Cisco AIR-PCI340, Aironet 340, Aironet 350, Aironet CB20A Installation And Configuration Manual

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Cisco Aironet 340, 350, and CB20A
Wireless LAN Client Adapters
Installation and Configuration Guide
for Windo ws

Text Part Number: OL-1394-07

THE SPECIFICATIONS AND INFORMATION REGARDING THE PRODUCTS IN THIS M ANUAL ARE SUBJECT TO CHA NGE WITHOUT NO TICE. ALL
STATEMENTS, INFORMATION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS IN THIS MANUAL ARE BELIEVED TO BE ACCURATE BUT ARE PRESENTED WITHOUT
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The following information is for FCC compliance of Class B devices: The equipment described in this manual generates and may radiate radio-frequency energy. If it is not
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Modifying the equipment without Cisc o’s writ ten author ization m ay resul t in the equi pment no lo nger comp lyi ng with FCC requi rements for Class A or Class B digital
devices. In that event, your right to use the equ ipment may be limit ed by FCC regul ations , and you may be requir ed to correct a ny interference to radio or television
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Cisco Aironet 340, 350, and CB20A Wireless LAN Client Adapters Installa tion and C onfiguration Gu ide fo r Windows

Copyright © 2001-2003 Cisco Sys tems, Inc.
All rights reserved.

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CONTENTS

Preface xi

Audience xii
Purpose xii
Organization xii
Conventions xiii
Related Publications xv
Obtaining Documentation xv

Cisco.com xv
Documentation CD-ROM xv
Ordering Documentation xvi
Documentat ion Feedback xvi

Obtaining Technical Assistance xvi

Cisco TAC Website xvi
Opening a TAC Ca se xvii
TAC Case Priority Definitions xvii

Obtaining Additional Publicati ons and Information xvii

CHAPTER

1 Product Overview 1-1

Introduction to the Client Adapters 1-2

Terminology 1-3

Hardware Components 1-3

Radio 1-3
Radio Antenna 1-4
LEDs 1-4

Software Components 1-5

Radio Firmware 1-5
Driver 1-5
Client Utilities 1-6

Overview of ACU 1-6
Buttons on the ACU Scree ns 1-8

Network Configurations Using Client Adapters 1-8

Ad Hoc Wireless LAN 1-9
Wireless Infrastructure with Workstations Accessing a Wired LAN 1-10

Contents

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CHAPTER

2 Preparing for Installation 2-1

Safety information 2-2

FCC Safety Compliance Statement 2-2
Safety Guidelines 2-2
Warnings 2-3

Unpacking the Client Adapter 2-3

Package Contents 2-3
System Requirements 2-4
Site Requirements 2-5

For Infrastruc ture Devices 2-5

For Client Devices 2-6

CHAPTER

3 Installing the Client Adapter 3-1

Installing or Upgrading the Client Ada pter Software 3-2

Installing or Upgrading the Client Adapter Software on Windows 98, 98 SE, 2000, Me, or XP 3-2

Installing or Upgr ading the Client Adapt er Software on Windows NT 3-12
Verifying Installation 3-22
Deciding How to Configure Your Client Adapter (Windows XP Only) 3-22
Selecting Among Several Installed Client Adapters 3-24

CHAPTER

4 Using the Profile Manager 4-1

Overview of Profile Manager 4-2
Opening Profile Manager 4-2
Creating a New Pr ofile 4-3
Including a Profile in Auto Profile Se lection 4-4
Selecting the Active Profile 4-6
Modifying a Profile 4-7

Editing a Profile 4-7

Setting a Profile to Default Values 4-8

Renaming a Prof ile 4-8

Deleting a Prof ile 4-8
Importing and Exporting Profiles 4-9

Importing a Profile 4-9

Exporting a Profile 4-9
Granting or Denying Access to Non-Administrative Users 4-10

Contents

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CHAPTER

5 Configuring the Client Adapter 5-1

Overview 5-2
Setting System Parameters 5-3
Setting RF Network Parameters 5-7
Setting Advan ce d In fr as tructure Param e te rs 5-14
Setting Advanced Ad Hoc Parameters 5-17
Setting Network Sec urity Parameters 5-21

Setting the All ow A ss o ciation to Mixed C ells Parameter 5-22
Overview of Security Features 5-22

Static WEP Keys 5-23
EAP (with Dynamic WEP Keys) 5-23
Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) 5-26
Fast Roaming (CCKM) 5-26
Reporting Access Points that Fail LEAP Authentication 5-27

Additional WEP Key Security Features 5-28
Synchroniz in g Se c urity Feature s 5-29
Using Static WEP 5-32

Entering a New Static WEP Key 5-32

Overwriting an Exist ing Static WEP Key 5-34

Disabling Static WEP 5-35
Enabling LEAP 5-35
Enabling Host-Based EAP 5-39

Enabling Host-Based EAP Authentication in ACU 5-40

Enabling WPA (Windows 2000 or XP Only - Optional) 5-41

Enabling EAP Authentication in Windows 5-44
Disabling LEAP or Host-Based EAP 5-51

Disabling LEAP 5-51

Disabling Host-Based EAP 5-51

CHAPTER

6 Using EAP Authentication 6-1

Overview 6-2
Using LEAP 6-2
Using LEAP with the Windows Username and Password 6-3

After Profile Selection or Card Insertion 6-3
After a Reboot or Logon 6-4
After Your LEAP Credentials Expire 6-5

Contents

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Using LEAP with an Automatically Prompted Login 6-6

After Profile Selection or Card Insertion 6-6
After a Reboot or Logon 6-7
After Your LEAP Credentials Expire 6-9

Using LEAP with a Manually Prompted Login 6-9

After Profile Selection 6-9
After a Reboot, Logon, or Card Insertion 6-12
After Your LEAP Credentials Expire 6-13

Using LEAP with a Saved Username and Password 6-14

After Profile Selection or Card Insertion 6-14
After a Reboot or Logon 6-14
After Your LEAP Credentials Expire 6-15

