Your rollout laptop computers include a wireless networking facility.

Transcription

1 Rollout QuickStart: Setting up a Wireless Network (Windows XP) Your rollout laptop computers include a wireless networking facility. This wireless facility allows your laptop computers to connect to the school s network, via a wireless Access Point. This document describes the process for setting up a wireless access point on a school network, to provide access to the network services available to wired computers on the same network. These notes are in three sections: 1. Setting up and configuring your Access Point. 2. Configuring your computers to connect to the Access Point. 3. Testing your eireless network These notes refer to the configuration of a Netgear WG102 Access Point, though the process is similar for other brands of equipment.

2 1. Setting Up and Configuring your Access Point Most readily available wireless access points are configured for a generic network, or a home network. You will need to re-configure the access point to communicate correctly with your school s Local Area Network (LAN), and the DET s Wide Area Network (WAN). Access points are configured through a web browser. You will need to temporarily reconfigure a network computer to communicate directly with the Access Point Disconnect a computer from the school network Refer to the user manual that came with the Access Point to determine the default IP address of the Access Point. In the case of the Netgear Access Point, this address is Use an Ethernet network cable to connect the Access Point directly to the Ethernet port on the computer Open My Computer Click on My Network Places Click on View Network Connections. Wazza s QuickStart: Configuring a Wireless Access Point (Win XP) Page 2

3 1.7. Right-click the Local Area Connection, and choose Properties Select the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and click on Properties Your computer will be setup to Obtain an IP address using DHCP, or it will be set to use the following IP address. IMPORTANT NOTE: Make a note of the current settings, so that you can return the computer to these settings once the Access Point is configured Set the IP address of the computer to an IP address in the same range as the IP address of the Access Point. In the Netgear example (where the default IP address of the Access point is ), use as the IP address and for the subnet mask. For the purposes of setting up the Access Point there is no need to enter a Default Gateway address. Click on OK to save the settings. Wazza s QuickStart: Configuring a Wireless Access Point (Win XP) Page 3

4 1.11. Open a web browser on the computer and enter the IP address of the Access Point. In our example this address is You may be asked about the security certificate. Click on the Yes button Enter the administrator username and password of the Access Point. This information is contained within the documentation that is included with the Access Point. The Netgear username is admin, the password is password. Wazza s QuickStart: Configuring a Wireless Access Point (Win XP) Page 4

5 1.14. You will see the configuration page of the Access Point Navigate to the area of the configuration site that contains the settings for the wireless network. Ensure that the Wireless LAN is activated, and operating in the combined g/802.11b mode. Click on the Apply button Navigate to the Security Settings for the wireless network. The default settings are likely to be None. Wazza s QuickStart: Configuring a Wireless Access Point (Win XP) Page 5

6 1.17. If your school is in an area where others may be able to connect to your wireless network, you should enable the Access Point security settings Click on the Edit button to edit the settings. (This process may differ on other brands of equipment). Provide a suitable identifying name for the network (eg - Library). Select WPA-PSK for your Network Authentication setting If you are particularly concerned about the security of the network, disable SSID broadcasting too. This will make the network invisible to computers that are browsing for a network to which to connect Click on the Apply button You will be asked to reboot the Access Point. Click on the Reboot button. Wazza s QuickStart: Configuring a Wireless Access Point (Win XP) Page 6

7 1.22. Reconnect to the Access Point, using your username and password, if necessary Navigate to the area of the Access Point configuration site that contains the network configuration information. (On the Netgear Access Point this is under the Basic Settings link at the left of the window). Provide a unique fixed IP address for the Access Point, that is compatible with your school s network, and is within DET LAN guidelines. (Disable the DHCP client option - we want our Access Point to have the same IP address all the time!). Include the school s router (gateway) address, and the school s DNS server address If necessary, enter your time-zone information, and click on the Apply button, which you may have to scroll to at the bottom of the screen It is likely that you will now lose connection to the Access Point, because you have change it s IP address Disconnect the cable joining the computer and the Access Point. Return the network settings of the computer to the original school network settings that were entered in the network settings window before you commenced the Access Point configuration process. This may have been a fixed IP address, or DHCP addressing Use an Ethernet cable to connect the Access Point to the school s network. Wazza s QuickStart: Configuring a Wireless Access Point (Win XP) Page 7

8 2. Configuring computers to access the Wireless network 2.1. On a computer with a wireless network card installed, check that the Wireless card is activated. This is often done using a button on the keyboard, which may emit a blue indicator light. When activated, you will be notified that the wireless network is active Go to My Computer and click on My Network Places Click on View Network Connections The wireless network will have a red cross through it, indicating that it is not connected to a wireless network Right-click on the Wireless Network Connection icon, and choose View available wireless networks. Wazza s QuickStart: Configuring a Wireless Access Point (Win XP) Page 8

9 2.6. Select the network that you have created on the Access Point When you click on the network, you will see more information about the network Click on the Connect button, and enter the security password for your Access Point After a short delay you will be advised that your are connected to the network Your Network Connections window (My Computer > My Network Places > View Network Connections) will now show that the Wireless network is connected. Wazza s QuickStart: Configuring a Wireless Access Point (Win XP) Page 9

10 3. Testing your Wireless Network 3.1. Check that your browser is configured to access your school s network, with the correct proxy server configured in your browser/network settings Disconnect any wired network cables from the computer Launch your web browser and check that you can access your school s Intranet, and the Internet Connect to any shared folders on your school s server(s) Congratulations! You have now setup, and connected to, a Wireless network. Wazza s QuickStart: Configuring a Wireless Access Point (Win XP) Page 10