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Netgear Router WGT624 V2 User Manual

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    							Wireless Configuration 4-1
    M-10153-01
    Chapter 4 
    Wireless Configuration
    This chapter describes how to configure the wireless features of your WGT624 v2 wireless router. 
    In planning your wireless network, you should consider the level of security required. You should 
    also select the physical placement of your firewall in order to maximize the network speed. For 
    further information on wireless networking, refer to in Appendix D, “Wireless Networking Basics.
    Observe Performance, Placement, and Range Guidelines
    The operating distance or range of your wireless connection can vary significantly based on the 
    physical placement of the wireless firewall. The latency, data throughput performance, and 
    notebook power consumption of wireless adapters also vary depending on your configuration 
    choices.
    For best results, place your firewall:
    • Near the center of the area in which your PCs will operate.
    • In an elevated location such as a high shelf where the wirelessly connected PCs have 
    line-of-sight access (even if through walls).
    • Away from sources of interference, such as PCs, microwaves, and 2.4 GHz cordless phones.
    • Away from large metal surfaces.
    The time it takes to establish a wireless connection can vary depending on both your security 
    settings and placement. WEP connections can take slightly longer to establish. Also, WEP 
    encryption can consume more battery power on a notebook PC.
    Note: Failure to follow these guidelines can result in significant performance 
    degradation or inability to wirelessly connect to the router. For complete range/
    performance specifications, please see Appendix A, “Technical Specifications.” 
    						
    							Reference Manual for the 108 Mbps Wireless Firewall Router WGT624 v2
    4-2 Wireless Configuration
    M-10153-01
    Implement Appropriate Wireless Security 
    Unlike wired network data, your wireless data transmissions can be received well beyond your 
    walls by anyone with a compatible adapter. For this reason, use the security features of your 
    wireless equipment. The WGT624 v2 wireless router provides highly effective security features 
    which are covered in detail in this chapter. Deploy the security features appropriate to your needs.
    Figure 4-1:  WGT624 v2 wireless data security options
    There are several ways you can enhance the security of you wireless network.
    •Restrict Access Based on MAC address. You can restrict access to only trusted PCs o that 
    unknown PCs cannot wirelessly connect to the WGT624 v2. MAC address filtering adds an 
    obstacle against unwanted access to your network, but the data broadcast over the wireless link 
    is fully exposed. 
    •Turn Off the Broadcast of the Wireless Network Name SSID. If you disable broadcast of 
    the SSID, only devices that have the correct SSID can connect. This nullifies the wireless 
    network ‘discovery’ feature of some products such as Windows XP, but the data is still fully 
    exposed to a determined snoop using specialized test equipment like wireless sniffers.
    •WEP. Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) data encryption provides data security. WEP Shared 
    Key authentication and WEP data encryption will block all but the most determined 
    eavesdropper. 
    Note: Indoors, computers can connect over 802.11b/g wireless networks at 
    ranges of up to 500 feet.
     Such distances can allow for others outside of your 
    immediate area to access your network.
    1) Open System: Easy but no security
    2) MAC Access List: No data security
    3) WEP: Security but some performance impact
    Wireless Data
    Security Options
    Range: Up to 300 Foot Radius
    WGT624 v2 
    						
    							Reference Manual for the 108 Mbps Wireless Firewall Router WGT624 v2
    Wireless Configuration 4-3
    M-10153-01
    •Turn Off the Wired LAN. If you disable the wireless LAN, wireless devices cannot 
    communicate with the router at all. You might choose to turn off the wireless the LAN when 
    you are away and the others in the household all use wired connections.
    Understanding Wireless Settings
    To configure the Wireless settings of your firewall, click the Wireless link in the main menu of the 
    browser interface. The Wireless Settings menu will appear, as shown below.
    Figure 4-2:  Wireless Settings menu 
    						
