Realtek WU EC VERSION 1-0 User Manual

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Wireless 802.11b/g/n USB Adapter
Model: WU__EC Series
V1.0
User Manual
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C h a p t er 1 : I n t r o d u c t i on…………………………… … … … .………….3
CH A PT ER 2: Qu ic k In st a l lat io n Gu id e…… …… ……… …… …… … . 4
CHA PTE R 3 : Cli ent Ut ili ty… ………… … ……… ……… … ……… …… ..16
CHAPTER 4 Soft AP Functi o n …………………………………… … … ….29
CH A PTE R 5: Tr ou b le sh oot ing …… ………… …… … …… ….…………. 35
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Chapter 1. Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the wireless 802.11b/g/n USB adapter! This adapter is mini size design and you are able to plug it into the USB port. Excepting common wireless standards
802.11b/g, this wireless adapter is also 802.11n compatible - data
transfer rate is 150/300Mbps, and that‟s three times faster than
802.11g wireless network!
1.1 Product Features
Complies with IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11g and IEEE 802.11b
standards
Provides USB2.0 port
Provides 150/300Mbps receiving rate and 150/300Mbps sending
rate
Supports 20MHz/40MHz frequency width
Auto-detects and changes the network transmission rate
Provides two work modes: Infrastructure and Ad-Hoc
Supports Soft AP to establish your wireless LAN networking
Supports 64/128-bit WEP, WPA, WPA2 encryption methods and
802.1x security authentication standard
Supports WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) encryption method to free
you from remembering long passwords
Easy-to-install, plug and play
Supports Windows 2000/XP/VISTA/Win7/Linux/Macintosh
1.2 Package contents
The following contents should be found in your box:
One Wireless 801.11b/g/n USB adapter
One CD (include driver/utility/user manual)
Note: If any of the listed contents are damaged or missing, please contact the retailer from whom you purchased the product for assistance.
1.3 Indicator Description
There is a LED indicator blinking when data communication is
going on.
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CHAPTER 2: Quick Installation Guide
This chapter is to assist you how to use the included CD-ROM
which comprises the Driver and the Client Utility Interface.
2.1 Driver Installation
Please follow the following instructions to install your new
wireless USB Adapter:
2.1.1
Insert the USB wireless network card into an empty USB 2.0 port
of your computer when computer is switched on. Never use force
to insert the card, if you feel it‟s stuck, flip the card over and try
again.
2.1.2 The following message will appear on your computer, click
Cancel / Close‟.
Under Windows XP
Under Windows Vista and Windows 7
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2.1.3
Insert the driver CD into your CD-ROM. You can see autorun
screen below. if not, you can double click „autorun.exe‟ on CD.
Click Install Driver to start the installation procedure
2.1.4
Please select the language you wish to use, then click „Next‟.
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2.1.5
Installation descriptions shown. Click „Nextto continue
2.1.6
Once the installation is finished the computer will be asked to
reboot. you can click Finish‟ and reboot the computer to finish the installation of driver files.
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2.1.7 A new icon will appear near the clock of system tray:
Left-click the icon will launch wireless network configuration
utility, and you can right-click the icon to show the quick menu of configuration utility. This icon also uses different color to show the status of wireless connection:
Wireless connection is established, good signal reception.
Wireless connection is established, weak signal reception.
Connection is not established yet.
Wireless network card is not detected.
For detailed instructions of wireless network configuration utility,
please see next chapter.
2.2 Connect to Wireless Access Point
To use wireless network, you have to connect to a wireless
access point first. You can either use Client utility (comes with network card driver), or Windows Zero Config utility (comes with Windows operating system).
2.2.1 Using Client Utility
Please follow the following instructions to use Client
configuration utility to connect to wireless access point.
1. Left-click the Client configuration utility icon located at
lower-right corner of computer desktop, and configuration menu will appear:
HERE!
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2. Wireless utility will appear. Click „Available Network‟ menu to
search for wireless access points nearby.
3. Please wait for a while, and all wireless access points which can
be reached by this wireless network card will be displayed here.
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If the wireless access point you wish to connect does not appear
here, you can click „Refresh‟ button to scan for wireless access points again; if the wireless access point you‟re looking for still not
appear, try to move the computer closer.
When the access point you‟re looking for is on the list, left-click it
and then double click it or click „Add to Profile‟.
