Linksys WPC11 User's Manual
Contents
1. After inserting it into your notebook you will install the driver and configure the Adapter Driver Installation for Windows XP 1 Windows XP will automatically detect the PC Card Insert the Setup CD ROM into the CD ROM drive From the screen shown in Figure 6 1 click the radio button next to Install the software automatically Recommended Then click the Next button Found New Hardware Wizard Welcome to the Found New Hardware Wizard This wizard helps you install software for Ethernet Controller If your hardware came with an installation CD 9 or floppy disk insert it now What do you want the wizard to do O Install tes a list or specific irion Advanced _ Click Next to continue Figure 6 1 10 Instant Wireless Series 2 The following screen shown in Figure 6 2 mentions Windows XP com patibility The Adapter has Hardware Installation been tested and is comp atible The software you are installing for this hardware with Windows Wireless B Notebook Adapter XP Click the i has not passed Windows Logo testing to verily its compatibility Continue with Windows XP Tell me why this testi tant Anyway but Continuing your installation of this software may impair ton to contin or destabilize the correct operation of your system ue either immediately or in the future Microsoft strongly recommends that you stop this installation now and contact the hardware vendor for softw2. What is BSS ID A specific Ad hoc LAN is called a Basic Service Set BSS Computers in a BSS must be configured with the same BSS ID What is ESSID An Infrastructure configuration could also support roaming capability for mobile workers More than one BSS can be configured as an Extended Service Set ESS Users within an ESS could roam freely between BSSs while main taining a continuous connection to the wireless network stations and Wireless Network Access Points Wireless B Notebook Adapter What is ISM band The FCC and their counterparts outside of the U S have set aside bandwidth for unlicensed use in the ISM Industrial Scientific and Medical band Spectrum in the vicinity of 2 4 GHz in particular is being made available worldwide This presents a truly revolutionary opportunity to place convenient high speed wireless capabilities in the hands of users around the globe What is Spread Spectrum Spread Spectrum technology is a wideband radio frequency technique devel oped by the military for use in reliable secure mission critical communica tions systems It is designed to trade off bandwidth efficiency for reliability integrity and security In other words more bandwidth is consumed than in the case of narrowband transmission but the trade off produces a signal that is in effect louder and thus easier to detect provided that the receiver knows the parameters of the spread spectrum signal being broadcast If a receiv
3. to an intended receiver i e another wireless LAN end point the DSSS signal is recognized as the only valid signal and interference is inherently rejected ignored Encryption A security method that applies a specific algorithm to data in order to alter the data s appearance and prevent other devices from reading the information ESS Extended Service Set A set of more than two or more BSSs multiple access points forming a single network Ethernet IEEE standard network protocol that specifies how data is placed on and retrieved from a common transmission medium Has a transfer rate of 10 Mbps Forms the underlying transport vehicle used by several upper level protocols including TCP IP and XNS FHSS Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum FHSS continuously changes hops the carrier frequency of a conventional carrier several times per second according to a pseudo random set of channels Because a fixed frequency is not used and only the transmitter and receiver know the hop patterns interception of FHSS is extremely difficult Fragmentation Breaking a packet into smaller units when transmitting over a network medium that cannot support the original size of the packet Gateway A device that interconnects networks with different incompatible communications protocols Hardware Hardware is the physical aspect of computers telecommunica tions and other information technology devices The term arose as a way to dis
4. which is found by turning the equipment off and on the user is encour aged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures e Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna e Increase the separation between the equipment or devices e Connect the equipment to an outlet other than the receiver s e Consult a dealer or an experienced radio TV technician for assistance UG WPC11v4 30307NC ET INDUSTRY CANADA CANADA This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES 003 Cet appareil num rique de la classe B est conforme a la norme NMB 003 du Canada The use of this device in a system operating either partially or completely outdoors may require the user to obtain a license for the system according to the Canadian regulations EC DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY EUROPE Linksys Group declares that the Instant Wireless Series products included in the Instant Wireless Series conform to the specifications listed below following the provisions of the EMC Directive 89 336 EEC and Low Voltage Directive 73 23 EEC ETS 300 826 301 489 1 General EMC requirements for Radio equipment EN 609 50 Safety ETS 300 328 2 Technical requirements for Radio equipment Note This equipment is intended to be used in all EU and EFTA countries Outdoor use may be restricted to certain frequencies and or may require a license for operation For more details contact Linksys Corporate Compliance Note Combinations of power lev
5. your network s settings step by step Then just slide it into your notebook s PC Card slot and enjoy network access with your notebook computer while retain ing true mobility Once you re connected you can keep in touch with your e mail access the Internet and share files and other resources such as printers and network stor age with other computers on the network wherever you wander At home you can surf the web or use instant messaging to chat with friends while sitting out on the patio To protect your data and privacy the Wireless B Notebook Adapter can secure all wireless transmissions with up to 128 bit data encryp tion Join the wireless revolution With the Linksys Wireless B Notebook Adapter you ll be ready to connect to the wireless world wherever you go e 11 Mbps High Speed Data Transfer Rate with Automatic Fallback e Plug and Play Operation Provides Easy Setup e 802 11b DSSS 2 4GHz Compliant e Supports up to 128 bit WEP Encryption Security e Compatible with Virtually All Major Network Operating Systems e Free Driver Upgrades via Web e Integrated Equalizer Recovers Weak Signals and Enhances Sensitivity e Sturdy Metal Design with Integrated Antenna e Works with All Standard Internet Applications e Clear Channel Assessment Increases Network Throughput e Hardware Buffer Chaining Provides High Performance While Reading and Writing Buffers Wireless B Notebook Adapter Chapter 2 Planning Your Wireless Netw
6. 4 Click the X Close button in the upper right corner to exit the WLAN Monitor Wireless B Notebook Adapter LA lunKkxsys hestant sn Wireless B Notebook Adapter WLAN Monitor ver 30 D AGHz Conner cle id IP Address ig 2 168 1 iat 802 116 a links Subnet Mask 265 9 T Network Mode inirast tructure ren T 168 i Transfer Rate 1 Mons 142 168 0 1 Channel fi Enabled WEP ay aple a d 16 N0 0 017 A0 WC Es Active Figure 7 4 Wireless Network Status State The status of the wireless network connection SSID The unique name of the wireless network Wireless Mode The mode of the wireless network currently in use Transfer Rate The data transfer rate of the current connection Channel The channel to which the wireless network devices are set WEP The status of the WEP encryption security feature MAC The MAC address of the wireless network s device you connect to TCP IP Setting IP Address The Adapter s IP Address Subnet Mask The Adapter s Subnet Mask Default Gateway The Adapter s Default Gateway address DNS The Adapter s DNS address DHCP The status of the DHCP client Save to Profile Click this button to save the current connection profile to Signal Strength The Signal Strength bar indicates signal strength from 0 to 100 Link Quality The Link Quality bar indicates the quality of the wireless net work connection from 0 to 100 Click the Back button to return to the
