Author : Pierre HARDY
Date : May 2004
Copyright © Pierre Hardy, 2004. All rights reserved. E-mail author at: pierrehardy01@yahoo.be
Wireless Broadband Gateway
Secure Configuration Guidelines
The objective of this document is to provide some installation instructions / check
list for wrongly named “Wireless Broadband Router” (as in most of them,
no routing protocol is running, no more routing table than in PC).
Even if the principles apply to any Wireless GW, as I'm the owner of a D-Link DI-614+ Rev B box (“Wireless router”) and a D-Link
DWL-650+ PCMCIA card, this document will be a little oriented to D-Link products.
Click here to download it in Word or
PDF format
If you want more info about Wireless or Wi-Fi, you could start with :
Wi-Fi Alliance
Wi-Fi Planet - The Source for Wi-Fi Business
and Technology
… or just ask Google !
A wireless access point (WAP), is a public access, just like connecting your LAN (wired or not) to the Internet, but with one major difference : only your neighborhood can access it. Is this worse or better than Internet ? Think about it and provide your own answer … From my point of view, even with a broadband connection, when connected to the Internet, I change regularly form IP address and nobody knows it : I feel completely anonymous ! Anonymous is not synonymous of security, I agree, but this is out of scope of a wireless security.
Now, with a WAP, my home LAN is extended to my neighborhood, it is not anonymous anymore ! If I have very good relationship with my neighbors, first I don't know all of them, second this is not a reason to invite everybody on my home LAN, to share my broadband access with anyone (if some one uses your broadband connection "for free" to surf, it isn't really a security concern, he will just "eat" some of your bandwidth !), and third I don't want them to know what I do at home (I switch my connection on, only when needed): a little privacy please. Other said, my first concern is to convert this public access to a private one !
This said, aside the privacy aspect, the wireless gateway is not a security issue by itself : it can just provide you some extra security, and without it, your PC is/was directly connected to the Internet. If you configure your router with the biggest security holes, you'll never be less secure than without it : the true security must rely on each PC security, provided with personal firewall.
Now, the wireless gateway gives you also a home LAN, and you can use it not only to share the Internet access, but also to share private resources like printers, disks, folders, files, … and those shares resources are exposed to the Internet, accessible in wireless. And here, you open security issues, open holes on your hosts, PCs. Remember, as soon as wireless is activated on the Wireless router, your wired connections are exposed as well : the router makes no distinction, at IP level, between wired and wireless connections : both are part of one single LAN ! The only way to share resources in a complete secure way is to do it only through wired connections, and disable the Wireless (and Internet connection) the time you transfer data, the time you set shared resources (folders), and immediately "unshare" the folder prior to re-enable wireless (Internet). That will comply with the most strict business security policies.
Regarding business security, using your broadband connection for "teleworking", if you connect to your corporate network using a sound VPN client with IPSec encryption and have a Personal Firewall, you're safe, that PC is safe. But are you always connected to your Corporate network, and when not, is your Personal Firewall always active on your Wireless/Wired interfaces ? The concern is more when you directly surf on Internet without going through Corporate network, or if you have other PCs connected (wired or wireless) to the gateway. If you also use another PC to backup your (Company) data (which is a good idea), is that PC well protected ?
Resumed, with a Personal Firewall on each PC, you’re safe. The concern is more the PCs without FW, or opened FW (for games) with ‘”sensitive” data, on your home LAN (wired or not).
And remember, enabling a Wireles Access Point on your LAN, is putting it on the public space !
Lets start with the “Wireless Router” configuration,
then have a look at the PC (USB / PCMCIA / …) card.
I suggest to use (print) the tables below to write down the configuration changes you made,
and safe it in a “secure” place. The first column indicates in which
order I did the configuration, number are underlined when the router
re-booted, and the color indicate the security requirement level, from required
to no security impact, as illustrated in the table below. (NB : you may not agree with my
classification.) You can also use it as check box, and use the third one
to write parameter value you selected or chose (some examples being provided).
