Xircom WCB5000A User Manual

Overview

Welcome to the Intel® PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN Adapter User's Guide. This guide covers
software installation, configuration, and troubleshooting.

To select a topic, click a link in the contents column to the left.

After installing the adapter, register your adapter online. Go to the Intel Product Registration Web

site.

Copyright © 2002 Intel Corporation. Legal Information

Introduction to Wireless Networking

The Intel® PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN Adapter is an Intel® PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN network
product. Intel® PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN network products are based on the IEEE 802.11a
standard and connect computers together to form a wireless network. Intel® PRO/Wireless 5000
LAN Adapters offer 54 Mbps data rates using clean spectrum 5 GHz transmissions.

A Local Area Network (LAN) is a network in a central location. Users at that location share files,
printers, and other services. In a LAN, a networked computers that request services are called
clients, while servers in a LAN provide services. In a wireless LAN (WLAN), wireless adapters are
installed in clients. A wireless client communicates with the WLAN without cables. Instead,
wireless clients send and receive information through the air.

A wireless client operates in either infrastructure mode or peer-to-peer mode.

Infrastructure Mode: A WLAN with Access Points

In infrastructure mode, wireless clients send and receive information through access points.
When a wireless client communicates with another, it transmits to the access point. The access
point receives the information and rebroadcasts it. Then the other device receives the
information.

Access points are strategically located within an area to provide optimal coverage for wireless
clients. A large WLAN uses multiple access points to provide coverage over a wide area. Access
points can connect to a LAN through a wired Ethernet connection. Access points send and
receive information from the LAN through this wired connection.

Peer-to-Peer Mode: A WLAN without Access Points

In peer-to-peer mode, also called Ad Hoc Mode, wireless clients send and receive information to
other wireless clients without using an access point. In contrast to infrastructure mode, this type
of WLAN only contains wireless clients.

You can use peer-to-peer mode to network computers in a home or small office, or to set up a
temporary wireless network for a meeting.

Identifying a WLAN

All adapters and access points in a WLAN use a Network Name, or Service Set Identifier (SSID)
to identify the WLAN. The SSID indicates what WLAN you are communicating with.

Wireless Security

Wireless networking devices transmit information through the air. Without implementing security,
it is easy for an unauthorized person to intercept the information.

A common way of implementing security and protecting information is encryption. Before sending
information, the wireless client or access point encrypts or scrambles information using an
encryption key. The device receiving the information uses the same key to decrypt or unscramble
the information. The information is only readable to wireless devices that have the correct
encryption key.

64-bit or 128-bit security

The IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN standard specifies the Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)
encryption and decryption algorithm. The standard includes two levels of security, using a 64-bit
key or a 128-bit key. Some vendors refer to 64-bit encryption as 40-bit. These are identical. A
wireless device that claims to have 64-bit encryption interoperates with a device that claims to
have 40-bit encryption.

To implement WEP, use either the 64-bit or 128-bit method. For better security, use a 128-bit key.
A 128-bit key has several trillion times as many possible combinations as a 64-bit key. For added
security, change your keys often.

The same device, host computer or front-end processor usually performs both encryption and
decryption. The algorithm, like the pattern of a lock, is standardized and may be used by anyone,
but the encrypted data is unreadable without the appropriate key, which is known only by the
sender and receiver of the transmitted data. You should change your keys often for added
security.

Copyright © 2002 Intel Corporation. Legal Information

Installation

• Intel® PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN Adapter Features

• LED Descriptions

• Install Drivers Under Windows

• PROSet II Software

• Uninstall the Adapter and Utility Software

• Update a Wireless Driver

• Reinstall the Adapter and Utility Software

Intel® PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN Adapter Features

Unless otherwise specified, the information in this document applies to both the Intel®

PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN CardBus Adapter and the Intel® PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN PCI Adapter.

Features of the Intel® PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN Adapters include:

• IEEE 802.11a specification compatibility. This open architecture allows Intel®
PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN devices to communicate with wireless devices from other
vendors that comply with the IEEE 802.11a standard.

