Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction Welcome What’s in this Guide? Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network Network Topology Roaming Network Layout Chapter 3: Getting to Know the Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter The LED Indicators Chapter 4: Setting up the Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter Using the Setup Wizard Chapter 5: Connecting the Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter...
Page 5
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter Figure 6-12: Export a Profile Figure 6-13: Create a New Profile Figure 6-14: Enter Profile Name Figure 6-15: Wireless Network for New Profile Figure 6-16: Network Settings for New Profile Figure 6-17: Wireless Mode for New Profile Figure 6-18: Ad-Hoc Mode Settings for New Profile Figure 6-19: Wireless Security for New Profile Figure 6-20: Wireless Security - WEP for New Profile...
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter Chapter 1: Introduction Welcome Thank you for choosing the Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter. With this Adapter, your wireless networking experience will be faster and easier than ever. network: a series of computers or devices How does the Adapter do this? Like all wireless products, the Adapter allows for greater range and mobility connected for the purpose of data sharing, within your wireless network, whether it’s using the Wireless-A (802.11a), Wireless-G (802.11g), or Wireless-B...
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter What’s in this Guide? This user guide covers the steps for setting up and using the Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter. • Chapter 1: Introduction This chapter describes the Adapter’s applications and this User Guide. •...
Page 8
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter • Appendix G: Regulatory Information This appendix supplies the Adapter’s regulatory information. • Appendix H: Contact Information This appendix provides contact information for a variety of Linksys resources, including Technical Support. Chapter 1: Introduction What’s in this Guide?
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network Network Topology topology: the physical layout of a network. A wireless network is a group of computers, each equipped with one wireless adapter. Computers in a wireless network must be configured to share the same radio channel. Several PCs equipped with wireless cards or network: a series of computers or devices adapters can communicate with one another to form an ad-hoc network.
Page 10
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter When you wish to connect your wired network with your wireless network, network ports on access points and wireless routers can be connected to any of Linksys's switches or routers. With these, and many other, Linksys products, your networking options are limitless. Go to the Linksys website at www.linksys.com/international for more information about products that work with the Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter Chapter 3: Getting to Know the Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter The LED Indicators The Adapter's LEDs indicate the status of the Adapter’s power and wireless connection. Figure 3-1: Front Panel Power Green. The Power LED lights up when the Adapter is powered on. Link Green.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter Chapter 4: Setting up the Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter The Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter Setup Wizard will guide you through the installation procedure. The Setup Wizard will install the driver and Wireless Network Monitor, as well as configure the Adapter. NOTE: You must run the Setup Wizard before connecting the Adapter to your computer.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter 3. The Setup Wizard will ask you to choose a network type. Click the 5GHz or 2.4GHz radio button if you will connect to 802.11a networks, as well as 802.11g and/or 802.11b networks. Click the 5GHz only radio button if you will connect only to 802.11a networks.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter 5. If you chose Infrastructure Mode, go to Step 6 now. If you chose Ad-Hoc Mode, the Ad-Hoc Mode Settings screen will appear. Select the correct operating channel for your wireless network. The channel you choose should match the channel set on the other devices in your wireless network.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter 6. Select the method of security you want to use: WEP, WPA-Personal, WPA-Enterprise, RADIUS, or LEAP. WEP stands for Wired Equivalent Privacy, and WPA stands for Wi-Fi Protected Access. WPA is a stronger security method than WEP. RADIUS stands for Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service, and LEAP stands for Lightweight Extensible Authentication Protocol.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter 7. Proceed to the appropriate section for your security method: WEP, WPA-Personal, WPA-Enterprise, RADIUS, or LEAP. WEP - For 802.11g and/or 802.11b networking, select 64-bit or 128-bit encryption from the drop-down menu. For 802.11a networking, select 64-bit, 128-bit, or 152-bit encryption (152-bit is available only for 802.11a networking).