Using EAP-TLS 6-15

After Profile Selection or Card Insertion 6-15
After a Reboot or Logon 6-16

Using PEAP 6-16

After Profile Se lection, Card In sertion, Reboot, or Logon 6-16

Windows NT or 2000 Domain Databases or LDAP Databases Only 6-16

OTP Databases Only 6-17
After Your Password Expires (Windows NT or 2000 Domain Databases Only) 6-19
After Your PIN Expires (OTP Databases Only) 6-20

Using EAP-SIM 6-21

If You Are Prompted for the PIN 6-21
If the PIN Is Stored on the Computer 6-22

Restarting the Authentication Proce ss 6-22

CHAPTER

7 Performing Diagnostics 7-1

Overview of ACU Diagnostic Tools 7-2
Setting Parameters that Affect ACU Diagnostic Tools 7-3
Viewing the Current Status of Your Client Adapter 7-4
Viewing Statistics for Your Client Adapter 7-12
Viewing the Link Status Meter 7-16
Running an RF Link Test 7-18

CHAPTER

8 Using the Aironet Client Monitor (ACM) 8-1

Overview of ACM 8-2
The ACM Icon 8-2
Tool Tip Window 8-3

Contents

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Pop-Up Menu 8-5

About 8-5
Exit 8-6
Launch Aironet Client Utility 8-6
Troubleshooting 8-6
Preferences 8-6
Turn Radio On/Off 8-7
Reauthenticate 8-8
Select Profile 8-8
Show Connection Stat us 8-9

CHAPTER

9 Routine Procedures 9-1

Inserting and Removing a Client Adapter 9-2

Inserting a Client Adapter 9-2

Inserting a PC Card or PC-Cardbus Car d 9-2
Inserting a PCI Card 9-3

Removing a Cl ie nt Ad ap te r 9-4

Removing a PC Ca rd or PC -C a rd b us Card 9-4
Removing a PCI Ca rd 9-5

Client Adapter Software Procedures 9-5

Finding the Install Wizard Version 9-5
Upgrading the Client Adapter Software 9-6
Uninstalling the Client Adapter Software 9-6
Finding the Driv er Version 9-7
Firmware Procedures 9-8

Finding the Firmware Version 9-8
Upgrading the Firmware 9-8
Preventing the Driver from Upgrading the Firmware 9-10

ACU Procedu r es 9-12

Opening ACU 9-12
Exiting ACU 9-13
Modifying ACU In st al la tion Settings 9-13
Finding the Version of ACU 9-13
Adding the ACU Icon to or Removing it from the Desktop 9-14
Accessing Online Help 9-14

ACM Procedures 9-15
Restarting the Client Adapter 9-15
Turning Your Client Adapter’s Radio On or Off 9-15
Uninstalling the Microsoft Hot Fix 9-16

Contents

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CHAPTER

10 Troubleshooting 10-1

Accessing the Lat est Troublesho oting Informati on 10-2
Interpretin g th e In di ca to r LEDs 10-2
Troubleshooti ng the Client Adapter 10-3

Using the Troubleshooting Utility 10-4

Diagnosing Your Client Adapter’s Operation 10-4
Saving the Detailed Report to a Text File 10-6

Accessing Online Help 10-7
Client Adapter Recognition Problems 10-7
Resolving Resource Conflicts 10-8

Resolving Resour ce Conflicts in Windows 98, 98 SE, and Me 10-8

Resolving Resour ce Conflicts in Windows NT 10-9

Resolving Resour ce Conflicts in Windows 2000 10-9

Resolving Resour ce Conflicts in Windows XP 10-10
Problems Associating to an Access Point 10-11
Problems Authenti cating to an Access Point 10-11
Problems Connecting to the Network 10-11
Prioritizing Ne twork Connections (Windows 2000 and XP Only) 10-11
Losing Association upon Resuming from Suspe nd Mode

(Windows NT and Mini PCI Cards Only)

10-12

Parameters Missing from Profile Manage r Screen 10-12
Windows Wireless Network Connection Icon Shows Unavailable Connection (Windows XP

Only)

10-12

LEAP Login Screen Does Not Appear Before Windows Login Screen (Windows 98, 98 SE, and Me
Only)

10-13

Microsoft Ho t Fix (W i nd o w s 98 and 98 SE Only) 10-13

Error Message s 10-13

General Error Messa ges 10-14
Installation Error Messages 10-18
LEAP Authentication Error Messages 10-20
PEAP Authentication Error Messages 10-23

For All PEAP-Supported Databases 10-23

For Windows NT or 2000 Domain Dat abases 10-24

For All OTP Databases 10-25

For OTP Databases Using Secure Computing SofToken Version 1.3 10-26

For OTP Databases Using Secure Computing SofToken II Version 2.0 10-27

For OTP Databases Using RSA SecurID Version 2.5 10-28
EAP-SIM Auth en tication Erro r Messages 10-28

Contents

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APPENDIX

A Technical Specifications A-1

APPENDIX

B Translated Safety Warnings B-1

Explosive Device Proximity Warning B-2
Dipole Antenna Installation Warning B-3
Warning for Lap to p U se rs B-4

APPENDIX

C Declarations of Conformity and Regulatory Information C-1

Manufacturer’s Federal Communication Commission Declaration of Conformity Statement C-2
Department of Communications – Canada C-3

Canadian Complian ce Statement C-3

European Community, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein C-4

Declaration of Conformity with Regard to the R&TTE Directive 1999/ 5/EC C-4

2.4-GHz Clie nt Ad ap te rs C-5

5-GHz Client Ad ap te rs C-6
Declaration of Conformity for RF Exposure C-6
Guidelines for Operating Cisco Airone t Wireless LAN Client Adapt ers in Japan C-6

Japanese Translation C-6
English Translation C-7

Administrative Rul es for Cisco Aironet Wireless LAN Client Adapters i n Taiwan C-7

2.4- and 5-GHz Clie nt Adapters C-7
Chinese Translation C-7
English Translation C-8

5-GHz Client Ad ap te rs C-8

Chinese Translation C-8
English Translation C-8

APPENDIX

D Channels, Power Levels, and Antenna Gains D-1

Channels D-2

IEEE 802.11a D-2
IEEE 802.11b D-3

Maximum Power Levels and Ant en na Gains D-4

IEEE 802.11a D-4
IEEE 802.11b D-4

Contents

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APPENDIX

E Configuring the Client Adapter through the Win dows XP Operating System E-1

Overview E-2

Overview of Security Features E-2

Static WEP Keys E-2
EAP (with Dynamic WEP Keys) E-2
Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) E-4