    							Reference Manual for the 108 Mbps Wireless Firewall Router WGT624 v2
    4-4 Wireless Configuration
    M-10153-01
    The 802.11b and 802.11g wireless networking protocols are configured in exactly the same 
    fashion.
    •Name (SSID). The SSID is also known as the wireless network name. Enter a value of up to 
    32 alphanumeric characters. In a setting where there is more than one wireless network, 
    different wireless network names provide a means for separating the traffic. Any device you 
    want to participate in a particular wireless network will need to use this SSID for that network. 
    The WGT624 v2 default SSID is: NETGEAR.
    •Region. This field identifies the region where the WGT624 v2 can be used. It may not be legal 
    to operate the wireless features of the wireless router in a region other than one of those 
    identified in this field.
    •Channel. This field determines which operating frequency will be used. It should not be 
    necessary to change the wireless channel unless you notice interference problems with another 
    nearby access point. For more information on the wireless channel frequencies please refer to 
    “Wireless Channels” on page D-7.
    •Mode. This field determines which data communications protocol will be used. You can select 
    “g only,” 108 Mbps Turbo g only, or “g and b.” “g only” dedicates the WGT624 v2 to 
    communicating with the higher bandwidth 802.11g wireless devices exclusively. The “g and 
    b” mode provides backward compatibility with the slower 802.11b wireless devices while still 
    enabling 802.11g communications. The 108 Mbps Turbo mode only works with other 802.11g 
    turbo devices that support this turbo mode.
    •Allow Broadcast of Name (SSID). If you disable broadcast of the SSID, only devices that 
    have the correct SSID can connect. Disabling SSID broadcast nullifies the wireless network 
    ‘discovery’ feature of some products such as Windows XP.
    •Enable Wireless Access Point. If you disable the wireless access point, wireless devices 
    cannot connect to the WGT624 v2. 
    •Wireless Card Access List. When the Trusted PCs Only radio button is selected, the WGT624 
    v2 checks the MAC address of the wireless station and only allows connections to PCs 
    identified on the trusted PCs list.  
    						
    							Reference Manual for the 108 Mbps Wireless Firewall Router WGT624 v2
    Wireless Configuration 4-5
    M-10153-01
    Understanding WEP Authentication and Encryption
    Restricting wireless access to your network prevents intruders from connecting to your network. 
    However, the wireless data transmissions are still vulnerable to snooping. Using the WEB data 
    encryption settings described below will prevent a determined intruder from eavesdropping on 
    your wireless data communications. Also, if you are using the Internet for such activities as 
    purchases or banking, those Internet sites use another level of highly secure encryption called SSL. 
    You can tell if a web site is using SSL because the web address begins with HTTPS rather than 
    HTTP.
    Authentication Scheme Selection 
    Figure 4-3:  Encryption Strength
    The WGT624 v2 lets you select the following wireless authentication schemes. 
    • Automatic. 
    • Open System.
    • Shared key. 
    Be sure to set your wireless adapter according to the authentication scheme you choose for the 
    WGT624 v2 wireless router. Please refer to “Authentication and WEP” on page D-3 for a full 
    explanation of each of these options, as defined by the IEEE 802.11 wireless communication 
    standard.
    Note: The authentication scheme is separate from the data encryption. You can 
    choose an authentication scheme which requires a shared key but still leave the 
    data transmissions unencrypted. If you require strong security, use both the 
    Shared Key and WEP encryption settings
    . 
    						