Color code |
Requirement level |
|
Highly recommended WLAN security feature |
|
Best practice WLAN security feature |
|
Additional security feature recommended |
|
Limited security impact |
|
No security impact |
But, first to deeply secure it, you may want see it work !
So, first install it with Quick start …
settings (first section below), at least to access the wireless router
… in order to configure it !!! Also take this first step opportunity to
record MAC addresses of connected equipments (this is the easiest way to get
those).
Remember this DOS command :
IPCONFIG [/ALL] (running in a DOS box (Command prompt :
Start/run cmd), on all Windows version) shows the IP address assigned to
interfaces. With the /all option, you also see the MAC
address (Physical address) of the interface.
This command is very useful when debugging LAN IP addressing on the router.
On Windows 95 / 98, you can also run the ‘winipcfg’ command (in start/run).
In this section, I’ll try to list all elements you should take care of to get an as safe as possible Wireless LAN Gateway configuration.
Note that section & item order in the table below doesn’t exactly reflect the
order/section of D-Link DI-614+ Rev B configuration tool. However, I’ll try to
refer to D-Link DI-614+ sections / items, putting comments between square
brackets [ ].
This document is based on the DI-614+ Rev B2
(One external antenna + one internal, instead of 2 externals. Note the 2d antenna is not used to
transmit/receive, but only to measure the "echo" and enforce the reception
(dixit D-LINK support)). Rev B has also a ARM9 processor : 300 Mips (with 130 Mips for ARM7 in rev A : I expect thus better performances, for example with 256 bits encryption (other equipment only
use 64 or 128 bits encryption)).
Concerning the Firmware version, even if it is recommended to always upgrade to the latest
version (3.35), after a lot of mails exchanged with D-Link support, it seems
the 3.20 is less bugged (Static DHCP working), but some features are not yet
present. The version number is added between parenthesis when a parameter or a
value is specific to that version. Note
I didn’t make extensive tests with version 3.28, I only tested Static DHCP on
it, which also failed. Last remark, as
I finally downgraded from version 3.35 to 3.20, I first saved the 3.35 config
with the idea to reload it in 3.20, but it failed.
By hosts, I understand any device, connected to your home LAN, wired (Ethernet interface)
or wireless. Those are of course PCs
(and your laptop first, with both wired and wireless interfaces), but also
include PDA, Linux / Unix server, … IBM 3090 Mainframe you may have at home,
without forgetting your (kid’s) video game, IP enabled fridge, …
You've noticed (if not, you will !), the wireless router is ... a wireless router, not
a Web server ! Hence the poor performance of the configuration tool. So be
patient when configuring, most of "Apply" lead to a
"reboot". I also recommend to
configure it wired, rather than over the wireless. I also tested the remote
management, with the feeling that it worked quicker (don’t ask me why
!).
Configuration section / item |
Parameter value |
|||||
Quick Start … This is the first info you need ! |
|
|||||
1 |
Plug cables ! |
|||||
2 |
HTTP to Wireless router IP address [Default : 192.168.0.1],
|
|
||||
2 |
New admin password |
|
||||
2 |
PPPoE info, if behind ADSL (see below) |
|
||||
2 |
SSID : start with an easy like … |
MY_HOME |
||||
2 |
Enable WEP, 64K and use an easy key like … (10 HEX digits) |
A1B2C3D4E5 |
||||
|
... and that's it ... you're in business ! But continue directly with … |
|
||||
3 |
Change the SSID broadcast to disable in [Advanced/Performance] so that your neighbors will no "see" your router |
Disable |
||||
4 |
Save this config [Tools/System] and start advanced,
more secure configuration ! |
MyBasicConfig.bin |
||||
5 |
For the
WiFi card, use directly the latest driver available at D-Link
TechSupport - Products - DWL-650+ (no need to insert any CD !), use same easy parameters as
above. Follow install procedure
below ! (Section
3.2) |
|
||||
6 |
Upgrade as soon as possible, as
when doing so, you’ll lose your configuration (at least I did, and didn’t
saved it before !) |
|
||||
|
|
|
||||
Firmware upgrade [Tools / Firmware] |
|
|||||
6 |
First
upgrade to latest version Use the ‘Browse’ button to find the previously
downloaded firmware file. CAUTION : D-LINK manufactured 2 versions of the DI-614+ router.