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter WPA Personal WPA Personal offers two encryption methods, TKIP and AES, with dynamic encryption keys. Select TKIP or AES for encryption. Then enter a Passphrase that is 8-63 characters in length. Encryption - Select the type of algorithm you want to use, TKIP or AES, from the Encryption drop-down menu.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter WPA Enterprise WPA Enterprise features WPA security used in coordination with a RADIUS server. (This should only be used when a RADIUS server is connected to the Router.) WPA Enterprise offers two authentication methods, EAP- TLS and PEAP, as well as two encryption methods, TKIP and AES, with dynamic encryption keys.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter RADIUS RADIUS features use of a RADIUS server. (This should only be used when a RADIUS server is connected to the Router.) RADIUS offers two authentication types: EAP-TLS and PEAP. Authentication - Select the authentication method your network is using, EAP-TLS or PEAP. EAP-TLS If you selected EAP-TLS, enter the login name of your wireless network in the Login Name field.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter LEAP If you selected LEAP, then enter the Username and Password that will authenticate you on your wireless network. Username - Enter the username used for authentication. Password - Enter the password used for authentication. Confirm - Enter the password again.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter 9. At this point, you may see a Digital Signature Not Found screen may appear, indicating that a digital signature was not found. The Adapter’s software has been tested and found to work successfully with Windows 2000. Click the Yes button to continue.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter Chapter 5: Connecting the Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter NOTE: You must run the Setup Wizard before connecting the Adapter. Inserting the Adapter into Your Notebook 1. Power down your notebook computer. 2. Locate an available CardBus slot on your notebook computer. 3.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter Chapter 6: Using the Wireless Network Monitor Use the Wireless Network Monitor to check the link information, search for available wireless networks, or create profiles that hold different configuration settings. Accessing the Wireless Network Monitor After installing the Adapter, the Wireless Network Monitor icon will appear in the system tray of your computer.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter Using the Wireless Network Monitor The opening screen of the Wireless Network Monitor is the Link Information screen. From this screen, you can find out how strong the current wireless signal is and how good the connection’s quality is. You can also click the More Information button to view additional status information about the current wireless connection.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter Wireless Network Status The Wireless Network Status screen provides information on your current network settings. Status - This shows the status of the wireless network connection, as well as the network type, 2.4GHz (802.11g and/or 802.11b) or 5GHz (802.11a). SSID - This is the unique name of the wireless network.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter Wireless Network Statistics The Wireless Networks Statistics screen provides statistics on your current network settings. Transmit Rate - This is the data transfer rate of the current connection. (In Auto mode, the Adapter dynamically shifts to the fastest data transfer rate possible at any given time.) Receive Rate - This is the rate at which data is received.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter Site Survey The Site Survey screen displays a list of available networks in the table on the left. The table shows each network’s SSID, Channel, and the quality of the wireless signal the Adapter is receiving. You may click SSID, GHz, CH (Channel), or Signal, to sort by that field.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter Profiles The Profiles screen lets you save different configuration profiles for different network setups. The table on the left displays a list of available profiles with their profile names and SSIDs. Profile - The name of the profile is displayed here. SSID - The SSID or unique name of the wireless network is displayed here.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter Creating a New Profile 1. On the Profiles screen, click the New button to create a new profile. Figure 6-13: Create a New Profile 2. Enter a name for the new profile, and click the OK button. Click the Cancel button to return to the Profiles screen without entering a name.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter 4. The Network Settings screen will appear. If your network has a router or other DHCP server, click the radio button next to Obtain network settings automatically (DHCP). Click the Next button to continue, or click the Cancel button to return to the Profiles screen.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter 6. If you chose Infrastructure Mode, go to Step 7 now. If you chose Ad-Hoc Mode, the Ad-Hoc Mode Settings screen will appear. Select the correct operating channel for your wireless network. The channel you choose should match the channel set on the other devices in your wireless network.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter 7. Select the method of security you want to use: WEP, WPA-Personal, WPA-Enterprise, RADIUS, or LEAP. WEP stands for Wired Equivalent Privacy, and WPA stands for Wi-Fi Protected Access. WPA is a stronger security method than WEP. RADIUS stands for Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service, and LEAP stands for Lightweight Extensible Authentication Protocol.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter WPA Personal WPA Personal offers two encryption methods, TKIP and AES, with dynamic encryption keys. Select TKIP or AES for encryption. Then enter a Passphrase that is 8-63 characters in length. Encryption - Select the type of algorithm you want to use, TKIP or AES, from the Encryption drop-down menu.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter WPA Enterprise WPA Enterprise features WPA security used in coordination with a RADIUS server. (This should only be used when a RADIUS server is connected to the Router.) WPA Enterprise offers two authentication methods, EAP- TLS and PEAP, as well as two encryption methods, TKIP and AES, with dynamic encryption keys.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter RADIUS RADIUS features use of a RADIUS server. (This should only be used when a RADIUS server is connected to the Router.) RADIUS offers two authentication types: EAP-TLS and PEAP. Authentication - Select the authentication method your network is using, EAP-TLS or PEAP. EAP-TLS If you selected EAP-TLS, enter the login name of your wireless network in the Login Name field.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter LEAP If you selected LEAP, then enter the Username and Password that will authenticate you on your wireless network. Username - Enter the username used for authentication. Password - Enter the password used for authentication. Confirm - Enter the password again.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter 10. The Congratulations screen will appear next. Click Connect to Network to implement the new settings immediately and return to the Link Information screen. Click Return to Profiles Screen to keep the current settings active and return to the Profiles screen. You have successfully created a connection profile.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter Appendix A: Troubleshooting This appendix consists of two parts: “Common Problems and Solutions” and “Frequently Asked Questions.” This appendix provides solutions to problems that may occur during the installation and operation of the Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook 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/international.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter Frequently Asked Questions Can I run an application from a remote computer over the wireless network? This will depend on whether or not the application is designed to be used over a network. Consult the application’s user guide to determine if it supports operation over a network.