• Up to 54 Mbps data rate for high-capacity, fast operation, including superior speeds even
at increased range

• Driver support for Microsoft Windows* XP, 98, Me, and 2000

• 128, 64 (called 40 by some vendors), and 0 bit Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) data

security and VPN compatibility

• Operation in 5 GHz UNII spectrum prevents interference from cordless phones,
microwaves, Bluetooth* or 802.11b devices

• 802.1x authentication compatibility for Windows XP

Notes on the Intel® PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN CardBus Adapter

The Intel® PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN CardBus Adapter can only be installed in a CardBus PC
Card slot in a suitably equipped computer. The adapter contains a built-in radio antenna that
protrudes when inserted into the slot.

The Intel® PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN CardBus Adapter allows Personal Computer Memory
Card International Association (PCMCIA) 3.3-volt Type II PC Card slot-equipped computers to
configure, connect to and establish an Intel® PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN network.

The exposed end of the Intel® PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN CardBus Adapter is vulnerable to
damage from scratching, snagging or striking other objects. Such contact may bend or break the
adapter or the PC Card slot in which it resides.

Intel® PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN Adapters LED Descriptions

The LEDs on the Intel® PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN Adapter indicate the status of the adapter.

LED Function
Green - link
Yellow - activity Fast blink - data activity; slow blink - no data activity

ON - adapter is associated with an access point; OFF - not associated.

Hardware Installation

For general information on how to install and remove CardBus or PCI hardware, see the
documentation provided with your computer.

Hardware installation instructions for Intel® PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN Adapters are provided in the
printed Quick Installation Guide. This guide is also available online in Acrobat pdf format.

If you wish to install Acrobat Reader version 5.0 now to view the guide, click here.

If Adobe Acrobat Reader is already installed and you want to view the installation guide in pdf
format, click here.

Install Drivers Under Windows

Review the following hardware installation guidelines before proceeding with Windows
installation.

START HERE to install the CardBus Adapter

1. Turn on power to the computer and wait for Windows to load.

2. Insert the CardBus Adapter into the CardBus PC Card slot on your computer and
proceed to Step 3 below to select your version of the Windows operating system.

START HERE to install the PCI Adapter

1. Install the PCI Adapter hardware according to the installation instructions in the printed
Quick Installation Guide, then close and secure the computer case.

2. Turn on power to the computer and wait for Windows to load. Then proceed to Step 3
below to select your version of the Windows operating system.

Install Windows Drivers and Utilities

Notes for First-Time Client Installation

The instructions provided for installation with the Intel® PRO Intelligent Installer apply to a
first-time installation of an Intel® PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN adapter on a system on which no other
Intel® PRO wired or wireless adapter has been installed. If this is not the first installation of an
Intel PRO adapter on your system, the utilities installation may be different from that described in
the first-time installation instructions. See the Note on Previous Installations.

The instructions provided here apply to installation of a wireless client adapter using default
installation parameters. If you are a network administrator and wish to also install the Wireless
Administration Tools AP Discovery and Site Survey as part of the installation process, or at
some other time, see the Note on Administration Tools.

After completing the hardware installation, proceed to Step 3 and select your version of the
Windows operating system..

3. Click the link below for your version of the Windows operating system and continue the
installation with Step 4.

§ Windows XP

§ Windows 2000

§ Windows Me (Millennium Edition)

§ Windows 98SE

Windows XP

Introductory Notes for Installation under Windows XP

Before proceeding, make sure that you are operating Windows XP with administrative rights.
If you log in to Windows XP without administrative rights, you may run into problems during the
installation.

The Intel® PROSet II configuration utility is installed during the Intel® PRO Intelligent
Installer process described below. This utility is recommended for setting up profiles and
performing other wireless network management tasks. However, in order to use PROSet II for
this purpose, you have to turn off the built-in Windows XP wireless configuration feature. See

Turn Off Windows XP Wireless Configuration for instructions. For information on the Windows XP

feature, see your Windows XP documentation.