Be sure to use the correct one : Revision B for box with one
external antenna. Remember FOR EVER where you bought
your D-LINK router, as Firmware are different (and said incompatible)
! You could end with a stuck box ! NB : Do it asap, save current
configuration first (I lost mine afterwards!), and do it wired ! D-Link instructions: Do NOT upgrade firmware on any D-Link product over a
wireless connection.
|
Version
3.20 (shipped) : Static DHCP OK Version
3.35 (latest) : Static DHCP bugged
D-614+ Rev B2 US |
||||
General parameters / Administration [Tools / Admin] |
|
|||||
7 |
Change
Administrator password |
|
||||
7 |
Change
User password [“read only” access] |
|
||||
7 |
Remote management |
Disabled |
||||
|
|
|
||||
WAN
(Internet) configuration [Home / WAN] |
|
|||||
2 |
For ADSL (Skynet / Easynet / Codenet) use
PPPoE |
PPPoE |
||||
2 |
Dynamic PPPoE |
Selected
(enabled) |
||||
2 |
User Name |
userid@PROVIDER |
||||
2 |
Password |
|
||||
2 |
Auto reconnect |
Enable |
||||
2 |
For cable
modem, Dynamic IP Address (?) |
|
||||
2 |
MTU size
(max 1492 for PPPoE, max 1500 for Dynamic/static IP address) |
1492 |
||||
8 |
“Discard PING from WAN side” (ICMP
request) [Tools / Misc.] |
Enable |
||||
8 |
WAN speed
(V 3.35) |
10 Mbps
or Auto |
||||
|
|
|
||||
LAN (private home network : “Intranet”) settings [Home / LAN] |
|
|||||
|
First, some general considerations on IP addressing
LAN refers to both wired and
wireless connections, seen, from IP point of view, as a single segment
|
For up to 1 PC : - subnet of 4 addresses (2 valid, one for the router, one for the PC) : 10.123.231.188 - mask : 225.255.255.252 - first - last valid IP address : 10.123.231.189 For up to 5 PCs : - subnet of 8 addresses (6 valid, one for the router, 5 for the PCs) : 10.123.231.184 - mask : 225.255.255.248 - first - last valid IP address : 10.123.231.185 … and so on … |
||||
|
Subnet of 8 addresses[not provided as parameter to the DI-614+] |
10.123.231.112 |
||||
9 |
Subnet mask |
255.255.255.248 |
||||
9 |
IP Address : this is the router IP address as seen from your hosts/PCs Note : After changing IP Address and mask, you will be disconnected from the router, and have to reconnect with the new IP address. This is after refreshing/reconfiguring your PC to get (DHCP)/ set (static IP address) the new IP address, from the new subnet, on your PC wired/wireless interface ! |
10.123.231.113 |
||||
|
Broadcast address
[not provided as parameter to the DI-614+]
|
10.123.231.119 |
||||
|
DNS relay (V3.35) |
Enabled |
||||
|
|
|
||||
DHCP (private home network : “Intranet”) settings [Home / DHCP] |
|
|||||
|
As said,
disable Dynamic DHCP if possible.
