Adaptec Ultra WirelessTM PCI Adapter User’s Guide R
Copyright © 2002 Adaptec, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written consent of Adaptec, Inc., 691 South Milpitas Blvd., Milpitas, CA 95035. Trademarks Adaptec, the Adaptec logo, and Ultra Wireless are trademarks of Adaptec, Inc., which may be registered in some jurisdictions.
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In this Guide Getting Started 2 Installation Task List 4 Installing the Wireless PCI Adapter 5 Installing the Device Driver 7 Installing the Adaptec Wireless Utility 18 Disabling Zero Configuration (Windows XP only) 22 Installing Network Protocols 24 Connecting to the WLAN 28 Checking Your Network Connection 31 Changing the Set-up of Your WLAN 32 Troubleshooting 41 About Wireless Technology and LANs 43 Technical Specifications 45 Glossary 46 1
Adaptec Ultra Wireless PCI Adapter User’s Guide Getting Started This User’s Guide provides detailed instructions for installing and configuring your Adaptec AWN-8010 Ultra Wireless PCI Adapter. See the Installation Task List on page 4 for an overview of the installation process. This Guide also includes a basic overview of wireless and Local Area Network (LAN) technology (see page 43) suitable for novice users.
Getting Started This is Your Wireless PCI Adapter Antenna connector PCI connector LINK LED Flashes while the adapter searches for a wireless connection, then becomes steady when the connection is made. (There is no wireless connection when the LED is flashing.) PWR LED Glows steady when the adapter is receiving power. This LED goes dark when the power is turned off.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless PCI Adapter User’s Guide Installation Task List To successfully install your Wireless PCI Adapter, complete each of these tasks, in order: ❏ If you are unfamiliar with wireless technology or LANs, read About Wireless Technology and LANs on page 43 for a basic overview. ❏ Install the Wireless PCI Adapter. See page 5. ❏ Install the device driver for your computer’s operating system. See page 7. ❏ Install the Adaptec Wireless Utility. See page 18.
Installing the Wireless PCI Adapter Installing the Wireless PCI Adapter To install your Wireless PCI Adapter: 1 Discharge any static electricity build-up before handling the adapter by touching a grounded metal object (such as the exposed metal parts on the back of your computer). 2 Turn off power to the computer and disconnect the power cord. Open the computer cabinet, following the manufacturer’s instructions. 3 Locate an unused PCI expansion slot and remove the expansion slot cover.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless PCI Adapter User’s Guide 5 Insert the Wireless PCI Adapter into the PCI expansion slot. Press down firmly until the adapter clicks into place. When installed properly, the adapter should appear level with the expansion slot. Note: Depending on the tightness of the PCI slot, gentle but firm force may be required to insert the adapter. 6 Secure the adapter bracket with the slot cover screw you removed in Step 3. 7 Close the computer cabinet and reattach the power cord.
Installing the Device Driver Installing the Device Driver Before you continue, ensure that you have: ❏ Reviewed About Wireless Technology and LANs on page 43 for a basic overview of WLANs. ❏ Installed the Wireless PCI Adapter. See page 5. The next step on the Installation Task List (page 4) is to install the device driver. A device driver is a software program that lets your adapter communicate with your computer.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless PCI Adapter User’s Guide Windows XP Driver Installation To install the device driver on Windows XP: 1 Install the Wireless PCI Adapter into your computer. See page 5. Windows XP automatically detects the Wireless PCI Adapter and opens the Found New Hardware Wizard. 2 Insert the Ultra Wireless PCI CD into your CD-ROM drive. 3 In the Found New Hardware Wizard, select Install the software automatically..., then click Next. 4 Click Continue Anyway. Windows XP installs the driver.
Installing the Device Driver 5 Click Finish. The device driver installation is complete. Windows XP automatically begins the next installation task by opening the software installation wizard for the Adaptec Wireless Utility. Go to Installing the Adaptec Wireless Utility on page 18 to continue.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless PCI Adapter User’s Guide Windows 2000 Driver Installation To install the device driver on Windows 2000: 1 Install the Wireless PCI Adapter into your computer. See page 5. Power on your computer, if it isn’t already running. Windows 2000 automatically detects the Wireless PCI Adapter and opens the Found New Hardware Wizard. 2 Click Next. 3 Select Search for a suitable driver..., then click Next.
Installing the Device Driver 4 Insert the Ultra Wireless PCI CD into your CD-ROM drive. 5 Select CD-ROM driver, then click Next. 6 Click Next.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless PCI Adapter User’s Guide 7 Click Yes. 8 Click Finish. The device driver installation is complete. Windows 2000 automatically begins the next installation task by opening the software installation wizard for the Adaptec Wireless Utility. Go to Installing the Adaptec Wireless Utility on page 18 to continue.