4. If a password (a.k.a. „Network Key‟) is required to access the
wireless access point, please input it in „Network key‟ (and input it again in „Confirm network key‟ for confirmation). Click „OK
when password is properly inputted.
NOTE: Network security type („Network Authentication‟ and „Data encryption‟) will be selected automatically based on wireless access point‟s security setting. It‟s not required to change
these settings by yourself.
All options in this page will be filled automatically according to
the access point you wish to add to profile. However, you can still modify any of them to meet your requirement.
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Profile name
You can give a name to this profile, so you can remember its purpose easily. It can be any phrase to help you remember.
Network Name (SSID)
The SSID (Service Set IDentifier, i.e. access
point‟s name). This field will be filled as the
access point you selected when SSID is not hidden and grayed out. If SSID is hidden, you have to input correct SSID you yourself.
This is a computer-to-computer (ad hoc) network
Check this box if you wish to connect to another computer / network device by ad hoc method. When not accessing to wireless access point, you have to check this box.
Channel
Select wireless channel for ad hoc connection. This option only appears when you‟re using ad hoc connection.
Network Authentication
Select the network authentication type from drop-down menu. This setting must be identical with the setting of wireless access point you with to connect.
Data encryption
Select the data encryption type from drop-down menu. This setting must be identical with the setting of wireless access point you with to connect.
ASCII / PASSPHRASE
When the encryption type is „WEP‟, it‟s required to input a set of „passphrase‟ to
connect to wireless access point. Check
„ASCII‟ or „PASSPHRASE‟ depends on the
security setting of access point, and input it
in the box; if you select „PASSPHRASE‟ you
also need to select the length of the key.
The passphrase must be identical with the setting of wireless access point you with to connect.
Key index
Select WEP key index. For most of access
points you can select „1‟, but please refer to
the setting of the access point.
Network key / Confirm network key
When the encryption type is „WPA‟ or „WPA2-PSK‟, it‟s required to input a set of „passphrase‟ to connect to wireless access
point. Please input the same passphrase in two boxes for confirmation.
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EAP TYPE / Tunnel / Provision Mode
When authentication type is any of 802.1X, you have to select EAP type, tunnel, and provision mode from dropdown menu. This setting must be identical with your 802.1x authentication server.
Username / Identity / Domain / Password
Please input 802.1x related authentication information here.
Certificate
If certification is required to authenticate with 802.1x authentication server, please select a local certificate from dropdown list.
PAC
Check this box and PAC (Privilege Access Certificate) will be automatically selected.
Please click „OK‟ when ready.
5. Network card will attempt to connect to access point now, this
may require few seconds to minutes, please be patient. When the
Status‟ become „Associated , your computer is connected to access point you selected. Click „Close‟ to close configuration
menu.
NOTE: If you connected to an access point but the connection has
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been dropped soon, please check security settings and re-check password spelling.
2.2.2 Using Windows Zero Configuration
Windows XP and Vista has a built-in wireless network
configuration utility, called as „Windows Zero Configuration
(WZC). You can also use WZC to configure your wireless network parameter:
1. Right-click Client configuration utility icon, and click „Open
Config Utility‟.
2. Check „Windows Zero Config‟ box.
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3. A message indicating that you‟ve been switched to Windows
Zero.
NOTE: To return to use Client utility, uncheck „Windows Zero Config‟ box.
4. Click „Start‟ button (should be located at the bottom-left corner
of windows desktop), click „Control Panel‟, then click „Network and Internet Connections‟ in Control Panel.
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5. Double click „Network Connections‟.
6. Right-click „Wireless Network Connection‟ (it may have a
number as suffix if you have more than one wireless network card, please make sure you right-click the Wireless LAN 802.11n USB
Network Adapter), then select „View Available Wireless Networks‟.
7. All wireless access points in proximity will be displayed here. If
the access point you want to use is not displayed here, please try to move your computer closer to the access point, or you can click
„Refresh network list‟ to rescan access points. Click the access point you want to use if it‟s shown, then click „Connect‟.
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8. If the access point is protected by encryption, you have to input
its security key or passphrase here. It must match the encryption setting on the access point. If the access point you selected does not use encryption, you‟ll not be prompted for security key or passphrase.
9. If you can see „Connected‟ message, the connection between
your computer and wireless access point is successfully established.
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CHAPTER 3: Client Utility
3.1 Connection Profile Management
If you need to connect to different wireless access points at
different time, like of access point of your home, office, cybercafe, or public wireless service, you can store the connection parameters (encryption, passphrase, security etc, etc.) as a profile for every access point, so you don‟t have to input these parameters every time when you want to connect to a specific wireless access point.
