Cisco Linksys WMP11-V27 Instant Wireless PCI Card User Manual wmp11 user guide

Cisco-Linksys, LLC Instant Wireless PCI Card wmp11 user guide

Manual

Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless PCI CardUser GuideUse this Guide to install the following:WMP11
COPYRIGHT & TRADEMARKS Copyright © 2001 Linksys, All Rights Reserved. Instant Wireless™ is a registered trade-mark of Linksys. Microsoft, Windows, and the Windows logo are registered trademarksof Microsoft Corporation. All other trademarks and brand names are the property of theirrespective proprietors. LIMITED WARRANTY Linksys guarantees that every Instant Wireless™ Wireless PCI Card is free from physicaldefects in material and workmanship for one year from the date of purchase, when usedwithin the limits set forth in the Specification section of this User Guide. If these productsprove defective during this warranty period, call Linksys Customer Support in order toobtain a Return Authorization Number. BE SURE TO HAVE YOUR PROOF OF PUR-CHASE AND A BARCODE FROM THE PRODUCT'S PACKAGING ON HAND WHENCALLING. RETURN REQUESTS CANNOT BE PROCESSED WITHOUT PROOF OF PUR-CHASE. When returning a product, mark the Return Authorization Number clearly on theoutside of the package and include your original proof of purchase. All customers locat-ed outside of the United States of America and Canada shall be held responsible forshipping 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 THE USE OF THE PRODUCT, ITS ACCOMPANYING SOFT-WARE, OR ITS DOCUMENTATION. LINKSYS DOES NOT OFFER REFUNDS FOR ANYPRODUCT. 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 allaccompanying software, and specifically disclaims its quality, performance, mer-chantability, or fitness for any particular purpose. Linksys reserves the right to revise orupdate 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 STATEMENTThis product have been tested and complies with the specifications for a Class B digitaldevice, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide rea-sonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equip-ment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed andused according to the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communi-cations. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particularinstallation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or televisionreception, which is found by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged totry to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna• Increase the separation between the equipment or device• Connect the equipment to an outlet other than the receiver’s• Consult a dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for assistanceFCC Caution: Any changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate this equipment.IMPORTANT NOTE: FCC Radiation Exposure Statement: This equipment complies with FCC radiation exposure limits set forth for an uncontrolled environment. This equipment should be installed and operated with minimum distance 20cm between the radiator & your body.This transmitter must not be co-located or operating in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter.UG-WMP11-010821 NC KL
IntroductionPut the “mobile” back into mobile computing! Whether you’re at your desk orin the boardroom, the Linksys Instant Wireless™ Wireless PCI Card allows youto share printers, files, and other resources anywhere within your LAN infra-structure, increasing your productivity and keeping you “in touch.” The Instant Wireless™ Wireless PCI Card now has a high-powered antennathat provides greater ranges than ever. Error correction in the chipset keeps youoperating at higher transmission rates for longer distances. Ready to run in PCs running Windows 95, 98, Millennium, NT, and 2000, theInstant Wireless™ Wireless PCI Card from Linksys is truly a “must-have” forall PC users.• 11 Mbps High-Speed Data Transfer Rate• Compatible with Virtually All Major Network Operating Systems• Plug-and-Play Operation Provides Easy Setup• Integrated Equalizer Recovers Weak Signals and Enhances Sensitivity• Sturdy Metal Design with Integrated Antenna• Works with All Standard Internet Applications• Interoperable with IEEE 802.11b (DSSS) 2.4GHz-Compliant Equipment• Clear Channel Assessment Increases Network Throughput• Hardware Buffer Chaining Provides High Performance While Reading andWriting Buffers• Capable of up to 128-Bit WEP• Free Technical Support—24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week for North AmericaOnly• 1-Year Limited Warranty1FeaturesThe Instant WirelessTM Wireless PCI CardTable of ContentsIntroduction 1The Instant WirelessTM Wireless PCI Card 1Features 1Package Contents 2System Requirements 2Planning Your Wireless Network 3Network Topology 3Roaming 3Installing the Drivers and Configuration Utility for Windows 95, 98, ME and 2000 4Before You Start 4Running the Auto Driver Installation 4Ad-Hoc Versus Infrastructure Mode 8Infrastructure Mode 9Ad-Hoc Mode 11Installing the Wireless PCI Card 14Installing the Drivers and Configuration Utility for Windows NT 15Overview 15Installing the Drivers for Windows NT 15Installing the Configuration Utility for Windows NT 29Configuration Utility 30Using the Configuration Utility 30Installing Network Protocols 37Troubleshooting 39Common Problems and Solutions 39Frequently Asked Questions 39Glossary 43Specifications 48Environmental 48Warranty Information 49Contact Information 50Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless PCI Card
32Planning Your Wireless NetworkNetwork TopologyA wireless LAN is exactly like a regular LAN, except that each computer in theLAN uses an Instant Wireless™ Wireless PCI Card to connect to the networkusing no wires. Computers in a wireless LAN must be configured to share thesame radio channel.The Instant Wireless™ Wireless PCI Card provides LAN access for wirelessworkstations. An integrated wireless and wired LAN is called an Infrastructureconfiguration. A group of Wireless PCI Card users and an Access Point com-pose a Basic Service Set (BSS). Each PC equipped with an Wireless PCI Cardin a BSS can talk to any computer in a wired LAN infrastructure via the AccessPoint.An infrastructure configuration extends the accessibility of an Wireless PCICard PC to a wired LAN, and doubles the effective wireless transmission rangefor two Wireless PCI Card PCs. Since the Access Point is able to forward datawithin its BSS, the effective transmission range in an infrastructure LAN isdoubled.The use of a unique ID in a Basic Service Set is