Wireless Server

About the Wireless Server

The Wireless 2005 workload simulates a user searching for web content on the Internet over a wireless connection. In order to run this workload, it is necessary to set up a web server and a wireless network that the system under test can access.

MobileMark 2005 includes everything you need to set up a web server on any computer, desktop or notebook, meeting these minimum requirements: You will also need a wireless access point (or router/gateway that includes access point functionality) and a compatible wireless interface for any notebook computers to be tested.

The Wireless Server is a bootable CD-ROM that loads an operating system and web server into the computer's RAM. No configuration is required, though you may wish to customize the server's IP address configuration.

The Wireless Server does not alter the contents of the computer's hard disk; in fact the system need not have a hard disk attached at all.

Clients Sharing a Server

One Wireless Server can support several notebooks running the Wireless 2005 workload, but keep in mind that your wireless network will become more cluttered with traffic as you add clients, and at some point—the exact threshold will be determined by your networking equipment and configuration— this can affect MobileMark 2005 results.

In general, with the instructions that follow, you should be able to run four notebooks on a typical 802.11g network, using an otherwise uncluttered radio channel, without affecting the reliability of MobileMark 2005 results.

Using a sufficiently powerful server and a wireless network configuration incorporating multiple access points on non-overlapping RF channels or spectrums, you can increase the number of clients per server. Configuring such a network is outside of the scope of this document, but it is recommended that you run sufficient tests to confirm that your configuration is not artificially influencing your test scores.

Server and Network Configuration

It is recommended that you create a private network for Wireless 2005 testing. There are several benefits to this approach: One potential drawback to the private network approach is that, unless you configure a DHCP server for the network, you will have to manually assign a static IP address to the wireless interface on each notebook under test. However, the vast majority of wireless access points can act as DHCP servers, and can be configured to eliminate this bother.

In this section, we will tell you how to set up a simple and versatile test environment for the Wireless 2005 workload.

If you wish to attach your Wireless Server and test notebook(s) to an existing network, or if you have more complicated requirements, see the section on Advanced Configuration Options after reading this section.

These instructions will refer to the wireless access point as an AP, and AP will be used to refer to any wireless device containing access point functionality, including wireless routers and wireless gateways. When a distinction needs to be made, it will be done by referring to dedicated access points as non-routing APs, and to routers and gateways which include an AP function as routing APs.

  1. Configure the wireless access point (AP)
    • Directions will vary for each AP, so follow the manufacturer's instructions. In general, this will involve connecting the AP to a host computer temporarily for configuration purposes.
    • Assign the static IP address 192.168.1.100 and netmask 255.255.255.0 to the AP.
    • Enable the AP's DHCP server if one is available, and configure the DHCP server to assign addresses in the range 192.168.1.101 through 192.168.1.150 to wireless clients.
    • Configure the other AP features as you wish.
    • Make a note of your choices for AP name (SSID), channel, and any security features so you can configure the test notebooks later.
    • Disconnect the AP from the configuration computer.

  2. Boot the server computer using the Wireless Server CD-ROM
    • If the computer is off, turn it on (so you can open the CD-ROM drawer).
    • Insert the CD labeled MobileMark 2005 Wireless Server 2005.
    • Reboot the computer.
    • If the CD-ROM does not quickly boot the system to a screen that shows a BAPCo logo, you will need to configure your BIOS to boot from the CD-ROM (see your manufacturer's documentation for directions). If no such BIOS option is available, you will need to use another computer as a server.

  3. At the BAPCo screen, press Enter (or just wait a few seconds)
    • This will direct the Wireless Server to boot and assign the default static IP address 192.168.1.254 to the first network interface it finds.
    • If the server has multiple Ethernet interfaces, it is strongly recommended that you disable or disconnect all but the one you intend to use. If you wish to use multiple interfaces, see the section on Advanced Configuration Options.
    • Once booted, the server will display a welcome page. At this point, the web server is configured and running.

  4. Attach the AP to the Wireless Server
    • Plug in and power up the AP.
    • Connect the AP to the Wireless Server using an Ethernet cable. (For a non-routing AP, you may need to use a special crossover cable for this connection, or connect both the AP and the server to a Fast Ethernet hub or switch using standard cabling. For a routing AP, connect the Wireless Server directly to any of the LAN ports on the AP using standard Ethernet cable.)

  5. Check the connection between the AP and the Wireless Server
    • Give the AP enough time to boot; generally, 60 seconds after power-up will be sufficient.
    • On the Wireless Server, in the Konqueror web browser that is already open displaying the welcome page, enter the IP address of the AP into the browser's address bar and hit enter: 192.168.1.100
    • You should see the AP's configuration web page. You may be prompted to enter the AP administrator username and password. Either way, this indicates good connectivity between the server and the AP.
    • If you do not see the AP's configuration page, there may be an improper IP address assignment or physical connection between the AP and server. Double-check your AP configuration and connections.

