ZyXEL Communications G-220F User Manual

ZyXEL G-220F

802.11g Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter

User’s Guide

Version 1.00

11/2005

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

Copyright

Copyright © 2005 by ZyXEL Communications Corporation.

The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in any part or as a whole, transcribed,
stored in a retrieval system, translated into any language, or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, magnetic, optical, chemical, photocopying, manual, or
otherwise, without the prior written permission of ZyXEL Communications Corporation.

Published by ZyXEL Communications Corporation. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer

ZyXEL does not assume any liability arising out of the application or use of any products, or
software described herein. Neither does it convey any license under its patent rights nor the
patent rights of others. ZyXEL further reserves the right to make changes in any products
described herein without notice. This publication is subject to change without notice.

Trademarks

ZyNOS (ZyXEL Network Operating System) is a registered trademark of ZyXEL
Communications, Inc. Other trademarks mentioned in this publication are used for
identification purposes only and may be properties of their respective owners.

Copyright 2

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

Federal Communications

Commission (FCC) Interference

Statement

The device complies with Part 15 of FCC rules. Operation is subject to the following two
conditions:

• This device may not cause harmful interference.

• This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause
undesired operations.

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 commercial environment. 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.

If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio/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 or more of the following measures:

1 Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

2 Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver.

3 Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver

is connected.

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

Notice 1

Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance
could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.

This product has been designed for the WLAN 2.4 GHz network throughout the EC region and
Switzerland, with restrictions in France.

Caution

1 The equipment complies with FCC RF radiation exposure limits set forth for an

uncontrolled environment, under 47 CFR 2.1093 paragraph (d)(2).

2 This Transmitter must not be co-located or operating in conjunction with any other

antenna or transmitter.

3 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Interference Statement

Certifications

1 Go to www.zyxel.com

2 Select your product from the drop-down list box on the

ZyXEL home page to go to that product's page.

3 Select the certification you wish to view from this page

注意 !

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

依據 低功率電波輻射性電機管理辦法

第十二條 經型式認證合格之低功率射頻電機，非經許可，公司、商號或使用
者均不得擅自變更頻率、加大功率或變更原設計之特性及功能。

第十四條 低功率射頻電機之使用不得影響飛航安全及干擾合法通信；經發現
有干擾現象時，應立即停用，並改善至無干擾時方得繼續使用。
前項合法通信，指依電信規定作業之無線電信。低功率射頻電機須忍
受合法通信或工業、科學及醫療用電波輻射性電機設備之干擾。

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Interference Statement 4

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

ZyXEL warrants to the original end user (purchaser) that this product is free from any defects
in materials or workmanship for a period of up to two (2) years from the date of purchase.
During the warranty period, and upon proof of purchase, should the product have indications
of failure due to faulty workmanship and/or materials, ZyXEL will, at its discretion, repair or
replace the defective products or components without charge for either parts or labor, and to
whatever extent it shall deem necessary to restore the product or components to proper
operating condition. Any replacement will consist of a new or re-manufactured functionally
equivalent product of equal value, and will be solely at the discretion of ZyXEL. This
warranty shall not apply if the product is modified, misused, tampered with, damaged by an
act of God, or subjected to abnormal working conditions.

Note

Repair or replacement, as provided under this warranty, is the exclusive remedy of the
purchaser. This warranty is in lieu of all other warranties, express or implied, including any
implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular use or purpose. ZyXEL shall in
no event be held liable for indirect or consequential damages of any kind of character to the
purchaser.

ZyXEL Limited Warranty

To obtain the services of this warranty, contact ZyXEL's Service Center for your Return
Material Authorization number (RMA). Products must be returned Postage Prepaid. It is
recommended that the unit be insured when shipped. Any returned products without proof of
purchase or those with an out-dated warranty will be repaired or replaced (at the discretion of
ZyXEL) and the customer will be billed for parts and labor. All repaired or replaced products
will be shipped by ZyXEL to the corresponding return address, Postage Paid. This warranty
gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights that vary from country to
country.