essential.The Wireless LAN Infrastructure configuration is appropriate for enterprise-scale wireless access to a central database, or as a wireless application formobile users.Infrastructure mode also supports roaming capabilities for mobile users. Morethan one BSS can be configured as an Extended Service Set (ESS). This con-tinuous network allows users to roam freely within an ESS. All Wireless PCICard PCs within one Extende Service Set must be configured with the sameSSID.Selecting a feasible radio channel and optimum Access Point position is rec-ommended. Proper Access Point positioning combined with a clear radio sig-nal will greatly enhance performance.Roaming• One Instant WirelessTM Wireless PCI Card• One Setup CD-ROM (Manual on CD)• Quick Installation Guide and Registration Card (not shown)• One Free PCI Slot• Windows 95, 98, Millennium, NT or 2000 • 600 Kbytes of free disk space for utility and driver installationPackage ContentsSystem Requirements Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless PCI Card
542. The first tab across the top of the screen, labeled Install, should now be high-lighted. Click on the Install button. The following screen should appear,indicating that Windows is preparing the installation.If, for whatever reason, you need to abort or terminate the installation, pressthe Cancel button at any time during the installation. Otherwise the instal-lation will continue automatically.3. This screen will appear next, indicating that Windows is ready to continuethe installation. Click the Next button.Note: If you stop the installation before it has finished, you will have torun the installation completely again before installing your hardware.Installing the Drivers andConfiguration Utility for Windows95, 98, ME and 2000Your new Instant Wireless™ Wireless PCI Card comes with an automated soft-ware installation procedure for Windows 95, 98, Millennium, and 2000.Windows NT users should refer to the next section. This new procedure auto-matically installs the drivers and Configuration Utility beforeyou install yourhardware, so there’s no searching for the location of drivers. Again, this step istaken before installing your hardware. 1. Before installing your adapter, insert the Setup CD into your CD-ROM drive.Unless you have deactivated the auto-run feature of Windows, the followingscreen should appear automatically. If this screen does not appear automatically, you can access the installationby pressing the Start button and choosing Run. In the drop down box pro-vided, type D:\setup.exe (where D: is the letter of your CD-ROM drive).Alternately, double-click My Computer, and then double-click the CD-ROM drive where the Setup CD is located. Then double-click the Setup.exeicon that appears.Before You StartRunning the Auto Driver InstallationInstant WirelessTM Series Wireless PCI Card
6. When the following screen appears, choose either Infrastructure mode orAd-Hoc mode, depending on your needs. If you are unsure whether tochoose Infrastructure or Ad-Hoc, refer to the next section for more informa-tion. Once you have made your choice, click the Next button.764. The next screen that appears will be the Warranty Policy. Read the entirepolicy by pressing the Page Down button on your keyboard. Click on theYes button if you agree, or No if you disagree. Clicking No will terminatethe installation. If you click Yes, the installation will continue.5. The following window will appear next. To install the Configuration Utilityin the default directory (recommended), click the Next button. If you pre-fer to install the Utility in another directory, click the Browse button, locatethe preferred directory then click the Next button.Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless PCI Card
1. If you have chosen Infrastructure mode, the following screen will appear.If you have chosen Ad-Hoc mode, skip to the next section. You will be prompted to enter an SSID value in the box provided. TheSSID may be up to 32 characters in length and may include any characteron the keyboard. All SSID values on your wireless network must match. Ifyou are unsure, use the default value of “linksys”. Then, click the Next but-ton. Note: All characters are case-sensitive.2. The next screen to appear will be the Review Settings screen. Verify thatall the settings are correct and click the Next button to continue.9Unlike wired networks, wireless networks have two different modes in whichthey may be set up: Infrastructure and Ad-Hoc. Choosing between these twomodes depends on whether or not the wireless network needs to share data orperipherals with a wired network or not.If the computers on the wireless network need to be accessible by a wired net-work or need to share a peripheral, such as a printer, with the wired networkcomputers, the wireless network should be set up in the Infrastructure mode.The basis of Infrastructure mode centers around an access point, which servesas the main point of communications in a wireless network. Access pointstransmit data to PCs equipped with wireless network card, which can roamwithin a certainradial range ofthe access point.Multiple accesspoints can bearranged to workin succession toextend the roam-ing range, andcan be set up tocommunicatewith your Ethernethardware as well. If the wireless network is relatively small and needs to share resources onlywith the other computers on the wireless network, then the Ad-Hoc mode canbe used. Ad-Hoc mode allows computers equipped with wireless transmittersand receivers to communicate directly with each other, eliminating the need foran access point. The drawback of this mode is in the fact that, in Ad-Hoc mode,wireless-equipped computers are not able to communicate with computers ona wired network. And,of course, communica-tion between the wire-less-equipped comput-ers is limited by the dis-tance and interferencedirectly between them.8Infrastructure ModeAd-Hoc versus Infrastructure ModeInstant WirelessTM Series Wireless PCI Card
