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MSS User Guide 4: Configuration
4-20
Network Mode
There are two types of 802.11 networks: Ad-Hoc and infrastructure. In an Ad-Hoc
network, devices communicate directly with one another on a peer-to-peer basis. In an
infrastructure network (the default), several devices communicate with one or more APs,
and the APs may or may not be connected to a physical Ethernet network. You must tell
your MSS which type of network is present with the Change 80211 NETWORKMODE
command.
Figure 4-72: Configuring the Network Mode
Local>> CHANGE 80211 NETWORKMODE ADHOC
or
Local>> CHANGE 80211 NETWORKMODE INFRASTRUCTURE
The network mode setting relates to the channel setting, explained next.
Channel
The frequency band allocated to 802.11 wireless communications is subdivided into
different channels to allow subnetworking. Generally speaking, your MSS needs to know
which channel it should use for communications—it will be the same as the one being
used by the local AP. You can also set the channel to Any, the default, which causes the
MSS to use the same channel used by the strongest AP with the same ESSID.
Note: Because some of the channels overlap slightly, avoid using adjacent channels
within a workgroup area, or crosstalk and lower throughput may result. Channel overlap
depends on the Region setting—see your PC card documentation for specific information
about which channels are available in your area.
Figure 4-73: Configuring the 802.11 Channel
Local>> CHANGE 80211 CHANNEL 7
The channel setting relates to the network mode setting. For infrastructure network mode,
you should set the channel to Any so the MSS can sync with an AP. For Ad-Hoc network
mode, you should set a specific channel number so that the MSS can start a new IBSS if
needed. When the channel is set to Any, the MSS can only join an existing IBSS.
WEP
Some 802.11 cards can be set with a WEP key, which will encrypt any data you transmit
through wireless communication.
To enable WEP, enter the following command:
Figure 4-74: Enabling WEP
Local>> CHANGE 80211 WEP ENABLED
Local>> CHANGE 80211 RESET
Setting the WEP Key and Index Number
When WEP is enabled and a WEP key is set, the MSS will only connect to an AP (in
infrastructure mode) or communicate with other Ad-Hoc peers (in Ad-Hoc mode) that
have been programmed with the same WEP key as the MSS. For a key to match, both
the key data and the index number must be identical.