Configuring the Client Adapter E-5

Enabling EAP-TLS Authentication E-10
Enabling PEA P Aut h en tication E-13

Enabling EAP -S IM Authentica ti on E-16
Associating to an Access Point Using Windows XP E-18
Viewing the Current Status of Your Client Adapter E-19

APPENDIX

F Performing a Site Survey F-1

Overview F-2

Guidelines F-2

Additional Information F-2
Specifying Signal Strength Units F-3
Using Passive Mode F-3
Using Active Mode F-7
Forcing the Clie nt Adapter to Reassociate F-13

G

LOSSARY

I

NDEX

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Preface

The preface pr ovide s an overv iew of t h e Ci sco A ironet 340, 350, and CB 20A Wireless LAN Client
Adapters Installation and Configuration Guide for Windows, references related publications, and

explains how to obtain ot h er do cu ment atio n a nd te ch nica l a ssist ance , if ne cessa ry.
The following topics are covered in this section:

• Audience, page xii

• Purpose, page xii

• Organization, page xii

• Conventions, page xiii

• Related Publications, page xv

• Obtaining Docu ment ati on , pa ge xv

• Obtaining Technical Assistance, page xvi

• Obtaining Additional Publications and Information, page xvii

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Preface

Audience

Audience

This publication is for the pe rson res ponsib le for instal ling, configuri ng, and main taining a Ci sco
Aironet 340, 350, or C B20A Wireless LA N Cl ient A dapt er o n a c om pute r runn in g Mi crosof t Windows
98, 98 SE, NT, 2000, Me, or XP. This person should be familiar wi th c omput ing devices a nd with
network terms and concep ts.

Purpose

This publication descri bes t he Cisc o Airo ne t 340, 350, and CB20 A cl ient a dapt ers and explains how to
install, configure, an d t roubl es hoot the m.

Note This version of the Cisco Aironet 340, 350, and CB20A Wireless LAN Client Adapters In stalla tion and

Configuration Guide for Windows pertains specif icall y to versions of the clie nt adapter software that are

installed through an Inst all Wizard file. If you are using , installi ng, or upgra ding to versio ns of client
adapter software tha t do not use the Ins tall Wizard, refer t o version OL-1 394-04 of this manu al for
information and instruc tions.

Organization

This publicat ion co ntai n s th e f ol lowing ch ap te rs :

• Chapter 1, “Product Overview,” describes the client adapters and their hardware and software

components and illustrates two common network configurations.

• Chapter 2, “Preparing for Installation,” provides information that you need to know before installing

a client adapter, such as safety information and system requirements.

• Chapter 3, “Installing the Client Adapter,” provides instructions for installing client adapter

software.

• Chapter 4, “Using the Profile Manager,” explains how to use the ACU profile manager feature to

create and manage profiles fo r your clien t adapt er.

• Chapter 5, “Configuring the Client Adapter,” explains how to change the configuration parameters

for a specific profile.

• Chapter 6, “Using EAP Authentic ation,” e xplain s the sequen ce of e v ents that occ urs and the actions

you must take when a profile that is set for EAP authentication is selected for use.

• Chapter 7, “Performing Diagnostics,” explains how to use ACU to perform user-level diagnostics.

• Chapter 8, “Using the Aironet Client Monitor (ACM),” explains how to use the A irone t C lient

Monitor (ACM) to access status information ab out your cli ent adapter and perfor m basic tasks.

• Chapter 9, “Routine Procedures,” provides procedures for common tasks related to the client

adapters, such as uninstalling client adapter software and restarting an adapter.

• Chapter 10, “Troubleshooting,” provides information for diagnosi ng and co rrecti ng comm on

problems that may be encoun tered w hen inst alling or op erati ng a client ad apte r.

• Appendix A, “Technical Specifications,” lists the physica l, radio, power, and regulatory

specifications for the client adapters.

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Preface

Conventions

• Appendix B, “Translated Safety Warnings,” provides translations of client adapter safety warnings

in nine languages.

• Appendix C, “D ecl ara tio ns o f Conf or mit y and Regula tory I nfo rm ation, ” provides declarations of

conformity and regul at ory inf orm ati on f or the cl ient ad ap ters.

• Appendix D, “Cha nnels, Power Levels, and Antenna Gains,” lists th e IEEE 802.11a an d IEEE

802.11b channels supported by the w orld's regula tory domains as well as the maximum power le vels
and antenna gains allowed per dom ain.

• Appendix E, “C onfigur ing the Cli ent Ada pte r th rou gh the Windows XP Operati ng Syste m,”

explains how to configure and use your client adapter wi th Windows XP.

• Appendix F, “Performing a Site Survey,” shows people who are responsible for conducting a sit e

survey how they can use ACU to determine the best placement for infrastructure devices within a
wireless network.

Conventions

This publication uses the following conventions to convey instructions and informa tion:

• Commands and keywords are in boldface.

• Variables are in italics.

• Configuration parameters are capitalized.

• Notes, cautions, and warnings use the following conventions and symbols:

Note Means reader take note. Notes contain helpful suggestions or references to materials not contained in

this manual.

Caution Means rea de r be care ful. In this situation, you might do something that could result in equipment

damage or loss of data.

Warning

This warning symbol means danger. You are in a situation that could cause bodily injury . Before you
work on any equipment, be aware of the hazards involved with electrical circuitry and be familiar
with standard practices for preventing accidents. (To see translations of the warnings that appear
in this publication, refer to the appendix “Translated Safety Warnings.”)

Waarschuwing

Dit waarschuwingssymbool betekent gevaar. U verkeert in een situatie die lichamelijk letsel kan
veroorzaken. Voordat u aan enige apparatuur gaat werken, dient u zich bewust te zijn van de bij
elektrische schakelingen betrokken risico’s en dient u op de hoogte te zijn van standaard
maatregelen om ongelukken te voorkomen. (Voor vertalingen van de waarschuwingen die in deze
publicatie verschijnen, kunt u het aanhangsel “Translated Safety Warnings” (Vertalingen van
veiligheidsvoorschriften) raadplegen.)

