Archived from groups: microsoft.public.broadbandnet.hardware (
More info?)
WPA is supported on Windows XP if you have installed SP1 & "826942 -
Wireless update rollup package for Windows XP is available". That
updates gives Windows XP WPA capabilities.
Some hardware vendors other then just Microsoft do support the WPA
standard at this point. However if you are running OS's prior to
Windows XP you will need to get third party software to enable support
for WPA as the Microsoft Broadband Network Utility (BNU) only adds WEP
support to OS's before XP that are on the supported list.
Also I strongly recommend against installing the BNU on any computer
that doesn't need it to configure WEP (This means all wired computers,
Windows XP computers & Windows 2003 computers {The software isn't
supported on Windows 2003 as it is a server OS & the hardware is
marketed for home users who most likely are not going to need Windows
2003}) as the user may use that instead of the OS & cause new problems
for your wireless networking or it will crash in the case of Windows 2003.
An example of Third party software that enables WPA support For Windows
2000 computers can be found at
http://www.wirelesssecuritycorp.com/wsc/public/WPAAssistant.do is the
only program I know of that is available without purchasing some other
networking vendors hardware.
anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com wrote:
> Fantastic, Joker! You answered some questions that I
> needed to know but didn't know enough to ask. If you would
> please, a clarification.
>
> Yes, after I posted I realized that MN820 was the kit; we
> purchased 4 so we have 4 of the MN700 and 4 of the MN720.
>
> Cable run: Hmmm. Probably 300 feet from MN700#1 to a
> switch embedded deep in the building. Then from that
> switch, about 150 feet to MN720#2. Also from that
> same "embedded" switch about 200 feet to MN720#3. Finally,
> from MN720#3 to MN720#4 is about 200 feet. Because the
> building sort of wraps around, it is more likely about 400
> feet between the 2 similar channels, that is, I'm using
> channel 1 twice but on the two wireless access points that
> are furthest (farthest? both look funny) apart.
>
> Why do you ask about the distance?
>
> I heard about the uselessness of disabling the SSID
> broadcast, but not about the WEP problem except about how
> packets can be captured and reused because there is no
> sequencing in the encrypted part to identify this hack,
> but we are not doing anything particularly interesting to
> most people so the only security we want is preventing
> people from getting "in" to our network. Don't want them
> messing with the file server sort of thing. I picked WEP
> since the WPA isn't implemented by other vendors yet, at
> least that's what I gather. Maybe I'm wrong.
>
> Ok, here is the clarification I need: It sounds like
> turning off the DHCP server on MN720 #s 2, 3, and 4 is not
> right; I should put the 3 extras into Access Point mode
> turning off the firewall and NAT as well. Right so far? My
> big question is this: Do I need to use the slower WAN port
> to connect MN700#1 to the others? Could I just connect
> numbers 2, 3, and 4 into the LAN using one of the switch
> ports or is that a no-go? If I can't do that, then I'll
> buy 3 more switches (one for each access point) and then
> the wired computers near these points can get full speed
> full duplex bandwidth. THen I'll just plug the WAN of the
> 3 extra access points into the 3 switches to serve the
> wireless users. If I must use the WAN port then my
> alternative will best serve the need for speed geeks. (of
> which I R 1).
>
> Oh, and thanks for the reminder to set the IP outside the
> range of the DHCP served-up-IPs. Duh!
>
> And thanks so much for your thorough assistance. We live
> in such a great time in history! This stuff is so much
> fun!
>
> Ed
>
>
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>OK First off the Firmware upgrade does fix several issues
>
> including one
>
>>about the DHCP server.
>>
>>BTW the MN-820 is a kit with the MN-700 as a router & the
>
> MN-720
>
>>wireless notebook kit.
>>
>>Since you said what was separating the two MN-700s is 300
>
> Feet I have to
>
>>ask how long is the cable run to the last MN-700?
>>
>>Disabling the broadcasting of the SSID is not a valid
>
> form of wireless
>
>>security because every wireless packet includes the SSID
>
> outside of the
>
>>encrypted part of the packet.
>>
>>WEP has a know flaw in it's original design. If you are
>
> using Windows
>
>>XP computers I'd highly recommend using WPA as it is more
>
> secure.
>
>>When you change the MN-100, MN-500, or MN-700 into
>
> bridging mode (AKA
>
>>Access Point mode) it become a switch in the case of the
>
> MN-100 (no
>
>>wireless) or a bridge in the case of the MN-500 & MN-
>
> 700. All 5 port
>
>>work. The only stipulation is that the WAN port is
>
> limited to 10 mbps
>
>>also it is the uplink port. The WAN port will
>
> automatically detect if
>
>>it needs to be a crossover or not while the other 4 ports
>
> do not check
>
>>if they need to do that.
>>
>>A detailed set of directions for using up to three
>
> Microsoft routers is
>
>>just after this line.