    							Reference Manual for the 108 Mbps Wireless Firewall Router WGT624 v2
    4-6 Wireless Configuration
    M-10153-01
    Encryption Strength Choices
    Choose the encryption strength from the drop-down list. Please refer to “Overview of WEP 
    Parameters” on page D-5 for a full explanation of each of these options, as defined by the IEEE 
    802.11 wireless communication standard.
    •Disable. No encryption will be applied. This setting is useful for troubleshooting your wireless 
    connection, but leaves your wireless data fully exposed.
    •64-bit or 128-bit WEP. When 64-bit or 128-bit is selected, WEP encryption will be applied. 
    If WEP is enabled, you can manually or automatically program the four data encryption keys. 
    These values must be identical on all PCs and access points in your network.
    There are two methods for creating WEP encryption keys:
    •Passphrase. Enter a word or group of printable characters in the Passphrase box and click the 
    Generate button. These characters are case sensitive.
    •Manual. For 64-bit WEP, enter 10 hexadecimal digits (any combination of 0-9, a-f, or A-F). 
    For 128-bit WEP, enter 26 hexadecimal digits (any combination of 0-9, a-f, or A-F). These 
    values are not case sensitive.
    Default Factory Settings
    When you first receive your WGT624 v2, the default factory settings are shown below. You can 
    restore these defaults with the Factory Default Restore button on the rear panel. After you install 
    the WGT624 v2 wireless router, use the procedures below to customize any of the settings to better 
    meet your networking needs.
    FEATUREDEFAULT FACTORY SETTINGS
    Wireless Access PointEnabled
    Wireless Access List (MAC Filtering)All wireless stations allowed
    SSID broadcast Enabled
    SSID NETGEAR
    11b/g RF Channel11
    Modeg and b
    Authentication TypeOpen System
    WEPDisabled 
    						
    							Reference Manual for the 108 Mbps Wireless Firewall Router WGT624 v2
    Wireless Configuration 4-7
    M-10153-01
    Before You Change the SSID and WEP Settings
    Before customizing your wireless settings, print this form and record the following information. If 
    your working with an existing wireless network, the person who set up or is responsible for the 
    network will be able to provide this information. Otherwise, you will choose the settings for your 
    wireless network. Either way, record the settings for your wireless network in the spaces below.
    •Network Name (SSID): The Service Set Identification (SSID), called the wireless 
    network name in Windows XP, identifies the wireless network. You may use up to 32 
    alphanumeric characters. Record your customized SSID on the line below. 
    Name (SSID):______________________________
    Note: The SSID in the wireless router is the SSID you configure in the wireless adapter 
    card. For the access point and wireless nodes to communicate with each other, all must be 
    configured with the same SSID.
    •Authentication. The authentication setting, “Open System” or “Shared Key,” is unrelated 
    to encryption of transmissions. The two bands can use different authentication settings. 
    Choose “Shared Key” for more security, circle one: Open System or Shared Key
    Note: If you select shared key, the other devices in the network will not connect unless 
    they are set to Shared Key as well.
    •WEP Encryption Strength. Choose the key size. Circle one: 64 or 128 bits.
    •WEP Encryption Keys. The WGT624 v2 provides two methods for creating WEP 
    encryption keys:
    –Passphrase. ______________________________
     Enter a word or group of printable 
    characters. These characters are case sensitive. When you enter the Passphrase and 
    click the Generate button on the WGT624 v2, the keys will be generated.
    –Manual. For 64-bit WEP, enter 10 hexadecimal digits (any combination of 0-9 or a-f). 
    These values are not case sensitive. For 128-bit WEP, enter 26 hexadecimal digits.
    Whichever method you use, record the key values in the spaces below.
    Key 1: ___________________________________
     
    Key 2: ___________________________________
     
    Key 3: ___________________________________
     
    Key 4: ___________________________________
     
    Use the procedures described in the following sections to configure the WGT624 v2. Store this 
    information in a safe place. 
    						