|
So, I recommend to |
||||
10 |
DHCP Server |
Enabled |
||||
10 |
Starting IP address (Do not include router address in the pool !) |
10.123.231.116 |
||||
10 |
Ending IP address |
10.123.231.118 |
||||
10 |
Leased time (choose max value) |
1 Week |
||||
10 |
Static DHCP OK in Firmware 3.20
*** BUGGED in Firmware 3.28 & 3.35: router continuously reboot***
Static DHCP is used to allow DHCP server to assign same IP address to specific MAC address |
Enabled,
|
||||
|
Name Host name, as configured in your PC : Right click on ‘My Computer’, ‘Properties’, ‘Network Identification’ : first part of ‘Full computer name’ Do not modify any parameter here ! |
YOURPC1 |
||||
|
IP Static DHCP IP address reserved for this host NOTE: When creating a Static DHCP entry, the IP address that you choose to have assigned needs to be in the range of the DHCP scope. Entries created with IP addresses outside of this range will not take effect. |
10.123.231.116 |
||||
|
MAC address |
_ _ - _ _ -_ _ - _ _ -_ _ - _ _ |
||||
Host name |
Interface |
Address type |
IP address |
MAC address |
||
Wireless router |
WAN |
Dynamic PPPoE |
xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx |
00-0D-88-__-__-__ |
||
Wireless router |
LAN |
Static |
10.123.231.113 |
00-0D-88-__-__-__ |
||
PC002 |
Ethernet |
Static |
10.123.231.114 |
_ _ - _ _ -_ _ - _ _ -_ _ - _ _ |
||
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ |
|
Static |
10.123.231.115 |
_ _ - _ _ -_ _ - _ _ -_ _ - _ _ |
||
YOURPC1 |
Ethernet (wired) |
Static DHCP |
10.123.231.116 |
_ _ - _ _ -_ _ - _ _ -_ _ - _ _ |
||
YOURPC1 |
Wireless |
Static DHCP |
10.123.231.117 |
00-80-C8-__-__-__ |
||
PC002 |
Ethernet |
Static DHCP |
10.123.231.118 |
_ _ - _ _ -_ _ - _ _ -_ _ - _ _ |
||
|
… Or … Under the Static DHCP section next to DHCP Client, select one of the DHCP clients from the list and click Clone. |
|
||||
|
|
|
||||
Wireless settings [Home / Wireless] |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Disable when not used / when sharing “Proprietary/Confidential resources” |
Disable / Enable |
|||||||||||||||||||
11 |
Change SSID default (Long & non trivial SSID : not your name, address,…). This is to be configured on your Wireless card / PC. |
#Yµor$pc1f!c&n0t3sy! |
|||||||||||||||||||
11 |
Channel Find a free channel (this not the same as your neighbor !) |
6 / Auto scan (3.35) |
|||||||||||||||||||
11 |
Authentication On D-Link, when Authentication set to Shared Key, the devices (PCs) must be listed in the MAC Address Control List in order to access the DI-614+ on the network. |
Shared Key |
|||||||||||||||||||
3 |
SSID broadcast [Advanced / Performance] |
Disable |
|||||||||||||||||||
11 |
WEP |
Enable |
|||||||||||||||||||
11 |
WEP encryption |
256 bits |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Key type Note that KEY must be “strong” (too
much zero weaken it).
|
HEX |
|||||||||||||||||||
11 |
Key 1 |
5f316b3b512e7669275a3b337d3e456f6b5e783d575b746c334e6c2b54 |
|||||||||||||||||||
11 |
Key 2 |
2c5c7c34233a4542465d394e654564323a314c2749716f342f2b565238 |
|||||||||||||||||||
11 |
Key 3 |
643f3b715b363e626c50665136293b4c404e387975343479416d22276d |
|||||||||||||||||||
11 |
Key 4 |
26517b76395e48236b4d5b37555a61305941262e202a6c685851564954 |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Security / Firewall settings [Advanced / …] |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Virtual Server Only required if you plan to set some of you home PC as Web server, FTP server, Webcam server, … |
Nothing to configure |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Special Application |
Nothing to configure |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Parental control |
Nothing to configure |
|||||||||||||||||||
12 |
Filters : only MAC Filter required (also for “Authentication mode”) You should include all your MAC addresses (wired or wireless) in
the list.