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Preface

Conventions

Varoitus

Tämä varoitusmerkki merkitsee vaaraa. Olet tilanteessa, joka voi johtaa ruumiinvammaan. Ennen
kuin työskentelet minkään laitteiston parissa, ota selvää sähkökytkentöihin liittyvistä vaaroist a ja
tavanomaisista onnettomuuksien ehkäisykeinoista. (Tässä julkaisussa esiintyvien varoitust en
käännökset löydät liitteestä "Translated Safety Warnings" (käännetyt turvallisuutta koskevat
varoitukset).)

Attention

Ce symbole d’avertissement indique un danger. Vous vous trouvez dans une situation pouvant
entraîner des blessures. Avant d’accéder à cet équipement, soyez conscient des dangers posés par
les circuits électriques et familiarisez-vous avec les procédures courantes de prévention des
accidents. Pour obtenir les traductions des mises en garde figurant dans cet te publication, veuil lez
consulter l’annexe intitulée « Translated Safety Warnings » (Traduction des avis de sécurité).

Warnung

Dieses Warnsymbol bedeutet Gefahr. Sie befinden sich in einer Situation, die zu einer
Körperverletzung führen könnte. Bevor Sie mit der Arbeit an irgendeinem Gerät beginnen, seien Sie
sich der mit elektrischen Stromkreisen verbundenen Gefahren und der Standardpraktiken zur
Vermeidung von Unfällen bewußt. (Übersetzungen der in dieser Veröffentlichung enthaltenen
Warnhinweise finden Sie im Anhang mit dem Titel “Translated Safety Warnings” (Übersetzung der
Warnhinweise).)

Avvertenza

Questo simbolo di avvertenza indica un pericolo. Si è in una situazione che può causare infortuni.
Prima di lavorare su qualsiasi apparecchiatura, occorre conoscere i pericoli relativi ai circuiti
elettrici ed essere al corrente delle pratiche standard per la prevenzione di incidenti. La traduzione
delle avvertenze riportate in questa pubblicazione si trova nell’appendice, “Translated Safety
Warnings” (Traduzione delle avvertenze di sicurezza).

Advarsel

Dette varselsymbolet betyr fare. Du befinner deg i en situasjon som kan føre til personskade. Før du
utfører arbeid på utstyr, må du være oppmerksom på de faremomentene som elektriske kretser
innebærer, samt gjøre deg kjent med vanlig praksis når det gjelder å unngå ulykker. (Hvis du vil se
oversettelser av de advarslene som finnes i denne publikasjonen, kan du s e i vedlegget "Translated
Safety Warnings" [Oversatte sikkerhetsadvarsler].)

Aviso

Este símbolo de aviso indica perigo. Encontra-se numa situação que lhe poderá causar danos fisicos.
Antes de começar a trabalhar com qualquer equipamento, familiarize-se com os perigos
relacionados com circuitos eléctricos, e com quaisquer práticas comuns que possam prevenir
possíveis acidentes. (Para ver as traduções dos avisos que constam desta publicação, consulte o
apêndice “Translated Safety Warnings” - “Traduções dos Avisos de Segurança”).

¡Advertencia!

Este símbolo de aviso significa peligro. Existe riesgo para su integridad física. Antes de manipular
cualquier equipo, considerar los riesgos que entraña la corriente eléctrica y familiarizarse con los
procedimientos estándar de prevención de accidentes. (Para ver traducciones de las advertencias
que aparecen en esta publicación, consultar el apéndice titulado “Translated Safety Warnings.”)

Varning!

Denna varningssymbol signalerar fara. Du befinner dig i en situation som kan leda till personskada.
Innan du utför arbete på någon utrustning måste du vara medveten om farorna med elkretsar och
känna till vanligt förfarande för att förebygga skador. (Se förklaringar av de varningar som
förekommer i denna publikation i appendix "Translated Safety Warnings" [Översatta
säkerhetsvarningar].)

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Related Publications

Related Publications

For more informati on a bou t Ci sco Air onet 340, 35 0, and CB2 0A Wireless L AN Cli ent Ada pter s f or
Windows, refer to the following publications:

• Release Notes for Cisco Aironet 340, 350, and CB20A Clien t Adapter Instal l Wizard for Windows

• Release Notes for Cisco Aironet 340, 350, and CB20A Cli ent Adapter Firmware

For more information a bou t re la ted Ci sco A iro ne t pr odu cts, ref er t o t he pu bl icat ions for y our
infrastructure device. You can access Cisco Aironet technical documentation at this URL:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/wireless/index.html

Obtaining Documentation

Cisco provides several ways to obtain documentation, techn ical assistance , and other tec hnical
resources. These sect ion s expla in h ow to obta in te chni cal infor ma tion fr om Ci sco Sy stem s.

Cisco.com

You ca n acc ess t he m ost c ur rent Cisc o doc um ent ation on the World Wide We b at thi s URL :

http://www.cisco.com/univercd/home/home.htm

You can access the Cisco website at this URL:

http://www.cisco.com

International Cisco websites can be accessed from this URL:

http://www.cisco.com/public/countries_languages.shtml

Documentation CD-ROM

Cisco documentation and additional literature are available in a Cisco Documentation CD-ROM
package, which may have shipped with your product. The Documentation CD-ROM is updated regularly
and may be more curre nt than printed do cumentati on. The CD-R OM packag e is av ailable as a single unit
or through an an nua l o r q uart erly subsc rip tio n.

