ReadMe.txt version 3.0.1 3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN Products ----------------------------------- 3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN Access Point 6000 Model WL-306 (3CRWE60092A) Copyright 2002 3Com Corporation ******************************************************** ******************************************************** New Features in Version 3.0 =========================== 3Com Wireless Infrastructure Device Manager ------------------------------------------- This tool replaces the AP Management tool. The new device manager recognizes all types 3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN infrastructure devices on the same network segment and allows you to view their properties and launch their configurations. 128-Bit Shared Key Encryption ----------------------------- This option can be used with other 3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN devices and with equipment from certain manufacturers that also support 128-bit shared encryption. It provides a higher level of security than 40-bit shared key encryption. Broadcast WLAN Service Area Name (ESSID) ---------------------------------------- This new option allows you to specify whether the access point WLAN service area (ESSID) is visible to wireless clients. When broadcasting is disabled, the access point is in privacy mode. Clients that support privacy mode can associate with the access point by specifying its WLAN service area. Expanded User Access List ------------------------- The user access list now supports up to 1000 user names. Up to 256 users can associate at one time. Reset and Restore Features -------------------------- It is now possible to reset or restore the access point through software. The reset feature disrupts network association temporarily, but does not affect access point configuration settings. The restore feature restores access point settings to the factory defaults. (Previously, it was only possible to restore the access point by inserting a pointed object into the reset hole near the RJ-45 connector.) Expanded System Summary ----------------------- The system summary page contains more information and also has links to configuration pages. Problems Solved in Version 3.0 ============================== The following problems reported from the field have been solved in Version 3.0: - ICMP echoing no longer degrades network performance. - Static IP addresses may now contain zeros in the second and third octet. Previously, zeros were not allowed in IP addresses. Installing an Upgrade ===================== Because of the enhancements made to certain features in Version 3 of the Web server file system firmware and access point firmware, upgrading from an earlier version to Version 3 requires that you reset the access point to factory defaults. Therefore, it is recommended that you save the access point configuration template and note certain settings before installing the upgrade so that you can restore settings later. The following procedures include steps for saving the configuration template and restoring settings after the upgrade to Version 3. Important Note: Be sure to upgrade the Web server file system first, then upgrade the access point firmware. The new Web server file system firmware filename is: 3SRAPFS.BIN The new access point firmware filename is: 3SRAPFW.BIN The upgrade process requires that the Web server file system be upgraded first. Saving the Configuration Template --------------------------------- 1. In the Wireless Network Tree, select the access point to be upgraded and click Configure. 2. Make notes of the following settings so that you can restore them later: Network Properties--If you have specified an IP address, make a note of it. Data Transmission Properties--If you have specified a channel, turned the Network Traffic Accelerator on, selected short Data Preamble, or turned Broadcast WLAN Service Area Name (ESSID) off, note these settings. 3. Under Save/Restore Files, click Save Template. Follow the prompts to save the template. Upgrading the Web Server File System ------------------------------------ 1. Under Tools, click Upgrade System. 2. Click the Configuration System Firmware radio button. 3. Click Browse, select the web server system upgrade file that you downloaded earlier (3SRAPFS.BIN), and click OK. If you choose the wrong file, click Clear Entries. The selected file is cleared and you can browse again for a different file. 4. Click Upgrade. The upgrade file is copied from your computer to the access point and the access point restarts using the new upgrade. Upgrading the Access Point Firmware ----------------------------------- 1. After upgrading the Web server file system, wait about ten seconds for the access point to restart. 2. In the Wireless Network Tree, click Refresh, then select the access point again and click Configure. 3. Under Tools, click Upgrade System. 4. Click the Access Point Firmware radio button. 5. Click Browse, select the access point firmware upgrade file that you downloaded earlier (3SRAPFW.BIN), and click OK. If you choose the wrong file, click Clear Entries. The selected file is cleared and you can browse again for a different file. 6. Click Upgrade. The upgrade file is copied from your computer to the access point and the access point restarts using the new upgrade. Restoring Settings ------------------ The following procedure restores the access point to factory defaults and then restores the template you saved and settings you noted earlier. 1. After upgrading the access point firmware, wait about ten seconds for the access point to restart. 2. In the Wireless Network Tree, click Refresh, then select the access point again and click Configure. 3. Under Tools, click Restore AP to Factory Defaults. In the next page, click Restore. Wait about ten seconds for the access point to restart. 4. In the Wireless Network Tree, click Refresh, then select the access point again and click Configure. 5. Under Save/Restore Files, click Load Template. Click Browse, select the template file that you saved earlier, and click Open. Click Load Template to load the template. 6. If necessary, restore the Network Properties and Data Transmission Properties that you noted earlier. Compatibility with PC Card 2.0 or 2.01 ====================================== Some features, including 128-bit Dynamic Security Link encryption, on 3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN PC Card software releases 2.0 and 2.01 are not compatible with those on the 3Com Access Point 6000 release 3.0. If you already have 3Com PC Card clients installed, you must upgrade their software and firmware to be compatible with the Access Point 6000. You can upgrade the software as follows: Go to the 3Com Web site at www.3com.com, navigate to the software download page, and look for a 3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN PC Card software release 2.02 or later. Follow any instructions provided with the downloaded software to upgrade your PC card firmware and drivers to the latest revision. Effects of Dynamic Security Link Encryption on Automatic Networking Activities ============================================================================== When you reboot your client after setting up 128-bit Dynamic Security Link encryption, any automatic networking activities (such as drives mapped to other servers or Web browsers set to automatically launch at startup) will fail until after you log in to Windows and wait to associate with the access point. After you log in to Windows and enter your Dynamic Security Link password, if prompted, you can restart the networking activities.