Installation and User Guide Wireless LAN Client Adapter Installation and User Guide: Wireless LAN Client Published July2005
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Contents PREFACE....................................................................................................... 4 OVERVIEW ................................................................................................... 6 DEVICE TYPES ............................................................................................. 6 SHIPPING PACKAGE CONTENTS ........................................................................ 6 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS .................................................
Preface This guide explains how to install and configure the Wireless LAN Client Adapter, which provides PC laptop and desktop users with access to 802.11 access points. The guide is intended for business and consumer users who want to install and configure the Wireless LAN Client Adapter quickly and easily. It is also intended for users who are interested in advanced configuration and troubleshooting.
_ NMS Pro Installation and Configuration Guide — Explains how to install and use the enterprise network management application. _ Access Point Command Line Interface (CLI) Reference Manual — Provides a listing of all the commands available for the Access Point, usable through console access and command line interface; this manual is intended for advanced users and system administrators.
Overview The Wireless LAN Client Adapter provides the communication link between your laptop and other devices in a wireless network. The adapter operates in the 2.4 GHz radio frequency band and can communicate with any device that meets the compatible IEEE 802.11 standards.
(Figure 1). Figure 1: PC Card Installation To safely remove the PC card while the computer is powered up: 2 Right-click the system tray icon entitled Safely Remove Hardware or Eject or Stop Hardware. The system prompts you to select the device to stop. 3 Select Wireless LAN NIC, and click Stop. 4 Click OK when asked to confirm. 5 Press the CardBus eject button on the side of your computer to release the slot locking mechanism and slide the PC card out.
3 Click Install the software. The Installation Welcome screen opens. 4 Click Next. The License agreement window opens.
5 Review the license agreement, and then choose I accept the terms in the license agreement. 6 Click Next. 7 Enter a user name and organization name, and indicate whether access to the Client Utility will be permitted for all users or just the specified user. 8 Click Next. 9 Accept Complete as the setup type.
NOTE: If you select Complete, the software is automatically installed in the default location. To choose another location, select the Custom option (“Custom Installation”). 10 Click Next. 11 Click Install to begin installation. To review previous selections, click Back. The wizard completes the installation of the driver and the Client Utility and presents the completion window.
Select Use Windows to manage my wireless network settings if you want to use Wireless Zero Config (WZC) to manage the Client Adapter. NOTE: It is necessary to use WZC if you want to configure Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) security. For information about security, see Chapter 3, “Configuration.” For instructions on enabling or disabling WZC, see Appendix A, “Using the Client Utility With Windows XP.
this time to the question, Can Windows connect to Windows Update to search for software and Click Next. 16 For all installations, the following window now opens. Accept the default to install the software automatically. 17 Click Next. 18 A message appears regarding Windows logo testing. Click Continue Anyway. 19 The installation proceeds. When the process is complete, the Completing the Found New Hardware Wizard window opens. 20 Click Finish.
The installation is now complete. Examine the LEDs to confirm that the Client Adapter is installed and working properly. See “Inserting and Removing the Wireless LAN Client Adapter” Custom Installation Follow these steps if you want to change the default software installation location. 1 In the Customer Information window, select Custom, and click Next. 2 Click Change to select a new location.
3 Enter the path for the new location, or click Browse to select a path. 4 Click OK. Uninstalling the Client Utility and Drivers Uninstall the Client Utility if you are upgrading to a newer version of the utility. To do so, use the Windows Add or Remove Programs utility. To access Add or Remove Programs: 1 Choose Start > Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs. 2 Select the Client Utility program, and click Remove. 3 Confirm that you want to remove the program, and following the wizard instructions.
Introduction to the Client Utility The Wireless LAN Client Adapter connects your PC to a wireless local area network (wireless LAN) by way of radio signals. An access point is the device that forwards data from the wired network to your PC by way of radio signals and connects you with other wireless users. The IEEE 802.11 standard identifies two types of wireless networking modes: In an infrastructure network, an access point links the wireless LAN to a wired network.
To use the profile features of the Client Utility on Windows XP, you must specify that Windows will not be managing the Client Adapter. Accessing the Client Utility The Client Utility normally runs automatically when the Client Adapter is installed, and the application icon appears in the Windows system tray. If the Client Utility is not running, you can start it from the Start menu: Choose Start > Programs > ... > Client Utility .
Navigating the User Interface This section explains how to use the Client Utility interface. Top Display The top display section lists characteristics of the current network connection: Item Description Indicates whether the Client Adapter is currently associated to a working AP. If Status is Connected, lists the name of the network to which the Client Adapter is connected. If Status is Connected, lists the name of the AP to which the Client Adapter is connected.
Signal quality Signal strength, as a percentage: All red hollow bars, less than 5% Security Open security Security WEP security Security WPA security Channel Type QoS Current radio channel used for communications between the Client Adapter and the access point Infrastructure Ad-hoc network Applicable wireless quality of service (QoS) settings for Wi-Fi multimedia (WMM) and 802.