To manage profiles, right-click the Client configuration utility icon
located at lower-right corner of computer desktop, then click
Open Config Utility‟.
Click the „Profile‟ menu.
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3.1.1 Add a new profile
By this function you can setup the connection parameters for a
specific wireless access point in advance, without contacting it first.
If you want to create a new profile, click Profile‟ menu, then
click „Add‟ button.
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You‟ll be prompted to input connection parameters for the
Profile name
You can give a name to this profile, so you can remember its purpose easily. It can be any phrase to help you remember.
Network Name (SSID)
The SSID (Service Set IDentifier, i.e. access
point‟s name). This must be identical with
the SSID of the access point you wish to connect.
This is a computer-to-computer (ad hoc) network
Check this box if you wish to connect to another computer / network device by ad hoc method. When not accessing to wireless access point, you have to check this box.
Channel
Select wireless channel for ad hoc connection. This option only appears when you‟re using ad hoc connection.
Network Authentication
Select the network authentication type from drop-down menu. This setting must be identical with the setting of wireless access point you with to connect.
Data encryption
Select the data encryption type from drop-down menu. This setting must be identical with the setting of wireless access point you with to connect.
wireless access point you wish to connect:
Required parameters are:
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ASCII / PASSPHRASE
When the encryption type is „WEP‟, it‟s required to input a set of „passphrase‟ to
connect to wireless access point. Check
„ASCII‟ or „PASSPHRASE‟ depends on the
security setting of access point, and input it
in the box; if you select „PASSPHRASE‟ you
also need to select the length of the key.
The passphrase must be identical with the setting of wireless access point you with to connect.
Key index
Select WEP key index. For most of access
points you can select „1‟, but please refer to
the setting of the access point.
Network key / Confirm network key
When the encryption type is „WPA‟ or „WPA2-PSK‟, it‟s required to input a set of „passphrase‟ to connect to wireless access
point. Please input the same passphrase in two boxes for confirmation.
EAP TYPE / Tunnel / Provision Mode
When authentication type is any of 802.1X, you have to select EAP type, tunnel, and provision mode from dropdown menu. This setting must be identical with your 802.1x authentication server.
Username / Identity / Domain / Password
Please input 802.1x related authentication information here.
Certificate
If certification is required to authenticate with 802.1x authentication server, please select a local certificate from dropdown list.
PAC
Check this box and PAC (Privilege Access Certificate) will be automatically selected.
When all required parameters are set, click „OK‟ to create and
save a new profile.
3.1.2 Remove an existing profile
When you no longer need an existing profile, you can remove it.
If you want to remove a profile, click „Profile‟ menu, then select
an existing profile which you wish to remove, and then click Remove‟ button.
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3.1.3 Edit an existing profile
If you have added a profile before, and you wish to change the
content of the profile, you can use this function. Please select a
profile from the list first, then click „Edit‟ button. You‟ll be provided
with the contents of selected profile, and you can edit them. Click OK‟ to save changes, or click „Cancel‟ to discard changes.
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3.1.4 Make a copy of existing profile
If you need to make a copy of a specific profile, you can use this
function. This function is very convenient when you need to build a new profile which parameters are similar to any existing profile.
To do this, select an existing profile, then click „Duplicate
button.
You‟ll be prompted to input a profile name, please use an
identical name that does not exist in profile list.
3.1.5 Set as default profile
If you wish to use a specific profile as default connection, you can
select a profile in the list, and click „Set Default’. Selected profile will become default selection and Client configuration utility will attempt to connect to selected access point.
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3.2 View Network Statistics, General Information,
and Status
The configuration utility provides information about network
statistics and link status. If you want to know how your wireless network card works, you can use these functions to get detailed information about the wireless connection you‟re using.
3.2.1 General Information
If you want to know the general information of the access point
you‟re connecting to, click „General‟ menu:
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All general information like signal strength and link quality will be
displayed here. These information are very useful when you encounter some problem on connecting to access point.
If you wish to get a new IP address from DHCP server, you can
click „ReNew IP‟ button.
3.2.2 Status
If you want to know the status of your wireless network card,
click „Status‟ menu:
3.2.3 View Network Statistics
To view the statistical data of wireless network card, click
Statistics‟ menu, and the statistics of wireless connection will be displayed:
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All connection-related statistics is displayed here. You can click
Show Tray Icon
Check this box to show an icon on system tray.