>>
>>Broadband modem --> WAN port of MN-100, MN-500, or MN-700
>
> #1
>
>>MN-100, MN-500, or MN-700 #1 LAN port #2 --> WAN port of
>
> MN-100, MN-500,
>
>>or MN-700 #2
>>MN-100, MN-500, or MN-700 #1 LAN port #3 --> WAN port of
>
> MN-100, MN-500,
>
>>or MN-700 #3 (if available)
>>
>>Make sure all MN-100s & MN-500s are running the latest
>
> firmware 1.11.017
>
>>Make sure all MN-700s are running the latest firmware
>
> 2.01.02.0590
>
>>Now lets look at the setup of each MN-100, MN-500, or MN-
>
> 700:
>
>>MN-100, MN-500, or MN-700 #1
>>router mode
>>LAN IP address at default of 192.168.2.1
>>some SSID (if wireless)
>>some WEP key or WPA key if MN-700 (if wireless)
>>channel 6 (if wireless)
>>
>>MN-100, MN-500, or MN-700 #2
>>bridge mode
>>LAN IP address at 192.168.2.42, outside of default DHCP
>
> range
>
>>same SSID (if wireless)
>>same WEP key or WPA key if MN-700 (if wireless)
>>channel 1 (if wireless)
>>
>>MN-100, MN-500, or MN-700 #3 (if available)
>>bridge mode
>>LAN IP address at 192.168.2.43, outside of default DHCP
>
> range
>
>>same SSID (if wireless)
>>same WEP key or WPA key if MN-700 (if wireless)
>>channel 11 (if wireless)
>>
>>
>>If you keep the SSID and WEP key or WPA key (if using the
>
> MN-700) the
>
>>same for all base stations, people will be able to move
>
> between
>
>>locations and get a connection.
>>
>>If you are using WEP on some but WPA on other wireless
>
> routers you will
>
>>have to reconfigure the wireless settings as you switch
>
> between wireless
>
>>networks.
>>
>>You need to select non-overlapping channels for the base
>
> stations to
>
>>prevent interference.
>>
>>Non-overlapping channels have at least 5 channels between
>
> them as 1, 6,
>
>>& 11 do.
>>
>>Channels 1, 6, & 11 are the three non-overlapping
>
> channels.
>
>>There are more combinations if you only need two channels.
>>
>>Ed wrote:
>>
>>
>>>(4) MN-820 device LAN/WLAN configuration
>>>
>>>Here is what we are trying to do:
>>>
>>>cable modem
>>> |
>>>MN-820 as a DHCP server, NAT, firewall, switch,
>>>and wireless access point (channel 1)
>>> |
>>> /
>>> |
>>>MN-820 as a switch and access point (chn 6)
>>> |
>>> /
>>> |
>>>MN-820 as a switch and access point (chn 11)
>>> |
>>> /
>>> |
>>>MN-820 as a switch and access point (chn 1)
>>>
>>>Regarding the wireless, the two units on channel 1 are
>
> in
>
>>>seperate buildings about 300 feet apart with lots of
>>>concrete and other building materials inbetween. We are
>>>hoping that there is no interference between them.
>>>
>>>The problem we had was that the DHCP server stopped
>>>working when we had it in this four unit configuration.
>>>Two devices works okay.
>>>
>>>There is a firmware upgrade that has not yet been
>
> applied.
>
>>>Does it correct anything with the DHCP server cutting
>
> out?
>
>>>It cut out on us one time with the 2 device config but
>
> a
>
>>>reset corrected it.
>>>
>>>Also, I want to be sure that I'm setting these up
>>>correctly.
>>>
>>>Regarding the wireless, we believe we understand the
>>>parameters okay. Choosing not to use MAC ID filtering
>
> or
>
>>>worring about broadcasting the SSID, we are using a 128
>>>bit WEP password for security.
>>>
>>>But I'm confused about 2 things:
>>>
>>>Since we want to use the 3 additional devices as both
>>>wireless access points and as a wired LAN switch, I
>>>thought that changing the base station mode to "Access
>>>Point" might stop the wired switch/hub from working.
>
> (I'm
>
>>>not able to get onto the premises to test things out
>
> but
>
>>>have to rely on info from various sources and remotely
>>>direct people via phone to configure these.)
>>>
>>>SO, what I did was to simply have them turn off the
>
> DHCP
>
>>>server in the 3 additional units. This config param
>
> works
>
>>>when using two units.
>>>
>>>So the FIRST question is: Does the wired LAN switch
>
> still
>
>>>work if I have the 3 additional units put into
>
> the "Base
>
>>>Station Access Point" mode?
>>>
>>>The SECOND question I have is this: The WLAN socket on
>
> the
>
>>>MN820 connects to the modem for the first device. But
>
> what
>
>>>is the function/usage of this socket for the 3
>
> additional
>
>>>devices? In other words, (perhaps depending on the
>
> answer
>
>>>to my first question), Does the CAT-5 cable coming from
>>>the first unit plug into the WLAN socket of the second
>>>unit or do we just use one of the 4 LAN sockets?
>>>
>>>I sure hope I was able to articulate these questions
>
> cause
>
>>>we really could use a couple of answers here!
>>>
>>>Thanks so much,
>>>Ed
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>.
>>
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