Security Supported Rates Basic Rates Channel Mode Type Country Code Environment Channel List True MIMO Signal strength Security mode (WEP, WPA, or open) All data rates supported by the access point Minimum data rates supported by the access point Radio channel used for communication between the Client Adapter and access point 802.
Resize columns Select and move the column header dividers. Sort entries by column Click the column header. The arrow that appears indicates the sort order (upward facing for ascending and downward facing for descending). To change the sort order, click the column header again.
area of the window, an SSID signal indicator shows the overall strength of all APs that are configured for that SSID.
Configuration Overview The Client Utility uses profiles to store information describing how your Wireless LAN Client Adapter connects to the wireless network. Each profile contains information about the type of network connection and security settings. To make it easy to connect to wireless networks at home, office, or wireless hotspot locations, Client Utility allows you to create multiple profiles, each containing information about a different network or a different set of configuration values.
Field SSID BSSID Network Type Channel Authentication Encryption Type Encryption Description Service Set Identifier (SSID) is a name that uniquely identifies a wireless local area network. Each device in the wireless network must have the same SSID configured in order to participate in the network. Basic Service Set (BSS) is the collection of wireless devices operating with an individual access point in infrastructure mode or without an access point in ad-hoc mode.
Profile Tasks To create a profile for an available network: Select the Network and click Configure. The Profile Editor window opens with the SSID, BSSID, Network Type, and Channel fields already filled in. Select an authentication method and encryption type. If you select WEP as the encryption type, enter encryption key information. For information on encryption keys, see Encryption. Click OK .
Wireless Security Although security is important in any network, the characteristics of wireless networks can make them vulnerable to attack. Unlike wired networks, which require a physical connection that can be secured with lock and key, wireless networks require only a radio signal for communication, and physical barriers do not provide protection. A concern since the introduction of the IEEE 802.
Encryption This section provides an overview of encryption options. The most effective authentication options available today are supported either through the Client Utility or by leveraging the Microsoft Wi-Fi software implementations. For further information, see Client Utility Security Options. Encryption protects wireless data from being intercepted and deciphered during transmission, and thereby assures the security of your data.
Client Utility Security Options The Available Networks list in the Client Utility window displays the security advertised by the AP. The Client Utility supports configuration of WEP or shared key options for authentication and WEP or None options for encryption. In the Profile window, you can select WEP or open security for the radio connection between your PC and the access point and enter choices for encryption and authentication within the selected security framework.
Using the Client Utility With Windows XP To use the profile features of the Client Utility on Windows XP, you must specify that Windows XP will not be managing the wireless adapter. To specify that Windows will not be managing the wireless adapter: Right-click the wireless icon on the system tray. Select View Available Wireless Networks. The window shows the list of available networks. Click Advanced to open the Wireless Network Connection Properties window, Wireless Networks tab.
Clear the checkbox entitled Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings. Click OK. You can now use the Client Utility to manage your wireless connections.
Glossary This glossary defines terms that apply to wireless and networking technology. 802.1x Standard for port-based authentication in LANs. Identifies each user and allows connectivity based on policies in a centrally managed server. 802.11 Refers to the set of WLAN standards developed by IEEE. The three commonly in use today are 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g, sometimes referred to collectively as Dot11. access control list (ACL) A list of services used for security of programs and operating systems.
Differentiated Services Code Point (DSCP) A system of assigning Quality of Service "Class of Service" tags. Domain Name Service (DNS) A standard methodology for converting alphanumeric Internet domain names to IP addresses. Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) A communications protocol enabling IP address assignments to be managed both dynamically and centrally.
Independent Basic Service Set (IBSS) A set of clients communicating with each other or with a network via an access point. Internet Protocol (IP) The network layer protocol for routing packets through the Internet. IP address 32-bit number, usually presented as a period-separated (dotted decimal) list of three- digit numbers, which identifies an entity on the Internet according to the Internet Protocol standard.
Network Time Protocol (NTP) NTP servers are used to synchronize clocks on computers and other devices. APs have the capability to connect automatically to NTP servers to set their own clocks on a regular basis. Packet INternet Groper (PING) A utility that determines whether a specific IP address is accessible, and the amount of network time (measured in milliseconds) needed for response. PING is used primarily to troubleshoot Internet connections.
Protocol (HTTP) and Transport Control Protocol (TCP) layers, SSL is a standard feature in Internet Explorer, Netscape, and most web server products. Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) Protocol used to transfer email messages between email servers. Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) An efficient protocol for network management and device monitoring. SNMP trap A process that filers SNMP messages and saves or drops them, depending upon how the system is configured.
Trunk In telecommunications, a communications channel between two switching systems. In a wireless network, a trunk is a wireless connection from one Access Point to another. Type of Service (ToS) Sometimes also called IP Precedence, ToS is a system of applying QoS methodologies, based on headers placed into transmitted IP packets. User Datagram Protocol (UDP) A connectionless protocol similar to TCP/IP, but without the same level of error checking.
Regulatory FCC Certifications This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
