Linksys Router WAP54G User Manual

							64Appendix C: Upgrading Firmware
Wireless-G Access Point
Appendix C: Upgrading Firmware
The Access Points firmware is upgraded through the Web-based Utility’s Administration - Firmware Upgrade tab. 
Follow these instructions:
1. Download the firmware upgrade file from the Linksys website, www.linksys.com.
2. Extract the firmware upgrade file on your computer.
3. Open the Access Point’s Web-based Utility.
4. Click the Administration tab.
5. Click the Upgrade Firmware tab.
6. On the Firmware Upgrade screen, enter the location of the firmware upgrade file in the field provided, or click 
the Browse button to find the file.
7. Click the Upgrade button, and follow the on-screen instructions.
Figure C-1: Firmware Upgrade 
						

							65Appendix D: Windows Help
Wireless-G Access Point
Appendix D: Windows Help
Almost all wireless products require Microsoft Windows. Windows is the most used operating system in the world 
and comes with many features that help make networking easier. These features can be accessed through 
Windows Help and are described in this appendix.
TCP/IP
Before a computer can communicate with the Access Point, TCP/IP must be enabled. TCP/IP is a set of 
instructions, or protocol, all PCs follow to communicate over a network. This is true for wireless networks as well. 
Your PCs will not be able to utilize wireless networking without having TCP/IP enabled. Windows Help provides 
complete instructions on enabling TCP/IP.
Shared Resources
If you wish to share printers, folder, or files over your network, Windows Help provides complete instructions on 
utilizing shared resources.
Network Neighborhood/My Network Places
Other PCs on your network will appear under Network Neighborhood or My Network Places (depending upon the 
version of Windows youre running). Windows Help provides complete instructions on adding PCs to your 
network. 
						

							66Appendix E: Glossary
Wireless-G Access Point
Appendix E: Glossary
802.11b - A wireless networking standard that specifies a maximum data transfer rate of 11Mbps and an 
operating frequency of 2.4GHz.
802.11g - A wireless networking standard that specifies a maximum data transfer rate of 54Mbps, an operating 
frequency of 2.4GHz, and backward compatibility with 802.11b devices.
Access Point - A device that allows wireless-equipped computers and other devices to communicate with a 
wired network. Also used to expand the range of a wireless network.
Adapter - A device that adds network functionality to your PC.
Ad-hoc - A group of wireless devices communicating directly with each other (peer-to-peer) without the use of 
an access point.
AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) - A security method that uses symmetric 128-bit block data encryption.
Backbone - The part of a network that connects most of the systems and networks together, and handles the 
most data.
Bandwidth - The transmission capacity of a given device or network.
Beacon Interval - Data transmitted on your wireless network that keeps the network synchronized.
Bit - A binary digit.
Boot - To start a device and cause it to start executing instructions.
Bridge - A device that connects different networks. 
Broadband - An always-on, fast Internet connection.
Browser - An application program that provides a way to look at and interact with all the information on the 
World Wide Web. 
Buffer - A shared or assigned memory area that is used to support and coordinate different computing and 
networking activities so one isnt held up by the other.
Byte - A unit of data that is usually eight bits long 
						

							67Appendix E: Glossary
Wireless-G Access Point
Cable Modem - A device that connects a computer to the cable television network, which in turn connects to the 
Internet.
CSMA/CA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance) - A method of data transfer that is used to prevent 
data collisions.
CTS (Clear To Send) - A signal sent by a wireless device, signifying that it is ready to receive data.
Daisy Chain - A method used to connect devices in a series, one after the other.
Database - A collection of data that is organized so that its contents can easily be accessed, managed, and 
updated.
DDNS (Dynamic Domain Name System) - Allows the hosting of a website, FTP server, or e-mail server with a 
fixed domain name (e.g., www.xyz.com) and a dynamic IP address.
Default Gateway - A device that forwards Internet traffic from your local area network.
DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) - A networking protocol that allows administrators to assign 
temporary IP addresses to network computers by “leasing” an IP address to a user for a limited amount of time, 
instead of assigning permanent IP addresses.
DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) - Removes the Routers firewall protection from one PC, allowing it to be “seen” from 
the Internet.
DNS (Domain Name Server) - The IP address of your ISPs server, which translates the names of websites into IP 
addresses.
Domain - A specific name for a network of computers.
Download - To receive a file transmitted over a network. 
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) - An always-on broadband connection over traditional phone lines.
DSSS (Direct-Sequence Spread-Spectrum) - Frequency transmission with a redundant bit pattern resulting in a 
lower probability of information being lost in transit.
DTIM (Delivery Traffic Indication Message) - A message included in data packets that can increase wireless 
efficiency.
Dynamic IP Address - A temporary IP address assigned by a DHCP server. 
						