Registered Cisco.com u sers c a n orde r a sing l e Do cume nta tio n CD- ROM (product num be r
DOC-CONDOCCD=) through the Cisco Ordering tool:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/partner/ordering/ordering_pla ce_order _ordering_ tool_launch. html

All users can order a nnua l or qu art erly su bsc ripti ons thr ough t he onli ne Su bsc ripti on St ore:

http://www.cisco.com/go/subscription

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Obtaining Technical As sistance

Ordering Documentation

You ca n find ins truc tio ns for orde ring do cu ment atio n a t t his U RL:

http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/es_inpck/pdi.htm

You can ord er Cisco docum entat ion in these way s:

• Registered Cisco.com users (Cisco direct customers) can order Cisco product documentation from

the Networking Produ cts Market Pla ce:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/partner/ordering/index.shtml

• Nonregistered Cisco.co m u ser s can o rd er docum en tati on th rou gh a l oc al ac count r epre sen tative by

calling Cisco Systems Corporate Headquarters (California, USA.) at 408 526-7208 or, elsewhere in
North America, by calling 800 553-NETS (6387).

Documentation Feedback

You can subm it co mm ents el ec tronic all y on Cisc o.com . On the Cisco Do cume nta tio n home pag e, cl ick
Feedback at the top of the page.

You ca n sen d y our c om ment s in e -m ail t o bug-doc@c isc o.c om.
You can subm it comm ents by using the response ca rd (if pre sent ) behind th e front cover of your

document or by wri ting t o the fo llowing a ddress:
Cisco Systems

Attn: Customer Docume nt Ordering
170 West Tasman Dr ive
San Jose, CA 95134- 988 3

We appreciate yo ur comm ents .

Obtaining Technical Assistanc e

For all customers, partners, resellers, and distributors who hold valid Cisco service contracts, the Cisco
T e ch n ical Assistance Center ( TAC) provides 24-hour, award-winning technical su p por t s er vic es, on lin e
and over the phone. Cisco.com features the Cisco TAC website as an online starting point for technical
assistance.

Cisco TAC Website

The Cisco TAC website (http://www.cisco.com/tac) provides online docum e nts a nd t ools fo r
troubleshooting and re solvin g t ec hnical iss ues w ith C isco pr oduct s and t ech nolog i es. T he Cisc o TAC
website is available 24 hour s a d ay, 365 days a year.

Accessing all the to ols o n th e Cisc o TAC website requires a Cisco.com use r ID and pa ssword. If y ou
have a valid service contract but do not have a login ID or password, register at this URL:

http://tools.cisco.com/RPF/register/register.do

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Obtaining Additional Publications and Information

Opening a TAC Case

The online TAC Case Open Tool (http://www.cisco.com/tac/caseopen) is the fastest way to open P3 and
P4 cases. (Your network is minimally impa ired or you require product information). After you describe
your situation, the TAC Case Open Tool automatically recommends resources for an i mmediate solution.
If your issue is not resolved using thes e reco mmen dations, you r case wi ll be assigned to a Cisco TAC
engineer.

For P1 or P2 cases (your production network is down or severely degraded) or if you do not have Internet
access, contact Cisco TAC by telephone. Cisco TAC e ngineers ar e assign ed immedi ately to P1 and P2
cases to help keep your business operations runni ng smoothly.

To open a case by t eleph one , use o ne of t he fol lowing nu mbe rs:
Asia-Pacific: [phone] (Australia : 1 800 805 227)

EMEA: [phone]
USA: 1 800 553-2447

For a complete listing of Cisco TAC contacts, go to this URL:

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/687/Directory/DirTAC.shtml

TAC Case Priority Definitions

T o en sure that all cases are reported in a standa rd format , Cisco has established case priority def i nitions.
Priority 1 (P1)—Your network is “down” or there is a critical impact to your business operations. You

and Cisco will commit all necessary resources around the clock to resolve the situation.
Priority 2 (P2)—Operat ion of an existin g network is severely degraded , or significant aspects of your

business operation are negatively affected by inadequate performance of Cisco products. You and Cisco
will commit full-time resources during normal business hours to resolve the situation.

Priority 3 (P3)—Ope rat iona l pe rfor ma nce of yo ur ne twork is i mpa ired , but most business opera tions
remain functional. You and Cisco will commit resources during normal business hours to restore service
to satisfactory levels.

Priority 4 (P4)—You require information or assistance with Cisco product capabilities, installation, or
configuration. There is li ttle or no effect on you r business operations.

Obtaining Additional Publications and Information

Information about Cisco products, technologies, and network solutions is available from various online
and printed sources.

• The Cisco Product Catalog describes the networking products offered by Cisco Systems, as well as

ordering and custome r support ser vices. Access the Cisco Product Catalog at this URL:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/products_catalog_links_launch.html

• Cisco Press publishes a wid e ran ge of n etworki ng pub l icatio ns. Cisco suggest s the se t itle s for new

and experienced users: Internetworking Terms and Acronyms Dictionary, Internetworking
Technology Handbook, Internetworking Troubleshoo tin g G uid e, and th e I nter net workin g Design
Guide. For current Cisco Press titles and other information, go to Cisco Press online at this URL:

http://www.ciscopress.com

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Obtaining Additiona l Publications and Informatio n

• Packet magazine is the Cisco quarterly publication that provides the latest networking trends,

technology breakthrough s, and Cisco products an d solutions t o help ind ustry professi onals ge t the
most from their networking investment. Included are networking depl oyment an d troublesho oting
tips, configuration e xamples, customer case studies, tutorials and train ing, certificatio n information,
and links to numerous in-de pth onli ne resour ces. You can access Packet magazine at this URL:

http://www.cisco.com/go/packet

• iQ Magazine is the Cisco bimonthl y publica tion that de livers the latest informat ion about Int ernet

business strategies for executives. You can access i Q Magazi ne at th is URL :

http://www.cisco.com/go/iqmagazine

• Internet Protocol Journa l is a quarterly jour nal publ ished by Cisco Systems for engineering

professionals involved in designing, developing, and ope ratin g p ubli c a nd pr ivate internets a nd
intranets. You can access the Internet Protocol Journal at this URL:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/about/ac123/ac147/about_cisco_the_internet_protocol_journal.html

• Training—Cisco offers world-class networking t raining. Curren t offerings in network tra ining are

listed at this URL:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/learning/index.html

CHAPTER

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1

Product Overview

This chapter descri bes the Cisc o Air one t 34 0, 35 0, and CB20 A Wireless L AN Client Ada pter s and
illustrates their role in a wireless network.

