Cisco Systems WUSB54G User Manual

USER GUIDE

Wireless-G USB

Network Adapter

Model: WUSB54G

About This Guide

Icon Descriptions

While reading through the User Guide you may see various icons that call attention to specific items. Below is a description of these icons:

NOTE: This check mark indicates that there is

a note of interest and is something that you should pay special attention to while using the product.

WARNING: This exclamation point indicates

that there is a caution or warning and it is something that could damage your property or product.

About This Guide

WEB: This globe icon indicates a noteworthy

website address or e-mail address.

Online Resources

Website addresses in this document are listed without http:// in front of the address because most current web browsers do not require it. If you use an older web browser, you may have to add http:// in front of the web address.

Resource Website

Linksys www.linksys.com

Linksys International www.linksys.com/international

Glossary www.linksys.com/glossary

Network Security www.linksys.com/security

Linksys is a registered trademark or trademark of Cisco Systems, Inc. and/ or its affiliates in the U.S. and certain other countries. Copyright © 2008 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Other brands and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Wireless-G USB Network Adapter

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Product Overview 1

LEDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Chapter 2: Wireless Security Checklist 2

General Network Security Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Additional Security Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Chapter 3: Conguration 3

Accessing the Wireless Network Monitor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Using the Wireless Network Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Link Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Site Survey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Proles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Appendix A: Troubleshooting 16

Appendix B: Specications 17

Appendix C: Warranty Information 18

Limited Warranty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Appendix D: Regulatory Information 20

FCC Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

FCC Radiation Exposure Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Safety Notices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Industry Canada Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Règlement d’Industry Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Wireless Disclaimer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Avis de non-responsabilité concernant les appareils sans l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

User Information for Consumer Products Covered by EU Directive 2002/96/EC on Waste

Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Appendix E: Software License Agreement 26

Software in Linksys Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Software Licenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Wireless-G USB Network Adapter

Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Product Overview

Thank you for choosing the Wireless-G USB Network Adapter. Setting up your network and your Wireless-G USB Network Adapter is easier than ever.

How does the Adapter do this? Like all wireless products, the Adapter allows for greater range and mobility within your wireless network, whether it’s using the Wireless-G (802.11g) or Wireless-B (802.11b) standard.

LEDs

Product Overview

Power (Green) The Power LED lights up when

the Adapter is powered on.

Link (Green) The Link LED lights up when the

Adapter has an active connection.

Wireless-G USB Network Adapter

Chapter 2

Wireless Security Checklist

Chapter 2: Wireless Security Checklist

Wireless networks are convenient and easy to install, so homes with high-speed Internet access are adopting them at a rapid pace. Because wireless networking operates by sending information over radio waves, it can be more vulnerable to intruders than a traditional wired network. Like signals from your cellular or cordless phones, signals from your wireless network can also be intercepted. Since you cannot physically prevent someone from connecting to your wireless network, you need to take some additional steps to keep your network secure.

1. Change the default wireless network name or SSID

Wireless devices have a default wireless network name or Service Set Identifier (SSID) set by the factory. This is the name of your wireless network, and can be up to 32 characters in length. Linksys wireless products use linksys as the default wireless network name. You should change the wireless network name to something unique to distinguish your wireless network from other wireless networks that may exist around you, but do not use personal information (such as your Social Security number) because this information may be available for anyone to see when browsing for wireless networks.

2. Change the default password

For wireless products such as access points, routers, and gateways, you will be asked for a password when you want to change their settings. These devices have a default password set by the factory. The Linksys default password is admin. Hackers know these defaults and may try to use them to access your wireless device and change your network settings. To thwart any unauthorized changes, customize the device’s password so it will be hard to guess.

4. Enable encryption

Encryption protects data transmitted over a wireless network. Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA/WPA2) and Wired Equivalency Privacy (WEP) offer different levels of security for wireless communication.

A network encrypted with WPA/WPA2 is more secure than a network encrypted with WEP, because WPA/WPA2 uses dynamic key encryption. To protect the information as it passes over the airwaves, you should enable the highest level of encryption supported by your network equipment.

WEP is an older encryption standard and may be the only option available on some older devices that do not support WPA.

General Network Security Guidelines

Wireless network security is useless if the underlying network is not secure.

Password protect all computers on the network and • individually password protect sensitive files.

Change passwords on a regular basis. •

Install anti-virus software and personal firewall • software.

Disable file sharing (peer-to-peer). Some applications • may open file sharing without your consent and/or knowledge.

