Configuring the Adapter

Configuring the Adapter on Windows* XP

You can manage adapters through either Intel PROSet II or Windows XP.

If you decide to manage your adapters through Windows XP, do not install the Intel PRO/Wireless LAN Software and do the following.

1. Left-click the Windows XP Network icon in the System Tray. This is typically in the lower right corner of your computer screen.
2. Click the Properties button.
3. Click the Wireless Network tab.
4. Make sure that the Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings checkbox is checked.

If you decide to manage your adapters through Intel PROSet II, do the following.

1. Left-click the Windows XP Network icon in the System Tray. This is typically in the lower right corner of your computer screen.
2. Click the Properties button.
3. Click the Wireless Network tab.
4. Make sure that the Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings checkbox is NOT checked.

For additional information on how Windows XP manages adapters, refer to the online documentation shipped with Windows XP.

Configuring the Adapter with Intel® PROSet II

Before configuring the adapter on Windows* 2000, Windows ME, and Windows 98 system, you must install the Intel® PRO/Wireless 2011B LAN Software from the Intel CD included with your adapter. For installation instructions, click here. If you are running Windows 95, the installation program installs the Intel® WLAN Utilities. For information on managing the adapter on Windows 95, see the Help for the WLAN Utilities.

Viewing and changing network settings

• Mobile unit settings are settings for your laptop. You configure a computer to communicate with either an access point or other computers in a peer-to-peer network.
• Security settings allow you to protect data. Data in a wireless network is broadcast through the air. If the data is unprotected, anyone can intercept it.

To view or change the network settings

1. Double-click the Intel PROSet II icon in the System Tray, usually located to the right of the Taskbar and at the lower right corner of the computer screen. If the icon is not present in the System Tray, click Start, select Settings, and Control Panel, and then double-click the Intel PROSet II icon. To display the Intel PROSet II icon in the System Tray, make sure "Show the tray icon" is selected in the Intel PROSet II  General window.
2. Select the wireless adapter on the left side of the Intel PROSet II window.
3. To view or change basic settings, click the Settings tab.

For more information about configuring wireless network settings, click Help on the Intel PROSet II Help pull-down menu.

Connecting to the network using an access point

1. Double-click the Intel PROSet II icon in the System Tray. This is typically located in the lower right corner on your computer screen.
2. Select the wireless adapter on the left side of the Intel PROSet II window.
3. Click the Settings tab.
4. Click Network Settings.
5. For the operating mode, select Communicate with access point (802.11 Station).
6. Type a Network Name (SSID) or select one from the list. 

If you are connecting to an Intel® PRO/Wireless 2011B LAN Access Point and it has the Broadcast SSID feature enabled, you can leave the SSID field empty. Intel PROSet II automatically obtains the SSID from the access point.

Use the Network Name (SSID) assigned to the access points in the wireless LAN (WLAN). The wireless adapter scans the access point and uses the channel selected by the access point. You cannot change the channel.

Connecting to a peer-to-peer network

A peer-to-peer wireless network is a simple network of wireless computers that communicate directly with each other without using an access point.

To connect to a peer-to-peer network

1. Double-click the Intel PROSet II icon in the System Tray.
2. Select the wireless adapter on the left side of the Intel PROSet II window.
3. Click the Settings tab.
4. Click Network Settings.
5. For the operating mode, select Peer to Peer (802.11 Ad Hoc).

6. Type a Network Name (SSID) or select one from the list.
7. Select a Channel Number from the pull-down list.

Protecting your network with Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption

To set up 40-bit encryption

1. Double-click the Intel PROSet II icon in the System Tray.
2. Select the wireless adapter on the left side of the Intel PROSet II window.
3. Click the Settings tab.
4. Click Network Settings.
5. Select 40-bit WEP.
6. Click WEP Keys.
7. If required, type your WEP password.
8. Click OK. The WEP Key Configuration dialog box is displayed.
9. Use one of four keys. In the WEP Key Index field, select a key. All devices, including access points and adapters, must use the same key.
10. Choose how you want to enter the key. You can enter the key in one of two ways.

• Enter them manually. To do this, select HEX in the WEP Key Format field. Enter numbers 0-9 and letters A-F in the WEP Key fields provided. All devices, including access points and adapters, must use the same numbers and letters.
• Use a pass phrase. To do this, select Text in the WEP Key Format field. A WEP Key is automatically generated for you. All devices, including access points and adapters, must use the same pass phrase.