Page 40
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter 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 IEEE 802.11g features are supported? The product supports the following IEEE 802.11g functions: •...
Page 41
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter point and the distance of each access point to the wired backbone. Based on that information, the node next selects the right access point and registers its address. Communications between end node and host computer can then be transmitted up and down the backbone.
Page 42
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter What is WEP? WEP is Wired Equivalent Privacy, a data privacy mechanism based on a shared key algorithm, as described in the IEEE 802.11 standard. For more information, refer to “Appendix B: Wireless Security.” What is WPA? WPA is Wi-Fi Protected Access, a wireless security protocol that can be used in conjunction with a RADIUS server.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter Appendix B: Wireless Security Linksys wants to make wireless networking as safe and easy for you as possible. The current generation of Linksys products provide several network security features, but they require specific action on your part for implementation.
Page 44
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter SSID. There are several things to keep in mind about the SSID: 1. Disable Broadcast 2. Make it unique 3. Change it often Most wireless networking devices will give you the option of broadcasting the SSID. While this option may be more convenient, it allows anyone to log into your wireless network.
Page 45
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter WPA Pre-Shared Key. If you do not have a RADIUS server, select the type of algorithm, TKIP or AES, enter a password in the Pre-Shared key field of 8-64 characters, and enter a Group Key Renewal period time between 0 and 99,999 seconds, which instructs the Router or other device how often it should change the encryption keys.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter Appendix C: Windows Help Almost all wireless products require Microsoft Windows. Windows is the most used operating system in the world and comes with many features that help make networking easier. These features can be accessed through Windows Help and are described in this appendix.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter Appendix D: Glossary 802.11a - An IEEE wireless networking standard that specifies a maximum data transfer rate of 54Mbps and an operating frequency of 5GHz. 802.11b - An IEEE wireless networking standard that specifies a maximum data transfer rate of 11Mbps and an operating frequency of 2.4GHz.
Page 48
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter Buffer - A shared or assigned memory area that is used to support and coordinate different computing and networking activities so one isn't held up by the other. Byte - A unit of data that is usually eight bits long Cable Modem - A device that connects a computer to the cable television network, which in turn connects to the Internet.
Page 49
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter DTIM (Delivery Traffic Indication Message) - A message included in data packets that can increase wireless efficiency. Dynamic IP Address - A temporary IP address assigned by a DHCP server. EAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol) - A general authentication protocol used to control network access. Many specific authentication methods work within this framework.
Page 50
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) - An independent institute that develops networking standards. Infrastructure - A wireless network that is bridged to a wired network via an access point. IP (Internet Protocol) - A protocol used to send data over a network. IP Address - The address used to identify a computer or device on a network.
Page 51
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) - Frequency transmission that separates the data stream into a number of lower-speed data streams, which are then transmitted in parallel to prevent information from being lost in transit. Packet - A unit of data sent over a network. Passphrase - Used much like a password, a passphrase simplifies the WEP encryption process by automatically generating the WEP encryption keys for Linksys products.
Page 52
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter Software - Instructions for the computer. A series of instructions that performs a particular task is called a “program”. SOHO (Small Office/Home Office) - Market segment of professionals who work at home or in small offices. SPI (Stateful Packet Inspection) Firewall - A technology that inspects every incoming packet of information before allowing it to enter the network.
Page 53
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter UDP (User Datagram Protocol) - A network protocol for transmitting data that does not require acknowledgement from the recipient of the data that is sent. Upgrade - To replace existing software or firmware with a newer version. Upload - To transmit a file over a network.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter Appendix F: Warranty Information Linksys warrants to You that, for a period of three years (the “Warranty Period”), your Linksys Product will be substantially free of defects in materials and workmanship under normal use. Your exclusive remedy and Linksys' entire liability under this warranty will be for Linksys at its option to repair or replace the Product or refund Your purchase price less any rebates.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter Appendix G: Regulatory Information 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 reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation.
Page 57
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter SAFETY NOTICES Caution: To reduce the risk of fire, use only No.26 AWG or larger telecommunication line cord. Do not use this product near water, for example, in a wet basement or near a swimming pool. Avoid using this product during an electrical storm.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter Appendix H: Contact Information Need to contact Linksys? Visit us online for information on the latest products and updates to your existing products at: http://www.linksys.com/international If you experience problems with any Linksys product, you can e-mail us at: In Europe E-mail Address Austria...