The following topics are covered in this chapter:

• Introduction to the Client Adapters, page 1-2

• Hardware Component s, page 1 -3

• Software Components, p age 1-5

• Network Configurations Using Client Adapters, page 1-8

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Chapter 1 Product Overview

Introduction to the Client Adap ter s

Introduction to the Client Adapters

The Cisco Aironet 340, 350, and CB20A Wireless LAN Client Adapters are radio modules that provide
transparent wireless data communications between fixed, portable, or mobile devices and other wireless
devices or a wi red netw ork in frastru cture. The clie nt adap ters a re fully c ompatib le when used in de vic es
supporting Plug-and- Play (PnP ) techno logy.

The primary function of the client adapters is to transfer data pack ets transparen tly through the wirele ss
infrastructure through an access point connected to a wired LAN. The adapters operate similarly to a
standard network product except that th e cable is replace d with a radi o connec tion and an ac cess poin t
is required to make the c onn ect ion to t h e wi re. No spe cia l w ire les s ne twor king fu nctio ns are r equi red,
and all existing applications that operate over a network can operate using the adapters.

This document c overs the five client a dapt ers de scr ibed in Table 1-1.

Table 1-1 Client Adapter Types

Client Adapter Model Number Description Illustration

PC card AIR-PCM3xx An IEEE 802.11b-comp liant 2.4- G Hz 11 -Mbp s PCM CIA c a rd ra dio

module that can be inserted into an y de vice equipped with an external
Type II or Type III PC card slot. H ost devices c an in clud e lap tops,
notebook compute rs, p er sonal dig ital assi stan ts, an d h andhe ld or
portable devices. The PC card is available in the 340 and 350 series.

LM card AIR-LMC3xx An IEEE 802.11b-complia nt 2 .4- GHz 11 -M bp s PCMC IA c ard ra dio

module that is usua lly prein stall ed in a device equippe d with an
internal T ype II or T ype III PC card slot. Host devices usually include
handheld or portable devices. The LM card is available in the 340 and
350 series.

PCI card AIR-PCI3xx An IEEE 802.11 b-c om pli ant 2.4- GHz 1 1-Mbp s c lient adap t er c ard

radio module tha t c an be i nser t ed i nto any d evice e quipp ed wi th a n
empty PCI expansion slo t, such as a desktop personal computer. The
PCI card is available in t h e 340 a nd 35 0 seri es.

Mini PCI card AIR-MPI350 An IEEE 802.11 b-c om plian t 2. 4- GHz 1 1-Mbp s c lient ad ap t er c ard

radio module that is preinstalled in a device equipped with an internal
T ype IIIA mini PCI card slot, such as a laptop computer . The mini PCI
card is available only in the 350 series .

PC-Cardbus
card

AIR-CB20A An IEEE 802.11a-compli ant 5-G Hz 54-Mbps cl ient ada pter ca rd

radio module with a Cardbus interface that can be inserted into any
device equipped with an external Type II or Type III Cardbus slot.
Host devices can include laptops and notebook co mputer s.

CISCO AIRONET 340

SERIES

11 Mbps WIRELESS LAN ADAPTER

47519

CISCO AIRONET 340

SERIES

11 Mbps WIRELESS LAN ADAPTER

47893

65189

65190

74795

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Hardware Components

Note In the first three product model numbers, the f irs t x represents the client adapter series (340 or 350), and

the second x indicates the wired equivalent privacy (WEP) level of the card, where 0 = no WEP
capability , 1 = 40-bit WEP, and 2 = 128-bit WEP. If the last two product model numbers contain K9, the
card is 128-bit W EP ca pabl e.

Terminology

The following terms a re u sed thr ough out t his d oc ume nt:

• client adapter—Refers to all five types of adapters.

• PC card, LM card, PC I ca rd , mini PCI card, or PC-Cardbus card—Refers to a specific adapter.

• workstati on (or station )—Refers to a computing device with an installed client adapter.

• infrastructure device—Refers to a device that connects client adapters to a wired LAN, such as an

access point, bridge, or ba se station . Throughou t this doc ument, access point is used to represent
infrastructure d evices in ge nera l.

Hardware Components

The client adapte r has three m ajor ha rdware compon en ts: a radio , a radio an tenna, and two LED s.

Radio

Different radios are used for the 2 .4-GHz an d 5-GHz cl ient ada pters:

• The Cisco Aironet 340 and 350 series PC, LM, PCI, and mini PCI cards are IEEE 802.11b-compliant

client adapters. They contain a direct-sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) radio that operates in the

2.4-GHz Industrial Scientific Medical (ISM) license-free band. The 340 series 30-milliwatt (mW)
radio and the 350 se r ies 1 00- mW ra dio tran smi t da ta over a half- dup lex radi o cha nn el o pera ting a t
up to 11 Mbps. These cards operate with other IEEE 802.11b-compliant client devices in ad hoc (or
peer-to-peer) mode or w ith Cisco Air onet 340, 350, 11 00, and 12 00 Series Acc ess Points (wi th a

2.4-GHz radio) a nd oth er I EE E 802 .11 b-c ompl ia nt i nfra struc tur e devices in inf ra struc ture mod e.
They are approved for indoor and outdoor use.

DSSS technology distributes a radio signal over a wide range o f fre quen cies and then return s the
signal to the original fr eq ue ncy range at th e rec eiver. The benefit of this technology is its a bilit y to
protect the dat a t r an smission fr om int e rfer en ce . For exam ple, if a part ic ula r f requ ency en co unte rs
noise or interference or both, enough redundancy is built into the signal on other frequencies that
the client adapter usually will still be successful in its transmission.

• The Cisco Airone t A IR-CB2 0A PC- Cardbus ca r d is an I EEE 802 .11a- co mplia nt c li ent ada pter. It

contains an orthogonal frequ ency division multiplexing (OFDM) radio t hat opera tes in the
Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure (UNII) 1 and UNII 2 license-free bands located in
the lower 5-GHz port ion of the rad io fre quency sp ec tru m. The 20 -m W rad io t rans mi ts data over a
half-duplex radio c ha nn el opera tin g at up to 5 4 M bp s. Th is c ard in tero pe rat es w ith oth er IEE E

802.11a-compliant cl ient d evices in ad hoc m ode or with C i sco Airone t 120 0 Se rie s Acc ess Points
(with a 5-GHz radi o) a nd oth er I EEE 802 .11 a-co mp liant in fra stru ctur e devices in in fra stru ct ure
mode. It is approved for indoor us e only except i n the Uni ted State s, which allows for outdoor use
on channels 52 thr oug h 64.