To install your PRO/Wireless 5000 Adapter under Windows XP, proceed as follows:

4. Complete steps 1-3 under Install Drivers under Windows for your type of adapter. The

Found New Hardware Wizard dialog appears. Verify that Automatic search for a
better driver (Recommended) is checked.

5. Insert the Intel CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive. The New Hardware Found Wizard
searches for the correct driver files and copies them to your hard drive. If the Intel® PRO
Network Connections menu screen appears, leave it open for future use and proceed to
Step 6.

6. If a Windows Logo testing dialog appears, click Continue Anyway.

7. The My WLAN Places screen appears.

o click Next to install using a default profile or
o click Configure to set up a profile using configuration information obtained from

your network administrator. On the My WLAN Places dialog, click the New
button to create a new profile. Type a configuration name and the SSID for your
wireless network. Set up security and other parameters if required. Consult your
network administrator.. Click OK to close the dialog. Click OK to finish setting up
the profile, then click Close.

8. On the Found New Hardware Wizard screen, click Finish.

9. On the Intel® PRO Network Connections screen, click the menu item Install Software.
If the menu screen is not visible, remove and re-insert the Intel CD-ROM to display it, or
run autorun.exe from the Intel CD-ROM.

10. On the Welcome to the InstallShield Wizard for Intel(R) PRO Intelligent Installer
screen, click Next.

11. On the License Agreement screen, select I accept the terms in the license
agreement and click Next.

12. On the Setup Type screen, select Typical and then click Next. This is the recommended
setting for a first-time client installation. If you see a Program Maintenance screen
instead of a Setup Type screen, see the Note on Previous Installations.

13. On the Ready to Install the Program screen click Install.

14. After the software is installed on your computer, click Finish. Click OK to close the log
file.

Turn Off Windows XP Wireless Configuration

To turn off the Wireless Configuration feature of Windows XP so that you can use the Intel®
PROSet II configuration utility to manage your wireless adapters, proceed as follows:

1. Click Start, Settings, and Control Panel.

2. Double-click Network Connections.

3. In the LAN or High-Speed Internet window select the Wireless Network Connection
that is linked with your Intel® PRO/Wireless LAN Adapter.

4. Right-click and select Properties.

5. Click the Wireless Network tab.

6. Click to clear the check mark from Use Windows to configure my wireless network
settings.

7. Click OK. You can now use PROSet II to set up profiles and perform other management
functions on your wireless network.

The Windows XP installation of the Intel PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN Adapter software is complete.
Proceed to PROSet II LAN Software for additional information.

Windows 2000

Before proceeding, make sure that you are operating Windows 2000 with administrative
rights. If you log in to Windows 2000 without administrative rights, you may run into problems
during the installation.

During initial adapter installation and configuration, it may take up to 2 minutes for adapter
settings to be confirmed.

4. Complete steps 1-3 under Install Drivers under Windows for your type of adapter.
Windows displays the Found New Hardware Wizard. Click Next. The Install Hardware
Device Drivers dialog box appears.

5. Insert the Intel CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive. If the Intel® PRO Network Connections
menu screen appears, leave it open for future use and proceed to Step 6.

6. On the Install Hardware Device Drivers screen verify that Search for a suitable driver
for my device (recommended) is selected, then click Next.

7. The Locate Driver Files dialog appears. Select Specify a location, select CD-ROM and
click Next.

8. The Adapter Properties screen appears. On the Settings tab:

o click OK to install using a default profile or
o click Configure to set up a profile using configuration information obtained from

your network administrator. On the My WLAN Places dialog, click the New
button to create a new profile. Type a configuration name and the SSID for your
wireless network. Set up security and other parameters if required. Consult your
network administrator.. Click OK to close the dialog. Click OK to finish setting up
the profile, then click Close.

9. On the Add New Hardware Wizard screen, click Finish.

10. On the Intel® PRO Network Connections screen, click the menu item Install Software.
If the menu screen is not visible, remove and re-insert the Intel CD-ROM to display it, or
run autorun.exe from the Intel CD-ROM.