							68Appendix E: Glossary
Wireless-G Access Point
EAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol) - A general authentication protocol used to control network access. 
Many specific authentication methods work within this framework.
EAP-PEAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol-Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol) - A mutual 
authentication method that uses a combination of digital certificates and another system, such as passwords.
EAP-TLS (Extensible Authentication Protocol-Transport Layer Security) - A mutual authentication method that 
uses digital certificates.
Encryption - Encoding data transmitted in a network. 
Ethernet - A networking protocol that specifies how data is placed on and retrieved from a common transmission 
medium.
Finger - A program that tells you the name associated with an e-mail address.
Firewall - A set of related programs located at a network gateway server that protects the resources of a 
network from users from other networks.
Firmware - The programming code that runs a networking device.
Fragmentation -Breaking a packet into smaller units when transmitting over a network medium that cannot 
support the original size of the packet. 
FTP (File Transfer Protocol) - A protocol used to transfer files over a TCP/IP network.
Full Duplex - The ability of a networking device to receive and transmit data simultaneously.
Gateway - A device that interconnects networks with different, incompatible communications protocols. 
Half Duplex - Data transmission that can occur in two directions over a single line, but only one direction at a 
time.
Hardware - The physical aspect of computers, telecommunications, and other information technology devices.
HTTP (HyperText Transport Protocol) - The communications protocol used to connect to servers on the World 
Wide Web.
Infrastructure - A wireless network that is bridged to a wired network via an access point.
IP (Internet Protocol) - A protocol used to send data over a network.
IP Address - The address used to identify a computer or device on a network. 
						

							69Appendix E: Glossary
Wireless-G Access Point
IPCONFIG - A Windows 2000 and XP utility that displays the IP address for a particular networking device.
IPSec (Internet Protocol Security) - A VPN protocol used to implement secure exchange of packets at the IP layer.
ISM band - Radio bandwidth utilized in wireless transmissions.
ISP (Internet Service Provider) - A company that provides access to the Internet. 
LAN - The computers and networking products that make up your local network.
LEAP (Lightweight Extensible Authentication Protocol) -  A mutual authentication method that uses a username 
and password system.
MAC (Media Access Control) Address - The unique address that a manufacturer assigns to each networking 
device. 
Mbps (MegaBits Per Second) - One million bits per second; a unit of measurement for data transmission.
mIRC - An Internet Relay Chat program that runs under Windows.
Multicasting - Sending data to a group of destinations at once.
NAT (Network Address Translation) - NAT technology translates IP addresses of a local area network to a different 
IP address for the Internet.
Network - A series of computers or devices connected for the purpose of data sharing, storage, and/or 
transmission between users.
NNTP (Network News Transfer Protocol)  - The protocol used to connect to Usenet groups on the Internet.
Node - A network junction or connection point, typically a computer or work station.
OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) - Frequency transmission that separates the data stream 
into a number of lower-speed data streams, which are then transmitted in parallel to prevent information from 
being lost in transit.
Packet - A unit of data sent over a network.
Passphrase - Used much like a password, a passphrase simplifies the WEP encryption process by automatically 
generating the WEP encryption keys for Linksys products.
PEAP (Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol) - A mutual authentication method that uses a combination 
of digital certificates and another system, such as passwords. 
						

