same channel in order to function correctly.
WEP Encryption
Select
the WEP setting from the pull-down menu, 64-bit
or 128-bit Recommended. This access Point’s WEP encryption is unique
to Linksys and may conflict with other vendors’ WEP encryption.
Pass
phrase
Instead
of manually entering WEP keys, you can enter a Pass phrase. This Pass
phrase is used to generate one or more WEP keys. It is case-sensitive
and should not be longer than 16 alphanumeric characters. (The Pass phrase
function is compatible with Linksys wireless products only. If you want
to communicate with non-Linksys wireless products, you will need to enter
your WEP keys manually on the non-Linksys wireless products.) The second
Security Settings screen, shown in Figure 5, shows the WEP key. If you
entered a pass phrase, then the Key 1 field will display the automatically
generated WEP key. If you did not enter a pass phrase, then enter a WEP
key in the Key 1 field. Each point in your wireless network must use
the same WEP key for
the network to function properly.
Key 1
WEP
keys enable you to create an encryption scheme for wireless networks.
If the WEP key hasn’t been automatically generated, then manually enter
a set of values. (Do not leave the field blank, and do not enter all
zeroes. These are not valid key values.) If you are using 64-bit WEP
encryption, then each key must consist of exactly 10 hexadecimal characters
in length. If you are using 128-bit WEP encryption, then each key must
consist of exactly 26 hexadecimal characters in length. Valid hexadecimal
characters are “0”-“9” and “A”-“F”.