11. On the Welcome to the InstallShield Wizard for Intel(R) PRO Intelligent Installer
screen, click Next.

12. On the License Agreement screen, select I accept the terms in the license
agreement and click Next.

13. On the Setup Type screen, select Typical and then click Next. This is the recommended
setting for a first-time client installation. If you see a Program Maintenance screen
instead of a Setup Type screen, see the Note on Previous Installations.

14. On the Ready to Install the Program screen click Install.

15. After the software is installed on your computer, click Finish.Click OK to close the log
file.

The Windows 2000 installation of the Intel PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN Adapter software is
complete. Proceed to PROSet II LAN Software for additional information.

Windows Me (Millennium Edition)

4. Complete steps 1-3 under Install Drivers under Windows for your type of adapter.
Windows detects the CardBus or PCI adapter and the Add New Hardware Wizard
dialog appears. DO NOT click Next yet. Verify that Automatic search for a better driver
(Recommended) is checked.

5. Insert the Intel CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive. Windows installs the driver from the
CD-ROM. If the Intel® PRO Network Connections menu screen appears, leave it open
for future use and proceed to Step 6.

6. The Adapter Properties screen appears. On the Settings tab:

o click OK to install using a default profile or
o click Configure to set up a profile using configuration information obtained from

your network administrator. On the My WLAN Places dialog, click the New
button to create a new profile. Type a configuration name and the SSID for your
wireless network. Set up security and other parameters if required. Consult your
network administrator.. Click OK to close the dialog. Click OK to finish setting up
the profile, then click Close.

7. Click Finish on the Add New Hardware Wizard screen when the driver installation is
complete.

8. When prompted to restart the computer, click No. You will restart it manually later.

9. On the Intel® PRO Network Connections screen, click the menu item Install Software.
If the menu screen is not visible, remove and re-insert the Intel CD-ROM to display it, or
run autorun.exe from the Intel CD-ROM.

10. On the Welcome to the InstallShield Wizard for Intel(R) PRO Intelligent Installer
screen, click Next.

11. On the License Agreement screen, select I accept the terms in the license
agreement and click Next.

12. On the Setup Type screen, select Typical and then click Next. This is the recommended
setting for a first-time client installation. If you see a Program Maintenance screen
instead of a Setup Type screen, see the Note on Previous Installations.

13. On the Ready to Install the Program screen click Install.

14. After the software is installed on your computer, click Finish.Click OK to close the log
file.

15. Restart the computer.

The Windows Me (Millennium Edition) installation of the Intel PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN Adapter
software is complete. Proceed to PROSet II LAN Software for additional information.

Windows 98SE

4. Complete steps 1-3 under Install Drivers under Windows for your type of adapter.
Windows detects the CardBus or PCI adapter and the Add New Hardware Wizard
dialog appears. Click Next.

5. Insert the Intel CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive. If the Intel® PRO Network Connections
menu screen appears, leave it open for future use and proceed to Step 6..

6. On the New Hardware Wizard screen to make it active, select Search for the best
driver for you device (Recommended), and click Next, then select CD-ROM drive and
click Next.

7. The Adapter Properties screen appears. On the Settings tab:

o click OK to install using a default profile or
o click Configure to set up a profile using configuration information obtained from

your network administrator. On the My WLAN Places dialog, click the New
button to create a new profile. Type a configuration name and the SSID for your
wireless network. Set up security and other parameters if required. Consult your

network administrator.. Click OK to close the dialog. Click OK to finish setting up
the profile, then click Close.

8. On the Add New Hardware Wizard screen, click Finish.

9. When prompted to restart the computer, click No. You will restart it manually later.

10. On the Intel® PRO Network Connections screen, click the menu item Install Software.
If the menu screen is not visible, remove and re-insert the Intel CD-ROM to display it, or
run autorun.exe from the Intel CD-ROM.

11. On the Welcome to the InstallShield Wizard for Intel(R) PRO Intelligent Installer
screen, click Next.

12. On the License Agreement screen, select I accept the terms in the license
agreement and click Next.

13. On the Setup Type screen, select Typical and then click Next. This is the recommended
setting for a first-time client installation. If you see a Program Maintenance screen
instead of a Setup Type screen, see the Note on Previous Installations.

