Help setting up a Linksys WAP54g at work

[seepy83]

I'm having some trouble trying to set up a Linksys Wireless Access Point for a new conference room where I work

I have the WAP connected to the network and I was hoping to use the Linksys CD that came with it to do my initial configuration (setting up security, SSID, etc). So I put the CD in my PC (i'm an administrator) and follow the setup wizard. It says to connect the network, then connect the power, and then it searches for the WAP on the network and doesnt find it. now it asks me to make sure that all of the cables are properly connected and that the Power, Act, and Link lights are all active. Everything is connected properly. in fact, if I enable the wireless adapter on my laptop, i can connect to the WAP...it's a totally unsecured linksys access point.

How can I access the WAP's configuration/administration utility? I guess the default IP for these is 192.168.1.245, but i get nothing when i try navigate to that IP through explorer, and cannot ping it.

FYI - our work network is a 10.0.0.xxx IP scheme...could that be part of the problem? do i need to set up an IP reservation for the WAP?

please help...there must be a way to have a SOHO access point on the network here.

 

[jlazzaro]

before i answer, do you manage your companies network infrastructure or have you been given the ok to setup a possible non-secure, non-approved wireless device?

 

[seepy83]

yes, I am responsible for the network here...sort of. Prior to me starting here a couple months ago, the majority of the IT work was outsourced but I dont want to pay for a network vendor to come in here and install a WAP...it should be pretty basic.

I am here for general IT support...across all IT functions (desktop support, server administration, network maintenance, etc). Aside from me, there's our CIO who was just hired 10 days ago (he has requested that this and 1 other WAP get installed ASAP), and 1 other person on the IT staff that pretty much only supports 1 custom piece of software that we run...he's more of a programmer/database support person.

 

[jlazzaro]

fair enough...had to make sure. most of us here manage network services among other things. i for one do not enjoy exposing networks and creating unnecessary work for my IT counterparts. while you could have just made all that up, its sound convincing enough!

since you run a 10.x.x.x and the default address is a 192.168.x.x, you will not be able to navigate to it (at least over your lan). take a computer and assign a static address residing in the same subnet as the APs default address. then, either plug your pc directly into the APs network port or attach both to a segmented switch.

open up IE and navigate to 192.168.1.245. Login with the default username/password and either set the AP to a static 10.x.x.x address or have it receive an address from your DHCP server. finally, configure the highest possible security encrpytion that both the AP and clients are capable of.

 

[seepy83]

Thanks...i'll give it a shot later this afternoon.

For security, I'd like to run WPA...but i think it's gonna have to be 128 bit WEP instead.

 

[jlazzaro]

why, because of the client requirements? a driver upgrade will usually get those wep only cards to at least some form of wpa...best of luck.

 

[seepy83]

Thanks man...worked perfectly.

about the encrytions...yesterday I was talking to my boss about what flavor of encryption to use, and we thought that 128bit WEP would be cause us the least amount of headaches. But, he's out today and left me to configure the WAP, so I went ahead and set it up for WPA2 Mixed Mode (TKIP and AES) and i'll see if anyone complains about not being able to connect to it.

thanks again

 

[jlazzaro]

dont base your encryption on whats going to cause least amount of headaches...if that was the case just run wide-open

some links for you to decide what encryption is best for you:

http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Security.html

http://www.ezlan.net/wpa_wep.html