Network Card User Manual

7-12
Cisco Aironet Wireless LAN Client Adapters Installation and Configuration Guide for Mac OS
OL-1377-03
Chapter 7 Performing Diagnostics
Diagnostic Tools for Mac OS X
Assessing the Wireless and Wired Links
You can determine the operation of the wireless and wired links from your client adapter in two different
ways:
• You can use the link status meter to view a graphical display of the signal strength and quality of the
radio signals from the local access points (configured for broadcast SSID). Go to the “Viewing the
Link Status Meter” section below.
Using MIC Indicates whether your client adapter is using message integrity check
(MIC) to protect bit-flip attacks on encrypted packets. During a bit-flip
attack, an intruder intercepts an encrypted message, alters it slightly,
and retransmits it, and the receiver accepts the retransmitted message as
legitimate. The following drivers support MIC:
• Mac OS 9—version 1.0.3 or greater
• Mac OS X—version 1.0.1 or greater
MIC is used only if it is enabled on the access point.
Note If the access point is using MIC, your client adapter’s driver and
firmware must support MIC; otherwise, the client cannot
associate.
Values:
Yes—client adapter radio is MIC capable, MIC is enabled on
the access point, and MIC is being used.
No—client adapter radio is MIC capable, MIC is enabled on
the access point, but MIC is not being used.
N/A—client adapter radio is not MIC capable.
Disabled—client adapter radio is MIC capable, but MIC is
disabled.
MIC Errors Indicates the total number of MIC errors that have occurred.
Signal Strength The signal strength for received packets. The longer the bar graph is, the
stronger the signal.
Signal Quality The signal quality for received packets. The longer the bar graph is, the
better the signal quality.
Network Name The network name or SSID of your wireless network.
Note Refer to Table 6-1 for information on setting your wireless
network’s network name.
Name The name of the access point to which your client adapter is associated.
It is shown only if the access point was configured with a name and you
are in infrastructure mode.
MAC Address The MAC address of the access point or wireless device to which your
client adapter is associated.
Table 7-3 Client Adapter Status Screen Parameters (continued)
Parameter Description