SonicWALL 3 Home Security System User Manual


 
SONICWALL SONICOS STANDARD 3.0 ADMINISTRATORS GUIDE
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Optimal Wireless Performance Recommendations
Optimal Wireless Performance
Recommendations
Place the TZ 50 Wireless/TZ 150 Wireless/TZ 170 Wireless near the center of your intended net-
work. This can also reduce the possibility of eavesdropping by neighboring wireless networks.
Minimize the number of walls or ceilings between the TZ 50 Wireless/TZ 150 Wireless/TZ 170
Wireless and the receiving points such as PCs or laptops.
Try to place theTZ 50 Wireless/TZ 150 Wireless/TZ 170 Wireless in a direct line with other wireless
components. Best performance is achieved when wireless components are in direct line of sight
with each other.
Building construction can make a difference on wireless performance. Avoid placing the TZ 50
Wireless/TZ 150 Wireless/TZ 170 Wireless near walls, fireplaces, or other large solid objects.
Placing the TZ 50 Wireless/TZ 150 Wireless/TZ 170 Wireless near metal objects such as compu-
ter cases, monitors, and appliances can affect performance of the unit.
Metal framing, UV window film, concrete or masonry walls, and metallic paint can reduce signal
strength if the TZ 50 Wireless/TZ 150 Wireless/TZ 170 Wireless is installed near these types of
materials.
Installing the TZ 50 Wireless/TZ 150 Wireless/TZ 170 Wireless in a high place can help avoid
obstacles and improve performance for upper stories of a building.
Neighboring wireless networks and devices can affect signal strength, speed, and range of the TZ
50 Wireless/TZ 150 Wireless/TZ 170 Wireless. Also, devices such as cordless phones, radios,
microwave ovens, and televisions may cause interference on the TZ 50 Wireless/TZ 150 Wireless/
TZ 170 Wireless.
Adjusting the TZ 50 Wireless/TZ 150 Wireless/TZ 170
Wireless Antennas
The antennas on the TZ 50 Wireless/TZ 150 Wireless/TZ 170 Wireless can be adjusted for the best
radio reception. Begin with the antennas pointing straight up, and then adjust as necessary. Note that
certain areas, such as the area directly below the TZ 50 Wireless/TZ 150 Wireless/TZ 170 Wireless,
get relatively poor reception. Pointing the antenna directly at another wireless device does not
improve reception. Do not place the antennas next to metal doors or walls as this can cause
interference.
Wireless Guest Services (WGS)
With your TZ 50 Wireless/TZ 150 Wireless/TZ 170 Wireless, you can provide wireless guest services
to wireless-equipped users who are not part of your corporate network, for example, a consultant or a
sales person. You can offer authenticated wireless users access to the Internet through your TZ 50
Wireless/TZ 150 Wireless/TZ 170 Wireless while preventing access to your corporate LAN, or
allowing them access to specific resources on the LAN and unencrypted access to the Internet.
When WGS is active, wireless clients can authenticate and associate with the Access Layer of the
SonicWALL. When a Web browser is launched, the wireless user is prompted to provide a user name
and password to gain access to WGS. The browser is redirected to the HTTP (unencrypted)
management address of the TZ 50 Wireless/TZ 150 Wireless/TZ 170 Wireless, but the user name
and password is not transmitted. Instead, a secure hash is transmitted rendering the information
useless to anyone “eavesdropping” on the network. After authentication, users are tracked and
controlled by the client MAC address as well as Account and Session lifetimes.
In order to take advantage of Wireless Guest Services, you must provide a guest with a user name
and password which they use to authenticate themselves using HTTP and a Web browser, creating a
secure HTTP session.