Uncheck this box to hide it.
Radio Off
Switch wireless radio off. Wireless network functionalities are disabled.
Disable Adapter
Disable wireless network adapter. All functionalities of configration menu will disappear. To resume, unckeck „Disable Adapter‟.
Windows Zero Config
Use Windows Zero Configuration to manage wireless connections. See section 2.2.2.
Reset‟ button, to reset the statistics of all items back to 0.
3.3 Miscellaneous Settings
There are few functions provided by Client configuration utility,
you can access these functions from the bottom of configuration menu:
The descriptions of these function are listed as follow:
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3.4 Establish secure connection with AP by WPS
Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) is the latest wireless network
technology which makes wireless network setup become very simple. If you have WPS-enabled wireless access point, and you
want to establish a secure connection to it, you don‟t have to
configure the wireless access point and setup data encryption by yourself. All you have to do is to go to the WPS setup page of this wireless card, click a button, and then press a specific button or enter a set of 8-digit code on the wireless access point you wish to establish a secure connection - just three simple steps!
For older wireless access points, it‟s possible to perform a
firmware upgrade to become a WPS-enabled access point. Since they may not have a hardware button to press for WPS setup, you can use an alternative WPS setup method - input the pin code. Every WPS-compatible wireless network card support pin code configuration method; you can just input the code to wireless access point, and the wireless access point and wireless network card will do the rest for you.
This wireless network card is compatible with WPS. To use this
function, the wireless access point you wish to connect to must support WPS function too. Now, please follow the following instructions to establish secure connection between WPS-enabled wireless access point and your wireless network card.
This wireless network card supports 2 kinds of WPS: PIN code
and Push-Button.
Please follow the following instructions to setup WPS:
1. Right-click Client configuration utility icon, and click „Open
Config Utility‟.
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2. Click „Wi-Fi Protect Setup‟ menu.
3. You can use PIN code or Push-Button configuration, and
WPS-compatible wireless access point must use the same type of WPS. For instructions on setup each type of WPS, see next 2 chapters for detailed instructions.
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3.4.1 PIN Code
To use PIN Code, please click „Pin Input Config (PIN)‟ button:
You‟ll be prompted to select an access point you wish to connect.
If you know its SSID, click „Yes‟, otherwise click „No‟.
If you select „Yes‟, a list of all WPS-compatible AP nearby will be
displayed; you can click „Refresh‟ to rescan, then select an AP and click „Select‟ button.
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If you select „No‟, wireless network card will prompt you to enter
8-digit PIN code into your AP, without selecting an AP in advance.
After you select „Yes‟ or „No‟ in previous step, network card will
attempt to connect to WPS-compatible AP, and an 8-digit number will appear. Please input this number to AP‟s configuration menu within 2 minutes, and network card will establish secure connection with AP automatically.
To stop this procedure before connection is established, click
Cancel‟.
3.4.2 Push Button To use Push-Button WPS configuration, please click „Push
Button Config (PBC)‟ button. This is the easiest way to establish
secure connection by WPS, but if there‟re more than one
WPS-compatible AP using Push-Button config, please use PIN Code instead.
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After you click Push Button Config(PBC)”, a message box will
appear:
Please activate Push-Button function on wireless access point
now, and wireless network card will establish secure connection with access point within one minute.
CHAPTER 4 Soft-AP Function
Excepting become a wireless client of other wireless access
points, this wireless adapter can act as a wireless service provider
also! You can switch this wireless adapter‟s operating mode to „AP‟
mode to simulate the function of a real wireless access point by software, and all other computers and wireless devices can connect to your computer wirelessly, even share the internet connection you have!
Please follow the instructions in following chapters to use the AP
function of your wireless card.
4.1 Switch to AP Mode and Station Mode
The operating mode of the wireless card is „Station Mode‟
(becoming a client of other wireless access points) by default.
Please follow the following instructions to switch to AP mode:
1. Right-click Client configuration utility icon, and click „Open
Config Utility‟.
2. Select „Mode‟, and then select „Access Point‟.
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It requires few seconds to switch to AP mode, please be patient.
After mode switch is complete, you‟ll see general information of
software AP, which shows AP‟s SSID and connected wireless
clients.
Client mode icon :
Software AP icon:
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4.1.1 Configure SSID and Channel
To configure software AP, click „Config‟ button:
The „Wireless Network Properties‟ is displayed.