7. 40 41 Instant Wireless Series Appendix D Warranty Information BE SURE TO HAVE YOUR PROOF OF PURCHASE AND A BARCODE FROM THE PRODUCT S PACKAGING ON HAND WHEN CALLING RETURN REQUESTS CANNOT BE PROCESSED WITHOUT PROOF OF PURCHASE IN NO EVENT SHALL LINKSYS LIABILITY EXCEED THE PRICE PAID FOR THE PRODUCT FROM DIRECT INDIRECT SPECIAL INCIDEN TAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THE PRODUCT ITS ACCOMPANYING SOFTWARE OR ITS DOCU MENTATION LINKSYS DOES NOT OFFER REFUNDS FOR ANY PROD UCT LINKSYS OFFERS CROSS SHIPMENTS A FASTER PROCESS FOR PRO CESSING AND RECEIVING YOUR REPLACEMENT LINKSYS PAYS FOR UPS GROUND ONLY ALL CUSTOMERS LOCATED OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND CANADA SHALL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR SHIPPING AND HANDLING CHARGES PLEASE CALL LINKSYS FOR MORE DETAILS Wireless B Notebook Adapter For help with the installation or operation of the Wireless G Notebook Adapter contact Linksys Technical Support at one of the phone numbers or Internet addresses below Sales Information Technical Support 800 546 5797 LINKSYS 800 326 7114 RMA Return Merchandise Authorization Issues www linksys com or call 949 271 5461 Fax 949 265 6655 E mail support linksys com Web http www linksys com FTP Site ftp linksys com 42 p http www linksys com INIKSVS Copyright 2003 Linksys All Rights Reserved
8. Channel 6 Copyright 2003 Linksys All rights reserved Copyright 2003 Linksys All rights reserved Figure 4 6 Proceed to Chapter 5 Hardware Installation Figure 4 4 Instant Wireless Series Important for Windows 98SE Me and 2000 users You must run AN the Setup Wizard to install the software before installing the hardware Pe for Windows XP users You must install the PC Card s Ares eS hardware before installing the software Turn off your notebook PC 2 Locate an available PC Card slot on your notebook PC 3 With the PC Card s label facing up as shown in Figure 5 1 slide the PC Card completely into the PC Card slot 4 Restart your note book PC Figure 5 1 5 Windows will begin copying the driver files to your computer Windows 2000 users may see a digital signature screen This is normal Click Yes to continue and then click the Finish button to end the hardware detection process If Windows asks you for the original Windows CD ROM insert the CD ROM and direct Windows to its proper location e g D If your PC is using Windows 98SE Me or 2000 proceed to the next sec tion Chapter 7 Using the WLAN Monitor for Windows 98SE Me and 2000 If your PC is using Windows XP proceed to Chapter 6 Driver Installation and Configuration for Windows XP Wireless B Notebook Adapter Chapter 6 Driver installation and Configuration for Windows XP
9. IP Internet Protocol The method or protocol by which data is sent from one computer to another on the Internet It is a standard set of rules procedures or conventions relating to the format and timing of data transmission between two computers that they must accept and use to be able to understand each other IP Address In the most widely installed level of the Internet Protocol IP today an IP address is a 32 binary digit number that identifies each sender or receiver of information that is sent in packet across the Internet When you request an HTML page or send e mail the Internet Protocol part of TCP IP includes your IP address in the message actually in each of the packets 1f more than one is required and sends it to the IP address that is obtained by looking up the domain name in the Uniform Resource Locator you requested or in the e mail address you re sending a note to At the other end the recipient can see the IP address of the Web page requestor or the e mail sender and can respond by sending another message using the IP address it received Wireless B Notebook Adapter IRQ Interrupt ReQuest A hardware interrupt on a PC There are 16 IRQ lines used to signal the CPU that a peripheral event has started or terminated ISM band The FCC and their counterparts outside of the U S have set aside bandwidth for unlicensed use in the ISM Industrial Scientific and Medical band Spectrum in the vicinity of 2 4 GHz in partic
10. access control Users can set it up depending upon their needs 30 31 Instant Wireless Series Can Instant Wireless products support file and printer sharing Instant Wireless products perform the same function as LAN products Therefore Instant Wireless products can work with Netware Windows NT 2000 or other LAN operating systems to support printer or file sharing What is WEP WEP is Wired Equivalent Privacy a data privacy mechanism based on a 40 bit shared key algorithm as described in the IEEE 802 11 standard Wireless B Notebook Adapter Appendix B Glossary 802 11b One of the IEEE standards for wireless networking hardware Products that adhere to a specific IEEE standard will work with each other even if they are manufactured by different companies The 802 11b standard specifies a maximum data transfer rate of 11Mbps an operating frequency of 2 4GHz and WEP encryption for security 802 11b networks are also referred to as Wi Fi networks Ad hoc Network An ad hoc network is a group of computers each with a wireless adapter connected as an independent 802 11 wireless LAN Ad hoc wireless computers operate on a peer to peer basis communicating directly with each other without the use of an access point Ad hoc mode is also referred to as an Independent Basic Service Set IBSS or as peer to peer mode and is useful at a departmental scale or SOHO operation Backbone The part of a network that co
11. communicate with your Ethernet wired hardware as well Figure 2 1 Instant Wireless Series If the wireless network is relatively small and needs to share resources only with the other computers on the wireless network then the ad hoc mode can be used See Figure 2 2 Ad hoc mode allows computers equipped with wire less transmitters and receivers to communicate directly with each other elimi nating the need for an access point The drawback of this mode 1s that in Ad Hoc mode wireless equipped computers are not able to communicate with computers on a wired network And of course communication between the wireless equipped computers is limited by the distance and interference direct ly between them PE F Figure 2 2 Wireless B Notebook Adapter The Adapter s LEDs The Adapter has two LEDs to let you know how the card is functioning Here are a description of those LEDs Power Green The Power LED lights up when the PC Card is pow ered on Link Green The Link LED lights up and stays solid when the Adapter is inserted correctly and a link is established with the notebook The LED flashes when data is transmitted or received Instant Wireless Series Chapter 4 Using the Setup Wizard to Configure Windows 98SE Me and 2000 The Adapter s Setup Wizard will guide you through the installation procedure for Windows 98SE Me and 2000 The Setup Wizard will install the WLAN Monitor and driver as we
12. initial Link Information screen Click the X Close button in the upper right corner to exit the WLAN Monitor 16 Instant Wireless Series The Site Survey screen shown in Figure 7 5 displays a list of infrastructure and ad hoc networks available for connection R Instant Wireless Series Wireless B Notebook Adapter WLAN Monitor ver 2 0 A Linksys Site Survey Below is the list of last found wireless connections available to your Wireless B Notebook Adapter To refresh the list click the Refresh button To connect to one of the connection on the list select the desired connection then click Connect button to i connect 2 4 GHz L annya ons Network Mode Infrastructure Channel WEP Disable MAC 00 O AA AS CE AA Surveyed at 01 40 PM Copyright 2003 Linksys All rights reserved Figure 7 5 SSID The SSID or unique name of the wireless network Signal The percentage of signal strength from 0 to 100 Site Information Wireless Mode The mode of the wireless network currently in use Channel The channel to which the wireless network devices are set WEP The status of the WEP encryption security feature MAC The MAC address of the wireless network s device Surveyed at The time at which the wireless network was scanned Refresh Click the Refresh button to perform a new search for wireless devices Connect To connect to one of the networks on the list select the wireless ne