Installing the Device Driver Windows Me Driver Installation To install the device driver on Windows Me: 1 Install the Wireless PCI Adapter into your computer. See page 5. Windows Me automatically detects the Wireless PCI Adapter and opens the Add New Hardware Wizard. 2 Insert the Ultra Wireless PCI CD into your CD-ROM drive. 3 Select Automatic search for a better driver..., then click Next. 4 Click Finish.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless PCI Adapter User’s Guide 5 Click Yes to restart your computer. When the restart is complete, Windows Me automatically begins the next installation task by opening the software installation wizard for the Adaptec Wireless Utility. Go to Installing the Adaptec Wireless Utility on page 18 to continue.
Installing the Device Driver Windows 98SE Driver Installation To install the device driver on Windows 98SE: 1 Install the Wireless PCI Adapter into your computer. See page 5. Windows 98SE automatically detects the Wireless PCI Adapter and opens the Add New Hardware Wizard. 2 Click Next. 3 Select Search for the best driver..., then click Next. 4 Insert the Ultra Wireless PCI CD into your CD-ROM drive.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless PCI Adapter User’s Guide 5 Select CD-ROM drive, then click Next. 6 Click Next. Windows 98SE copies files to your hard drive.
Installing the Device Driver 7 Click Finish. 8 Click Yes to restart your computer. When the restart is complete, Windows 98SE automatically begins the next installation task by opening the software installation wizard for the Adaptec Wireless Utility. Go to Installing the Adaptec Wireless Utility on page 18 to continue.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless PCI Adapter User’s Guide Installing the Adaptec Wireless Utility Before you continue, make sure that you have: ❏ Reviewed About Wireless Technology and LANs on page 43 for a basic overview of WLANs. ❏ Installed the Wireless PCI Adapter. See page 5. ❏ Installed the device driver. See page 7. The next step on the Installation Task List (see page 4) is to install the Adaptec Wireless Utility, a software application that helps you configure your Wireless PCI Adapter.
Installing the Adaptec Wireless Utility 2 The installation wizard chooses a default destination folder for the software files. Click Next to accept the default destination (recommended), or click Browse to select an alternate destination. 3 You can choose where to store program icons in the Program Folder. Type a new folder name or select one from the Existing Folders list. Click Next.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless PCI Adapter User’s Guide 4 Click Next. The software installation begins. The Setup Status appears on screen. 5 Click Finish.
Installing the Adaptec Wireless Utility Note: Windows XP users only—Windows XP has a built-in configuration application called Zero Configuration, which automatically takes over as the default utility for your Wireless PCI Adapter. When the Adaptec Wireless Utility installation is complete, a message appears telling you that you must disable Windows Zero Configuration before using the Adaptec Wireless Utility. Adaptec recommends that you use the Adaptec Wireless Utility instead of the Windows application.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless PCI Adapter User’s Guide Disabling Zero Configuration (Windows XP only) Although the Adaptec Wireless Utility is installed on your Windows XP system, Windows XP has a built-in configuration application called Zero Configuration that automatically takes over as the default utility for your Wireless PCI Adapter. To use the Adaptec Wireless Utility, you must first disable Zero Configuration.
Disabling Zero Configuration (Windows XP only) 3 Ensure that the Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings box is deselected, then click OK. Ensure checkbox is empty. 4 Open the Adaptec Wireless Utility. (See page 29.) If the Adaptec Wireless Utility is already running, close it and re-open it.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless PCI Adapter User’s Guide Installing Network Protocols Before you continue, make sure that you have completed these tasks: ❏ Reviewed About Wireless Technology and LANs on page 43 for a basic overview of WLANs. ❏ Installed the Wireless PCI Adapter. See page 5. ❏ Installed the device driver. See page 7. ❏ Installed the Adaptec Wireless Utility. See page 18. ❏ Disabled Zero Configuration (Windows XP users only). See page 22.
Installing Network Protocols Windows 98SE/Me Users To install the appropriate network protocols: 1 From the Start menu, click Settings, then click Control Panel. 2 Double-click Network. Note: Before you add a network protocol, verify that the protocol is not already installed. (Refer to your Windows documentation for instructions.) Never install duplicate protocols.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless PCI Adapter User’s Guide 3 Select Adaptec Wireless PCI Adapter, then click Add. 4 Select Protocol, then click Add.