11. Click OK.

To set up 128-bit encryption

1. Double-click the Intel PROSet II icon in the System Tray.
2. Select the wireless adapter on the left side of the Intel PROSet II window.
3. Click the Settings tab.
4. Click Network Settings.
5. Select 128-bit WEP.
6. Click WEP Keys.
7. If required, type your WEP password.
8. Click OK. The WEP Key Configuration dialog box displays.
9. Use one of four keys. In the WEP Key Index field, select a key. All devices, including access points and adapters, must use the same key.
10. Choose how you want to enter the key. You can enter the key in one of two ways.

• Enter them manually. To do this, select HEX in the WEP Key Format field. Enter numbers 0-9 and letters A-F in the WEP Key fields provided. All devices, including access points and adapters, must use the same numbers and letters.
• Use a pass phrase. To do this, select Text in the WEP Key Format field. A WEP Key is automatically generated for you. All devices, including access points and adapters, must use the same pass phrase.

11. Click OK.

Using Wireless Profiles

Settings include but are not limited to the network name (SSID), channel, security settings, and TCP/IP settings. Intel® My WLAN Places allows you to edit and create new profiles.

To set up a profile

1. Double-click the Intel PROSet II icon in the System Tray.
2. Select the wireless adapter on the left side of the Intel PROSet II window.
3. Click the Settings tab.
4. Click My WLAN Places.

To edit a profile

1. Click the Settings tab.
2. Click My WLAN Places.

To start using a profile

1. Click the Settings tab.
2. From the pull-down menu, select the appropriate WLAN profile for your networking situation.
3. Click Activate Profile.

Switching between wired and wireless adapters

To change the Adapter Switching settings

1. Double-click the Intel PROSet II icon in the Systems Tray.
2. Select the wireless adapter on the left side of the Intel PROSet II window.
3. Click the Mobility tab.
4. Click Adapter Switching.

Setting the adapter's power consumption

1. Double-click the Intel PROSet II icon in the Systems Tray.
2. Select the wireless adapter on the left side of the Intel PROSet II window.
3. Click the Settings tab.
4. Click Power Settings.
5. Make sure that the Switch power mode based on power source check box is not selected.
6. Make sure that Let adapter manage power check box is selected.

Managing the Adapter from the Control Panel

To display the adapter properties on Windows ME, 98, and 95

1. Double-click My Computer, and then double-click Control Panel.
2. Double-click Network.
3. Select the Intel PRO/Wireless 2011B LAN Adapter and click Properties.

1. Double-click My Computer, and then double-click Control Panel.
2. Double-click Network .
3. Right-click the Local Area Connection for the wireless adapter and click Properties.

Click the Advanced button to view or edit WLAN adapter settings using the Mobile Unit, Power, Mobile IP, Encryption, and Computer Settings property pages.

The Easy Setup window and the Advanced property pages can differ in appearance between the Windows 95, 98, 2000 and CE operating systems.

You can limit access to the Advanced property pages by setting a password on the Computer Settings property page. When enabled, no one can access the Advanced property pages without entering the correct password.

Mobile Unit Property Page

Use the Operating Mode pull-down menu to select one of the following operating modes for the adapter.

• Communicate with Access Points - Select this mode to enable the computer to transmit and receive data with an access point. Also called Infrastructure, this is the default mode.
• Peer to Peer (802.11 Ad Hoc) - Select this mode to enable computers to form their own local network where they communicate peer-to-peer without access points. Use this mode to create networks where needed within established cells. In Peer to Peer mode, also called Ad Hoc mode, computers take turns generating beacons and handling probe responses. The computer starting the Ad Hoc network is the first station transmitting a beacon. This computer also determines the channel and data rate used for the Ad Hoc network.
• Peer to Peer (Proprietary Ad Hoc) - Select this mode when the highest throughput is required in an Ad Hoc network for computer testing. Proprietary Peer to Peer mode does not support PSP computers and does not use beacons or authentication. In Proprietary Ad Hoc mode, each computer is required to be on the same channel. Proprietary Ad Hoc is not recommended as a normal operational mode or for computers operating on battery power.

Enter a Network Name (SSID) in the Network Name (SSID) field using a maximum of 32 characters. You can also enter the Network Name in the Easy Setup window. To communicate with an access point, the Network Name must match the Network Name of the access point.