  6. Configure the IP address for the wireless interface on the notebook under test (the client)
    • Disconnect the client notebook from any wired or wireless networks.
    • If you configured your AP to function as a DHCP server, configure the client's wireless interface to use DHCP:
      • Open Control Panel > Network Connections.
      • Right-click on the name of the wireless interface and choose Properties.
      • Double-click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).
      • Choose "Obtain an IP address automatically" and "Obtain DNS server address automatically".
    • If you did not configure your AP to function as a DHCP server, assign a static IP address to the client's wireless interface:
      • Open Control Panel > Network Connections.
      • Right-click on the name of the wireless interface and choose Properties.
      • Double-click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).
      • Choose "Use the following IP address".
      • Enter an IP address. Use 192.168.1.101 if this is the first client laptop you are connecting, or 192.168.1.102 if this is the second, .103 if the third, and so on).
      • Enter Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
      • You can leave default gateway, preferred DNS server, and alternate DNS server blank.

  7. Establish a wireless connection between the client and the AP
    • On the client, using the tools provided by the client's wireless interface manufacturer to manage the interface, find the AP or enter the AP's SSID manually.
    • If you enabled wireless security on the AP, configure the client's wireless interface with the same security paramters.
    • When the appropriate parameters have been entered, you should see a notification that a wireless connection has been established.

  8. Test the client's wireless connection
    • Open a web browser on the client.
    • In the address bar, enter the IP address of the Wireless Server: 192.168.1.254
    • You should see a screen that says: "Welcome to MobileMark's Wireless 2005 Server". This indicates a good connection between the client and server.
    • If you do not see this screen, your wireless connection may have been broken or the DHCP server (if you configured one on the AP) may not be configured properly. Double-check the wireless connection and AP configuration.

  9. Repeat steps 6-8 for each additional notebook you wish to test
    • You can also configure clients later, even while other notebooks are being tested.

Your server and network are now configured and ready to begin MobileMark 2005 testing with the Wireless 2005 workload. Follow the instructions in Test Setup to start a test. MobileMark 2005 will check your connection to the wireless server one more time before starting the test and it will alert you if there is a problem.

Advanced Configuration Options

This section assumes you have experience configuring and connecting wired and wireless networking equipment and your application requires more flexibility than the simplified configuration instructions provide. Before reading about the advanced options, please read the configuration directions.

Configuring the Wireless Server network interface to use a custom static IP address
  1. Boot the server using the Wireless Server 2005 CD-ROM.
  2. At the boot prompt, to assign address 1.2.3.4, type the text in red below:
        boot: boot ip=1.2.3.4
  3. Configure any test notebooks to look for the server at the new IP address. (Instructions are provided below.)

Configuring the Wireless Server network interface to use DHCP to obtain an IP address
  1. Boot the server using the Wireless Server 2005 CD-ROM.
  2. At the boot prompt, type the text in red below:
        boot: boot ip=dhcp
  3. Wait for the server to finish booting.
  4. Click the penguin icon at the bottom left of the screen and select Root Shell to open a terminal window.
  5. To find the IP address that was assigned by DHCP, type the text in red below in the terminal window:
        root@ttyp0[knoppix]# ifconfig
  6. Configure any test notebooks to look for the server at the new IP address. (Instructions are provided below.)

Configuring IP addresses on a Wireless Server with multiple network interfaces
  1. Boot the server using the Wireless Server 2005 CD-ROM.
  2. At the boot prompt, to assign address 1.2.3.4 to the first interface, DHCP to the second, no IP address to the third, and 9.8.7.6 to the fourth, type the text in red below:
        boot: boot ip=1.2.3.4,dhcp,none,9.8.7.6
  3. Wait for the server to finish booting.
  4. Click the penguin icon at the bottom left of the screen and select Root Shell to open a terminal window.
  5. To see which IP addresses were assigned to which interfaces, type the text in red below in the terminal window:
        root@ttyp0[knoppix]# ifconfig
  6. Configure any test notebooks to look for the server at the new IP address. (Instructions are provided below.)

Configuring the Wireless Server address on test notebooks
  1. If you have not yet installed MobileMark 2005 on the notebook:
    • You will be given the opportunity to change the benchmark's Wireless Configuration at the end of benchmark installation.
    • At the end of installation, a "MobileMark Wireless Workload Configuration" window will appear.
    • Click Specify a different address.
    • Specify the new address as follows for your IP address (this example uses 1.2.3.4):
          http://1.2.3.4/website/
  2. If you have already installed MobileMark 2005 on the notebook:
    • Run Start > All Programs > BAPCo MobileMark 2005 > Wireless Configuration.
    • Click Specify a different address.
    • Specify the new address as follows for your IP address (this example uses 1.2.3.4):
          http://1.2.3.4/website/