Quanta Computer ZI3RM8 Users manual

WLAN 802.11g mini-PCI Module

User Manual

Version: 1.0

Sep. 2003

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Copyright Statement

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means, whether electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior writing of the publisher.
Windows™ 98SE/2000/ME/XP are trademarks of Microsoft® Corp.
Pentium is trademark of Intel.

All copyright reserved.

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Federal Communication Commission Interference Statement

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class
B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are
designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a
residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio
frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with
the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular
installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or
television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and
on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one of the
following measures:

- Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

- Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

- Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which
the receiver is connected.

- Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

FCC Caution: To assure continued compliance, (example - use only shielded
interface cables when connecting to computer or peripheral devices) any
changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for
compliance could void the user's authority to operate this equipment.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) This device must accept any interference received, including interference

that may cause undesired operation.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

This transmitter must not be co-located or operating in conjunction
with any other antenna or transmitter.

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Table of Contents

1. INTRODUCTION 4

1.1 THE WLAN 802.11G MINI-PCI MODULE..............................................................4

1.2 FEATURES ................................................................................................................4

2. PLANNING YOUR WIR ELESS NETWORK 5

2.1 NETWORK TOPOLOGY.............................................................................................5

2.2 AD-HOC VERSUS INFRASTRUCTURE MODE............................................................5

3. SOFTWARE INSTALLATION AND UNINSTALLATION 7

3.1 SETUP WIZARD INSTALLATION.......................................................................7

3.2 ADDITIONAL SETUP PROCESSES .............................................................................9

3.3 DISABLE WINDOWS XP ZERO-CONFIGURATION .................................................11

3.4 UNINSTALLATION...................................................................................................12

4. USING THE CONFIGURATION UTILITY 14

4.1 OVERVIEW .............................................................................................................14

4.2 ACCESSING THE CONFIGURATION UTILITY .........................................................14

4.3 LINK STATUS..........................................................................................................18

4.4 SITE MONITOR.......................................................................................................19

4.5 STATISTICS.............................................................................................................20

4.6 DIAGNOSTICS.........................................................................................................21

4.7 INFORMATION........................................................................................................22

APPENDIX A: TROUBLESHOOTING23

APPENDIX B: GLOSSARY 26

APPENDIX C: SPECIFIC ATION 31

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1. Introduction

1.1 The WLAN 802.11g mini-PCI Module

802.11g is the 54Mbps wireless networking standard that's almost five times faster

than the widely deployed 802.11b products found in homes, businesses, and public
wireless hotspots around the country — but since they share the same 2.4GHz radio
band, 802.11g devices can also work with existing 11Mbps 802.11b equipment. The
new 802.11g mini-PCI Module has both standards built in, so you can connect your
notebook to existing 802.11b infrastructure, and also the new screaming
fast 802.11g networks. The included Setup Wizard will walk you through configuring
the module to your network's settings, step by step.

Once you're connected, you can keep in touch with your e-mail, access the Internet,
and share files and other resources such as printers and network storage with other
computers on the network, wherever you wander. At home, you can surf the web or
use instant messaging to chat with friends while sitting out on the patio. You'll also be
able to connect with any of the growing number of public wireless hotspots springing
up in coffee shops, airport lounges, hotels and convention centers. And as those
hotspots upgrade to the new high-speed 802.11g standard, you'll be ready to take
advantage of the increased speeds. Get connected to current-standard 802.11b
networks today, and be prepared for the future with the WLAN 802.11g mini-PCI
Module.

1.2 Features

l High-speed 802.11g networking for your notebook computer
l Data rates up to 54Mbps -- 5 times faster than 802.11b
l Also interoperates with 802.11b networks (at 11Mbps)
l Wireless security -- up to 128-bit WEP encryption

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2. Planning Your Wireless Network

2.1 Network Topology

A wireless local area network (WLAN) is exactly like a regular local area network
(LAN), except that each computer in the WLAN uses a wireless device to connect to
the network. Computers in a WLAN share the same frequency channel and SSID,
which is an identification name for wireless devices.

2.2 Ad-Hoc versus Infrastructure Mode

Unlike wired networks, wireless networks have two different modes in which they
may be set up: infrastructure and ad-hoc. An infrastructure configuration is a
WLAN and wired LAN communicating to each other through an access point. An
ad-hoc configuration is wireless-equipped computers communicating directly with
each other. Choosing between these two modes depends on whether or not the
wireless network needs to share data or peripherals with a wired network or not.

If the computers on the wireless network need to be accessed by a wired network or
need to share a peripheral, such as a printer, with the wired network computers, the
wireless network should be set up in infrastructure mode. (See Figure 2-1.) The
basis of infrastructure mode centers around an access point, which serves as the main
point of communications in a wireless network. Access points transmit data to PCs
equipped with wireless network cards, which can roam within a certain radial range of
the access point. Multiple access points can be arranged to work in succession to
extend the roaming range, and can be set up to communicate with your Ethernet
(wired) hardware as well.

Figure 2-1

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If the wireless network is relatively small and needs to share resources only with the
other computers on the wireless network, then the ad-hoc mode can be used. (See
Figure 2-2.) Ad-hoc mode allows computers equipped with wireless transmitters and
recei vers to communicate directly with each other, eliminating the need for an access
point. The drawback of this mode is that, in Ad- Hoc mode, wireless-equipped
computers are not able to communicate with computers on a wired network. And, of
course, communication between the wireless-equipped computers is limited by the
distance and interference directly between them.

Figure 2-2

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3. Software Installation and Uninstallation

Note! The Installation Section in this User Manual describes the first-time installation

for Windows. To re-install the driver, please first uninstall the previously
installed driver. See Chapter 3.2 “Uninstallation” section in this User Manual.

3.1 Setup Wizard Installation

Follow the steps below to complete the driver/utility installation:

1. Insert the Installation Software CD into the CD-Rom Drive.

2. Click “Next”.

Welcome to the InstallShield Wizard for WLAN

802.11g mini-PCI Module

The InstallShieldR Wizard will install WLAN 802.11g
mini-PCI Module on your computer. To continue, click Next.

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3. Read the License Agreement and click “Yes” .

To install to this folder, click Next. To install to a different folder, click Browse

4. Click “Next” to continue or click “Browse” to choose a destination folder.

Setup will install WLAN 802.11g mini-PCI Module in the following folder.

and select another folder.

C:\Program Files\WLAN 802.11g mini-PCI Module\

5. Click “Next”.

WLAN 802.11g mini-PCI Module

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6. Click “Finish”.

Setup has finished installing WLAN 802.11g mini-PCI
Module on your computer.

7. The Windows Operating System will find the new hardware and automatically

install it. (For Windows 98SE or Windows Me, please restart your computer
before inserting the Adatper).

8. You may now see the WLAN 802.11g mini-PCI Module shortcut on

windows system tray.

3.2 Additional Setup Processes

During software installation procedure, each operating system may prompt different
speci fic options. Mostly, you will be asked to add some necessary protocols and to
edit some networking settings.

1. Windows 98SE: The system may request the original Windows CD during

the installation process. Please check with the network administrator for