TIP: For optimal throughput speed solely for 802.11n clients, Dell SonicWALL recommends the 802.11n Only radio mode. Use the 802.11n/b/g Mixed radio mode for multiple wireless client authentication compatibility.
The following options are available on the Wireless > Settings page:
|
•
|
Enable WLAN Radio: Check this checkbox to turn the radio on, and enable wireless networking. Click Apply in the top right corner of the management interface to have this setting take effect.
|
|
•
|
Schedule: The schedule determines when the radio is on to send and receive data. The default value is Always on. The Schedule list displays the schedule objects you create and manage in the System > Schedule page. The default choices are:
|
|
•
|
Work Hours or M-T-W-TH-F 08:00-17:00 (these two options are the same schedules)
|
|
•
|
After Hours or M-T-W-TH-F 17:00-24:00 (these two options are the same schedules)
|
|
•
|
Weekend Hours or SA-SU 00:00-24:00 (these two options are the same schedules)
|
|
•
|
Country Code: The country code determines which regulatory domain the radio operation falls under.
|
|
•
|
Radio Mode: Select your preferred radio mode from the Radio Mode menu. The wireless security appliance supports the following modes:
|
|
•
|
2.4GHz 802.11n/g/b Mixed - Supports 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11n clients simultaneously. If your wireless network comprises multiple types of clients, select this mode.
|
|
TIP: For optimal throughput speed solely for 802.11n clients, Dell SonicWALL recommends the 802.11n Only radio mode. Use the 802.11n/b/g Mixed radio mode for multiple wireless client authentication compatibility.
|
|
•
|
802.11n Only - Allows only 802.11n clients access to your wireless network. 802.11a/b/g clients are unable to connect under this restricted radio mode.
|
|
•
|
2.4GHz 802.11b/g Mixed - Supports 802.11b and 802.11g clients simultaneously. If your wireless network comprises both types of clients, select this mode.
|
|
•
|
802.11g Only - If your wireless network consists only of 802.11g clients, you may select this mode for increased 802.11g performance. You may also select this mode if you wish to prevent 802.11b clients from associating.
|
|
•
|
802.11n/a Mixed - Select this mode if 802.11a and 802.11b clients access your wireless network.
|
|
•
|
802.11n Only - Select this mode if only 802.11n clients access your wireless network.
|
|
•
|
802.11a Only - Select this mode if only 802.11a clients access your wireless network.
|
|
•
|
802.11n/a/ac Mixed - Select this mode if 8011.a, 802.11ac, and 802.11n clients access your wireless network.
|
|
•
|
802.11ac Only - Select this mode if only 802.11ac clients access your wireless network.
|
|
•
|
Radio Band (802.11n only and mixed): Sets the band for the 802.11n radio:
|
|
•
|
Auto - Allows the appliance to automatically detect and set the optimal channel for wireless operation based on signal strength and integrity. This is the default setting.
|
|
•
|
Standard - 20 MHz Channel - Specifies that the 802.11n radio will use only the standard 20 MHz channel. When this option is selected, the Standard Channel pull-down menu is displayed.
|
|
•
|
Standard Channel - This pull-down menu only displays when the 20 MHz channel is selected. By default, this is set to Auto, which allows the appliance to set the optimal channel based on signal strength and integrity. Optionally, you can select a single channel within the range of your regulatory domain. Selecting a specific a channel can also help with avoiding interference with other wireless networks in the area.
|
|
•
|
Wide - 40 MHz Channel - Specifies that the 802.11n radio will use only the wide 40 MHz channel. When this option is selected, the Primary Channel and Secondary Channel pull-down menus are displayed:
|
|
•
|
Primary Channel - By default this is set to Auto. Optionally, you can specify a specific primary channel.
|
|
•
|
Secondary Channel - The configuration of this pull-down menu is controlled by your selection for the primary channel:
|
|
•
|
Wide - 80 MHz Channel - Specifies that the 802.11n radio uses only the wide 80 MHz channel. When this option is selected, the Primary Channel and Secondary Channel pull-down menus are displayed The options are the same as for Wide - 40 MHz Channel.
|
|
•
|
Enable Short Guard Interval: Specifies the short guard interval of 400ns (as opposed to the standard guard interval of 800ns). The guard interval is a pause in transmission intended to avoid data loss from interference or multipath delays.
|
|
•
|
Enable Aggregation: Enables 802.11n frame aggregation, which combines multiple frames to reduce overhead and increase throughput.
|
|
TIP: The Enable Short Guard Interval and Enable aggregation options can slightly improve throughput. They both function best in optimum network conditions where users have strong signals with little interference. In networks that experience less than optimum conditions (interference, weak signals, etc.), these options may introduce transmission errors that eliminate any efficiency gains in throughput.
|
|
•
|
SSID: The SSID can be changed to any alphanumeric value with a maximum of 32 characters. The default value is sonicwall- plus the last four characters of BSSID; for example, sonicwall-C587.
|
|
•
|
Channel pull-down menu – Select a channel:
|
|
•
|
Auto – Allows the wireless security appliance to automatically detect and set the optimal channel for wireless operation based upon signal strength and integrity. Auto is the default channel setting, and it displays the selected channel of operation to the right. Alternatively, an operating channel within the range of your regulatory domain can be explicitly defined.
|
When the wireless radio is configured for 802.11ac only, the following options display:
|
•
|
|
•
|
Channel pull-down menu – Select a channel:
|
|
•
|
Auto – Allows the wireless security appliance to automatically detect and set the optimal channel for wireless operation based upon signal strength and integrity. Auto is the default channel setting, and it displays the selected channel of operation to the right. Alternatively, an operating channel within the range of your regulatory domain can be explicitly defined.
|