13. of the connection In Auto mode the Adapter dynamically shifts to the fastest data transfer rate possible at any given time Filename ff Channel The channel to which the wireless network devices are set WEP The status of the WEP encryption security feature oo EEE E mey Figure 7 9 Connect To connect to a wireless network using a specific profile select the profile and click the Connect button Delete Click the Delete button to delete a profile Edit Select a profile and click the Edit button to change an existing profile Click the X Close button in the upper right corner to exit the WLAN Monitor New Click the New button to create a new profile See the next section Creating a New Profile for detailed instructions 19 20 Instant Wireless Series Wireless B Notebook Adapter 2 The Choose a wireless mode screen Figure 7 12 shows a choice of two wireless modes Click the Infrastructure Mode radio button if you want 1 On the Profiles screen shown in Figure 7 10 click the New button to cre your wireless computers to communicate with computers on your wired ate a new profile network via a wireless access point Click the Ad Hoc Mode radio button if you want multiple wireless computers to communicate directly with each other Click the Next button to continue or the Back button to return to the U LunKksys Vw EE previous screen Wireless B Notebook Adapter WLAN Monitor ve 20 Inf
14. to packet length and if the number of sit uations is small Database A database is a collection of data that is organized so that its con tents can easily be accessed managed and updated Default Gateway The routing device used to forward all traffic that is not addressed to a station within the local subnet DHCP Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol A protocol that lets network administrators manage centrally and automate the assignment of Internet Protocol IP addresses in an organization s network Using the Internet s set of protocol TCP IP each machine that can connect to the Internet needs a unique IP address When an organization sets up its computer users with a con nection to the Internet an IP address must be assigned to each machine Without DHCP the IP address must be entered manually at each computer and if computers move to another location in another part of the network a new IP address must be entered DHCP lets a network administrator supervise and dis tribute IP addresses from a central point and automatically sends a new IP address when a computer is plugged into a different place in the network DHCP uses the concept of a lease or amount of time that a given IP address will be valid for a computer The lease time can vary depending on how long a user 1s likely to require the Internet connection at a particular location It s espe cially useful in education and other environments where users change fre
15. E USE OF THE PRODUCT ITS ACCOMPANYING SOFT WARE OR ITS DOCUMENTATION LINKSYS DOES NOT OFFER REFUNDS FOR ANY PRODUCT Linksys makes no warranty or representation expressed implied or statuto ry with respect to its products or the contents or use of this documentation and all accompanying software and specifically disclaims its quality performance mer chantability or fitness for any particular purpose Linksys reserves the right to revise or update its products software or documentation without obligation to notify any individ ual or entity Please direct all inquiries to Linksys P O Box 18558 Irvine CA 92623 FCC STATEMENT This product has been tested and complies with the specifications for a Class B digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules These limits are designed to provide rea sonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation The antenna used for this transmitter must be installed to provide a separation distance of at least 20 centimeters from all persons and must operate in conjunction with other antenna or trans mitters This equipment generates uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and if not installed and used according to the instructions may cause harmful interference to radio communications However there is no guarantee that interference will not occur In a particular installation If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or tel evision reception
16. Instant Wireless Series Use this Guide to install WPC11 COPYRIGHT amp TRADEMARKS Copyright 2002 Linksys All Rights Reserved Instant Wireless Linksys and the Linksys logo are registered trademarks of Linksys Group Inc Microsoft Windows and the Windows logo are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation All other trade marks and brand names are the property of their respective proprietors LIMITED WARRANTY Linksys guarantees that every Instant Wireless Wireless B Notebook Adapter is free from physical defects in material and workmanship for one year from the date of pur chase when used within the limits set forth in the Specifications chapter of this User Guide If these products prove defective during this warranty period call Linksys Technical Support in order to obtain a Return Authorization Number BE SURE TO HAVE YOUR PROOF OF PURCHASE AND A BARCODE FROM THE PRODUCT S PACKAGING ON HAND WHEN CALLING RETURN REQUESTS CANNOT BE PROCESSED WITHOUT PROOF OF PURCHASE When returning a product mark the Return Authorization Number clearly on the outside of the package and include your original proof of pur chase All customers located outside of the United States of America and Canada shall be held responsible for shipping and handling charges IN NO EVENT SHALL LINKSYS LIABILITY EXCEED THE PRICE PAID FOR THE PROD UCT FROM DIRECT INDIRECT SPECIAL INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAM AGES RESULTING FROM TH
17. ar To save the new settings click the Yes button To cancel the settings and return to the Profiles screen click the Exit but ton To edit the new settings click the Back button amp A LINKSYS aani Wireless B Notebook Adapter WLAN Monitor ve 20 Confirm New Settings 24 GHz 802 116 linksys ire iructune i sable DHCP Figure 7 16 The Congratulations screen will appear next Click Activate new settings now to implement the new settings immediately and return to the Link Information screen Click Activate new settings later to keep the current settings active and return to the Profiles screen so that you can edit your profile or cre ate another profile U LnrksyYs Wireless B Notebook Adapter WLAN Monitor ver 20 Congratulations Your Wireless B Notebook Adapter has been successfully configured uses transmit key number 2 3 or 4 then select the appropri ate number in the Key Index drop down box 29 Wireless B Notebook Adapter WLAN Monitor ver zo Security Settings E your network requires WEP Enery ruin enter the WEP setting below 2 MKE iHz The Passghrase is case sensitive ve and 3 should be fewer than 16 characters You may manualy omer your WEP key in hexadecimal fonna below Valid hexadecimal characlers are 0 4 and AE Passphrase sephrase You may manually enler your WEP key in hexadecimal formal balta Copyright S004 Link
18. are that has passed Windows Logo testing STOP Installation Figure 6 2 3 When Windows has finished installing the driver click the Finish button on the screen that appears shown in Figure 6 3 Found New Hardware Wizard Completing the Found New Hardware Wizard The wizard has finished installing the software for EE Wireless B Notebook Adapter Click Firash to close the wizard Figure 6 3 You have now completed the PC Card s driver installation To configure the PC Card proceed to the next section Windows XP Wireless Zero Configuration Wireless B Notebook Adapter Windows XP Wireless Zero Configuration For Windows XP users Windows XP has a built in configuration tool Use Windows XP Wireless Zero Configuration in the system tray at the bottom of your screen to configure the PC Card 1 After installing the PC Card the FT 1 Wireless Network Connection Windows XP Wirele SS Zero One or more wireless networks are available Configuration icon will appear in tosee a list of available networks click here your computer s system tray see 4 19PM Figure 6 3 Double click the icon Figure 6 3 2 The screen that appears will show any available i The following wireless network s are available To access a wireless network Select wireless network select it from the list and then click Connect Wireless Network Connection the network you want Available wirele