Online Registration

Register online at www.zyxel.com for free future product updates and information.

5 ZyXEL Limited Warranty

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

Customer Support

Please have the following information ready when you contact customer support.

• Product model and serial number.

• Warranty Information.

• Date that you received your device.

• Brief description of the problem and the steps you took to solve it.

METHOD

LOCATION

CORPORATE
HEADQUARTERS
(WORLDWIDE)

CZECH REPUBLIC

DENMARK

FINLAND

FRANCE

GERMANY

NORTH AMERICA

NORWAY

SPAIN

SWEDEN

SUPPORT E-MAIL TELEPHONE

SALES E-MAIL FAX FTP SITE

[e-mail] [phone] www.zyxel.com

[e-mail] [phone] ftp.zyxel.com

[e-mail] [phone] www.zyxel.cz ZyXEL Communications

[e-mail] [phone]

[e-mail] [phone] www.zyxel.dk ZyXEL Communications A/S

[e-mail] [phone]

[e-mail] [phone] www.zyxel.fi ZyXEL Communications Oy

[e-mail] [phone]

i nf o @z y xe l .f r + 33 (0 ) 4 7 2 5 2 9 7 9 7 w ww .z y xe l . fr Z yX E L F r an c e

[phone]

[e-mail] [phone] www.zyxel.de ZyXEL Deutschland GmbH.

[e-mail] [phone]

[e-mail] [phone]

[phone]

[e-mail] [phone] ftp.us.zyxel.com

[e-mail] [phone] www.zyxel.no ZyXEL Communications A/S

[e-mail] [phone]

[e-mail] [phone] www.zyxel.es ZyXEL Communications

[e-mail] [phone]

[e-mail] [phone] www.zyxel.se ZyXEL Communications A/S

[e-mail] [phone]

A

WEB SITE

www.europe.zyxel.com

ftp.europe.zyxel.com

www.us.zyxel.com ZyXEL Communications Inc.

REGULAR MAIL

ZyXEL Communications Corp.
6 Innovation Road II

Sc ien ce P ar k
Hsinchu 300
Ta iw a n

Czech s.r.o.
Modranská 621
143 01 Praha 4 - Modrany
Ceská Republika

Col um bu sv ej 5
2860 Soeborg
Denmark

Mal mi nk aa ri 10
00700 Helsinki
Finland

1 ru e d e s V er ge r s
Ba t. 1 / C
69760 Limonest
France

Adenauerstr. 20/A2 D-52146
Wuerselen
Germany

1130 N. Miller St.
Anaheim

CA 92806-2001
U.S.A.

Ni ls H ans en s ve i 13
0667 Oslo
Norway

Alejandro Villegas 33
1º, 28043 Madrid
Spain

Sjöporten 4, 41764 Göteborg
Sweden

Customer Support 6

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

METHOD

LOCATION

UNITED KINGDOM

SUPPORT E-MAIL TELEPHONE

SALES E-MAIL FAX FTP SITE

[e-mail] [phone]

08707 555779 (UK only)

[e-mail] [phone] ftp.zyxel.co.uk

A

WEB SITE

www.zyxel.co.uk ZyXEL Communications UK

a. “+” is the (prefix) number you enter to make an international telephone call.

REGULAR MAIL

Ltd.,11 The Courtyard,
Eastern Road, Bracknell,
Berkshire, RG12 2XB,
United Kingdom (UK)

7 Customer Support

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

Table of Contents

Copyright ..................................................................................................................2

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Interference Statement ............... 3

ZyXEL Limited Warranty.......................................................................................... 5

Customer Support.................................................................................................... 6

Table of Contents ..................................................................................................... 8

List of Figures ........................................................................................................ 12

List of Tables .......................................................................................................... 14

Preface ....................................................................................................................16

Chapter 1

Getting Started ....................................................................................................... 18