The wireless router can automatically discover the MAC addresses of connected (wired / wireless) equipments (and be sure you don’t register your neighbor !). Another way to get the MAC address of your interface, is to run ‘ipconfig /all’ from a DOS box. MAC address is the Physical address. MAC address are also written on the PC card (but for internal cards …). |
Only allow MAC address listed below to access Internet from LAN |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Firewall (no additional rules required)
|
Nothing to configure
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
DMZ |
Disable |
|||||||||||||||||||
8 |
VPN Pass-Through
[Tools / Misc.] |
Enable IPSec |
|||||||||||||||||||
8 |
UPNP Settings [Tools / Misc.] |
Disable |
|||||||||||||||||||
8 |
Gaming mode [Tools / Misc.] |
Disable |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Performances settings [Advanced / Performance] |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
D-Link provides a 4X mode :
4X mode is a proprietary method of
gaining increased throughput exclusive to the D-Link Airplus family. |
|
|||||||||||||||||||
14 |
4X mode |
|
|||||||||||||||||||
14 |
Preamble type |
Short (see above) |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Antenna transmit power You can adjust the strength of your antenna transmission. This may be beneficial for security purposes. |
100% |
|||||||||||||||||||
14 |
Antenna Selection (V3.35) |
Diversity Antenna |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
I let you play with other performance
parameters …
|
… up to you ! |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Here, the range of cards and interfaces is still wider. However, as all support WiFi, they should answer the same basic
parameters, and the configuration is quite simpler : it only have to match the
router’s one !
Note : As the wireless router is supposed to be configured with “SSID broadcast
disabled”, you should not see it with the Site Survey tool coming with
your utility. You must then configure it manually.
Again, this section is D-Link DWL-650+ oriented.
There are basically two modes of networking with wireless interfaces
The Ad-Hoc or peer-to-peer mode, suppose direct connection between PCs. From IP point of view, one will initiate a session to the other, which will see it as an incoming call.
To allow incoming calls, you must deactivate (or at least open)
the Personal Firewall on the incoming interface (wireless in this
case).
Ad-Hoc mode violates basic WLAN security rules !
Other said, as long as you Personal Firewall is active on your wired and wireless interfaces, you’re quite safe !
Remember the
ipconfig [/all] [/renew] [/?]
command !
Configuration section / item |
Parameter value |
||
D-LINK DWL-650+ installation |
|
||
|
First download the latest version of the DWL-650+ card |
Version 3.07 |
|
|
Install driver before inserting PCMCIA in your laptop … up to Finish |
|
|
|
Shut down your laptop : don’t use “restart” option ! |
|
|
|
Insert the DWL-650+ |
||
Restart you PC |
|||
Continue driver installation |
|||
Configuration |
|||
Start Configuration utility.
On most configuration utility, you have
possibility to save/edit a profile for each wireless connection type
(Home Wireless LAN, Public HotSpot, Ad-Hoc with …, …)
|
As said, |
||
15 |
Profile name |
Your sweet home … |
|
15 |
Change SSID default (Long & non trivial SSID …). |
#Yµor$pc1f!c&n0t3sy! |
|
15 |
Wireless mode : to connect to the router … |
Infrastructure |
|
Channel |
6 |
||
15 |
4x configuration (enable only if all D-LINK AirPlus devices)
|
4x Enable |
|
15 |
TxRate |
Auto |
|
15 |
Preamble (Short for 4x mode) |
Short Preamble |
|
Power mode |
Up to you…r battery! |
||
15 |
Data encryption |
Checked / Enable |
|
Authorization mode
|
Shared authentication |
||
Key format / type |
HEX |
||
15 |
Key length |
256 bits |
|
Key 1-4 |
See router configuration : must be the same ! |
||
LAN configuration (Local Area Connection in Windows 2000) |
|||
To configure your LAN / ‘Local Area Connection’ wired/wireless interface(s) of
your PC, you must go to (in Windows 2000) : DO NOT TOUCH ANY ‘System / Network Identification’ parameters (from Control Panel) ! |
|||
Net Firewall (This is only for AT&T Global Network Client users)
|
Checked (enable) |
||
File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks … to comply to Company WLAN Security Requirements. |
Unchecked (disable) |
||
Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) |
Checked (enable) |
||
Internet Connection Sharing (ICS, on ‘Sharing’ tab) |
Unchecked (disable) |
||
IP configuration… |
||
To configure the TCP/IP stack, from ‘Local Area Connection Properties’ window (see previous section), select ‘Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)’ and press ‘Properties’ button, and on ‘General’ tab … |
||
… for DHCP (Dynamic or
Static on router side) |
||
Obtain an IP address automatically |
Selected (enabled) |
|
Obtain DNS server address automatically |
Selected (enabled) |
|
… for Static IP address
better/safer for
home PCs wired and all wireless connections
|
||
Use the following IP address |
Selected (enabled) |
|
IP address (PC002 example) |
10.123.231.114 |
|
Subnet mask |
255.255.255.248 |
|
Default gateway (this is the IP address of the Wireless router) |
10.123.231.113 |
|
Use the following DNS server addresses |
Automatically selected |
|
Preferred DNS server(this is again the IP address of the Wireless router) |
10.123.231.113 |
Some have
experienced a problem to build a VPN tunnel to corporate network using the
AT&T NetClient. The common symptom (not specific to D-Link) being that you can connect wired, but fail over the wireless.