19. cation s documentation to determine if it supports operation over a network Can I play multiplayer games with other users of the wireless network Yes as long as the game supports multiple players over a LAN local area net work Refer to the game s documentation for more information What is the IEEE 802 11b standard The IEEE 802 11b Wireless LAN standards subcommittee formulates stan dards for the industry The objective is to enable wireless LAN hardware from different manufacturers to communicate What IEEE 802 11 features are supported The product supports the following IEEE 802 11 functions e CSMA CA plus Acknowledge protocol Multi Channel Roaming e Automatic Rate Selection e RTS CTS feature Fragmentation Power Management What is Ad hoc An Ad hoc wireless LAN is a group of computers each with an Adapter con nected as an independent wireless LAN An Ad hoc wireless LAN is applica ble at a departmental scale for a branch or SOHO operation 28 29 Instant Wireless Series What is Infrastructure An integrated wireless and wired LAN is called an Infrastructure configura tion Infrastructure is applicable to enterprise scale for wireless access to a cen tral database or wireless application for mobile workers What is Roaming Roaming is the ability of a portable computer user to communicate continu ously while moving freely throughout an area greater than that covered by a sin gle Wirel
20. e seuls les canaux 10 11 12 13 2457 2462 2467 et 2472 MHz respectivement doivent tre utilis s en France Toute utilisation qu elle soit int rieure ou ext rieure est soumise autorisation Vous pouvez contacter l Autorit de R gulation des T l communiations lt htto www art telecom fr gt pour la proc dure suivre France F Restricted frequency band only channels 10 11 12 13 2457 2462 2467 and 2472 MHz respectively may be used in France License required for every indoor and outdoor installations Please contact ART for procedure to follow Deutschland D Anmeldung im Outdoor Bereich notwending aber nicht genehmi gungspilichtig Bitte mit Handler die Vorgehensweise abstimmen Germany D License required for outdoor installations Check with reseller for procedure to fol low Italia l E necessaria la concessione ministeriale anche per l uso interno Verificare con i riven ditori la procedura da seguire L uso per installazione in esterni non e permessa Italy l License required for indoor use Use with outdoor installations not allowed the Netherlands NL License required for outdoor installations Check with reseller for proce dure to follow Nederlands NL Licentie verplicht voor gebruik met buitenantennes Neem contact op met verkoper voor juiste procedure Table of Contents Chapter 1 Introduction The Wireless B Notebook Adapter Features Chapter 2 Planning Your Wireless Network Network Topol
21. e Saas the Back but Na ee ac Em te gs below before completing NLAN Monitor 2 4G H Infrastructure Mode sais H7 ton to return In infrastructure mode the wireless devices communicate with each other and to a Cha et caro oi ren venga 802 115 to the previ RES En fal ous page 7 Tank Network Mode Ad Hoc SSID linksys Channel 6 Figure 4 3 Figure 4 5 If you chose Infrastructure Mode go to Step 5 now If you chose Ad Hoc 6 After the files have been successfully copied the screen in Figure 4 6 will Mode the screen shown in Figure 4 4 will appear and you will need to appear Click the Exit button select the correct operating channel for your network from the Channel drop down menu Click the Next button and go to Step 5 Click the Back R button to change any settings C Linksys eas Wireless B Notebook Adapter Channel The channel you choose should match the channel set on the Setup Wizard Vesion 2 0 other devices a aie ae Li LINKSYS j 4 lestant Wireless Series less network Wireless B Notebook Adapter or using the Setup Wizard version 2 0 channel to set the wireless Congratulations The installation of the Wireless B Notebook Adapter is complete Wireless Channels See ae ott vo use for your wireless network Any channel wil yH network If allw the nee SL M a ig ae al f cnr 2 4 GHz you are are ne ote era diner Click Next lo continue unsure about which chan nel to use select the default chan nel
22. eiving station requesting permission to transmit Software Instructions for the computer A series of instructions that performs a particular task is called a program The two major categories of software are system software and application software System software is made up of control programs such as the operating system and database management sys tem DBMS Application software is any program that processes data for the user A common misconception is that software is data It is not Software tells the hardware how to process the data SOHO Small Office Home Office Market segment of professionals who work at home or in small offices Wireless B Notebook Adapter Spread Spectrum Spread Spectrum technology is a wideband radio frequen cy technique developed by the military for use in reliable secure mission crit ical communications systems It is designed to trade off bandwidth efficiency for reliability integrity and security In other words more bandwidth is con sumed than in the case of narrowband transmission but the trade off produces a signal that is in effect louder and thus easier to detect provided that the receiver knows the parameters of the spread spectrum signal being broadcast If a receiver 1s not tuned to the right frequency a spread spectrum signal looks like background noise There are two main alternatives Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum DSSS and Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum FHSS S
23. els and antennas resulting in a radiated power level of above 100 mW are considered as not compliant with the above mentioned directive and are not allowed for use within the European community and countries that have adopted the European R amp TTE directive 1999 5 EC and or the CEPT recommendation Rec 70 03 For more details on legal combinations of power levels and antennas contact Linksys Corporate Compliance Linksys Group vakuuttaa taten etta Instant Wireless IEEE 802 11 PC Card tyyppinen laite on direktiivin 1999 5 EY direktiivin 89 336 EEC Ja direktiivin 73 23 EEC oleellisten vaatimusten ja sit koskevien n iden direktiivien muiden ehtojen mukainen Linksys Group d clare que la carte PC Instant Wireless IEEE 802 11 est conforme aux con ditions essentielles et aux dispositions relatives la directive 1999 5 EC la directive 89 336 EEC et la directive 73 23 EEC Belgique B L utilisation en ext rieur est autoris sur le canal 11 2462 MHz 12 2467 MHZ et 13 2472 MHz Dans le cas d une utilisation priv e l ext rieur d un b timent au dessus d un espace public aucun enregistrement n est n cessaire pour une distance de moins de 300m Pour une dis tance sup rieure a 300m un enregistrement aupr s de I IBPT est requise Pour une utilisation publique l ext rieur de b timents une licence de IBPT est requise Pour les enregistrements et licences veuillez contacter l IBPT France F Bande de fr quence restreint
