How to Configure WiFi with Device Installer

By Patrick Labayen, Technical Support Representative, Lantronix Corp

Wireless provides a whole new level of flexibility and mobility to devices where cabling is impractical or too expensive. Lantronix 802.11 device servers, such as the WiBox®, are also extremely easy to configure. All you need is the following:

• SSID (Service Set Identifier or a WiFi network name)
• Appropriate authentication method
• Appropriate encryption methods
• Subnet (network range) information
• Channel settings (for adhoc connections)

Please note that Lantronix WiBox will have the following factory settings:

• SSID = LTRX_IBSS, in Ad-Hoc mode
• No authentication, no encryption
• Auto-IP address (which will result in it choosing an IP address in the 169.254.x.x range with a subnet mask of 255.255.0.0)
• Channel 11

Once the default settings are established, take the following steps to install the Lantronix Device Installer, which is the quickest and easiest way to discover and configure a Lantronix device server.

Step 1. Disable any secondary interfaces (i.e. LAN/Ethernet NIC) Set the PC or laptop’s WiFi interface to an Auto-IP Address: 169.254.x.y (where x and y can each be any number between 1 and 254).

Step 2. Set a subnet mask to 255.255.0.0. Note: Do not define a default gateway. This step places the user’s PC in the same network range as the WiBox.

Step 3. After the IPs have been set, launch the WiFi manager applet on the PC and run a ‘site survey’ or search for neighboring WiFi networks. The WiBox’s SSID, “LTRX_IBSS”, will appear in the list. Select it and click ‘Connect’. The PC will then be associated with the WiBox’s SSID.

Once the above three steps are taken, the Lantronix Device Installer will be able to search, find and access the WiBox automatically.

To find out more about the Wibox, click here.

Last Updated: 21/07/2008 07:57:31