1.1 About Your ZyXEL G-220F ...............................................................................18

1.1.1 Application Overview ................................................................................18

1.1.1.1 Infrastructure ...................................................................................18

1.1.1.2 Ad-Hoc ............................................................................................19

1.1.1.3 Access Point Mode ........................................................................19

1.2 ZyXEL G-220F Hardware and Utility Installation ................................................20

1.3 Configuration Methods ......................................................................................20

1.4 Windows XP Users Only ....................................................................................20

1.5 Accessing the ZyXEL Utility ..............................................................................20

1.6 Connecting to a Wireless LAN ..........................................................................21

1.6.1 Site Survey ...............................................................................................21

1.7 ZyXEL G-220F Modes .....................................................................................23

1.7.1 Change ZyXEL G-220F Mode .................................................................23

1.8 ZyXEL Utility Screen Summary .........................................................................24

Chapter 2

Wireless LAN Network........................................................................................... 26

2.1 Wireless LAN Overview ....................................................................................26

2.1.1 SSID .........................................................................................................26

2.1.2 Channel ....................................................................................................26

2.1.3 Transmission Rate (Tx Rate) ....................................................................26

2.2 Wireless LAN Security Overview ......................................................................26

2.2.1 Data Encryption with WEP ........................................................................27

Table of Contents 8

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

2.2.2 IEEE 802.1x ..............................................................................................27

2.2.3 WPA(2) .....................................................................................................28

2.2.4 WPA(2)-PSK Application Example ...........................................................29

2.2.5 WPA with RADIUS Application Example ..................................................29

2.3 Authentication Type ............................................................................................30

2.4 Preamble Type ...................................................................................................30

2.5 Introduction to OTIST .....................................................................................31

2.5.1 Enabling OTIST ........................................................................................31

2.5.2 Starting OTIST .........................................................................................32

2.5.3 Notes on OTIST ........................................................................................33

Chapter 3

Wireless Station Mode Configuration .................................................................. 34

2.2.2.1 EAP Authentication .........................................................................27

2.2.3.1 User Authentication .........................................................................28

2.2.3.2 Encryption .......................................................................................28

2.5.1.1 AP ...................................................................................................31

2.5.1.2 Wireless Client ................................................................................32

3.1 Wireless Station Mode Overview ......................................................................34

3.2 The Link Info Screen ..........................................................................................34

3.2.1 Trend Chart ...............................................................................................35

3.3 The Site Survey Screen .....................................................................................36

3.3.1 Connecting to a WLAN Network ...............................................................37

3.3.2 Security Settings .......................................................................................38

3.3.2.1 WEP Encryption ..............................................................................38

3.3.2.2 WPA-PSK ........................................................................................39

3.3.2.3 WPA-RADIUS ..................................................................................40

3.3.2.4 RADIUS ...........................................................................................42

3.4 The Profile Screen .............................................................................................43

3.4.1 Adding a New Profile ................................................................................44

3.5 The Adapter Screen ...........................................................................................48

Chapter 4

Access Point Mode Configuration........................................................................ 50

4.1 Access Point Mode Introduction ........................................................................50

4.1.1 Additional Setup Requirements ................................................................50

4.2 The Link Info Screen .........................................................................................50

4.3 The Configuration Screen .................................................................................51

4.4 The MAC Filter Screen ......................................................................................53

Chapter 5

Maintenance ........................................................................................................... 56

5.1 The About Screen .............................................................................................56

9 Table of Contents

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

5.2 Uninstalling the ZyXEL Utility ............................................................................56

5.3 Upgrading the ZyXEL Utility ..............................................................................57

Chapter 6

Troubleshooting ..................................................................................................60

6.1 Problems Starting the ZyXEL Utility Program ....................................................60

6.2 Problem Connecting to an Access Point ............................................................60

6.3 Problem with the Link Status ..............................................................................61

6.4 Problems Communicating With Other Computers .............................................61

Appendix A

Product Specifications .......................................................................................... 62

Appendix B

Access Point Mode Setup Example ..................................................................... 64

Appendix C

Disable Windows XP Wireless LAN Configuration Tool..................................... 68

Appendix D

Management with Wireless Zero Configuration.................................................. 74

Appendix E

Types of EAP Authentication................................................................................ 86