24. er is not tuned to the right frequency a spread spectrum signal looks like background noise There are two main alternatives Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum DSSS and Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum FHSS What is DSSS What is FHSS And what are their differences Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum FHSS uses a narrowband carrier that changes frequency in a pattern that is known to both transmitter and receiver Properly synchronized the net effect 1s to maintain a single logical channel To an unintended receiver FHSS appears to be short duration impulse noise Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum DSSS generates a redundant bit pattern for each bit to be transmitted This bit pattern is called a chip or chipping code The longer the chip the greater the probability that the original data can be recovered Even if one or more bits in the chip are damaged during transmis sion statistical techniques embedded in the radio can recover the original data without the need for retransmission To an unintended receiver DSSS appears as low power wideband noise and is rejected ignored by most narrowband receivers Would the information be intercepted while transmitting on air WLAN features two fold protection in security On the hardware side as with Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum technology it has the inherent security fea ture of scrambling On the software side the WLAN series offers the encryp tion function WEP to enhance security and
25. ess Network Access Point To achieve true seamless connectivity the wireless LAN must incorporate a number of different functions Each node and Wireless Network Access Point for example must always acknowledge receipt of each message Each node must maintain contact with the wireless network even when not actually trans mitting data Achieving these functions simultaneously requires a dynamic RF networking technology that links Wireless Network Access Points and nodes In such a system the user s end node undertakes a search for the best possible access to the system First it evaluates such factors as signal strength and qual ity as well as the message load currently being carried by each Wireless Network Access Point and the distance of each Wireless Network Access Point to the wired backbone Based on that information the node next selects the right Wireless Network Access Point and registers its address Communications between end node and host computer can then be transmitted up and down the backbone As the user moves on the end node s RF transmitter regularly checks the sys tem to determine whether it is in touch with the original Wireless Network Access Point or whether it should seek a new one When a node no longer receives acknowledgment from its original Wireless Network Access Point it undertakes a new search Upon finding a new Wireless Network Access Point it then re registers and the communication process continues
26. ion Select the appropriate file in the screen that appears Figure The Profiles screen shown in Figure 7 7 lets you save different configuration 7 8 and click the Open button profiles for different network setups You can also import or export profiles canes My Documents er ES The default profile holds the initial configuration saved when you ran the Setup Wizard LA Linksys i 4 instant Wireless Series Wireless B Notebook Adapter WLAN Monitor ve 20 Click the Profile name above and the Connect bullon below to use pre configured wireless network settings Use the menu below to manage your wireless network s Profiles and Advanced settings 8 4 E H7 File name ar ea DEEE Network Mode nfrastructure es De Sie fi GARE tlt Z Transfer Rate Auto Channel WEP Disable Figure 7 8 Export To save the profile s in a different location click the Export button el cu die vis Direct Windows to the appropriate folder from the screen that appears Figure d Es tons M Nr sure 7 9 and enter the file name and click Save Figure 7 7 1x Save in LE My Computer f Ed Profile Name of the setting profile 31 Floppy A SSID The wireless network s unique name as set in the connection profile ne l IBackup D Profile Information Ey Compact Disc E Network Type The mode of the wireless network currently in use Transfer Rate The data transfer rate
27. ll as configure the PC Card Important for Windows XP users Do NOT run the Setup Wizard Proceed directly to Chapter 5 Hardware Installation Important for Windows 98SE Me and 2000 users You must run the Setup Wizard to install the software before installing the hardware Insert the Setup Wizard CD ROM into your CD ROM drive The Setup Wizard should run automatically and Figure 4 1 should appear If it does not click the Start button and choose Run In the field that appears enter D setup exe if D is the letter of your CD ROM drive Ep LINKSYS i j instant Wireless Series Wireless B Notebook Adapter Setup Wizard version 2 0 Welcome 2460 Welcome to the Setup Wizard for the Wireless B Notebook Adapter To function properly this installation should be run before physically installing the Adapter To continue press the Install button i 4 Install O Uzer Guida O Exit Copyright 2003 Linksys All rights reserved Figure 4 1 Wireless B Notebook Adapter 1 To install the PC Card click the Install button on the Welcome screen Figure 4 1 Click User Guide to view the User Guide or click Exit to exit the Setup Wizard 2 After reading the License Agreement on the following screen shown in Figure 4 2 click the Next button to continue the installation or click the Cancel button to end the installation R SA instant Wireless Series Wireless B Notebook Adapter Setup Wizard ve
28. n detected properly If you see a yellow question mark the resources are conflicting e Right click on My Computer and select Properties Select the device man ager and click the Adapter You will find the Adapter if it is installed suc cessfully If you see the yellow exclamation mark the resources are conflict ing Click PCMCIA card and then click PCMCIA card service You will see the status of the Adapter If there is a yellow question mark please check the following e Make sure that your notebook has a free IRQ e Make sure that you have inserted the right card and installed the prop er driver Wireless B Notebook Adapter If the Adapter does not function after attempting the above steps remove the card and do the following e Uninstall the driver software from your PC e Restart your PC and repeat the hardware and software installation as specified in this User Guide 3 I cannot communicate with the other computers linked via the Ethernet in the Infrastructure configuration e Make sure that the notebook PC to which the Adapter is associated is pow ered on e Make sure that your Adapter is configured on the same channel and with the same security options as the other computers in the Infrastructure configura tion Frequently Asked Questions Can I run an application from a remote computer over the wireless net work This will depend on whether or not the application is designed to be used over a network Consult the appli
29. nnects most of the systems and net works together and handles the most data Bandwidth The transmission capacity of a given facility in terms of how much data the facility can transmit in a fixed amount of time expressed in bits per second bps Bit A binary digit The value 0 or l used in the binary numbering system Also the smallest form of data BSS Basic Service Set An infrastructure network connecting wireless devices to a wired network using a single access point Buffer A buffer is a shared or assigned memory area used by hardware devices or program processes that operate at different speeds or with different sets of priorities The buffer allows each device or process to operate without being held up by the other In order for a buffer to be effective the size of the buffer and the algorithms for moving data into and out of the buffer need to be considered by the buffer designer Like a cache a buffer is a midpoint holding place but exists not so much to accelerate the speed of an activity as to sup port the coordination of separate activities CSMA CA Carrier Sense Multiple Access Collision Avoidance In local area networking this is the CSMA technique that combines slotted time divi 32 33 Instant Wireless Series sion multiplexing with carrier sense multiple access collision detection CSMA CD to avoid having collisions occur a second time This works best if the time allocated is short compared