Installing Network Protocols 5 Under Manufacturers, select Microsoft, under Network Protocols, select TCP/IP, then click OK. 6 See Connecting to the WLAN on page 28 to continue with your last Installation Task.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless PCI Adapter User’s Guide Connecting to the WLAN Before you continue, make sure that you have: ❏ Reviewed About Wireless Technology and LANs on page 43 for a basic overview of WLANs. ❏ Installed the Wireless PCI Adapter. See page 5. ❏ Installed the device driver. See page 7. ❏ Installed the Adaptec Wireless Utility. See page 18. ❏ Disabled Zero Configuration (Windows XP users only). See page 22. Adaptec Wireless products are preset to work together on a WLAN.
Connecting to the WLAN To link your Wireless PCI Adapter to your WLAN: 1 Open the Adaptec Wireless Utility by double-clicking the Adaptec Wireless Utility icon on your taskbar. Double-click 2 Click the Configuration tab. a Ensure that the Operating Mode setting is correct for your WLAN. Each station on your WLAN must be set to the same operating mode. (See Changing the Operating Mode on page 33 for more information.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless PCI Adapter User’s Guide If your other WLAN stations have Encryption enabled, you must enable Encryption on your Wireless PCI Adapter using exactly the same Encryption Key Length and WEP Key Entry Passphrase or Manual Entry information. (See Changing the Encryption Settings on page 35 for more information.) b Make any necessary changes, then click Apply Changes. 4 Click the Advanced tab. a If Encryption is enabled, ensure that the Security Authentication Type is set to Auto.
Checking Your Network Connection Checking Your Network Connection You can check the status of your network connection three ways: ■ Look at the Link LED on your Wireless PCI Adapter. If the LED is flashing, the adapter is searching for a connection. If it’s glowing steady, the wireless connection is made. If it’s dark, there is no wireless connection. ■ Look at the Adaptec Wireless Utility icon on your taskbar. If the icon is green, the wireless connection is made.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless PCI Adapter User’s Guide Changing the Set-up of Your WLAN You can use the Adaptec Wireless Utility to change the set-up of your WLAN by: ■ Changing the operating mode. See page 33. ■ Choosing a specific AP. See page 34. ■ Changing the Encryption (WEP) settings. See page 35. ■ Changing the transfer rate. See page 38. ■ Enabling the Power Saving Mode. See page 39. ■ Adjusting the Transmit Threshold Control settings. See page 39. ■ Saving and using configuration profiles.
Changing the Set-up of Your WLAN Changing the Operating Mode The Adaptec Wireless Utility offers two possible operating modes: ■ Ad-hoc mode (sometimes referred to as peer-to-peer mode) allows two computers to connect to each other in wireless-towireless (or peer-to-peer) communication. ■ Infrastructure mode allows multiple computers to interact, and is for WLANs that include an AP or Router. To change the operating mode of your Wireless PCI Adapter: 1 Open the Adaptec Wireless Utility.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless PCI Adapter User’s Guide Choosing an Access Point You can choose to connect to a specific AP from a list of all APs currently available to your Wireless PCI Adapter. You might want to do this if you want to connect to a different WLAN. To connect to a specific AP: 1 Open the Adaptec Wireless Utility. See Step 1 on page 29. 2 Click the Site Survey tab. Available APs are listed. Click Search to find more APs, if required. 3 Click on your chosen AP.
Changing the Set-up of Your WLAN Changing the Encryption Settings Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) is a security feature that encrypts the data being sent over the radio waves of your WLAN. Disabled encryption allows your Wireless devices to share data in plain text. The default Encryption Key Length setting is Disabled. Setting encryption to 64-Bit or 128-Bit encryption limits data sharing and increases data security, but may slow data transmission. Set the level of security you require for your WLAN.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless PCI Adapter User’s Guide 3 In the Encryption (WEP) drop-down box, select the setting you want. 4 If you select either 64-Bit or 128-Bit, you must create WEP keys, which control encryption, and set a default key. (The default key determines which of the four key sets is used for encryption and decryption.) See the next section to continue. Setting the WEP Keys WEP keys can be numeric, alphabetic, or a combination of both.
Changing the Set-up of Your WLAN Creating the Keys with a Passphrase 1 Click Create with Passphrase, then type in your chosen word or phrase in the Passphrase text box. As you type, the Adaptec Wireless Utility will auto-generate the required keys and set a default key. (In the example below, the passphrase lomcevak generated the four unique keys shown and set the default key to 1.) 2 Click Apply Changes. (You can restore the default encryption settings at any time by clicking Restore Defaults.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless PCI Adapter User’s Guide Changing the Transfer Rate The default transfer rate setting, Auto Rate, allows your Wireless PCI Adapter to automatically adjust its transfer speed for optimal performance and the longest operating range. Adaptec recommends that whenever possible, you maintain the Auto Rate setting. However, if your Wireless PCI Adapter’s transfer rate changes frequently, you can set a lower transfer rate to achieve a more stable connection.