Select Send Long Preamble Headers if the associated access point is using a long preamble when transmitting. The preamble is approximately 8 bytes of packet header data generated by the access point and attached to the packet prior to transmission. The access point and adapter are required to use the same preamble length to interoperate. Ask your system administrator if you do not know the preamble length used by the access point.

Select the International Roaming check box to enable the adapter to roam and associate to access points with different country codes. This feature is helpful if you anticipate using access points with different country codes operating within the network.

You may use the Mandatory AP address field to enter the IEEE Media Access Control (MAC) address of the access point the adapter is required to associate. The adapter associates to this access point when communicating on the network. Enter an access point MAC address to associate to an access point that has a compatible Network Name.

Battery Usage Property Page

Set the slider to the far right to keep the adapter in CAM or set the slider to a PSP performance index (1 to 5). Each mode is described underneath the sliding scale.

If you are running Windows 95, disable Power Management capabilities in WLAN Monitor to use the settings on this property page. For instructions, start WLAN Monitor and access online help. To start WLAN Monitor, select Start, Programs, Intel WLAN Utilities, and then WLAN Monitor.

Transmission Power Property Page

Adjusting the adapter transmit level enables you to expand or confine a transmission area in respect to interference or other wireless devices that could be operating nearby.

Use the 802.11 Tx Power Options to set the transmission power level for adapters operating in Connect to an Access Point (Infrastructure) mode.

• Select Auto to use the current access point transmit power level for the adapter. Auto is the default mode for adapters operating in infrastructure (ESS) mode.
• Select PowerPlus to set the transmit power one level higher than the level set for the access point. If the access point is set to the highest power level, then that is the level used by the adapter.

• Select Maximum Power to set the adapter to the highest transmission power level. Select Maximum Power when operating in highly reflective environments. Also select this setting in areas where other devices could be operating nearby, or when attempting to communicate with adapters at the outer edge of a coverage area.
• Select Minimal Power to use the lowest transmit power level. Use Minimal Power when transmitting with wireless computers in close proximity and when you anticipate little interference. Select the 10% , 25% , or 50% settings as needed if you encounter problems communicating with other devices.

Mobile IP Property Page

Use the Mobile IP property page to configure the adapter to support roaming across routers. Mobile IP enables a computer to communicate with other access points using its home IP address after changing its point-of-attachment to the Internet/intranet.

Devices supporting Mobile IP need the WLAN Utilities for the Mobile IP feature to function properly.

Select the Enable Mobile IP check box to enable Mobile IP support. For the changes to take effect, restart the system.

Use the Home Agent AP Address field to view the IP address of the access point last associated with the adapter in the home subnet. The adapter can use this access point IP address as a "home residence" when transmitting data with different access points. Therefore, the adapter always has the means to associate to an access point in its home subnet.

Enter a Mobile Home MD5 Key matching the MD5 key on the access point of the home subnet. The MD5 key is a password that is a maximum of 13 characters. You can use this feature to protect data from being tampered with when transmitting and receiving data across a foreign subnet. An adapter is required to use the MD5 key set for the access point in the access point System Configuration page. The default MD5 key is "Intel". If unsure which MD5 key to use or where to configure it for an Intel® PRO/Wireless 2011B LAN Access Point, see your system administrator.

Use the Registration Timeout pull-down menu to select a timeout value. When the computer registers with a foreign subnet access point, the registration is required to take place within the time specified. The default registration time is 60 seconds. If the computer does not register with the foreign subnet access point within the specified time, the foreign subnet access point removes the computer from its list of registered computers.

Use the Delay Time pull-down menu to select the time a computer waits for a response from a foreign subnet access point when trying to register with that access point. A computer attempts to register with an access point three times before stopping.

Encryption Property Page

Use the Encryption property page for configuring WLAN adapter encryption settings. The absence of a physical connection makes wireless links vulnerable to information theft. Encryption is an efficient method of preventing data theft and improving data security. The firmware supports Open System, 40-bit and 128-bit encryption methods.

If you are running Windows 98, Windows Me, or Windows 2000, you can also use Intel PROSet II to set up security. Instead of manually entering the encryption code, you can enter a pass phrase. Unlike the NCPA encryption property page discussed above, the keys or pass phrase you enter are displayed as asterisks. This practice prevents someone from reading the encryption information from your computer screen. 

Select Disable to disable encryption for the WLAN adapter and allow for the transmission and receipt of data with no security. Data packets are not encrypted over the network.

To associate and transmit data, an access point and adapters must use the same encryption settings, as summarized below.