30. ogy Ad Hoc versus Infrastructure Mode Chapter 3 Getting to Know the Wireless B Notebook Adapter The Adapter s LEDs Chapter 4 Using the Setup Wizard to Configure Windows 98SE Me and 2000 Chapter 5 Hardware Installation Chapter 6 Driver Installation and Configuration for Windows XP Overview Driver Installation for Windows XP Windows XP Wireless Zero Configuration Chapter 7 Using the WLAN Monitor for Windows 98SE Me and 2000 Overview Accessing the WLAN Monitor Link Information Site Survey Profiles Creating a New Profile 10 10 10 12 14 14 14 15 17 19 21 Appendix A Troubleshooting Common Problems and Solutions Frequently Asked Questions Appendix B Glossary Appendix C Specifications Environmental Appendix D Warranty Information Appendix E Contact Information 27 27 28 32 40 40 41 42 Instant Wireless Series Chapter 1 Introduction The Linksys Wireless B Notebook Adapter lets your notebook communicate with the popular 802 11b wireless network standard 802 11b wireless net works are commonly found in corporate environments and are used in homes for household Internet connectivity without the need for running cables They re also popping up all over the country in coffee shops airports hotels convention centers and other public spaces offering on the go connectivity to mobile users The included Setup Wizard will walk you through configuring the adapter to
31. ork Network Topology A wireless local area network WLAN is exactly like a regular local area net work LAN except that each computer in the WLAN uses a wireless device to connect to the network Computers in a WLAN share the same frequency channel and SSID which is an identification name for wireless devices Ad Hoc versus Infrastructure Mode Unlike wired networks wireless networks have two different modes in which they may be set up infrastructure and ad hoc An infrastructure configura tion is a WLAN and wired LAN communicating to each other through an access point An ad hoc configuration is wireless equipped computers com municating directly with each other Choosing between these two modes depends on whether or not the wireless network needs to share data or periph erals with a wired network or not If the computers on the wireless network need to be accessed by a wired network or need to share a peripheral such as a print er with the wired network computers the wireless network should be set up in infrastructure mode See Figure 2 1 The basis of infrastructure mode centers around an access point which serves as the main point of communications in a wireless network Access points transmit data to PCs equipped with wireless network cards which can roam within a certain radial range of the access point Multiple access points can be arranged to work in succession to extend the roaming range and can be set up to
32. ormation button to view additional status information about the current wireless connection To search for available wireless net works click the Site Survey tab To perform configuration changes click the Profiles tab R Instant Wireless Series Wireless B Notebook Adapter WLAN Monitor ver 20 LA Lonixcsys Link Information 2 AGHz 802 116 WPC11 is Active Copyright 2003 Linksys All rights reserved Figure 7 2 14 Instant Wireless Series Link Information 19 The Link Information screen shown in Figure 7 3 displays signal strength and link quality information about the current connection and provides a button to click for additional status information R 2 gt P E Linksys 2 Instan Wireless Series Wireless B Notebook Adapter WLAN Monitor ver 2 0 Link Information You have successfully connected to the access point and Internet 2 4GHz 802 116 hi j WPC11 is Active Copyright 2003 Unksys All rights reserved Figure 7 3 Ad Hoc Mode or Infrastructure Mode The screen indicates whether the Adapter is currently working in ad hoc or infrastructure mode Signal Strength The Signal Strength bar indicates signal strength from 0 to 100 Link Quality The Link Quality bar indicates the quality of the wireless net work connection from 0 to 100 Click the More Information button to view more information about the wire less network connection shown in Figure 7
33. ou enable WEP enter a Passphrase or WEP key Click the Next button to continue or the Back button to return to the previous screen WEP Disabled 64 bit WEP 128 bit WEP If you do not want to use WEP encryption choose Disabled To use WEP encryption recommended to increase network security select 64 bit 10 hex characters or 128 bit 26 hex characters WEP from the drop down menu and enter either a Passphrase or WEP key Passphrase Instead of manually entering WEP keys you can enter a Passphrase so that a WEP key is automatically generated It is case sensi tive and should not be longer than 16 alphanumeric characters This passphrase must match the passphrase of your wireless network and is com patible with other Linksys wireless products only If you have any non Linksys wireless products enter the WEP key s manually on those prod ucts WEP Key This WEP key must match the WEP key of your wireless net work If you are using 64 bit WEP encryption then the key must consist of exactly 10 hexadecimal characters If you are using 128 bit WEP encryp tion then the key must consist of exactly 26 hexadecimal characters Valid hexadecimal characters are 0 to 9 and A to F Key Index The default transmit key number is 1 If your network s access point or wite less router 2 LA uInNKSySs setae iris Wireless B Notebook Adapter 6 The Confirm New Settings screen Figure 7 16 will appe
34. quently Using very short leases DHCP can dynamically reconfigure networks in which there are more computers than there are available IP addresses DHCP supports static addresses for computers containing Web servers that need a permanent IP address DNS The domain name system DNS is the way that Internet domain name are located and translated into Internet Protocol IP addresses A domain name is a meaningful and easy to remember handle for an Internet address Domain A subnetwork comprised of a group of clients and servers under the control of one security database Dividing LANs into domains improves per formance and security Wireless B Notebook Adapter Driver A workstation or server software module that provides an interface between a network interface card and the upper layer protocol software running in the computer it is designed for a specific NIC and is installed during the initial installation of a network compatible client or server operating system DSSS Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum DSSS generates a redundant bit pattern for all data transmitted This bit pattern is called a chip or chipping code Even if one or more bits in the chip are damaged during transmission statistical techniques embedded in the receiver can recover the original data without the need for retransmission To an unintended receiver DSSS appears as low power wideband noise and is rejected ignored by most narrowband receivers However
35. ral levels of interconnection the most impor tant of which include edge connections backbone connections and wide area connections WAN Wide Area Network A communications network that covers a rela tively large geographic area consisting of two or more LANs Broadband com munication over the WAN is often through public networks such as the tele 38 39 Instant Wireless Series phone DSL or cable systems or through leased lines or satellites In its most basic definition the Internet could be considered a WAN WEP Wired Equivalent Privacy A data privacy mechanism based on a 64 bit or 128 bit shared key algorithm as described in the IEEE 802 11 standard WLAN Wireless Local Area Network A group of computers and associat ed devices that communicate with each other wirelessly Wireless B Notebook Adapter Standards Channels LEDs Transmit Power Protocols WEP key bits IEEE 802 11b 11 Channels US Canada 13 Channels Europe 14 Channels Japan Power Link 3 3 V CCK QPSK BPSK 64 Bit and 128 Bit Dimensions Unit Weight Power Certifications Operating Temp Storage Temp Operating Humidity Storage Humidity 4 5 x 2 1 x 0 3 115 mm x 54 mm x 7 5 mm 1 65 oz 47g 5V DC 275mA Tx 225mA Rx 200mA Standby FCC Class B CE Mark Telec 32 F to 131 F 0 C to 55 C 4 F to 158 F 20 C to 70 C 0 to 90 Non Condensing 0 to 95 Non Condensing
