This tab displays information on the quality of the wireless link to clients and other 802.11b APs in the Wireless Distribution System. During a Link Test, the Access Point and the selected device exchange a series of packets to test the strength of the connection. The devices start by exchanging packets at the 11 Mbits/sec rate but fall back to the slower rates if necessary.
NOTE
This feature is not available for an 802.11a or 802.11b/g AP. Also, this feature is not available if you are using an ORiNOCO 802.11a/b ComboCard or a non-ORiNOCO client with an 802.11b AP.
Follow these steps to perform a Link Test: 1. Open the Remote Link Test screen. 2. Click Explore.
Result: A list of detected stations will appear. If the list does not appear automatically, click Refresh .
Figure 5-10 Remote Link Test Screen
3. Select a Station from the list by clicking the circle to the left of the Station’s entry. 4. Click Link Test to start the test.
Result: A new Link Test window opens and displays the following information for the Access Point (referred to as the Initiator Station) and the wireless client (referred to as the Remote Station):
• Station Name: The Access Point’s System Name or the client’s Windows Networking name. • MAC Address
• SNR (dB): The Signal to Noise ratio for the received signal. The displayed value is the running average since the start of the test and is reported in decibels (dB). Higher numbers correspond to a stronger link. The bar graph also displays the relative strength of the link (a green bar indicates a strong link, a yellow bar indicates a fair link, and a red bar indicates a weak link).
• Signal (dBm): The strength of the received signal in dBm (decibels referenced to 1 milliwatt). The displayed value is the running average since the start of the test and is reported as a negative number. Higher numbers correspond to a stronger link. For example, -40 dBm corresponds to a stronger signal than -50 dBm. The bar graph also displays the relative strength of the signal (a longer bar represents a stronger signal).
• Noise (dBm): The strength of the noise detected at the receiver reported in dBm (decibels referenced to 1 milliwatt). The displayed value is the running average since the start of the test and is reported as a negative number. Noise can interfere with the received signal so a smaller noise value corresponds to a stronger link. For example, a noise level of -95 dBm is more desirable than a noise level of -89 dBm. The bar graph displays the relative strength of the noise level (a shorter bar represents a weaker noise level and is more desirable than a longer bar).
• 11 Mbps (pkts): The number of packets received at the 11 Mbits/sec transmit rate since the start of the Link Test. In general, most packets will be received at the 11 Mbits/sec rate if the devices have a strong link. • 5.5 Mbps (pkts): The number of packets received at the 5.5 Mbits/sec transmit rate since the start of the Link
Test.
• 2 Mbps (pkts): The number of packets received at the 2 Mbits/sec transmit rate since the start of the Link Test.
• 1 Mbps (pkts): The number of packets received at the 1 Mbits/sec transmit rate since the start of the Link Test.
NOTE
Click the Refresh button periodically to update the test results. The test screen does not refresh automatically.
Figure 5-11 SNR Report Screen 5. Click Close to end the Link Test.
6
Commands
• Logging into the HTTP Interface
• Download: Download files from a TFTP server to the AP. • Upload: Upload configuration files from the AP to a TFTP server. • Reboot: Reboot the AP in the specified number of seconds.
• Reset: Reset all of the Access Point’s configuration settings to factory defaults. • Help Link: Configure the location where the AP Help files can be found.
Logging into the HTTP Interface
Once the AP has a valid IP Address and an Ethernet connection, you may use your web browser to issue commands. The Command Line Interface (CLI) also provides a method for issuing commands using Telnet or a serial connection. This section covers only use of the HTTP Interface. For more information about issuing commands with the CLI, refer to Command Line Interface (CLI).
Follow these steps to view the available commands supported by the AP’s HTTP interface: 1. Open a Web browser on a network computer.
NOTE
The HTTP interface supports the following Web browser: • Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 with Service Pack 1 or later • Netscape 6.1 or later
2. If necessary, disable the Internet proxy settings. For Internet Explorer users, follow these steps: – Select Tools > Internet Options....
– Click the Connections tab. – Click LAN Settings....
– If necessary, remove the check mark from the Use a proxy server box. – Click OK twice to save your changes and return to Internet Explorer.
3. Enter the Access Point’s IP address in the browser’s Address field and press Enter. – Result: The Enter Network Password screen appears.
4. Enter the HTTP password in the Password field and click OK. Leave the User Name field blank. (By default, the HTTP password is “public”).
Figure 6-1 Enter Network Password Screen
5. Click the Commands button located on the left-hand side of the screen.
Figure 6-2 Commands Main Screen
Download
Use the Download tab to download Configuration, AP Image, and Bootloader files to the AP. A TFTP server must be running and configured to point to the directory containing the file.
Figure 6-3 Download Command Screen
If you don’t have a TFTP server installed on your system, install the TFTP server from the ORiNOCO CD. You can either install the TFTP server from the CD Wizard or run OEM-TFTP-Server.exe found in the CD’s Xtras/SolarWinds sub-directory.
The Download tab shows version information and allows you to enter TFTP information as described below. • Server IP Address: Enter the TFTP server IP Address.
– Double-click the TFTP server icon on your desktop and locate the IP address assigned to the TFTP server. Note: This is the IP address that will be used to point the Access Point to the AP Image file.
• File Name: Enter the name of the file to be downloaded (including the file extension).
– Copy the updated AP Image file to the TFTP server’s root folder. The default AP Image is located at C:/Program Files/ORiNOCO/AP600/.
• File Type: Select the proper file type. Choices include:
– Config for configuration information, such as System Name, Contact Name, and so on. – Img for the AP Image (executable program).
– BspBl for the Bootloader software.
• File Operation: Select either Download or Download & Reboot. You should reboot the AP after downloading files.
Upload
Use the Upload tab to upload Configuration files from the AP. The TFTP server must be running and configured to point to the directory to which you want to copy the uploaded file. We suggest you assign the file a meaningful name, which may include version or location information.
If you don’t have a TFTP server installed on your system, install the TFTP server from the ORiNOCO CD. You can either install the TFTP server from the CD Wizard or run OEM-TFTP-Server.exe found in the CD’s Xtras/SolarWinds sub-directory.
• Server IP Address: Enter the TFTP server IP Address.
– Double-click the TFTP server icon on your desktop and locate the IP address assigned to the TFTP server. • File Name: Enter the name of the file to be uploaded.
• File Type: Select Config. • File Operation: Select Upload.
Figure 6-4 Upload Command Screen
Reboot
Use the Reboot tab to save configuration changes (if any) and reset the AP. Entering a value of 0 (zero) seconds causes an immediate reboot. Note that Reset, described below, does not save configuration changes.
CAUTION
!
Rebooting the AP will cause all users who are currently connected to lose their connection to the network until the AP has completed the restart process and resumed operation.
Reset
Use the Reset tab to restore the AP to factory default conditions. The AP may also be reset from the RESET button located on the side of the unit. Since this will reset the Access Point’s current IP address, a new IP address must be assigned. Refer to Recovery Procedures for more information.
CAUTION
!
Resetting the AP to its factory default configuration will permanently overwrite all changes that have made to the unit. The AP will reboot automatically after this command has been issued.
Figure 6-6 Reset to Factory Defaults Command Screen
Help Link
To open Help, click the Help button on any display screen.
During initialization, the AP on-line help files are downloaded to the default location: C:\Program Files\ORiNOCO\AP\HTML\index.htm.
The ORiNOCO AP Help information is available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Japanese. The Help files are copied to your computer in one language only.
If you want to place these files on a shared drive, copy the Help Folder to the new location, and then specify the new path in the Help Link box.