Access Point Configuration

Wireless access points have a browser-based setup utility. Typically, you fire up the Web browser on one of your network client workstations and enter the access point's default IP address, such as 192.168.1.1, to bring up the configuration page. You will need to supply an administrative password, included with your access point's documentation, to log in.

Once you've logged in, you'll have configuration screens for changing your basic setup, access point password, security, and so on. Different access points offer different configuration options.

Configuring the SSID (ESSID) and Beacon The SSID option is usually located somewhere obvious on the configuration utility. Set your SSID to something unique. You can choose not to broadcast the SSID, but this only stops casual users-sophisticated wireless intruders have tools to detect networks that do not broadcast their SSIDs.

NOTE One of the great benefits of SSIDs in the wild is the ability to configure multiple wireless networks in close proximity, even using the same frequency and channel, and still not conflict. For tight locations, such as dorm rooms, office complexes, and apartments, choose a unique SSID for each wireless network to avoid the potential for overlap problems.

Aside from the SSID (or ESSID in an extended network), broadcast traffic includes the beacon, essentially a timing packet sent from the WAP at regular intervals. The beacon packet enables Wi-Fi networks to function, so this is fairly important. Beacon traffic also makes up a major percentage of network traffic because most WAPs have beacons set to go off every 100 ms! You can adjust the rate of the beacon traffic down and improve your network traffic speeds, but you lower the speed at which devices can negotiate to get on the network, among other things.

Configuring MAC Address Filtering Increase security even further by using MAC address filtering. This builds a list of wireless network clients that are permitted or denied access to your wireless network based on their unique MAC addresses.

The MAC address filtering configuration screen on a Linksys WAP. Simply enter the MAC address of a wireless node that you want to allow (or deny) access to your wireless network.