Access Point	Mobile Unit	Association
Disabled	Disabled	OK
40	40	OK
128	40	Association, No data transmission
Disabled	40	No Association
Disabled	128	No Association
40	128	Association, No data transmission
40	Disabled	No Association
128	Disabled	No Association
128	128	OK

To set up encryption

1. Select 40-bit encryption or 128-bit encryption from the Encryption Type pull-down menu. The 128-bit Encryption option provides a higher level of security than 40-bit Encryption while maintaining an 11 Mbps data rate.
2. Select the WEP Key Index. This is a number between 1 and 4. All devices in a wireless network must use the same key index.
3. Select the WEP Key Format. If you select HEX, you enter the appropriate hexadecimal in the WEP Key boxes. If you select a pass phrase, enter a phrase comprised of any combination of letters and numbers. The computer generates a hexadecimal WEP Key from the phrase. When 40-bit encryption is selected, enter the 10-digit hexadecimal encryption key into the two text windows.
4. Click OK.

Click Reset Keys to clear the entries in the Shared Encryption Key fields.

128-bit strong encryption is subject to export restrictions and may not be available in all countries. If you select 128-bit encryption and there are export restrictions, you must also enter an access code. An Export Restrictions dialog box displays. Contact the Intel Corporation Technologies Support Center (1-800-653-5350) for information on acquiring an access code for 128-bit Encryption.

If an access code is required, click the Access Code button to display the Enable 128-bit Encryption dialog box. Type in the access code in the three fields provided and click OK . After you type an access code, the Access Code button is no longer displayed on the Encryption property page, and the access code is stored.

WLAN Adapter Property Page

To set up password protection

1. Click Password from the WLAN Adapter property page. A password dialog box displays.
2. Enter a case-sensitive password (10 characters maximum) in the field provided and click OK.
3. The Advanced property pages password dialog box is enabled and displays when you select Advanced from the Easy Setup window.

To disable the password dialog box, enter the current password and leave the two new password fields empty. Click OK.

To change the password, enter the current password and type a new password in the two new password fields, Click OK.

To configure the adapter hardware and radio settings

1. Use the Card Type pull-down menu to specify the type of adapter in the system.

The Interrupt Number , I/O Port Address and Memory Base Address fields are automatically updated.

2. Select the appropriate Diversity setting for your wireless network:

• Select Diversity if dual antenna support is available or required, such as in highly reflective environments. This setting is recommended in nearly all circumstances.
• Select Primary only if the network access points are not using a secondary antenna.

To optimize network performance and maintain adapter association, the Diversity setting must match the antenna configuration for the network access points your adapter associates .

When a single primary antenna is used, it transmits and receives. Outgoing access point transmissions must wait until all incoming data packets are received before they transmit through the single primary antenna. If an adapter is set for Primary and an access point is set for Diversity, the adapter's ability to maintain the access point's throughput is compromised and numerous missed beacons may result in the access point dropping the adapter from its list of supported devices.

Using the Diversity setting when associated with a single-antenna access point can also cause poor wireless network performance.

Updating the Driver and Firmware Version

Verify the Intel PRO/Wireless 2011B LAN Adapter driver and firmware are the most recent versions to ensure optimal functionality.

Verifying the Driver and Firmware Versions

To view the driver and firmware versions

1. Double-click the Intel PROSet II icon on the right side of the Windows taskbar.
2. Select the wireless adapter on the left side of the Intel PROSet II window.
3. Click the Network Driver tab.

Upgrading the Firmware for the Adapter

The firmware is paired with the driver for the Intel PRO/Wireless 2011B LAN adapter. When you upgrade the driver, the firmware is automatically upgraded.

Upgrading Drivers for the Adapter

To update the driver in Windows 2000

1. Right-click My Computer and click Properties .
2. Click the Hardware tab and click Device Manager.
3. Open Network adapters and double-click Intel® PRO/Wireless 2011B LAN PC Card.
4. Click the Driver tab and click Update Driver.

1. Uninstall the Version 2.0 driver.
2. Install the Version 3.0 driver.
3. Restart the computer.

1. Insert the Intel CD into your CD-ROM drive. If you do not have the Intel CD, you can download the software package from the Intel support website.
2. When the program starts, click Install Drivers and Utilities and follow the instructions on the screen. If you downloaded the software package from the support website, navigate to the appropriate directory on your computer and double-click autorun.exe.

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