36. rastructure Mode This mode allows wireless and wired networks to communicate through an access point Click the Profile name above and the Connect button below to use pre configured ren ae so ee nero mee or wn aN ms Ad Hoc Mode This mode allows wireless equipped computers to com es and Advanced settings D A GHZ Pia rene municate directly with each other No access point is used Defaull Unksys Network Mode Infrastruciure Transfer Rate Auto Channel fi WEP Disable R P En I INKSYS 2 Inston Wireless Series Wireless B Notebook Adapter WLAN Monitor ver 2 0 Copyright 2003 Linksys A rights reserred Figure 7 10 Si de Wireless Mode i Infrastructure Mode 2 4 GHz 2 When the Create connection profile screen Figure 7 1 1 appears enter a In infrastructure mode the wireless devices communicate with each other and to a 602 116 A wired network via an access point name for the new profile Click OK to save the profile name or click Adira inia Cancel to return to the previous screen In Ad hoc mode the wireless devices communicate directly with each other without the use of an access point Please enter the SSID for your wireless network ET linksys SAD Service Set Dentifier A unique name shared among all points in a wireless network The S310 must be identical for each point in the wireless network and is case sensitive Copyright 2003 Linksys All rights reserved Figu
37. re 7 12 Figure 7 11 21 22 Instant Wireless Series 3 The Wireless Settings screen shown in Figure 7 13 will appear If you chose Infrastructure Mode go to Step 4 now If you chose Ad Hoc Mode select the correct operating channel for your network from the Channel drop down menu Click the Next button and go to Step 4 Click the Back button to change any settings Channel The channel you choose should match the channel set on the other devices in your wireless network or what channel you want set up your network If you are unsure about which channel to use select the default channel Channel 6 R SSS LA Linksys j insiami Wireless Series Wireless B Notebook Adapter WLAN Monitor ver 2 0 Wireless Channels Select the Channel you plan to use for your wireless network Any channel will allow 24 GHz the computers to communicate in Ad Hoc Mode as long as all the computers are on 802 11b the same channel Click Next to continue Channel 6 LA tiL Figure 7 13 Wireless B Notebook Adapter 4 The Network Setting screen shown in Figure 7 14 will appear If your network has a DHCP server click the radio button next to Obtain an IP address automatically DHCP Click the Next button to continue or click the Back button to return to the previous screen Then go to Step 5 If your network does not have a DHCP server click the radio button next to Specify the IP address Enter an IP Address Subnet Ma
38. rsion 2 0 LA Linksys License Agreement 2 ane END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT 802 11b FOR Linksys Wireless USB Adapter IMPORTANT READ CAREFULLY This Linksys End User License Agreament EULA isa oo agreement botacen you fellher an individusl or a singe ony sind nksys Cirpi i hoe nich inciodes computer T ias tion commuler sofware Copyright 2003 Linksys All rights reserved Figure 4 2 3 The next screen in the Setup Wizard shown in Figure 4 3 will ask you to choose a wireless mode Click the Infrastructure Mode radio button if you want your wireless computers to network with computers on your wired network using a wireless access point Click the Ad Hoc Mode radio but ton if you want multiple wireless computers to network directly with each other Instant Wireless Series Wireless B Notebook Adapter In the SSID field enter the SSID Network Name of your wireless net 5 The next screen shown in Figure 4 5 will ask you to review your settings work The SSID must be identical for all devices in the network The before it starts to copy files Click the Next button to save these settings or default set f click the Back button to change any settings ting is linksys BE TER e all lower Wireless B Notebook Adapter Un sys Instant Wireless Series case Click Setup Wizard version 2 0 Wireless B Notebook Adapter a Setup Wizard version 2 0 CINE o Wireless Mode ton or click ee Finaliz
39. sk Default Gateway and DNS appropriate for your network Enter each address in this format XXX XXX XXX XXX the x s represent the numbers that make up each address You must specify the IP Address and Subnet Mask on this screen If you are unsure about the Default Gateway and DNS addresses then leave these fields alone Click the Next button to continue or the Back button to return to the previ ous screen Then go to Step 5 IP Address This IP Address must be unique to your network Subnet Mask The PC Card s Subnet Mask must be the same as your wired network s Subnet Mask Default Gateway Enter the IP address of your network s Gateway here DNS Enter the DNS addresses of your Ethernet wired network here R LA LInKSysS instant Wiaiess Serias Wireless B Notebook Adapter WLAN Monilor ve 20 Network Settings Obtain an IP address automatically DHCP 2 4 GHz Select this option if you would like IP settings to be assigned automatically 802 11b Specify the IP Address Select this option if your network requires static IP address IP Address Address msi 1 Subnet Mask DNS 2 Default Gateway Gateway Copyright 2003 Linksys All rights reserred Figure 7 14 24 Instant Wireless Series 5 The Security Settings screen shown in Figure 7 15 will appear Enable or disable Wired Equivalent Privacy WEP encryption for your wireless net work If y
40. ss networks If this network has WEP linksys encryption enabled go to step 3 If this network This wireless network is not secure Because a network does not have WEP key WEP is not used for authentication or for data encry pti on enable d then PENDIR cae ee sent over this network might be subject to the screen in Figure 6 4 will appear Check the C Allow me to connect to the selected wireless network even though it is not secure box next to Allow me to connect to the selected lfyou are having difficulty connecting to a network click Advanced wireless network even though it is not secure LAdenced abet Then click the Connect button and go to step 4 Figure 6 4 Note In Steps 2 and 3 these are the instructions and screenshots for Windows XP with Service Pack 1 installed If you have not installed Service Pack 1 select the network you want and click the Connect button If the network has WEP encryption enabled enter the WEP key in the Network key field and then click the Connect button 12 13 Instant Wireless Series 3 The screen in Figure 6 5 will appear Enter the WEP key of your wire less network in the Network key field and re enter it in the Confirm network key field Click the Connect button Wireless Network Connection 2 The following wireless network s are available To access a wireless network select it from the list and then click Connect Available wireless ne
41. sys All rights reserved Figure 7 15 Activate new setting Geter Eapyight 2003 Linksys AM rights reservon Figure 7 17 You have successfully created a connection profile Click the X Close but ton in the upper right corner to exit the WLAN Monitor 26 Instant Wireless Series Appendix A Troubleshooting This chapter provides solutions to problems usually occurring during the instal lation and operation of the Adapter Read the description below to solve your problems If you can t find an answer here check the Linksys website at www linksys com Common Problems and Solutions 27 1 My computer does not recognize the Adapter Make sure that the Adapter 1s properly inserted into the cardbus slot Note that the card can be inserted either way but is correct only when it is insert ed so that the Instant Wireless logo on the front of the card cannot be seen If in doubt try inserting the card both ways The card will slide in further when it is correct 2 The Adapter does not work properly e Reinsert the Adapter into your notebook s cardbus slot A beep should be heard if the card is properly inserted For non Windows environments make sure that a cardbus card service driv er is installed on your PC e Open the Control Panel and click on the PC Card Check whether it has a PCMCIA card in one of the sockets or not If you find the Adapter in one of the sockets it means the card has bee