113. The following screen will appear, indicating that all of the appropriate filesare being copied onto your drive. Click the Cancel button if you need tostop the installation for any reason. 4. Once Windows has finished copying the necessary files, the followingscreen will appear. In order for the drivers to be installed properly, youmust restart your computer. If you choose to do it now, select Yes, I wantto restart my computer now. If you do not want to do it now, choose No,I will restart my computer later. Once you have made your choice, clickthe Finish button to continue. 101. If you have chosen Ad-Hoc mode, the following screen will appear. If youhave chosen Infrastructure mode, refer to the previous section. You will be prompted to choose a Channel from the list provided. Allcomputers on your wireless network must be using the same channel inorder to communicate with each other. If you are unsure about which chan-nel to use, select the default channel (Channel 6). Once you have chosenyour channel, click the Next button.Ad-Hoc ModeNote: Restart the computer and go to the section called Installingthe Wireless PCI Card for further instructions.Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless PCI Card
4. The following screen will appear, indicating that all of the appropriate filesare being copied onto your drive. Click the Cancel button if you need tostop the installation for any reason. 5. Once Windows has finished copying the necessary files, the followingscreen will appear. In order for the drivers to be installed properly, youmust restart your computer. If you choose to do it now, select Yes, I wantto restart my computer now. If you do not want to do it now, choose No,I will restart my computer later. Once you have made your choice, clickthe Finish button to continue. 2. The following screen should appear. You will be prompted to enter an SSIDvalue in the box provided. All SSID values on your wireless network mustmatch. If you are unsure, use the default value of “linksys”. Then, click theNext button.3. The next screen to appear will be the Review Settings screen. Verify thatall the settings are correct and click the Next button to continue.1312Note: Restart the computer and go to the section calledInstalling the Wireless PCI Card for further instructions.Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless PCI Card
Installing the Drivers andConfiguration Utility for Windows NTThe installation of the Wireless PCI Card is different for users of Windows NTbecause it is not a Plug-and-Play(PnP) system, which means it will not auto-matically detect the presence of the Wireless PCI Card when it is inserted.Consequently, the order of the installation is different. The steps involved inthe installation are different, as well. If you are using any other operating sys-tem than Windows NT, stop here and refer to the section called Installing theDrivers and Configuration Utility for Windows 95, 98, ME, and 2000. Windows NT will setup the Wireless PCI Card differently depending uponwhether you’ve previously installed network hardware or not. Please follow theinstructions appropriate for you.If You Have Never Installed Network Hardware:1. Windows NT is not a Plug-and-Play Operating System and will not auto-matically identify the Wireless PCI Card. To begin setup, insert the SetupUtility CD into your CD-ROM drive. If the Setup Utility CD attempts toautorun, exit out of the utility to the desktop. Then select Settings from theStart Menu and bring up theControl Panel. Then, double-click on the Network icon.OverviewInstalling the Wireless PCI Card 1. Turn off your desktop PC.2. Open your PC case and locate an available PCI slot on the motherboard.Check with your computer manufacturer for instructions. 3. Slide the Wireless PCI Card into the PCI slot. Make sure that all of itspins are touching the slot's contacts. You may have to apply a bit of pressureto slide the card all the way in. After the card is firmly in place, secure itsfastening tab to your PC's chassis with a mounting screw. Then, close yourPC.4. Attach the external antenna to the card’s antenna port.5. Power on your desktop PC.The Hardware Installation is complete. Your Wireless PCI Card is set upand ready for use. You may continue reading to learn about the card’sConfiguration Utility in the Configuration Utility section.Installing the Wireless PCI Card In Your Desktop PC1514Installing the Drivers for Windows NTInstant WirelessTM Series Wireless PCI Card
4. The next screen will not show any Network Adapters installed on your sys-tem, which signifies that no network hardware has been previously installed.Click the Select from list button to continue.5.A list of adapterswill appear on thenext screen. Youwill not want toselect one of these,however, as yourinstallation disk(Setup Utility CD)has all of the appro-priate drivers. Clickthe Have Disk but-ton to continue.6. When the InsertDisk screen appears,type “D:\WINNT”in the field provided.Then, click the OKbutton to continue.2. Windows will notify you that Networking is not installed. Click the Yes but-ton to continue. (If Networking is already installed, proceed to “If You HaveInstalled Network Hardware Before”.)3. Installation will begin and you will reach the screen shown below. You willwant to select the box that reads Wired to the network since you are addingnetwork hardware. Then, click the Next button to continue.1716Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless PCI Card
9.The next screen will show a list of network protocols. While the TCP/IPProtocol is already selected by default, you should check with your networkadministrator before installing any additional network protocols. Click theNext button to continue.10. On the screen showing Network Services, the selections are automaticallymade. Click the Next button to continue.7.The Select OEM Option screen will display all available adapters. Makesure that Instant Wireless PCI Card is highlighted and click the OKbutton to continue.8. On the next screen, make sure there is a check mark in the box besideInstant Wireless PCI Card. Then click the Next button to continue.1918Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless PCI Card
13. You will now reach the screen shown here. This is called the Resources &Properties screen. Your System Administrator if you have one, will giveyou all the information you need concerning these settings. Adjust the set-tings as are appropriate and click the OK button.14. After setting the Resource and Properties fields, Windows NT will begininstalling the network components you previously selected. You may beasked if you would like to configure the protocols with a DHCP server onyour network. If this screen comes up, check with your NetworkAdministrator before clicking the Yes or No button to continue. This set-ting may also be changed at a later time.11. At this point, Windows NT will be ready to start installing NetworkingComponents. After verifying your selections, click the Next button to con-tinue. Or, click the Back button to make any necessary corrections.12. Windows NT mayrequest further filesat this point. Type“D:\WINNT” inthe field providedand click theContinue button. If files are stillrequested, insertyour Windows NTCD into your CD-ROM drive andtype “D:\i386”(where “D” repre-sents your CD-ROM drive). Then,click the Continuebutton.2120Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless PCI Card