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Hardware Components

Radio Antenna

The type of antenna use d depends on you r clie nt adapte r:

• PC cards have an integrated, permanently attached diversity antenna. The benefit of the diversity

antenna system is improved coverage. The system works b y allowing the card to switch and sample
between its two antenna ports in order to select the optimum port for receiving data packets. As a
result, the card has a better chance of maintaining the radio frequency (RF) connection in areas of
interference. The anten n a is ho u sed with in the sec tion of the card th at h angs o ut of the PC car d slot
when the card is installed.

• LM cards are shipped with out an antenn a; ho w e v er, an antenna can be connected through the car d’s

external connec tor.

• PCI cards are shipped with a 2-dB i dipole an tenna t hat atta ches to th e card ’s antenna connector.

However, other types of antennas may be used. PCI cards can be operated through only the primary
(or right) anten na port .

• Mini PCI cards are designed to be used with either one or two antennas, which connect to the card’s

two antenna connectors. If two antennas are used, the radio automatically selects the antenna that
presents the best RF si gnal . If on ly o ne a nte nna i s used, the r adio finds and uses it r egardless of
which connector it is plugged into.

• PC-Cardbus card s hav e an inte grate d, perman ently attach ed non-di v ersity an tenna that co ntains t wo

antenna ports, one for tra nsm it tin g and on e fo r re ceiving. T he ca rd cann ot sw it ch a nd sa mple
between the ports. The antenna is housed within the section of the card that hangs out of the Cardbus
slot when the card is installed.

Note Refer to the Antenna Mode (Transmit and Receive) parameters in Table 5-4 a nd Table 5-5 for

information on setting the client adapter’s ant enna mod e.

Note External antennas used in c ombination with a po wer setting r esulting in a radia ted power lev el abov e 100

mW equivalent isotropic radiated power (EIRP) are not allowed for use within the European community
and other countries th at ha ve adop ted the Euro pean R&TTE d irecti v e or the CEPT recommenda tion Rec

70.03 or both. For more details on legal comb ination s of power levels and antennas in those coun tries,
refer to the “De cla rat ion of Con formi ty w ith Regar d t o the R&TT E Di rect ive 1999/5 /EC” section on

page C-4 and the “Maximum Power Levels and Antenna Gains” section on page D-4.

LEDs

The client adapters have two LEDs that glow or blink to indicate the status of the adapter or to convey
error messages. Refer to Chapte r 10 for an interpretation of the LED codes.

Note Mini PCI cards do not have LEDs.

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Software Components

Software Components

The client adapter has three major software components: radio firmware, a driver, and client utilities.
These components are installed together by running a single Install Wizard file that is available from
Cisco.com. This file can be run on Windows 98, 98 SE, NT, 2000, Me, or XP and can be used with any
of the following client adapter types:

• 340 and 350 series PC, LM, and PCI car ds

• 350 series mini PCI ca rds

• PC-Cardbus (CB20A) card s

Chapter 3 provides instructions on using the Install Wizard to install or upgrade these software

components.

Note Prior to the release of the Install Wizard file, each software component had to be installed separately.

This version of the Cisco Aironet Wireless LAN Client Adapters Installation and Configuration Guide
for Windows pertains specifically to versions of the software that are available through the Install

Wizard. If you are using, installing, or upgrading to versions of client adapter software that do not use
the Install Wizard, refer to version OL- 139 4-0 4 o f th is m an ua l fo r in for mat ion an d ins tr uct ions.

Radio Firmware

The firmware controls the client adapter ’s radio. The c lient adapter is shipped with the firmware installed
in Flash memory. However, Cisco recommends that you always use the latest version. You can upgrade
the client adapter’s firmware in three ways:

• Through the Install Wizard—The Install Wizard automatically upgrades the client adapter’s

firmware to the version included in the Install Wizard file.

• Through the dr iv er—The drive r included in the Install Wiz ard file is also bundled with clien t adapter

firmware. Each time you insert a c lient adapt er or rebo ot your compute r, the driver loads and may
install the firmware with which it is bu ndled (if that firmware is newer than the firmware that is
currently installed in the adapter). You can use the Install Wizard’s Disable Firmware Checking
parameter or ACU’s Automatically Load New Firmware When NDIS Driver Is Updated parameter
to specify whethe r the driver upgrades the firmware . Refer to page 3-6 and page 9 -10 fo r mor e
information.

• Through ACU—The Load Firmware icon or Load New Firmware menu option in ACU enables you

to upgrade the c l ient ad ap te r’s firmware from an image (*.img) file that contains only firmware.
Refer to the “Upgrading the Firmware” section on page 9-8 for more information.

Driver

The driv er pr ovi des an interfa ce be tween a c omputer runnin g a W i ndo ws op erating s ystem and the client
adapter, thereby enabling Windows and the applications it runs to communicate with the adapter. The
driver must be installed before the adapter can be used.

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Software Components

Client Utilities

T wo client utilities are av ailable for use with Cisco Airo net client adapters: Aironet Clien t Utility (A CU)
and Aironet Client Monitor (ACM). These utilities are optional applications that interact with the radio
firmware to adjust client adapter settings and display information about the adapter.

ACU enables you to create configuratio n profiles for your clien t adapter and perform user-level
diagnostics. Because ACU performs a variety of functions, it is documented by function throughout this
manual. However, an overview of the utility is provided below to familiarize you with its interface.

ACM, which is accessible from an icon in the Windows system tray, provides a small subset of the
features available through ACU. Specifically, it enables you to access status information about your
client adapter and perform basic tasks. Chapter 8 pro vides detailed informati on and instructions on using
ACM.

Note If your computer is runni ng Windows XP, you can c onfigure your cli ent adapt er throu gh the Windows

operating system instead of through ACU. Refer to Appendix E for information. However, ACU is
recommended f or configu ring t he c lie nt ad ap ter.