If you have the same kind of problem, try the following :
In "Start / Settings / Network and
Dial-up Connections" , right click the "Wifi LAN connection"
(also displayed as "Local Area Connection 4"), select Properties :
the second component should say Net Firewall and should be “checked”. (If
already so, uncheck it, validate the change : OK, ... (reboot if necessary),
and re-check it, OK, … reboot_is_always_a_good_idea_under_Windows.
If the Net Firewall doesn’t appear at all, you
should re-install the full AT&T Global Netwrok Client (NetClient).
Now you're there, select the TCP/IP component, Properties, Advanced, Options tab, IP security, Properties : 'Do not use IP Sec' should be selected
(don't ask me why, but it works).
And what D-Link says at
http://support.dlink.com/supportfaq/default.asp?Model=&TemplateId=150500
:
|
Upgrade
your router to the latest firmware. You can download firmware at http://support.dlink.com/downloads. |
You Want to access your home PC configured as
Web/FTP/Webcam/... Server from the Internet ?
Great, but you then have to face several problems :
Fortunately, broadband routers
designers and Internet services designers anticipated your dreams … and here
are the solutions …
Here is the answer to your first problem : a free DDNS server like No-IP :
http://www.no-ip.com/services/page/free/dynamic/dns
DDNS is a way to publish, advertise, the dynamic IP
address you receive from your ISP (Telenet, Skynet, ...) to a Dynamic DNS
server. So, whatever is your public IP address, you can always access it under
the same name, like yourhost.no-ip.info.
All you have to do is : register, chose a name, configure DDNS on the D-Link to "advertise" its new IP address to No-IP and ...
you're in business !
All this (and much more) for free ! I tested it, and it works that easy !
On No-Ip, when adding a host, chose the first option
as Host type : DNS Host (A). You’ll
find in next section how to configure the D-Link for this.
D-Link Virtual Server option (under
Advanced tab) answers the second and third problem at once.
To access a host behind your router, configure a pre-defined Virtual Server,
or define a new one. This will :
The IP
address of your server must be constant, invariable on your LAN : you
need a static IP address !
This topic
is already widely discussed in the router configuration section; you can
go for a pure static IP address or for the “static DHCP” option.
Here now how to translate all this into the D-Link
configuration.
In the D-LINK Firmware 3.35, 3 DDNS servers are
pre-configured, and one is No-IP !
In Firmware 3.20, you must code the server address
manually :.
Configuration section / item |
Parameter value |
|
Dynamic DNS [Tools / Misc.] |
||
DDNS |
Enabled |
|
Server Address (V3.20)
|
dynupdate.no-ip.com |
|
Host Name |
yourhost.no-ip.info |
|
Username (typically your (private) e-mail address) |
your.name@your.provider |
|
Password |
||
Port Forwarding & Firewall rules definition [Advanced / Virtual Server] |
||
For each service
you want to activate on you LAN, you need one definition. You can configure several services
(Web server, FTP server, …) on the same PC, and the same service (Netmeeting)
on several PCs. In the later case, you will need to access
the subsequent same service from the Internet through different port
numbers :
|
||
Name (edit one of the pre-defined list or set your own) |
YourName |
|
Private IP (IP address of the server) |
10.123.231.113 |
|
Protocol Type (application dependant) |
UDP / TCP |
|
Private Port (as configured on your server, use default where possible) |
||
Public Port (use default for the first service, a free/unused for subsequent same services, or to “hide” your application (Internet users will not see your service (for example your Webcam) if they don’t know which port you configured!) |
||
Firewall rules (if not automatic on your router, consult your doc) |
Automatically updated |
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Check on regular basis who / which PC (MAC addresses) are connected [Status / Wireless]
Disable Wireless when not used, and, to comply to Company Security Policy Requirements, when transferring Company data between PCs on your LAN.