17. On this screen, you will enter your Computer Name, which is how yourcomputer will be identified on the network. You will also assign the com-puter to either a Workgroup or Domain, whichever is appropriate. TheComputer Name must be different than any other on the Workgroup orDomain. Click the Next button. 18. Once the drivers have been installed, the following screen may appear. 15. Now, the network components will finish installing. If a screen similar tothat shown here appears, be sure to check with your network administratorbefore making ANY changes and then click the Next button to continue.16. At this point, Windows NT will let you know that it is ready to start thenetwork. If you’d like to stop the procedure, click the Back button. To con-tinue, click the Next button.2322Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless PCI Card
2. To add the Wireless PCI Card,you will want to click theAdapters tab and then clickthe Add button to continue.3. A list of adapterswill appear on thenext screen. You willnot want to selectone of these, howev-er, as your installa-tion disk (SetupUtility CD) has allof the appropriatedrivers. Click theHave Disk button tocontinue.Make sure that the Instant Wireless™ Wireless PCI Card appears in theAdapter window. Then, unless you need to assign a static IP address, selectObtain an IP address from a DHCP server and click the OK button. Ifyou need to assign a static IP address, select Specify and IP Address, andenter the appropriate values under IP Address, Gateway Mask, and DefaultGateway. When you have made your choice, click the OK button. Windows NT has now completed installing the network. Remove the SetupCD from the CD-ROM drive and click the Finish button to continue. Thenrestart your computer. The Driver Installation is complete. Continue now to the section calledInstalling the Configuration Utility for Windows NT.If You Have Installed Network Hardware Before:1. Windows NT is not a Plug-and-Play Operating System and will not auto-matically identify the Wireless PCI Card. To begin setup, insert the SetupUtility CD into your CD-ROM drive and then select Settings from the StartMenu and bring up the Control Panel. Then, double-click on the Networkicon.NOTE: After you have installed the Wireless PCI Card, reapplythe Windows NT service pack.2524Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless PCI Card
267. The Wireless PCI Card hasnow been installed. You willsee it added onto this screen.Click the Close button tocontinue and then restartyour computer. Once the installation has com-pleted, the following screenmay appear, depending on theconfiguration of your comput-er. NOTE: After youhave installed theWireless PCI Card,reapply the WindowsNT service pack.4. On the Insert Disk screen, type “D:\WINNT” in the field provided. Then,click the OK button to continue.5. The Select OEM Option screen will display all available adapters. Makesure that Instant Wireless PCI Card is highlighted and click the OKbutton to continue.6. You will now reach the screenshown below. This is calledthe Resources & Propertiesscreen. Your SystemAdministrator will give youall the information you needconcerning these settings. Ifyou are the SystemAdministrator, or just needmore information concern-ing these settings, refer to thesection called Configuringthe Wireless PCI Card forWindows NT. Adjust thesettings as are appropriateand click the OK button.Instant WirelessTM Series27Wireless PCI Card
Instant WirelessTM SeriesOnce you have restarted your computer, the drivers for the Card should loadsuccessfully. Now it is necessary to install the Configuration Utility. Insertthe Setup CD in the CD-ROM drive. Unless you have deactivated the auto-run feature of Windows, the following screen should appear automatically. If this screen does not appear automatically, you can access the installation bypressing the Start button and choosing Run. In the drop down box provided,type D:\setup.exe (where D: is the letter of your CD-ROM drive). Alternately, double-click My Computer, and then double-click the CD-ROMdrive where the Setup CD is located. Then double-click the Setup.exe iconthat appears. Follow the instructions that appear on your screen. If you haveany questions or difficulty, refer to the section called Installing the Driversand Configuration Utility for Windows 95, 98, ME and 2000.If the window does appear, make sure that the Instant Wireless™ WirelessPCI Card appears in the Adapter window. Then, unless you need to assign astatic IP address, select Obtain an IP address from a DHCP server andclick the OK button. If you need to assign a static IP address, select Specifyand IP Address, and enter the appropriate values under IP Address,Gateway Mask, and Default Gateway. When you have made your choice,click the OK button. Windows NT has now completed installing the drivers. Remove the Setup CDfrom the CD-ROM drive and click the Finish button to continue. Then restartyour computer. The Driver Installation is complete. Continue now to the section calledInstalling the Configuration Utility for Windows NT.Installing the Configuration Utility for Windows NT2928Wireless PCI Card
30LINK INFOThe Link Info screen provides information about the current link between theWireless PCI Card and the wireless Access Point.The Current Channel field shows to what channel the Wireless PCI Card is set.The Current Transmit Rate field shows the transfer rate in megabits per second.The Throughput fields show the rate at which data is transferred and received inBytes per second.The Link Quality field will display a bar indicating the percentage, between 0 and100 percent, of the quality of the link. The higher the percentage, the better thelink. The Signal Strength field will display a bar indicating the percentage, between 0and 100 percent, of the strength of the signal. The higher the percentage, thestronger the signal. (This is to be used as a guide only and not an indicator truesignal strength or quality.)Note: When inAd-Hoc mode,Link Quality andSignal Strengthindicators willnot be available.Configuration UtilityThe Configuration Utility is provided to allow you further customization ofthe Wireless PCI Card and your wireless network.Once the Configuration Utility has been installed, an icon will be placed in thesystem