Appendix F

Setting up Your Computer’s IP Address.............................................................. 90

Index...................................................................................................................... 102

Table of Contents 10

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

11 Table of Contents

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

List of Figures

Figure 1 Application: Infrastructure ....................................................................... 19

Figure 2 Application: Ad-Hoc ................................................................................ 19

Figure 3 Application: Access Point Mode .............................................................. 19

Figure 4 ZyXEL Utility: System Tray Icon .............................................................. 20

Figure 5 ZyXEL Utility: Site Survey ....................................................................... 22

Figure 6 ZyXEL Utility: Security Settings .............................................................. 22

Figure 7 ZyXEL Utility: Link Info ............................................................................ 23

Figure 8 ZyXEL Utility: Change Modes .................................................................. 24

Figure 9 Menu Summary: Station Mode ................................................................ 24

Figure 10 Menu Summary: AP Mode .................................................................... 24

Figure 11 WPA-PSK Authentication ....................................................................... 29

Figure 12 WPA with RADIUS Application Example ................................................ 30

Figure 13 Station Mode: Link Info ......................................................................... 34

Figure 14 Station Mode: Link Info: Trend Chart .................................................... 36

Figure 15 Station Mode: Site Survey ..................................................................... 36

Figure 16 Station Mode: Security Settings: WEP ................................................. 38

Figure 17 Station Mode: Security Settings: WPA-PSK ........................................... 39

Figure 18 Station Mode: Security Settings: WPA-RADIUS: Encryption ................. 40

Figure 19 Station Mode: Security Settings: WPA-RADIUS: Authentication ............ 41

Figure 20 Station Mode: Security Settings: RADIUS ............................................. 42

Figure 21 Station Mode: Profile ............................................................................ 43

Figure 22 Station Mode: Profile: Add New Profile ................................................. 44

Figure 23 Station Mode: Profile: Select a Channel ............................................... 45

Figure 24 Station Mode: Profile: Wireless Settings ............................................... 46

Figure 25 Station Mode: Profile: Security Settings ................................................ 47

Figure 26 Station Mode: Profile: Confirm New Settings ........................................ 47

Figure 27 Station Mode: Profile: Activate the Profile ............................................. 48

Figure 28 Station Mode: Adapter .......................................................................... 48

Figure 29 Access Point Mode: Link Info ................................................................ 51

Figure 30 Access Point Mode: Configuration ........................................................ 52

Figure 31 Access Point Mode: MAC Filter ............................................................ 54

Figure 32 About ..................................................................................................... 56

Figure 33 Uninstall ................................................................................................ 57

Figure 34 Uninstall: Confirm ................................................................................. 57

Figure 35 Uninstall: Finish ..................................................................................... 57

Figure 36 Windows 2000: Start ............................................................................. 64

Figure 37 Windows 2000: Network and Dial-up Connections ............................... 65

Figure 38 Windows 2000: Network Properties ...................................................... 65

List of Figures 12

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

Figure 39 WIndows 2000: Network Properties: Select Network Adapter .............. 66

Figure 40 Windows 2000: Local Network .............................................................. 66

Figure 41 Windows XP: System Tray Icon ............................................................. 68

Figure 42 Windows XP SP1: Wireless Network Connection .................................. 69

Figure 43 Windows XP SP2: Wireless Network Connection .................................. 69

Figure 44 Windows XP SP1: Wireless Network Connection Properties ................ 70

Figure 45 Windows XP SP2: Wireless Network Connection Properties ................ 70

Figure 46 Windows XP SP1: Wireless Network Connection Status ....................... 71

Figure 47 Windows XP SP2: Wireless Network Connection Status ....................... 71

Figure 48 Windows XP SP1: Wireless Network Connection Properties ................ 72

Figure 49 Windows XP SP2: Wireless Network Connection Properties ................ 72

Figure 50 Windows XP SP2: WZC Not Available .................................................. 74

Figure 51 Windows XP SP2: System Tray Icon ..................................................... 75