Overview of ACU

The Aironet Client Utility screen (see Figure 1-1) is ACU’s primary screen.

Figure 1-1 Aironet Client Utility Screen

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Software Components

The title bar at the top of the Aironet Client Utility screen shows the profile that is being used by the
client adapter.

The status bar at the bottom of the Aironet Client Utility screen reflects the current state of your client
adapter. The following states are possible, where radio_name is the client adapter type and ap_name is
the configured name of an access point:

• Your radio_name is Associated to ap_name

• Your radio_name is Not Associated!

• Authentication Started with ap_name

• Your radio_name is Authenticated to ap_name

• Authentication Failed with ap_name

• Your radio_name is in AdHoc Mode

• Your radio_name is being loaded with new firmware!

• The radio in your radio_name is turned OFF!

• Unable to read the sta tus f ro m your Wireless LAN Ada pter!

• Your radio_name has a pr oble m!

Note Some 340 series cards may improperl y display a radio_name o f 480 0.

Note Aironet Extensions m ust be en able d on a ccess p oi nts r unn ing Cisco I OS Re lease 12 .2(4) JA or

greater in or der f or t he a p_na me to appear in the status bar.

The information shown in the status bar is updated once per second.
The right side of the st at us bar s hows the cu rr ent t ime of da y. If you set the clock to di sp lay sec ond s in

the Aironet Client Utility Preferences screen, the time includes seconds in addition to hours and minutes.

Note To enable the clock to display seconds, ope n ACU, click the Preferences icon or select

Preferences from the Options drop-down menu, ch eck the Display Seconds on Clock check
box, and click OK.

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Network Configurations Using Client Adapters

Buttons on the ACU Screens

The buttons on the ACU screens are used to perform specific funct ions. Table 1-2 describes the most
common buttons.

Network Configurations Using Client Adap ters

Client adapters can be used in a variety of network configurations. In some configurations, access points
provide connections to your network or act as re peaters to increase wireless communication range. The
maximum communicati on range i s based on how you configure your wi reless net work.

This section describes and illustrates the two most common network configurations:

• Ad hoc wireless local area network (LAN)

• Wireless infrastructure with workstations accessing a wired LAN

For examples of more complex network configurations involving client adapters and access points, refer
to the documentation fo r your access poi nt.

Note Refer to Chapter 5 for information on setting the client adapter’s network mode.

Table 1-2 Buttons on the ACU Screens

Button Description

Apply Saves any changes without exit ing the s creen
Cancel Exits the screen without saving any changes
Defaults Displays the default value of each parame ter
Help Provides information on the screen and its parameters
OK Saves any changes and exits th e scr een
Start Initiates a test
Stop Stops a test that is running

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Network Configurations Using Client Adapters

Ad Hoc Wireless LAN

An ad hoc (or peer-to-pe er) wireless LAN (see Figure 1-2) is the simplest wireless LAN configuration.
In a wireless LAN using an ad hoc network configuration, all devices equipped with a client adapter can
be linked together an d c om mun icat e dire ct ly w ith ea ch ot her. The use of an in frast ru ctu re device, su ch
as an access point , i s not requi red.

Figure 1-2 Ad Hoc Wireless LAN

47520

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Network Configurations Using Client Adapters

Wireless Infrastructure with Workstations Accessing a Wired LAN

A microcellular network ca n be create d by placing two or mo re access po ints on a LAN . Figure 1-3
shows a microcellular networ k with workstations accessing a wired LAN through several access points.

This configuration is useful with portable or mobile stations because it allows them to be directly
connected to the wired network even while moving from one microcell domain to another. This process
is transparent, and the connection to the f ile serv er or host is maintained witho ut disruption . The mobile
station stays connected to an access point as long as it can. However, once the transfer of data packets
needs to be retried or beacon s are missed, the stati on automatically sear ches for and associates to another
access point. This process is referred to as seamless roaming.

Figure 1-3 Wireless Infrastructure with Workstations Accessing a Wired LAN

Access Point

(Root Unit)

Access Point
(Root Unit)

5835

Wired LAN

CHAPTER

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2

Preparing for Installation

This chapter provides information that you need to know before installing a client adapter.
The following topics are covered in this chapter:

• Safety information, page 2-2

• Unpacking the Clie nt A dapt er, page 2-3

• System Requirements, page 2-4

• Site Requirements, page 2-5

2-2

Cisco Aironet 340, 350, and CB20A Wireless LAN Client Adapters Installation and Configuration Guide for Windows

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Chapter 2 Preparing for Installation

Safety information

Safety information

Follow the guidelines in this section to ensure proper operation and safe use of the client adapter.

FCC Safety Compliance Statement

The FCC, with its action in ET Doc ket 96-8, has adop ted a safe ty standard for human exposur e to RF
electromagnetic energy emitted by FCC-certified equipment. When used with approved Cisco Aironet
antennas, Cisco Aironet products meet the uncontrolled environmental limits found in OET-65 and ANSI
C95.1, 1991. Proper operation of this radio device according to the instructions in this publication will
result in user exposure substantially below the FCC recommended limits.

Safety Guidelines

• Do not touch or move the antenna while the unit is transmitting or receiving.

• Do not hold any component containing a radio such that the antenna is very close to or touching any

exposed parts of the body, especially the face or eyes, while transmitting.

• Do not operate the radio or attempt to transmit data unless the antenna is connected; otherwise, the

radio may be damaged.

• High-gain, wall-mount, or m ast-mou nt ant enna s ar e desi gned to b e pro fessiona ll y in stall ed a nd

should be located at a minimum distance of 12 inches (30 cm) or more from the body of all persons.
Please contact your professional installer, VAR, or antenna manufacturer for proper installation
requirements.

• Use in specific environme nts :

–

The use of wireless devices in hazardous locations is limited to the constraints posed by the

safety directors of su ch e nvironments.

–

The use of wir eless d evices on airpl ane s is governed by the Fede ra l Aviation Administrat ion

(FAA).

–

The use of wireless devices in hospitals is restricted to the limits set forth by each hospital.