tray (next to the clock) when the Wireless PCI Card is inserted. This icon (which looks like asmall computer) serves two pur-poses. Double-clicking on theicon will open the ConfigurationUtility. The other function of the icon is to indicate the status of your wirelessconnection. The icon does this by changing color. The different colors eachindicate a different quality of wireless connection. The chart below detailswhat the colors are and what each one means.You can also start the Configuration Utility by pressing the Start button andselecting Wireless PCI Card. Then choose Configuration Utility. You will seethe Wireless LAN Configuration Utility screen. This utility is divided into fourparts: Link Info, Configuration, Site Survey, Encryption, Advanced, andAbout. It is recommended that you change all configuration settings for yourWireless PCI Card using this utility and not under the Network Properties sec-tion in your Control Panel.Instant WirelessTM SeriesUsing the Configuration UtilityNote: In Ad-Hoc mode, the icon will always appear green. When inthis mode, the icon color does not apply to the Link Quality and SignalStrength of the wireless connection.31Wireless PCI Card
3332The Channel setting specifies the channel used in wireless communication andshould be set to the same channel as the other points in the wireless network.This setting can only be adjusted in Ad-Hoc mode.ENCRYPTIONThe 64-bit or 128-bit WEP keys can be generated from a user-definedpassphrase or entered manually.An acronym for Wired Equivalent Privacy, WEP is an encryption scheme usedto protect your wireless data communications. WEP uses a combination of 64-bit or 128-bit keys to provide access control to your network and encryptionsecurity for every data transmission. To decode a data transmission, each pointin a network must use an identical 64-bit or 128-bit key. Higher encryptionlevels mean higher levels of security, but, due to the complexity of the encryp-tion, they may mean decreased network performance. Encryption (WEP) can be Disabled, or set to 64-bit or 128-bit encryption asa hexadecimal number for each key that you wish to encrypt. Make sure thatthe values entered in these fields for WEP is identical to the encryption keysused on the other wireless devices on the network. CONFIGURATIONThe Configuration screen allows you to customize the settings for the WirelessPCI Card and your wireless network. Once these are set, you can save theseconfiguration settings with the Profile function. Click Create to save your con-figuration settings and Activate to use these settings. To delete settings youhave saved, use the Remove button.The Wireless Mode setting determines the architecture of your wireless net-work. Select Ad-Hoc or Infrastructure Mode depending on your networktype. The Ad-Hoc mode is used for a simple peer-to-peer network and allowsthe sharing of local resources only between Wireless PCI Cards without need-ing a wireless Access Point. The Infrastructure mode allows a wireless net-work to be integrated into an existed, wired network through an Access Point.Infrastructure networks permit roaming between Access Points while main-taining a connection to all network resources.An acronym for Service Set Identifier, SSID is the unique name shared amongall points in a wireless network. The SSID must be identical for all points in thenetwork. It is case sensitive and must not exceed 32 characters.The Transfer Rate field shows the current transfer rate for the Wireless PCICard. To optimizeperformance andrange, the TX Rateshould be set toFully Automatic,which will automati-cally adjust thetransfer speed forbest performanceand longest range.Power Saving Mode,or PS Mode,enables or disablesthe power savingfeatures of yourWireless PCI Card. Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless PCI Card
The Default Key can then be set by selecting any of the four keys that have beenentered in the Manual Entry fields. That key will then be the one used auto-matically by the Wireless PCI Card.Once you have chosen your key encryption method and entered either thePassphrase or manual key, click the Apply Changes button Then click the OKbutton and the encryption portion of the setup is complete. To undo thesechanges, click the Undo Changes button.You can also restore the card’s default settings by clicking the Restore Defaultsbutton.ENCRYPTIONThe Site Survey tab will show you that available Access Points and their fea-tures. Click on the desired Access Point, then click Connect to connect orSearch to search for more Access Points. Click OK when you are finished.Instant WirelessTM SeriesNote: Make sure that the values entered in these fields for WEP are identicalto the encryption keys used on the other wireless devices on the network. 34ADVANCEDThe Advanced tab allows you to set the Fragmentation Threshold, theRTS/CTS Threshold, and the Preamble Type. The Fragmentation ThresholdValue indicates how much of the network resources are devoted to recoveringpacket errors. The value should remain at its default setting of 2,436. If youexperience high packet error rates, you can decrease this value, but it will like-ly decrease overall network performance. Only minor modifications of thisvalue are recommended. The RTS Threshold Value should remain at its default setting of 2,437. A pre-amble is a signal used to synchronize the transmission timing between two ormore systems. A series of transmission pulses is sent before the data to indi-cate that "someone is about to transmit data". This ensures that systems receiv-ing the information correctly interpret when the data transmission starts. Security is used for WEP only. By selecting Deny Unencrypted DataFrames, all unencrypted data will not be seen. For Authentication Type, youmay choose between Open System or Shared Key. . 35Wireless PCI Card
Installing Network ProtocolsProtocols are necessary for computers to communicate on your network. 1. From the Start Menu, select Settings and bring up the Control Panel. Fromthe Control Panel, double-click on the Network icon.2. Select the Wireless PCI Card from the list and click the Add button.37Shared Key is when both the sender and recipient share a secret key. Both unitsuse this key for an extended length of time, sometimes indefinitely. Any eaves-dropper that discovers the key may decipher all packets until the key ischanged.Open System, the default setting, is when the sender and the recipient do notshare a secret key. Each party generates its own key-pair and asks the receiverto accept the (usually randomly) generated key. Once accepted, this key is usedfor a short time only, then a new key is generated and agreed upon. Even if thesecret key is discovered, only a small amount of data may be decrypted. The Preamble Mode should be set to Long (if in a “noisy” network environ-ment), Short (if the environment is clear), or click OK to complete the con-figurationABOUTThe About screen shows the release information for the Driver Version,Configuration Utility Version, and Firmware Version. You can also connectdirectly to the Linksys web site with your active internet connection by click-ing the button showing the internet address at the bottom of the screen.36Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless PCI Card
