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or: How To Set Up a TWCN Node
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This is the easiest type of WNAP to set up. If you haven't already done so, please read the Components and Definitions page and familiarize yourself with those terms.
Type I devices are usually a single unit that provides routing, firewalling, wireless bridging, and ethernet functionality, and services such as DHCP, and PPPoE. Some have more functionality, some have less. Do your research before buying.
In the center of the diagram above there is square box representing functionality and services such as the wireless bridging, firewalling, routing, NAT, and DHCP. To the left of that square is cloud representing the Internet, where you'd connect your modem, DSL equipment, cable company equipment, etc. to the Type I device. To the right of the square is a line with multiple offshoots (the typical Ethernet representation) that represents the network cables and Ethernet ports that exist on many devices that connect wired computers. Above the square is an icon of an antenna, representing the physical antennas, amplification (if any), and although not shown, the actual wireless network component of the system. Not shown would be the computers that would connect through the air or optionally through a wired medium.
Set up is dead simple, and detailed information usually come on CD-ROM with such devices, often in the form of video with step by step instructions. Type I installations are aimed at getting you up and running quickly, with the minimal amount of work. If you've ever set up a stereo before, there's no doubt you can set up one of these.
Basically, you start by connecting your physical layer access device (modem) into what's typically labeled as your "WAN" port. If your device comes equipped with a built in Ethernet hub or switch, you'll now need to connect any hardwired Ethernet-networked computers into the remaining ports on the device. You may need to hardwire a host to configure the device(s); some devices require you to use a wireless host. Make sure you check before purchasing.
The next step is to interface with the device, using the vendor's instructions for set up - some use telnet (a command line interface), some use a graphical interface that's accessed with your web browser. Populate the required information (for @Home users you'll need your hostname (something like cr-7512341), for DSL users you'll need your PPPoE username and password). As for the wireless set up portion, simply enter a unique ESS ID (or sometimes BSS ID), choosing something descriptive where possible. Choosing a channel to use is fairly simple, if one channel (say the default one) doesn't seem to work nicely for you, select another and try that. Wireless devices of any kind can run into interference issues, and trying out different channels on the base station side often helps eliminate such problems.
Assuming you want your new WNAP to be publicly available, you must not enable WEP (which is encryption), or use keys, logins, or passwords. Otherwise you can enable such security measures, but understand that most are known to have publicly available exploits, some of which are very well known, that can easily overcome the 802.11b security measures you put in place. For more information, we recommend you read "It Came Out of the Sky -- WEP2, Credibility Zero" by Thom Stark (http://www.starkrealities.com/wireless003.html).
It should also be noted that (in all probability) you will not be able to request technical support from your Internet Service Provider (ISP) should you encounter problems with these devices. This is not only the case with wireless devices, but all devices that allow residential users to connect multiple machines to a single Internet connection. Many ISP's have expressed a desire to introduce service fees for any additional connections your network supports; a desire that many of their users find unacceptable. If you know of an ISP that offers technical support for their users who deploy such device, please let us know so we can plug them here!
Luckily, technical support will be available from the device vendor. Otherwise, feel free to ask for help from TWCN by posting your questions to our mailing list.
The above are considered "All in one" devices, so you don't require anything else to start your wireless life. That said, we do highly recommend you enable a personal firewall, to protect your digital property from the whims and mishaps of wireless users. There are a wide variety of free personal firewalls out there, so we recommend you consult WebAttack.com's list of personal firewalls at http://www.webattack.com/Freeware/security/fwfirewall.shtml. Additionally, interested parties are well advised to read Information Security Magazine's July 2001 review of some popular firewalls, available at http://www.infosecuritymag.com/articles/july01/cover.shtml.
For the truly curious among us, Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) offer you a real-time examination of what people are doing on your network. Good places to start are with ZoneAlarm (http://www.zonealarm.com) and Snort (http://www.snort.org/).
Remember, be sure to consider your future needs when purchasing any Type I device. Appendix A offers some useful information in this regard.
Wireless access point (802.11b) of the router variety:
http://www.homenethelp.com/web/diagram/share-wireless-ap.asp
Cable/DSL router with wired and wireless ethernet built in:
http://www.homenethelp.com/web/diagram/share-router-wireless.asp
SMC 11Mbps Wireless 3 Port Router : $249.99 at Future Shop
Lucent Orinoco 11MB Silver WiFi World PC Card for your laptop : $145.99 at Micro Warehouse (PC or Mac platforms).
ZoneAlarm : $0.00 at CNet.
Estimated Grand Total (plus GST+PST taxes): $455.38 CDN
There is no sense in purchasing devices with higher levels of encryption (128bit, for example) if all you plan to doing is share. If you're concerned about security, ensure your applications are using secured means of communication, such as websites through Secure Socket Layers (SSL), or terminal sessions through Secure Shell (SSH).
Table of Contents | Previous Page | Next Page
Title: Wireless Network Access Point (WNAP) Set Up Guide, or: How To Set Up a TWCN Node
Authors: Jason Hammerschmidt (ffff654.noSPAM.at.yahoo.com), and Jason Ramsay-Brown
Contributors: Emir Alikadic, Hugh Reilly
Version: 1.0, April 2nd, 2002.
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