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Please note that Ad-Hoc mode is not available when network
Network Name (SSID)
Please input the SSID (the name used to identify this wireless access point) here. Up to 32 numerical characters can be accepted here, excepting space.
Channel
Please select the wireless channel you wish to use, from 1 to 13.
card is in AP mode. The description of major setup items are listed below:
To save changes, click „OK‟; otherwise click „Cancel‟ to leave this
menu and keep settings untouched.
4.1.2 Setup SoftAP Security
To setup security options for Soft-AP, configure „Wireless
Network Security‟ section as follow:
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The description of setup items about wireless security are listed
Network Authentication
Select network authentication mode from dropdown menu.
Data Encryption
Select data encryption method from dropdown menu.
ASCII / PASSPHRASE
If the encryption method is WEP, check either
„ASCII‟ or „PASSPHRASE‟ box and input it in the
box as WEP passphrase.
Key Index
Select WEP key index (1-4). If you don‟t know which one you should use, select 1.
Network key / Confirm network key
IF network authentication mode is WPA, please input WPA passphrase in both box.
below:
To save changes, click „OK‟; otherwise click „Cancel‟ to leave this
menu and keep settings untouched.
4.2 Advanced Settings
If you want to setup advanced settings of software access point,
select „Advanced‟ menu. If you don‟t know the meaning and
affects of these settings, keep them untouched.
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Beacon Interval
Please input wireless beacon time interval here.
DTIM Period
Please input DTIM (Delivery Traffic Indication Message) here.
Preamble Mode
Select wireless frame preamble mode (long or short) from dropdown menu.
Set Defaults
Reset all settings back to factory default value.
Apply
Save changes.
The description of all setup items are listed below:
If you changed any setting here and cause problem on
communicating with wireless clients, click „Set Defaults‟ to reset
all settings back to default setting.
4.3 Wireless Statistics
Select „Statistics‟ menu and the data statistics about software
access point will be displayed.
Click „Reset‟ to reset the value of every item back to „0‟.
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4.4 Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)
Scenario
Solution
I can‟t find any
wireless access point / wireless
device in „Site Survey‟ function.
1. Click „Rescan‟ for few more times and see if
you can find any wireless access point or wireless device.
2. Please move closer to any known wireless
access point.
3. Ad hoc‟ function must be enabled for the
wireless device you wish to establish a direct wireless link.
In this page, you can assign a network card on your computer as
the path for all wireless clients to get connected to Internet.
If you have only one network card (except this software access
point), you don‟t have to select network card here; if you have
more than one network card, select the one you wish to be used as Internet gateway.
Click „Apply‟ to save changes („Apply‟ is grayed out when no
changes are made in this page).
CHAPTER 5: Troubleshooting
If you encounter any problem when you‟re using this wireless
network card, don‟t panic! Before you call your dealer of purchase
for help, please check this troubleshooting table, the solution of your problem could be very simple, and you can solve the problem by yourself !
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4. Please adjust the position of network card
(you may have to move your computer if
you‟re using a notebook computer) and click „Rescan‟ button for few more times. If you
can find the wireless access point or wireless device you want to connect by doing this, try to move closer to the place where the wireless access point or wireless device is located.
Nothing happens when I click
Open Config Utility
1. Please make sure the wireless network card is
inserted into your computer‟s USB port.
2. Reboot the computer and try again.
3. Remove the card and insert it into another
USB port.
4. Remove the driver and re-install.
5. Contact the dealer of purchase for help.
I can not establish connection with a certain wireless access point
1. Click „Add to Profile‟ for few more times.
2. If the SSID of access point you wish to
connect is hidden (nothing displayed in „SSID‟ field in „Site Survey‟ function), you have to
input correct SSID of the access point you wish to connect. Please contact the owner of access point to ask for correct SSID.
3. You have to input correct passphrase /
security key to connect an access point with encryption. Please contact the owner of access point to ask for correct passphrase / security key.
4. The access point you wish to connect only
allows network cards with specific MAC address to establish connection. Please go to
Status‟ menu and write the value of „MAC Addressdown, then present this value to
the owner of access point so he / she can add the MAC address of your network card to his / her access point‟s list.
The network is slow / having problem when transferring large files
1. Move closer to the place where access point is
located.
2. There could be too much people using the
same radio channel. Ask the owner of the access point to change the channel number.
Please try one or more solutions listed above.
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