    							Reference Manual for the 108 Mbps Wireless Firewall Router WGT624 v2
    4-8 Wireless Configuration
    M-10153-01
    How to Set Up and Test Basic Wireless Connectivity
    Follow the instructions below to set up and test basic wireless connectivity. Once you have 
    established basic wireless connectivity, you can enable security settings appropriate to your needs.
    1.Log in to the WGT624 v2 firewall at its default LAN address of http://192.168.0.1 with its 
    default user name of admin and default password of password, or using whatever LAN 
    address and password you have set up.
    2.Click the Wireless Settings link in the main menu of the WGT624 v2 firewall.
    Figure 4-4:  Wireless Settings menu
    3.
    Choose a suitable descriptive name for the wireless network name (SSID). In the SSID box, 
    enter a value of up to 32 alphanumeric characters. The default SSID is NETGEAR.
    Note: The SSID of any wireless access adapters must match the SSID you configure in the 
    108 Mbps Wireless Firewall Router WGT624 v2. If they do not match, you will not get a 
    wireless connection to the WGT624 v2.
    4.Set the Region. Select the region in which the wireless interface will operate. 
    5.Set the Channel. The default channel is 11.
    This field determines which operating frequency will be used. It should not be necessary to 
    change the wireless channel unless you notice interference problems with another nearby 
    wireless router or access point. Select a channel that is not being used by any other wireless 
    networks within several hundred feet of your firewall. For more information on the wireless 
    channel frequencies please refer to “Wireless Channels” on page D-7. 
    6.For initial configuration and test, leave the Wireless Card Access List set to “Everyone” and 
    the Encryption Strength set to “Disabled.” 
    7.Click Apply to save your changes. 
    						
    							Reference Manual for the 108 Mbps Wireless Firewall Router WGT624 v2
    Wireless Configuration 4-9
    M-10153-01 8.
    Configure and test your PCs for wireless connectivity.
    Program the wireless adapter of your PCs to have the same SSID and channel that you 
    configured in the router. Check that they have a wireless link and are able to obtain an IP 
    address by DHCP from the firewall.
    Once your PCs have basic wireless connectivity to the firewall, then you can configure the 
    advanced wireless security functions of the firewall.
    How to Restrict Wireless Access by MAC Address
    To restrict access based on MAC addresses, follow these steps:
    1.Log in to the WGT624 v2 firewall at its default LAN address of http://192.168.0.1 with its 
    default user name of admin and default password of password, or using whatever LAN 
    address and password you have set up.
    2.Click the Wireless Settings link in the main menu of the WGT624 v2 firewall.
    Note: If you are configuring the firewall from a wireless PC and you change the 
    firewall’s SSID, channel, or security settings, you will lose your wireless connection 
    when you click on Apply. You must then change the wireless settings of your PC to 
    match the firewall’s new settings.
    Note: When configuring the firewall from a wireless PC whose MAC address is not in 
    the Trusted PC list, if you select Turn Access Control On, you will lose your wireless 
    connection when you click on Apply. You must then access the wireless router from a 
    wired PC or from a wireless PC which is on the access control list to make any further 
    changes. 
    						
    							Reference Manual for the 108 Mbps Wireless Firewall Router WGT624 v2
    4-10 Wireless Configuration
    M-10153-01 3.
    From the Wireless Settings menu, click the Setup Access List button to display the Wireless 
    Access menu shown below.
    Figure 4-5:  Wireless Card Access List Setup
    4.
    Click Add to add a wireless device to the wireless access control list. The Available Wireless 
    Cards list displays.
    5.Click the Turn Access Control On check box.
    6.Then, either select from the list of available wireless cards the WGT624 v2 has found in your 
    area, or enter the MAC address and device name for a device you plan to use. You can usually 
    find the MAC address printed on the wireless adapter.
    Note: You can copy and paste the MAC addresses from the firewall’s Attached Devices menu 
    into the MAC Address box of this menu. To do this, configure each wireless PC to obtain a 
    wireless link to the firewall. The PC should then appear in the Attached Devices menu.
    7.Click Add to add this wireless device to the Wireless Card Access List. The screen changes 
    back to the list screen. Repeat these steps for each additional device you wish to add to the list.
    8.Be sure to click Apply to save your wireless access control list settings.
    Now, only devices on this list will be allowed to wirelessly connect to the WGT624 v2. 
    						
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