Additional Security Tips

Keep wireless routers, access points, or gateways away • from exterior walls and windows.

Turn wireless routers, access points, or gateways • off when they are not being used (at night, during vacations).

Use strong passphrases that are at least eight characters • in length. Combine letters and numbers to avoid using standard words that can be found in the dictionary.

3. Enable MAC address filtering

Linksys routers and gateways give you the ability to enable Media Access Control (MAC) address filtering. The MAC address is a unique series of numbers and letters assigned to every networking device. With MAC address filtering enabled, wireless network access is provided solely for wireless devices with specific MAC addresses. For example, you can specify the MAC address of each computer in your home so that only those computers can access your wireless network.

Wireless-G USB Network Adapter

WEB: For more information on wireless

security, visit www.linksys.com/security

Chapter 3

Configuration

Chapter 3: Configuration

Configuration is done through the Wireless Network Monitor (the Monitor). You can use the Monitor to check the link information, search for available wireless networks, or create profiles that hold different configuration settings.

Accessing the Wireless Network Monitor

After installing the Adapter, the Wireless Network Monitor icon appears in the system tray of your computer. If the Wireless Network Monitor is enabled, the icon is green. If the Wireless Network Monitor is disabled or the Adapter is not connected, the icon is gray.

Using the Wireless Network Monitor

The opening screen of the Wireless Network Monitor is the Link Information screen. From this screen, you can find out how strong the current wireless signal is and how good the connection’s quality is. You can also click More Information to view additional status information about the current wireless connection. To search for available wireless networks, click the Connect tab. To perform configuration changes or create connection profiles, click the Profiles tab.

Ad-Hoc Mode or Infrastructure Mode The screen

indicates whether the Adapter is currently working in ad-hoc or infrastructure mode.

Signal Strength The Signal Strength bar indicates signal

strength.

Link Quality The Link Quality bar indicates the quality of

the wireless network connection.

Click More Information to view additional information about the wireless network connection on the Wireless Network Status screen.

Wireless Network Status

The Wireless Network Status screen provides information on your current network settings.

Wireless Network Status

Link Information

The Link Information screen displays network mode, signal strength, and link quality information about the current connection. It also provides a More Information button to click for additional status information.

Link Information

Status This shows the status of the wireless network

connection..

SSID This is the unique name (SSID) of the wireless

network.

Wireless Mode This is the mode of the wireless network

currently in use.

Transfer Rate The data transfer rate of the current

connection is shown here.

Channel This is the channel used by your wireless

network.

Security This is the status of the wireless security

feature.

Authentication This is your wireless network’s

authentication method.

IP Address This is the IP Address of the Adapter.

Subnet Mask This is the Adapter’s Subnet Mask.

Default Gateway This is the Default Gateway address.

DNS This is the DNS address of the Adapter.

Wireless-G USB Network Adapter

Chapter 3

Configuration

DHCP Client This displays the Adapter’s status as a DHCP

client.

MAC Address This is the MAC address of the wireless

network’s access point or wireless router.

Cisco AP IP This displays the Cisco AP IP Address when

LEAP wireless security is used.

Signal Strength The Signal Strength bar indicates the

signal strength.

Link Quality The Link Quality bar indicates the quality of

the wireless network connection.

Click Statistics to go to the Wireless Network Statistics screen. Click Back to return to the initial Link Information screen. Click Save to Profile to save the currently active connection settings to a profile.

Wireless Network Statistics

The Wireless Network Statistics screen provides statistics on your current network settings.

Bytes Transmitted This shows the bytes transmitted by

the Adapter, in real time, since connecting to the wireless network or since the Refresh Statistics button was last pressed.

Driver Version This shows the Adapter’s driver version.

Noise Level This shows the level of background noise

that affects the wireless signal. A lower reading translates into a higher quality signal.

Signal Strength This is the intensity of the wireless signal

that the Adapter receives.

Transmit Power This is the power output at which the

Adapter is transmitting.

Up Time This indicates the length of the most recent

connection to a wireless network.

Total Up Time This indicates the cumulative total of the

Adapter’s connection time.

Signal Strength The Signal Strength bar indicates the

signal strength.

Link Quality The Link Quality bar indicates the quality of

the wireless network connection.

Click Back to return to the initial Link Information screen. Click Status to go to the Wireless Network Status screen. Click Save to Profile to save the currently active connection settings to a profile. Click Refresh to reset the statistics.

