MagAca Posted October 13, 2014 Posted October 13, 2014 I have been visiting edugeek for a while for info but never had to post before but I am totally stranded with the WiFi here at school . We have 30 odd access points at the school all 3com which I am led to beleive are about 7-8 years old . I've only been here a year myself . The WiFi works but is completely unsecured ( well not completely someone has hidden it so that it don't broadcast , but everyone knows the name so its effectively open to students and staff a like ) We don't seem to have any way to control the WiFi and it seems to work because its always worked but nobody here knows anything about it . I have to find a way to secure it but i have no idea where to start .... Has anyone any advice for where I need to start .Ideally I need to get the Network secured with at the very least a password . I managed to locate a software disc called Wireless Infrastructure Device Manager , but when I try to run it it simply states No Network Adapter Available and auto closes .
plexer Posted October 13, 2014 Posted October 13, 2014 If there's no central controller then each access point has been configured on it's own so worst case if you have to logon to each one and at least set a WPA key on the SSID. Once you have security on unhide the SSID as that can cause more hassle than it saves. Ben
Dkeen94 Posted October 13, 2014 Posted October 13, 2014 Do you have the IP Address' of all of the Access Points or is this something you will need to get aswell?
win Posted October 13, 2014 Posted October 13, 2014 You can do it the long way but it will definitely work: 1. use a paperclip to reset each access point back to factory defaults 2. Log into one and configure it properly (with password) 3. Save the config and restore it to the other ones (or just do each one manually) Look online for a manual to get the default Ip address, username and password
MagAca Posted October 13, 2014 Author Posted October 13, 2014 I have a list of IP Address but I cant browse to them and I cant ping them , so not sure if it is old information or there is something I am doing wrong ?
plexer Posted October 13, 2014 Posted October 13, 2014 If you can't ping them then something is wrong with the ip addressing, have your lan settings or netmask changes since they were installed? Ben
MagAca Posted October 13, 2014 Author Posted October 13, 2014 I think this may be our problem , About 6 months ago we migrated to a new domain and in the process a lot of settings changed regarding netmasks and default gateways . As I understand it currently we have 255.0.0.0 as the netmask where previously everything was on 255.255.252.0 The default gateway has also changed . A colleague now remembers at some point there was a central control program but this was on a computer that has now been disposed off .
Dkeen94 Posted October 13, 2014 Posted October 13, 2014 You need to give yourself an Static IP for your machine with an IP Address and netmask for the range that your AP's are on, Then it will probably be a case of browsing to them all and changing the details on each AP Im In the same boat, 40 AP's that arent managed.
MagAca Posted October 13, 2014 Author Posted October 13, 2014 (edited) Yep Brain kicked in aftr I had written that all in and have set up a computer on old range and it can see them all and have now been able to ping / browse to relevant ports . So now is there any way I can get these talking to some sort of interface where I don't have to change every single point every time i want to change a setting ? Edited October 13, 2014 by MagAca
plexer Posted October 13, 2014 Posted October 13, 2014 So now is there any way I can get these talking to some sort of interface where I don't have to change every single point every time i want to change a setting ? Probably not if they're just dumb fat AP's. You may be able to configure them using snmp to push out a configuration but that's purely speculation as you haven't provided anymore info on model numbers etc.... Ben
Dkeen94 Posted October 13, 2014 Posted October 13, 2014 Unfortunately not! If it is like our setup here, i have to log into each AP and change the setting. Managed wireless systems are definately the way forward!
MagAca Posted October 13, 2014 Author Posted October 13, 2014 I have got 3com 7760s, 8760s, 8250s, 7250s . They all appear to have options for changing between standalone and managed but not sure how would go ahead with that or if its misleading etc .
plexer Posted October 13, 2014 Posted October 13, 2014 You can only manage them if you have a 3com wireless switch that is the controller, if they are currently in FAT mode and not FIT then it's unlikely you have a controller. Ben
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