Changing the Set-up of Your WLAN Enabling the Power Saving Mode You can enable the Power Saving Mode if you want your Wireless PCI Adapter to enter sleep mode when not transmitting data. To enable Power Saving Mode: 1 Open the Adaptec Wireless Utility. See Step 1 on page 29. 2 Click the Configuration tab. 3 In the Power Saving Mode drop-down box, select Enabled, as shown above. 4 Click Apply Changes, then click OK to close the Adaptec Wireless Utility.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless PCI Adapter User’s Guide Saving and Using Configuration Profiles You can save your Wireless PCI Adapter set-ups in different profiles for use in different working environments. Using saved profiles removes the need to set up (reconfigure) your Wireless PCI Adapter each time you move from one WLAN to another. For instance, you may wish to save two profiles if you use both an office WLAN and a home WLAN. The default profile contains the default settings of your Wireless PCI Adapter.
Troubleshooting Troubleshooting If you encounter difficulties installing or using your Wireless PCI Adapter, work through these troubleshooting tips. ■ Ensure that the adapter is seated evenly in the PCI slot. ■ Ensure that the antenna is properly attached. ■ Check that the driver installed properly. Look in Device Manager under Network Adapters. If there is a yellow exclamation mark (!) on driver name, the driver is not installed properly.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless PCI Adapter User’s Guide My Adaptec Wireless Utility icon is red. The Link LED on my Wireless PCI Adapter is not on. Your Wireless PCI Adapter is not linked to the WLAN. You may be outside the range of available APs. 1 Open the Adaptec Wireless Utility. See Step 1 on page 29. 2 Click the Site Survey tab. Available APs are listed. Click Search to find more APs, if required. 3 Select an AP, then click Connect.
About Wireless Technology and LANs About Wireless Technology and LANs This section provides a general overview of Wireless technology and LANs. There are many books and Web sites dedicated to this topic that can provide a more comprehensive explanation. What’s a LAN? A network is a group of computers that are connected together in a way that lets them share and exchange information and resources.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless PCI Adapter User’s Guide What About Security? You have multiple options for adding security to your WLAN. Set security according to the needs of your network. ■ You can limit access to parts of the network by setting passwords and creating special shared files. Refer to your operating system’s documentation for more information. ■ You can protect your network from intrusion by the outside world (via the Internet) by installing a router. Go to the Adaptec Web site at www.adaptec.
Technical Specifications Technical Specifications Standards IEEE 802.11b PCI Interface Channels 11 channels (US, Canada) 13 channels (Europe) 14 channels (Japan) Antenna External antenna with reversed SMA connector Frequency 2.4 to 2.4835 GHz (Industrial Scientific Medical Band) Data Rate Up to 11 Mbps Operating Ranges Indoor (varies depending on environment): Up to 50 M @ 11 Mbps ■ Up to 80 M @ 5.5 Mbps Outdoor (varies depending on environment): ■ Up to 150 M @ 11 Mbps ■ Up to 300 M @ 5.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless PCI Adapter User’s Guide Glossary Access Point An Access Point (AP) is a wired controller that sends data to the wireless NICs installed in your network computers, and receives data back from them. An AP is often connected to the network computer that has Internet access, or is directly connected to the Internet by a DSL or cable modem. The AP then allows other stations on your WLAN to access the Internet. Ad-hoc mode See operating mode.
Glossary firewall A firewall is a security device that helps prevent users outside your network from accessing your LAN or WLAN. A firewall uses special software that keeps unauthorized users out of your network. hot-swap To hot-swap is to remove or attach a device without first shutting off your computer. hub A hub works with a computer like a power strip works with an electrical outlet—it multiplies the number of ports you have so that you can have more devices plugged in at the same time.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless PCI Adapter User’s Guide network protocols Network protocols are rules that determine how devices on a network communicate with each other. NIC Stands for Network Interface Card. A Wireless NIC is a computer card (such as a Wireless PCI adapter, Wireless PC Card, or Wireless USB adapter) that lets your computer link to a WLAN.
Glossary transfer rate The transfer rate is the speed at which your Wireless device is sending data. It is expressed in Mbps. The default transfer rate setting, Auto Rate (or Automatic), allows your Wireless device to automatically adjust its transfer speed for optimal performance and the longest operating range. Adaptec recommends that whenever possible, you maintain the Auto Rate setting.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless PCI Adapter User’s Guide Wireless Network ID The Wireless Network ID (also referred to as the SSID) is like a secret code that your AP and your Wireless devices share to prevent unauthorized users from accessing your WLAN. Your Wireless devices can only connect to your AP if they have the same SSID as the AP. Wireless devices in Ad-hoc mode must be set to the same SSID. The Wireless Network ID is case-sensitive and must not exceed 32 characters.
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