14. On the Ready to Install the Program screen click Install.

15. After the software is installed on your computer, click Finish. Click OK to close the log
file.

16. Restart the computer.

The Windows 98SE installation of the Intel PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN Adapter software is
complete. Proceed to PROSet II LAN Software for additional information.

Note on Previous Installations

If this is not the first installation of an Intel PRO adapter on your system, the procedure for
installing utilities may be different. Instead of the Setup Type screen displaying Typical and
Custom options, a Program Maintenance screen appears with Modify, Repair, and Remove
options. Follow the steps below to install the PRO/Wireless 5000 Adapter utilities from the
Program Maintenance screen. The result will be the same as if you were doing a first-time install
and had selected the Typical installation on the Setup Type screen in the Intel PRO Intelligent
Installer.

1. On the Intel® PRO Network Connections screen, click the menu item Install Software.
If the menu screen is not visible, remove and re-insert the Intel CD-ROM to display it, or
run autorun.exe from the Intel CD-ROM.

2. On the Welcome to the InstallShield Wizard for Intel(R) PRO Intelligent Installer
screen, click Next.

3. On the Program Maintenance screen, select Modify and click Next.

4. On the Custom Setup screen, accept the default settings and click Next.

5. On the Ready to Install the Program screen, click Install.

6. After the software is installed on your computer, click Finish. The result will be the same
as if you had selected the Typical installation on the Setup Type screen.

Note on Administration Tools

If you are a network administrator and wish to install the Wireless Administration Tools AP
Discovery and Site Survey as part of the installation process, or later, proceed as follows:

1. Insert the Intel CD and click Install Software on the Intel® PRO Network Connections
menu screen, then click Next on the Welcome screen.

2. Proceed to the Custom Setup screen:

o For systems with no previous Intel PRO installations: Accept the software

license agreement and click Next. On the Setup Type screen, select Custom
and click Next, then continue with Step 3.

o For systems with a previous Intel PRO installation: On the Program

Maintenance Screen, select Modify and click Next, then continue with Step 3.

3. On the Custom Setup screen, expand the Configuration Tools item by clicking the
plus sign + at the left.

4. Click the X next to Wireless Administration Tools and select Install this feature and
all subfeatures.

5. Click Next. On the Ready to Install the Program screen, click Install. Click OK to close
the log file.

PROSet II Software

The PROSet II LAN Software utility is a Windows application that allows you to configure,
manage, and set up security encryption for your PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN CardBus or PCI
Adapter.

Once installed, PROSet II software can be accessed from the System Tray by clicking on the
green icon. When you select your PRO/Wireless LAN Adapter, PROSet II displays the following
tabs: General, Setting, Mobility, Network Driver, Statistics, and Diagnostics. For detailed
information about each of these tabs, press F1 on your keyboard with PROSet II open for online
Help, or view Configuring with Intel® PROSet II.

The Windows installation instructions above include the steps required for installation of PROSet
II software.

Uninstalling Adapter and Utility Software

How to Uninstall CardBus or PCI Adapter Drivers Using Device Manager

Uninstall Drivers under Windows 2000 and Windows XP

1. Right-click My Computer and select Manage.

2. Select Device Manager from the list on the left.

3. Expand the Network Adapters item in the tree on the right.

4. Right-click Intel PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN CardBus Adapter or Intel PRO/Wireless

5000 LAN PCI Adapter and select Uninstall.

Uninstall Drivers under Windows 98SE and Windows Me

1. Right-click the My Computer icon and select Properties.

2. Select the Device Manager tab.

3. Under Network Adapters find and select the Intel PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN CardBus
Adapter or Intel PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN PCI Adapter from the displayed list.