42. t work and click the Connect button If the wireless network has WEP encryp tion enabled you will see the screen shown in Figure 7 6 Wireless B Notebook Adapter WEP Key Needed for Connection This wireless network has WEP encryption enabled To connect to this network select the level of WEP encryption Enter the required passphrase or WEP key in the appropriate field below Then press the OK button 64 bit 10 hex characters M The Passphrase is case sensitive and should be 16 characters or fewer Passphrase You may manually enter your WEP key in hexadecimal format below Valid hexadecimal characters are 0 9 and A F evi Figure 7 6 In the WEP drop down box select the type of WEP encryption used by the wireless network 64 bit 10 hex characters or 128 bit 26 hex characters WEP If the wireless network uses a passphrase enter the passphrase in the Passphrase field If the wireless network uses a WEP key enter the WEP key in the Key 1 field Click the OK button to complete the network connection return to Link infor mation or click the Cancel button to cancel the network connection and return to the Site Survey screen On the Site Survey screen click the X Close button in the upper right corner to exit the WLAN Monitor 18 Instant Wireless Series Wireless B Notebook Adapter Profiles Import Click the Import button to import a profile that has been saved in another locat
43. tinguish the box and the electronic circuitry and components of a computer 34 39 Instant Wireless Series from the program you put in it to make it do things The program came to be known as the software Hop The link between two network nodes IEEE The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers The IEEE describes itself as the world s largest technical professional society promoting the development and application of electrotechnology and allied sciences for the benefit of humanity the advancement of the profession and the well being of our members The IEEE fosters the development of standards that often become national and international standards The organization publishes a number of journals has many local chapters and several large societies in special areas such as the IEEE Computer Society Infrastructure Network An infrastructure network is a group of computers or other devices each with a wireless adapter connected as an 802 11 wireless LAN In infrastructure mode the wireless devices communicate with each other and to a wired network by first going through an access point An infra structure wireless network connected to a wired network is referred to as a Basic Service Set BSS A set of two or more BSS in a single network is referred to as an Extended Service Set ESS Infrastructure mode is useful at a corporation scale or when it is necessary to connect the wired and wireless networks
44. tworks This wireless network requires the use of a network key WEP To access this network type the key then click Connect Network key Confirm network key T Enable IEEE 802 1 authentication for this network If you are having difficulty connecting to a network click Advanced Figure 6 5 J Wireless Network Connection Connected to linksys Signal Strength Excellent 4 The screen in Figure 6 6 will appear if your connection is active Figure 6 6 For more information about WEP refer to your access point s documentation or visit www linksys com For more information about wireless networking on a Windows XP computer enter the keyword wireless in the Windows XP search engine Congratulations Your notebook is now connected to your wireless network Wireless B Notebook Adapter Chapter 7 Using the WLAN Monitor for Windows 98SE Me and 2000 Lee Use the WLAN Monitor to check the link information search for available wireless networks or create profiles that hold different configuration settings Accessing the WLAN Monitor After installing the Adapter its WLAN Monitor icon will appear in your sys tem tray Double click the icon see Figure 7 1 The Link Information screen shown in Figure 7 2 will appear A From this screen you can find out how strong the current wire less signal is and how good the connection s quality is You can Figure 7 1 also click the More Inf
45. ubnet Mask The method used for splitting IP networks into a series of sub groups or subnets The mask is a binary pattern that is matched up with the IP address to turn part of the host ID address field into a field for subnets TCP Transmission Control Protocol A method protocol used along with the IP Internet Protocol to send data in the form of message units datagram between network devices over a LAN or WAN While IP takes care of handling the actual delivery of the data routing TCP takes care of keeping track of the individual units of data called packets that a message is divided into for effi cient delivery over the network TCP is known as a connection oriented pro tocol due to requiring the receiver of a packet to return an acknowledgment of receipt to the sender of the packet resulting in transmission control TCP IP Transmission Control Protocol Internet Protocol The basic com munication language or set of protocols for communications over a network developed specifically for the Internet TCP IP defines a suite or group of protocols and not only TCP and IP Throughput The amount of data moved successfully from one place to anoth er in a given time period Topology A network s topology is a logical characterization of how the devices on the network are connected and the distances between them The most common network devices include hubs switches routers and gateways Most large networks contain seve
46. ular is being made avail able worldwide This presents a truly revolutionary opportunity to place con venient high speed wireless capabilities in the hands of users around the globe LAN Local Area Network A group of computers and associated devices that share a common communications line and typically share the resources of a single processor or server within a small geographic area for example within an office building MAC Media Access Control Address A unique number assigned by the manufacturer to any Ethernet networking device such as a network adapter that allows the network to identify it at the hardware level Mbps Megabits per second One million bits per second unit of measure ment for data transmission Network A system that transmits any combination of voice video and or data between users NIC Network Interface Card A board installed in a computer system usu ally a PC to provide network communication capabilities to and from that com puter system Also called an adapter Node A network junction or connection point typically a computer or work station Notebook PC A notebook computer is a battery powered personal comput er generally smaller than a briefcase that can easily be transported and conve niently used in temporary spaces such as on airplanes in libraries temporary offices and at meetings A notebook computer sometimes called a laptop com puter typically weighs less than fi
47. ve pounds and is three inches or less in thick ness Packet A unit of data routed between an origin and a destination in a network 36 37 Instant Wireless Series Passphrase Used much like a password a passphrase simplifies the WEP encryption process by automatically generating the WEP encryption keys for Linksys products PC Card A credit card sized removable module that contains memory I O or a hard disk PCMCIA Personal Computer Memory Card International Association An industry group organized in 1989 to promote standards for a credit card size memory or I O device that would fit into a personal computer usually a note book or laptop computer Plug and Play The ability of a computer system to configure expansion boards and other devices automatically without requiring the user to turn off the system during installation Roaming In an infrastructure mode wireless network this refers to the abili ty to move out of one access point s range and into another and transparently reassociate and reauthenticate to the new access point This reassociation and reauthentication should occur without user intervention and ideally without interruption to network connectivity A typical scenario would be a location with multiple access points where users can physically relocate from one area to another and easily maintain connectivity RTS Request To Send An RS 232 signal sent from the transmitting station to the rec
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