Wireless Network Statistics

Transmit Rate This is the data transfer rate of the current

connection. (In Auto mode, the Adapter dynamically shifts to the fastest data transfer rate at any given time.)

Receive Rate This is the rate that the Adapter receives

data.

Packets Received This shows the packets that the

Adapter receives, in real time, after connecting to the wireless network or after clicking Refresh.

Packets Transmitted This shows the packets that the

Adapter transmits, in real time, after connecting to the wireless network or after clicking Refresh.

Bytes Received This shows the bytes received by the

Adapter, in real time, since connecting to the wireless network or since the Refresh Statistics button was last pressed.

SecureEasySetup

While using the Monitor, you might see the SecureEasySetup button on the right-hand side of the screen. This button can be used to set up the Adapter, if this has not already been done. With SecureEasySetup, setting up the Adapter is as simple as pushing a couple of buttons. Before you press any buttons, though, you should locate the SecureEasySetup button on the device you’re connecting the Adapter to, such as a wireless router or access point.

Wireless-G USB Network Adapter

Chapter 3

Locate the Button

After clicking the SecureEasySetup button, you will be asked to locate the SecureEasySetup button or Cisco logo button on the device with which the Adapter will be communicating. If you are not sure where to find this button, click Where can I find the button?

Where can I find the Button?

This will walk you through a couple of screens to help you find the button, which is usually located on the front of the wireless router or access point.

Configuration

SecureEasySetup

Congratulations! SecureEasySetup is complete.

Site Survey

The Site Survey screen displays a list of available networks in the table on the left. The table shows each network’s SSID, Channel, and the quality of the wireless signal the Adapter is receiving. You may click SSID, CH (Channel), or Signal, to sort by that field.

If you’ve clicked the button by accident or do not wish to use SecureEasySetup, you can click Back to return to the previous screen.

Press the Cisco logo or SecureEasySetup button on the wireless router or access point. When it turns white and begins to flash, click the Next button on the Setup Wizard screen. The logo or button will stop flashing on the wireless router or access point when the Adapter has been successfully added to the network. Repeat this procedure for any additional SecureEasySetup device.

NOTE: You can only add one SecureEasySetup

device at a time.

SecureEasySetup is now complete and a configuration profile will has been created automatically. You may save your configuration profile to a text file by clicking the

Save button, or print the configuration by clicking the Print button. Click Connect to Network to connect to

your network.

Site Survey

SSID The SSID or unique name of the wireless network is

displayed here.

CH This is the channel that the network uses.

Signal This is the percentage of signal strength, from 0

to 100%.

Site Information

For each network selected, the following settings are listed:

Wireless-G USB Network Adapter

SSID This is the SSID or unique name of the Wireless

Network.

Chapter 3

Wireless Mode This is the mode of the wireless network

currently in use.

Channel This is the channel to which the wireless network

devices are set.

Security This is the status of the wireless security

feature.

MAC Address This is the MAC address of the wireless

network’s access point.

Refresh Click Refresh to perform a new search for

wireless devices.

Connect To connect to one of the networks on the list,

select the wireless network, and click Connect. If the network’s wireless security is enabled, then one of these wireless security screens appears:

Configuration

WPA-Personal Security

WEP

If the network has WEP encryption enabled, then you see the WEP Key Needed for Connection screen. Select the appropriate level of WEP encryption, 64-Bit or 128-Bit. Then enter the network’s Passphrase or WEP Key. Click Connect. To cancel the connection, click Cancel.

WEP Security

PSK2

If the network has PSK2 wireless security enabled, then you will see the PSK2 Needed for Connection screen. Enter the network’s Passphrase or pre-shared key in the Passphrase field. To connect to the network, click Connect. To cancel the connection, click Cancel.

PSK2 Security

WPA Personal

If the network has the WPA Personal security enabled, then you see the WPA Personal Needed for Connection screen. Select the appropriate encryption type, TKIP or AES. Enter the network’s Passphrase in the Passphrase field. Then click

Connect. To cancel the connection, click Cancel.

Wireless-G USB Network Adapter

Profiles

The Profiles screen lets you save different configuration profiles for different network setups. The table on the left displays a list of available profiles with their profile names and wireless network names.

Chapter 3

Profiles

Profile This is the name of the profile.

Configuration

Create a New Profile

The next screen is the Available Wireless Networks screen.

SSID This is the SSID or unique name of the wireless

network.

Profile Information

For each profile selected, the following are listed:

Wireless Mode This is the mode of the wireless network

currently in use.