Have a look at logs [Status / Log]
Save the router configuration on you PC [Tools / System]
Upgrade to the latest firmware : current is 3.43 for DI-614+ Rev B (22 JUL 2004)
Upgrade to the latest driver : current is 3.07 for DWL-650+ (03 DEC 2003)
Use WPA instead of WEP if possible : here an extract of D-Link devices supporting WPA :
Product |
Driver/Firmware version |
DI-614+ (Rev B) |
3.28 or higher |
DI-624 (Rev B) |
1.25 or higher |
DI-624 (Rev C) |
2.25 or higher |
DWL-650+ |
3.06 or higher |
D-LINK himself : D-Link
Systems, Inc.
DI-614+ support : D-Link
TechSupport - Products - DI-614+_revB
DI-614+ emulator : DI-614+
DWL-650+ support : D-Link
TechSupport - Products - DWL-650+
Note that the latest manuals are not at the level of the latest firmware/driver !
Once all configured, I started some performance tests, done by copying (DOS copy) a file
of 18 357 960 bytes.
Each test consisted of 3 transfers :
- copy from the “server” (LAN) to my PC (->)
- copy from PC to server (<-)
- copy from server to server (file transit by my PC, so I took twice the
file size for throughput calculation) (<-->)
I measure the time to transfer it, and converted the result in Mbps. This is true throughput : I mean actual payload throughput, without the TCP/IP and underlying protocols
overhead !
The wireless router is on the second floor, in the front of my house, and tested, with
WEP 256 bits, over :
100Mbps Ethernet,
10Mbps half duplex (HD) on the PC, 100Mbps on the ”server” (LAN)
10Mbps HD on both
Wireless 22 Mbps + 4X mode at 1 meter from the router
Wireless 22 Mbps at 1 meter from the router
Wireless 11 Mbps mode at 1 meter from the router
Wireless 22 Mbps + 4X mode at 7 meter from the router, on the ground floor, in my living room (same corner)
Wireless 22 Mbps + 4X mode at 14 meter from the router, on the ground floor, in my kitchen (opposite corner)
Wireless 11 Mbps mode at 14 meter from the router, on the ground floor, in my kitchen (opposite corner : 2 floors and many walls to cross, all in diagonal)
No connection from my garden (at the back of my house !)
Ad-hoc type (or mode) is when both PCs communicate over wireless directly (without the help of / going through the router (WAP)).
Here the outcome results I made (‘D-Link Peak’ are the peak values I saw on the “Link
status” window during the transfer):
Except in my kitchen and garden, I found the results quite good. I also noticed than, by just moving the PC a few centimeters, rotating it, or moving myself a little, the signal strength
change, with impact on throughput. I’ll try to move the wireless router
around (the second floor, where my ADSL connection arrives) to get signal
in the garden, where I want to get it (I truly don’t care receiving any signal
in the kitchen !).
If you’re interested, you can have a look at the full Excel spreadsheet (to make your own tests!).
To measure the transfer time, I simply used the following MS-DOS commands (in batch (.bat)
file) :
cls
del *.bin
rem
rem The 'rtn.cmd' file just have a CR/LF (empty line)
rem This is to answer the 'time' command prompt withsingle 'Enter' !
rem
time < rtn.cmd
copy e:testfile.bin c:
time < rtn.cmd
copy c:testfile.bin e:tstfile.bin
time < rtn.cmd
copy e:tstfile.bin e:tstfile.xxx
time < rtn.cmd
del e:tst*.*
=*=*= Have Fun =*=*=
Pierre HARDY.
e-mail : pierrehardy01@yahoo.be
Copyright © Pierre Hardy, 2004 - 2007. All rights reserved.