3Com 3CRDW696 User Manual
11Mbps Wireless LAN
PCI Adapter
User Guide
3CRDW696
http://www.3com.com/
http://www.support.3com.com/registration/frontpg.pl
Published July 2002
User Guide version 4.1.2
3Com Corporation 5400 Bayfront Plaza Santa Clara, California 95052-8145
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respective companies with which they are associated.
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If you are a United States government agency, then this documentation and the software described herein are provided to
you subject to the following:
All technical data and computer software are commercial in nature and developed solely at private expense. Software is
delivered as “Commercial Computer Software” as defined in DFARS 252.227-7014 (June 1995) or as a “commercial item”
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Chapter 1 -
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................................ 5
Wireless LAN Basics................................................................................................................................................................. 5
Installation for Microsoft Windows Platforms........................................................................................................................... 6
Install Procedure for Microsoft Windows 95OSR2/98/98SE/ME/2000/XP ............................................................................ 7
Install Procedure for Microsoft Windows NT4.0 ...................................................................................................................... 8
Installing the Wireless LAN PCI Adapter Hardware (All Operating Systems)....................................................................... 8
Connecting Network Protocols ...............................................................................................................................................10
Uninstall Procedure ................................................................................................................................................................. 10
Chapter 2 -
Configuring the Wireless PCI Adapter ................................................................................................................................... 11
Configuring Automatic Network Connections with Windows XP ......................................................................................... 13
I
NSTALLING YOUR WIRELESS
U
SING THE CONFIGURATION UTILITY
LAN PCI A
11
DAPTER
5
T
Chapter 3 -
Technical specifications of 3Com 11Mbps Wireless LAN PCI Adapter .............................................................................. 16
Chapter 4 -
Online Technical Services ...................................................................................................................................................... 18
Support from Your Network Supplier .....................................................................................................................................19
Support from 3Com ................................................................................................................................................................. 19
Region URL for Regional Web Site .................................................................................. 19
Returning Products for Repair ................................................................................................................................................ 20
3Com Connection Assistant ................................................................................................................................................... 20
Chapter 5 - R
FCC Part 15 Notice (Applicable to use within the USA) ....................................................................................................... 21
FCC Declaration of Conformity............................................................................................................................................... 21
Industry Canada Notice (Applicable for use within Canada)................................................................................................22
ECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 16
T
ECHNICAL SUPPORT 18
EGULATORY COMPLIANCE INFORMATION 21
Industry Canada (IC) Emissions Compliance Statement ..................................................................................................... 22
European Community Declaration of Conformity.................................................................................................................. 22
1
Installing Your Wireless LAN PCI Adapter
Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the 3Com 11Mbps Wireless LAN PCI Adapter. This user guide
will assist you with the installation procedures for the PCI Adapter.
Your package should contain the 3Com 11Mbps Wireless LAN PCI Adapter and the
Installation CD. The Installations CD contains the following items:
• Drivers and Configuration Utility program used to manage the 3Com 11Mbps Wireless LAN
PCI Adapter and to establish a wireless connection with your LAN
• README.TXT file with updated information about your Wireless LAN PCI Adapter
• This Wireless LAN PCI Adapter User Guide
• 3Com Connection Assistant
• Adobe Acrobat Reader
Wireless LAN Basics
Wireless LAN (Local Area Networks) systems offer a great number of advantages over a
traditional, wired system. Wireless LANs (WLANs) are more flexible, easier to setup and
manage and often more cost effective than their wired equivalents.
Using radio frequency (RF) technology, WLANs transmit and receive data over the air,
minimizing the need for wired connections. Thus, WLANs combine data connectivity with
user mobility, and, through simplified configuration, enable movable LANs.
With wireless LANs, users can access shared information without looking for a place to
plug in and network managers can set up or augment networks without installing or
moving wires. Wireless LANs offer the following productivity, convenience and cost
advantages over traditional wired networks:
Mobility—Wireless LAN systems can provide LAN users with access to real-time
information anywhere in their organization. This mobility supports productivity and service
opportunities not possible with wired networks.
Installation Speed and Simplicity—Installing a wireless LAN system can be fast and easy
and can eliminate the need to pull cable through walls and ceilings.
Installation Flexibility—Wireless technology allows the network to go where wires
cannot go.
Reduced Cost-of-Ownership—While the initial investment required for wireless LAN
hardware might be higher than the cost of wired LAN hardware, overall installation
expenses and life-cycle costs will be significantly lower. Long-term cost benefits are
greatest in dynamic environments requiring frequent moves, adds, and changes.
Scalability—Wireless LAN systems can be configured in a variety of topologies to meet
the needs of specific applications and installations. Configurations are easily changed and
range from peer-to-peer to full infrastructure networks, also allow roaming over a broad
area.
Installation for Microsoft Windows Platforms
The following section will assist you in installing the 3Com 11Mbps Wireless LAN PCI Adapter
successfully. For operating systems except Windows NT 4.0, you will first install the software
(Utility) and then attach the 3Com11Mbps Wireless LAN PCI Adapter in your system, and finally
set the network properties to accommodate resource sharing and select the type of wireless
network that you wish to install. For Windows NT 4.0, you will insert the 3Com11Mbps Wireless
LAN PCI Adapter in your system, then install the software. The 3Com 11Mbps Wireless LAN PCI
Adapter can easily be installed and used, allowing your computer to use network resources.
Installation Overview
Here are some steps you will perform in establishing your wireless network connection:
• Install the 11Mbps Wireless Access Point (AP) first if you plan to use one. The AP is needed
to use with Infrastructure network mode, but is not needed for ad hoc (peer to peer) mode.
• Install the software using the Install CD. (For Windows NT 4.0 install the hardware first, then
the software)
• Install the 3Com 11Mbps Wireless LAN PCI Adapter hardware.
• Install the network protocol(s) required to communicate on your network. Typically you will
need the TCP/IP protocol.
Install Procedure for Microsoft Windows 95OSR2/98/98SE/ME/2000/XP
Follow these steps to install the WLAN PCI Adapter (do not insert your 3Com 11Mbps
Wireless LAN PCI Adapter until instructed):
1 Power on your computer and allow Windows 95OSR2/98/98SE/ME/2000/XP to load fully.
2 Insert the Installation CD in the CD-ROM and then click Install Software.
3 Click Yes to accept the license agreement.
4 The installer copies the files into default directory:
C:\Program Files\3Com\3Com 11Mbps Wireless LAN PCI Adapter
5 Click Browse to change to a different installation path .
6 Select “No, I will restart my computer later” and click Finish.
7 When asked, select the country or region where the Wireless LAN PCI Adapter will be used.
8 Click Install Hardware on the main 3Com 11Mbps Wireless LAN installation screen. The
instructions are also listed below for Installing the Wireless LAN PCI Adapter hardware.
Additional Install Procedure for Microsoft Windows XP
After completing the installation of the Wireless LAN PCI Adapter hardware in your system as
described in step 8, Windows XP users will need to complete the following steps when the
system detects new hardware:
1 Select “Install the software automatically (Recommended) ”, and then click Next to continue.
2 Once your system detects the driver, Microsoft Windows XP displays a warning message. Click
Continue Anyway.
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