Channel This is the channel to which the wireless network

devices are set.

Security This is the status of the wireless security.

Authentication This is the authentication setting for the

network.

Connect To connect to a wireless network using a specific

profile, select the profile, and click Connect.

New Click New to create a new profile. See the next

section, “Creating a New Profile,” for instructions.

Edit Select the profile you want to change and click Edit.

Import Click Import to import a profile that is saved in

another location. Select the appropriate file, and click

Open.

Export Select the profile you want to save in a different

location, and click Export. Direct Windows to the appropriate folder, and click Save.

Delete Select the profile you want to delete and click

Delete.

NOTE: If you want to export more than one

profile, you must export them one at a time.

Available Wireless Networks

This screen provides two options for setting up the Adapter.

SecureEasySetup This Adapter features SecureEasySetup.

This means that you can set it up with just the press of a button when connecting to wireless routers or access points that also feature SecureEasySetup. Both points on the network must feature SecureEasySetup for this to work.

Available Wireless Networks (For most users.) Use this

option if you already have a network set up. The networks available to this Adapter are listed on this screen. You can choose one of these networks and click Connect to connect to it. Click Refresh to update the Available Wireless Networks list.

Manual Setup If your network is not listed on this screen,

select Manual Setup to set up the adapter manually. This method of setting up the Adapter is intended for Advanced Users only.

The setup for each option is described, step by step, under the appropriate heading on the following pages.

Click Exit to close the Setup Wizard and set up the Adapter later.

SecureEasySetup

Wireless-G USB Network Adapter

Chapter 3

Locate the Button

Configuration

SecureEasySetup is now complete and a configuration profile will has been created automatically. You may save your configuration profile to a text file by clicking the

Save button, or print the configuration by clicking the Print button. Click Connect to Network to connect to

your network.

SecureEasySetup

Where can I find the Button?

This will walk you through a couple of screens to help you find the button, which is usually located on the front of the wireless router or access point.

If you’ve clicked the button by accident or do not wish to use SecureEasySetup, you can click Back to return to the previous screen.

Congratulations! SecureEasySetup is complete.

Available Wireless Networks

The available networks are listed in the table on the center of the screen by Wireless Network Name. Select the wireless network you wish to connect to and click Connect. (If you do not see your network listed, you can click Refresh to bring the list up again.) If the network utilizes wireless security, you will need to configure security on the Adapter. If not, you will be taken directly to the Congratulations screen.

If you have wireless security enabled on your network, 1. continue to step 2. If you don’t have wireless security enabled, continue to step 3.

If your network has WEP, WPA, or WPA2 wireless security 2. enabled, then that security screen appears. Continue to the screen for your wireless security.

NOTE: You can only add one SecureEasySetup

device at a time.

Wireless-G USB Network Adapter

Chapter 3

Configuration

Available Wireless Network

WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy)

If you have WEP enabled, this screen appears. Select 64-Bit or 128-Bit. Then enter a passphrase or WEP key.

WEP Security

Passphrase Enter a passphrase in the Passphrase field,

so a WEP key is automatically generated. The passphrase is case sensitive and must be 31 or fewer alphanumeric characters. It must match the passphrase of your other wireless network devices and is compatible with Linksys wireless products only. (For non-Linksys wireless products, enter the WEP key manually.)

WPA Personal

Encryption Select the type of algorithm you want to use,

TKIP or AES, from the Encryption drop-down menu.

Passphrase Enter a Passphrase of 8-63 characters in the

Passphrase field.

Click Next to continue or Back to return to the previous screen.

PSK2 Needed For Connection

Passphrase Enter a Passphrase, also called a pre-shared

key, of 8-63 characters in the Passphrase field. The longer and more complex your Passphrase is, the more secure your network will be.

WEP Key The WEP key must match the WEP key of your

wireless network. For 64-Bit encryption, enter exactly 10 hexadecimal characters (“0” to “9” and “A” to “F”.) For 128-Bit encryption, enter exactly 26 hexadecimal characters.

Click Connect and proceed to Step 3.

WPA Personal

WPA Personal offers two encryption methods, TKIP and AES, with dynamic encryption keys. Select TKIP or AES for encryption. Then enter a Passphrase that is 8-63 characters in length.

Wireless-G USB Network Adapter

After the profile installs, the 3. Congratulations screen appears. Click Connect to Network to implement the new settings immediately and return to the Link Information screen. Click Return to Profiles Screen to keep the current settings active and return to the Profiles screen.

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