4. Click Remove. Windows removes the adapter.

How to Uninstall PROSet II Utility Software Using Add/Remove Programs

1. Open the Start menu, select Settings, and then select Control Panel.

2. Double-click Add/Remove Programs.

3. Find Intel(R) PROSet II.

4. Click Install/Uninstall or Change/Remove.

5. If you have installed the Access Point Administration Tools, repeat Steps 2 through 4 to
uninstall those tools.

How to Uninstall Wired Drivers and PROSet II Software Using the Intel®
PRO Intelligent Installer

The following instructions apply to drivers for Intel PRO wired adapters and PROSet
software only. To remove the PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN CardBus Adapter or PCI Adapter drivers,
use the instructions above under How to Uninstall CardBus or PCI Adapter Drivers Using Device
Manager.

1. On the Intel® PRO Network Connections screen, click the menu item Install Software.
If the menu screen is not visible, remove and re-insert the Intel CD-ROM to display it, or
run autorun.exe from the Intel CD-ROM.

2. On the Program Maintenance screen, select Remove and click Next. Wired drivers and
PROSet software will be removed.

3. On the next screen, click Finish. Click OK to close the log file.

Updating a Wireless Driver

How to Update CardBus or PCI Adapter Drivers

To update the driver in Windows 2000 and Windows XP

1. Right-click My Computer and click Properties.

2. Click the Hardware tab and click Device Manager.

3. Expand the Network Adapters and double-click Intel PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN
CardBus Adapter or Intel PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN PCI Adapter.

4. Click the Driver tab and click Update Driver.

To update the driver in Windows Me, Windows 98, and Windows 95

1. Right-click the Network icon on the desktop and click Properties.

2. Select the old network adapter and click Remove.

3. Double-click My Computer, Control Panel, and Add New Hardware.

4. Follow the steps in the Add New Hardware Wizard to install the driver from the CD.

Reinstalling Adapter and Utility Software

To reinstall PRO/Wireless hardware and software, first uninstall the PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN
CardBus Adapter or PCI Adapter driv ers and software as described under the heading

Uninstalling Adapter Drivers and Software. After uninstalling, reboot the computer, then reinstall

the PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN Adapter using the installation instructions in this document.

Copyright © 2002 Intel Corporation. Legal Information

Configuring with Intel® PROSet II

Intel® PROSet II software allows you to configure and manage all Intel wired and wireless LAN
connections.

The Intel® PROSet II configuration utility can be installed during the adapter installation process.
This utility can be used to set up profiles and perform other wireless network management tasks.

Intel® PROSet II provides the following features:

• Wired and wireless auto-sensing and switching

• Network performance management

• Profile management

• Power management

• Diagnostics

• User-configurable settings

For Windows XP users: In order to use PROSet II as your configuration utility
(recommended), you have to turn off the built-in Windows XP wireless configuration feature. See

Turn Off Windows XP Wireless Configuration for instructions. For information on the Windows XP

feature, see your Windows XP documentation.

Viewing and Changing Network Settings

Intel® PROSet II allows you to change two groups of network settings:

• Mobile unit settings are settings for your laptop. You configure a laptop to communicate
with either an access point or other computers in a peer-to-peer network.

• Security settings allow you to protect data. Data in a wireless network is broadcast
through the air. If the data is unprotected, anyone can intercept it.

To view or change the network settings:

1. Double click the Intel® PROSet II icon on the right side of the Windows taskbar. If the
icon is not present, click Start, select Settings, and Control Panel, and then double-click
the Intel® PROSet II icon. To display the PROSet II icon on the taskbar, make sure
Show the tray icon is checked in the PROSet II main window.

2. Select the wireless adapter on the left side of the Intel® PROSet II window.

3. To view or change basic settings, click the Settings tab.

For more information about configuring wireless network settings, click Help on the PROSet II
Help menu.

Connecting to the Network Using an Access Point

An infrastructure network consists of one or more access points and one or more laptops with
wireless adapters installed. Each access point can have a wired connection to the Local Area
Network (LAN). Laptops with an installed wireless adapter communicate with an access point.

1. Double click the Intel® PROSet II icon on the right side of the Windows taskbar.

2. Select the wireless adapter on the left side of the Intel® PROSet II window.

3. Click the Settings tab.