393. Highlight Protocol and clickthe Add button.4. Select Microsoftfrom the list of“Manufacturers”and TCP/IP fromthe list of “NetworkProtocols” andclick the OK but-ton.5. Repeat steps two through four to install other protocols such as NetBEUI orIPX/SPX.From the screen in step two,you can also press theProperties button. From thisscreen, you can verify thatthe drivers are working underEnhanced Mode on theDriver Type tab or reconfig-ure the card on the Advancedtab.At this point, you mustrestart your computer.Installation is complete.38TroubleshootingThis chapter provides solutions to problems usually occurring during the instal-lation and operation of the Wireless PCI Card. Read the description below tosolve your problems. If you can’t find an answer here, check the Linksys web-site at www.linksys.com.1.The Wireless PCI Card does not work properly.• Reinsert the Wireless PCI Card into your PC’s PCI slot.• Right click on My Computer and select Properties. Select the device man-ager and click on the Network Adapter. You will find the Wireless PCI Cardif it is installed successfully. If you see the yellow exclamation mark, theresources are conflicting. You will see the status of the Wireless PCI Card. Ifthere is a yellow question mark, please check the following:• Make sure your PC has a free IRQ.• Make sure you have inserted the right card and installed the properdriver.If the Wireless PCI Card does not function after attempting the above steps,remove the card and do the following:• Uninstall the driver software from your PC.• Restart your PC and repeat the hardware and software installation asspecified in this User Guide.3.I cannot communicate with the other computers linked via Ethernet inthe Infrastructure configuration.• Make sure that the notebook PC to which the Wireless PCI Card is associat-ed is powered on.• Make sure that your Wireless PCI Card is configured on the same channeland with the same security options as with the other computers in theInfrastructure configuration.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 overa network. Consult the application's user guide to determine if it supports oper-ation over a network.Common Problems and SolutionsInstant WirelessTM Series Wireless PCI Card Frequently Asked Questions
factors as signal strength and quality, as well as the message load currentlybeing carried by each Access Point and the distance of each Access Point to thewired backbone. Based on that information, the node next selects the rightAccess Point and registers its address. Communications between end node andhost computer can then be transmitted up and down the backbone.As the user moves on, the end nodes RF transmitter regularly checks the sys-tem to determine whether it is in touch with the original Access Point orwhether it should seek a new one. When a node no longer receives acknowl-edgment from its original Access Point, it undertakes a new search. Upon find-ing a new Access Point, it then reregisters, and the communication process con-tinues.What is BSS ID?A specific Ad hoc LAN is called a Basic Service Set (BSS). Computers in aBSS must be configured with the same BSS ID.What is ESS ID?An Infrastructure configuration could also support roaming capability formobile workers. More than one BSS can be configured as an Extended ServiceSet (ESS). Users within an ESS could Roam freely between BSSs while servedas a continuous connection to the network wireless stations and Access Pointswithin an ESS must be configured with the same ESS ID and the same radiochannel.What is ISM band?The FCC and their counterparts outside of the U.S. have set aside bandwidthfor unlicensed use in the ISM (Industrial, Scientific and Medical) band.Spectrum in the vicinity of 2.4 GHz, in particular, is being made availableworldwide. This presents a truly revolutionary opportunity to place convenienthigh-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 thecase of narrowband transmission, but the trade off produces a signal that is, ineffect, louder and thus easier to detect, provided that the receiver knows theparameters of the spread-spectrum signal being broadcast. If a receiver is nottuned to the right frequency, a spread-spectrum signal looks like backgroundnoise. There are two main alternatives, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum(DSSS) and Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS).41Can I play multiplayer games with other members 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 user guide for more information.What is IEEE 802.11b standard?The IEEE 802.11b Wireless LAN standards subcommittee, which is formulat-ing a standard for the industry. The objective is to enable wireless LAN hard-ware from different manufacturers to communicate. What IEEE 802.11b features are supported?The product supports the following IEEE 802.11b functions: • CSMA/CA plus Acknowledge protocol • Multi-Channel Roaming • Automatic Rate Selection • RTS/CTS feature • Fragmentation • Power Management What is Ad-Hoc?An Ad-Hoc wireless LAN is a group of computers, each with a WLAN adapter,connected as an independent wireless LAN. Ad hoc wireless LAN is applica-ble at a departmental scale for a branch or SOHO operation.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 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 Access Point. Before using the roaming function, the workstation mustmake sure that it is the same channel number with the Access Point of dedicat-ed coverage area. To achieve true seamless connectivity, the wireless LAN must incorporate anumber of different functions. Each node and Access Point, for example, mustalways acknowledge receipt of each message. Each node must maintain contactwith the wireless network even when not actually transmitting data. Achievingthese functions simultaneously requires a dynamic RF networking technologythat links Access Points and nodes. In such a system, the user’s end node under-takes a search for the best possible access to the system. First, it evaluates such40Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless PCI Card
