Weidmuller Wireless Ethernet Modem and Device Server User Manual
27
Rev Version 1.1
Configuration Tips
A system of WI-MOD-xxx-E-5W modules must have at least one access point configured as a master with one or
more clients. All WI-MOD-xxx-E-5W modules should be given the same system address (ESSID) and radio
encryption settings. For further information and examples on wireless network topologies, see
“1.1 Network
Topology” on page 7.
The WI-MOD-xxx-E-5W supports two radio encryption methods, WEP128 and WPA2-PSK. The default encryption
method is WPA2 and is setup during the Quick Start process by simply entering a password. You can change the
encryption method from the Security page (see
“4.5 Security Configuration” on page 31). If you are using any form
of encryption, all modules in the system will need the same encryption method and keys. We recommend that you
enter a new password and not use the default
“passphrase”.
NOTE If you are making changes to a remote module via the radio link, make sure that all changes are
compliant and accurate before clicking Save Changes and Reset. Some field changes may stop the radio
link from working and will require a hardwire connection to restore the settings.
Care should be taken when connecting the modem to existing networks. When configured as a bridge (default), all
broadcast messages appearing at the
module’s wired Ethernet port will be transmitted over the radio. The modem
has a low data throughput, and any unnecessary traffic being sent over the radio could compromise the reliability of
the wireless link. In many cases, the intended recipient of the broadcast traffic heard on the Ethernet port does not
lie at the opposite end of a radio link. Therefore, it is recommended that the radios be configured with basic filtering
or configured as a routing network to limit sending unnecessary broadcast traffic over the radio. See
“4.10 Filtering”
on page 49 for more information.
4.4 Network Configuration
Click Network on the menu to view or modify parameters related to the wired and wireless Ethernet network
interfaces. In general, IP address selection depends on the connected wired Ethernet device(s). Before connecting
to an existing LAN, consult your network administrator.
By default, the Operating Mode is set to
“Client” and the Device Mode is set to “Bridge.” When in Bridge mode,
the
module’s wired and wireless IP address is the same—only one IP address is required. If the Device mode
is changed to
“Router” the page displays two IP addresses, one for Ethernet and one for wireless. For more
information on bridging networks see section
“4.9 IP Routing” on page 48.
Figure 28 Network