							70Appendix E: Glossary
Wireless-G Access Point
Ping (Packet INternet Groper) - An Internet utility used to determine whether a particular IP address is online.
POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3) - A standard mail server commonly used on the Internet.
Port - The connection point on a computer or networking device used for plugging in cables or adapters. 
Power over Ethernet (PoE) - A technology enabling an Ethernet network cable to deliver both data and power.
PPPoE (Point to Point Protocol over Ethernet) - A type of broadband connection that provides authentication 
(username and password) in addition to data transport.
PPTP (Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol) - A VPN protocol that allows the Point to Point Protocol (PPP) to be 
tunneled through an IP network. This protocol is also used as a type of broadband connection in Europe.
Preamble - Part of the wireless signal that synchronizes network traffic.
RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service) - A protocol that uses an authentication server to control 
network access.
RJ-45 (Registered Jack-45) - An Ethernet connector that holds up to eight wires.
Roaming - The ability to take a wireless device from one access points range to another without losing the 
connection.
Router - A networking device that connects multiple networks together.
RTS (Request To Send) - A networking method of coordinating large packets through the RTS Threshold setting.
Server - Any computer whose function in a network is to provide user access to files, printing, communications, 
and other services. 
SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)  - The standard e-mail protocol on the Internet.
SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol)  - A widely used network monitoring and control protocol.
Software - Instructions for the computer. A series of instructions that performs a particular task is called a 
“program”.
SOHO (Small Office/Home Office) - Market segment of professionals who work at home or in small offices.
SPI (Stateful Packet Inspection) Firewall - A technology that inspects incoming packets of information before 
allowing them to enter the network. 
						

							71Appendix E: Glossary
Wireless-G Access Point
Spread Spectrum - Wideband radio frequency technique used for more reliable and secure data transmission.
SSID (Service Set IDentifier) - Your wireless networks name.
Static IP Address - A fixed address assigned to a computer or device that is connected to a network.
Static Routing - Forwarding data in a network via a fixed path.
Subnet Mask - An address code that determines the size of the network.
Switch - 1. A data switch that connects computing devices to host computers, allowing a large number of 
devices to share a limited number of ports. 2. A device for making, breaking, or changing the connections in an 
electrical circuit.  
TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) - A network protocol for transmitting data that requires acknowledgement 
from the recipient of data sent.
TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) - A set of instructions PCs use to communicate over a 
network.
Te l n e t - A user command and TCP/IP protocol used for accessing remote PCs.
TFTP (Trivial File Transfer Protocol) - A version of the TCP/IP FTP protocol that has no directory or password 
capability.
Throughput - The amount of data moved successfully from one node to another in a given time period.
TKIP (Temporal Key Integrity Protocol) - a wireless encryption protocol that provides dynamic encryption keys for 
each packet transmitted.
Topology - The physical layout of a network.
TX Rate - Transmission Rate.
UDP (User Datagram Protocol) - A network protocol for transmitting data that does not require acknowledgement 
from the recipient of the data that is sent.
Upgrade - To replace existing software or firmware with a newer version. 
Upload - To transmit a file over a network.
URL (Uniform Resource Locator) - The address of a file located on the Internet.   
						

							72Appendix E: Glossary
Wireless-G Access Point
VPN (Virtual Private Network) - A security measure to protect data as it leaves one network and goes to another 
over the Internet.
WAN (Wide Area Network)- The Internet.
WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) - A method of encrypting network data transmitted on a wireless network for 
greater security.
WINIPCFG - A Windows 98 and Me utility that displays the IP address for a particular networking device.
WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) - A group of computers and associated devices that communicate with 
each other wirelessly.
WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) - a wireless security protocol using TKIP (Temporal Key Integrity Protocol) 
encryption, which can be used in conjunction with a RADIUS server. 
						

							73Appendix F: Specifications
Wireless-G Access Point
Appendix F: Specifications
Model WAP54G
Standards IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.3, IEEE 802.3u
Ports/Buttons One 10/100 Auto-Cross Over (MDI/MDI-X) port, power port, 
reset and SES button
Cabling Type RJ-45
LEDs Power, Activity, Link, SecureEasySetup
Transmit Power 802.11g: Typ. 13.5 +/- 2dBm @ Normal Temp Range
802.11b: Typ: 16.5 +/- 2dBm @ Normal Temp Range
Security Features WPA, Linksys Wireless Guard, WEP Encryption, MAC Filtering, 
SSID Broadcast enable/disable
WEP Key Bits 64/128-bit
Dimensions 7.32 x 1.89 x 6.65
(W x H x D) (186 mm x 48 mm x 169 mm)
Unit Weight 16.23 oz. (0.46 kg)
Power External, 12V DC
Certifications FCC
Operating Temp. 0ºC to 40ºC (32ºF to 150ºF)
Storage Temp. 0ºC to 70ºC (-40ºF to 185ºF