GlossaryAd-hoc Network - An ad-hoc network is a wireless network or other small net-work in which some of the network devices are part of the network only for theduration of a communications session while in some close proximity to the restof the network.Default Gateway - The router used to forward all traffic that is not addressedto a station within the local subnet.DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) - A protocol that lets networkadministrators manage centrally and automate the assignment of InternetProtocol (IP) addresses in an organization's network. Using the Internet's set ofprotocol (TCP/IP), each machine that can connect to the Internet needs aunique 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 IPaddress must be entered. DHCP lets a network administrator supervise and dis-tribute IP addresses from a central point and automatically sends a new IPaddress 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 addresswill be valid for a computer. The lease time can vary depending on how long auser is likely to require the Internet connection at a particular location. It's espe-cially useful in education and other environments where users change fre-quently. Using very short leases, DHCP can dynamically reconfigure networksin which there are more computers than there are available IP addresses. DHCP supports static addresses for computers containing Web servers thatneed a permanent IP address. DNS - The domain name system (DNS) is the way that Internet domain nameare located and translated into Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. A domain nameis a meaningful and easy-to-remember "handle" for an Internet address. Wireless PCI Card What is DSSS? What is FHSS? And what are their differences?Frequency-Hopping Spread-Spectrum (FHSS) uses a narrowband carrier thatchanges frequency in a pattern that is known to both transmitter and receiver.Properly synchronized, the net effect is to maintain a single logical channel. Toan unintended receiver, FHSS appears to be short-duration impulse noise.Direct-Sequence Spread-Spectrum (DSSS) generates a redundant bit patternfor each bit to be transmitted. This bit pattern is called a chip (or chippingcode). The longer the chip, the greater the probability that the original data canbe recovered. Even if one or more bits in the chip are damaged during trans-mission, statistical techniques embedded in the radio can recover the originaldata without -the need for retransmission. To an unintended receiver, DSSSappears as low power wideband noise and is rejected (ignored) by most nar-rowband receivers. Would the information be intercepted while transmitting on air?WLAN features two-fold protection in security. On the hardware side, as withDirect Sequence Spread Spectrum technology, it has the inherent security fea-ture of scrambling. On the software side, WLAN series offer the encryptionfunction (WEP) to enhance security and Access Control. Users can set it updepending upon their needs.Can Instant WirelessTM products support printer sharing?Instant WirelessTM products perform the same function as LAN products.Therefore, Instant Wireless™ products can work with NetWare, Windows2000, 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 bitshared key algorithm, as described in the IEEE 802.11b standard. 42Instant WirelessTM Series43
44IP 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 orreceiver of information that is sent in packet across the Internet. When yourequest an HTML page or send e-mail, the Internet Protocol part of TCP/IPincludes your IP address in the message (actually, in each of the packets if morethan one is required) and sends it to the IP address that is obtained by lookingup the domain name in the Uniform Resource Locator you requested or in thee-mail address you're sending a note to. At the other end, the recipient can seethe IP address of the Web page requestor or the e-mail sender and can respondby sending another message using the IP address it received. IPCONIFG - A utility that provides for querying, defining and managing IPaddresses within a network. A commonly used utility, under Windows NT and2000, for configuring networks with static IP addresses.ISP - An ISP (Internet service provider) is a company that provides individualsand companies access to the Internet and other related services such as Web sitebuilding and virtual hosting. LAN - A local area network (LAN) is a group of computers and associateddevices that share a common communications line and typically share theresources of a single processor or server within a small geographic area (forexample, within an office building). MAC Address - The MAC (Media Access Control) address is your computer'sunique hardware number. mIRC - mIRC runs under Windows and provides a graphical interface for log-ging onto IRC servers and listing, joining and leaving channels.Network Mask - also known as the “Subnet Mask”.PCMCIA - The PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card InternationalAssociation) is an industry group organized in 1989 to promote standards for acredit card-size memory or I/O device that would fit into a personal computer,usually a notebook or laptop computer. Ping - (Packet INternet Groper) An Internet utility used to determine whethera particular IP address is online. It is used to test and debug a network by send-ing out a packet and waiting for a response.Wireless PCI Card DSSS - Also known as “Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum”, this is a variety ofradio transmission methods that continuously change frequencies or signal pat-terns. Direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS), which is used in CDMA, mul-tiplies the data bits by a very fast pseudo-random bit pattern (PN sequence) that"spreads" the data into a large coded stream that takes the full bandwidth of thechannel Dynamic IP Address - An IP address that is automatically assigned to a clientstation in a TCP/IP network, typically by a DHCP server. Network devices thatserve multiple users, such as servers and printers, are usually assigned static IPaddresses. ESS - More than one BSS in a network.FHSS - Also known as “Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum”. Frequencyhopping spread spectrum (FHSS) continuously changes the center frequency ofa conventional carrier several times per second according to a pseudo-randomset of channels, while chirp spread spectrum changes the carrier frequency.Because a fixed frequency is not used, illegal monitoring of spread spectrumsignals is extremely difficult, if not downright impossible depending on theparticular method. Firmware - Programming that is inserted into programmable read-only mem-ory (programmable read-only memory), thus becoming a permanent part of acomputing device. IEEE - The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. The IEEEdescribes itself as "the world's largest technical professional society -- promot-ing the development and application of electrotechnology and allied sciencesfor 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 andinternational standards. The organization publishes a number of journals, hasmany local chapters, and several large societies in special areas, such as theIEEE Computer Society. Infrastructure - An infrastructure network is a wireless network or other smallnetwork in which the wireless network devices are made a part of the networkthrough the Access Point which connects them to the rest of the network.Instant WirelessTM Series45
UTP - Unshielded twisted pair is the most common kind of copper telephonewiring. Twisted pair is the ordinary copper wire that connects home and manybusiness computers to the telephone company. To reduce crosstalk or electro-magnetic induction between pairs of wires, two insulated copper wires aretwisted around each other. Each signal on twisted pair requires both wires.Since some telephone sets or desktop locations require multiple connections,twisted pair is sometimes installed in two or more pairs, all within a singlecable. WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) - A data privacy mechanism based on a 64-bit shared key algorithm, as described in the IEEE 802.11 standard. WINIPCFG - Configuration utility based on the Win32 API for querying,defining and managing IP addresses within a network. A commonly used util-ity, under Windows 95, 98, and Millennium, for configuring networks withstatic IP addresses.Wireless PCI Card 46RJ-45 - A connector similar to a telephone connector that holds up to eightwires, used for connecting Ethernet devices.Roaming - The ability to use a wireless device and be able to move from oneaccess point’s range to another without losing the connection.Static IP Address - A permanent IP address that is assigned to a node in aTCP/IP network. Subnet 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 IPaddress to turn part of the host ID address field into a field for subnets. TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) - A method (protocol) used along withthe Internet Protocol (Internet Protocol) to send data in the form of messageunits between computers over the Internet. While IP takes care of handling theactual delivery of the data, TCP takes care of keeping track of the individualunits of data (called packet) that a message is divided into for efficient routingthrough the Internet. TCP/IP - Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) is thebasic communication language or protocol of the Internet. It can also be usedas a communications protocol in a private network (either an intranet or anextranet). When you are set up with direct access to the Internet, your comput-er is provided with a copy of the TCP/IP program just as every other computerthat you may send messages to or get information from also has a copy ofTCP/IP. UDP (User Datagram Protocol) - A communications method (protocol) thatoffers a limited amount of service when messages are exchanged between com-puters in a network that uses the Internet Protocol (IP). UDP is an alternativeto the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and, together with IP, is sometimesreferred to as UDP/IP. Like the Transmission Control Protocol, UDP uses theInternet Protocol to actually get a data unit (called a datagram) from one com-puter to another. Unlike TCP, however, UDP does not provide the service ofdividing a message into packets (datagrams) and reassembling it at the otherend. Specifically, UDP doesn't provide sequencing of the packets that the dataarrives in. This means that the application program that uses UDP must be ableto make sure that the entire message has arrived and is in the right order.Network applications that want to save processing time because they have verysmall data units to exchange (and therefore very little message reassembling todo) may prefer UDP to TCP. 47Instant WirelessTM Series
SpecificationsStandards: IEEE 802.11b Channels: 11 Channels (US, Canada)13 Channels (Europe)14 Channels (Japan)Operating Range:Indoors: up to 30M (100 ft.) @ up to 11 Mbpsup to 50M (165 ft.) @ up to 5.5 Mbpsup to 70M (230 ft.) @ up to 2 Mbps up to 91M (300 ft.) @ up to 1 MpbsOutdoors: up to 152M (500 ft.) @ up to 11 Mbpsup to 270M (885 ft.) @ up to 5.5 Mbpsup to 396M (1300 ft.) @ up to 2 Mbpsup to 457M (1500 ft.) @ up to 1 MbpsData Rate (Mbps): up to 11Mbps (with automatic scale back)LEDs: Link, PowerDimensions: 4.5” x 2” x .3” (115mm x 54mm x 8mm)Unit Weight: 1.65 oz. (47g)Power: 3.3V or 5V DC, 275mA Tx, 225mA Rx, 200mA StandbyCertifications: FCC Class B, CE Mark Commercial Operating Temp.: 32ºF to 131ºF (0ºC to 55ºC)Storage Temp.: -4ºF to 158ºF (-20ºC to 70ºC)Operating Hum.: 0% to 90% Non-CondensingStorage Hum.: 0% to 95% Non-Condensing48Warranty InformationBE SURE TO HAVE YOUR PROOF OF PURCHASE AND A BARCODEFROM THE PRODUCT'S PACKAGING ON HAND WHEN CALLING.RETURN REQUESTS CANNOT BE PROCESSED WITHOUT PROOF OFPURCHASE. IN NO EVENT SHALL LINKSYS’ LIABILITY EXCEED THE PRICE PAIDFOR THE PRODUCT FROM DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDEN-TAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THE USEOF 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 PAYSFOR UPS GROUND ONLY. ALL CUSTOMERS LOCATED OUTSIDE OFTHE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND CANADA SHALL BE HELDRESPONSIBLE FOR SHIPPING AND HANDLING CHARGES. PLEASECALL LINKSYS FOR MORE DETAILS.Wireless PCI Card Environmental Instant WirelessTM Series 49
Contact InformationFor help with the installation or operation of this product, contact LinksysCustomer Support at one of the phone numbers or Internet addresses below.Sales Information 800-546-5797 (LINKSYS)Tech Support 866-242-8558RMA Issues 949-261-1288Fax 949-261-8868Email support@linksys.comWeb http://www.linksys.comFTP Site ftp.linksys.comInstant WirelessTM Series50
© Copyright 2001 Linksys,All Rights Reserved.http://www.linksys.com

Navigation menu