Figure 52 Windows XP SP2: Wireless Network Connection Status ....................... 75

Figure 53 Windows XP SP1: Wireless Network Connection Status ....................... 76

Figure 54 Windows XP SP2: Wireless Network Connection .................................. 76

Figure 55 Windows XP SP1: Wireless Network Connection Properties ................ 77

Figure 56 Windows XP SP2: Wireless Network Connection: WEP or WPA-PSK .. 78

Figure 57 Windows XP SP2: Wireless Network Connection: No Security ............ 78

Figure 58 Windows XP: Wireless (network) properties: Association ..................... 79

Figure 59 Windows XP: Wireless (network) properties: Authentication ................. 80

Figure 60 Windows XP: Protected EAP Properties ................................................ 81

Figure 61 Windows XP: Smart Card or other Certificate Properties ...................... 82

Figure 62 Windows XP SP2: Wireless Networks: Preferred Networks .................. 84

Figure 63 Windows XP SP1: Wireless Networks: Preferred Networks .................. 84

Figure 64 WIndows 95/98/Me: Network: Configuration .......................................... 91

Figure 65 Windows 95/98/Me: TCP/IP Properties: IP Address .............................. 92

Figure 66 Windows 95/98/Me: TCP/IP Properties: DNS Configuration ................. 93

Figure 67 Windows XP: Start Menu ....................................................................... 94

Figure 68 Windows XP: Control Panel ................................................................... 94

Figure 69 Windows XP: Control Panel: Network Connections: Properties ............ 95

Figure 70 Windows XP: Local Area Connection Properties ................................... 95

Figure 71 Windows XP: Advanced TCP/IP Settings .............................................. 96

Figure 72 Windows XP: Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties .............................. 97

Figure 73 Macintosh OS 8/9: Apple Menu ............................................................. 98

Figure 74 Macintosh OS 8/9: TCP/IP ..................................................................... 98

Figure 75 Macintosh OS X: Apple Menu ................................................................ 99

Figure 76 Macintosh OS X: Network ...................................................................... 100

13 List of Figures

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

List of Tables

Table 1 ZyXEL Utility: System Tray Icon ............................................................... 21

Table 2 ZyXEL Utility: Menu Screen Summary ..................................................... 25

Table 3 Station Mode: Link Info ............................................................................. 35

Table 4 Station Mode: Link Info: Trend Chart ........................................................ 36

Table 5 Station Mode: Site Survey ........................................................................ 37

Table 6 Station Mode: Security Settings: WEP ..................................................... 38

Table 7 Station Mode: Security Settings: WPA-PSK ............................................. 40

Table 8 Station Mode: Security Settings: WPA-RADIUS: Encryption .................... 40

Table 9 Station Mode: Security Settings: WPA-RADIUS: Authentication .............. 41

Table 10 Station Mode: Security Settings: RADIUS .............................................. 42

Table 11 Station Mode: Profile ............................................................................... 43

Table 12 Station Mode: Profile: Add New Profile ................................................... 44

Table 13 Station Mode: Profile: Select a Channel ................................................. 46

Table 14 Station Mode: Adapter ............................................................................ 48

Table 15 Access Point Mode: Link Info ................................................................. 51

Table 16 Access Point Mode: Configuration ......................................................... 52

Table 17 Access Point Mode: MAC Filter .............................................................. 54

Table 18 About ...................................................................................................... 56

Table 19 Troubleshooting Starting ZyXEL Utility Program .................................... 60

Table 20 Troubleshooting Access Point Connection Problem ............................... 60

Table 21 Troubleshooting Link Quality .................................................................. 61

Table 22 Troubleshooting Communication Problem .............................................. 61

Table 23 Product Specifications ............................................................................ 62

Table 24 Windows XP SP2: System Tray Icon ...................................................... 75

Table 25 Windows XP SP2: Wireless Network Connection .................................. 77

Table 26 Windows XP: Wireless Networks ........................................................... 78

Table 27 Windows XP: Wireless (network) properties: Association ...................... 79

Table 28 Windows XP: Wireless (network) properties: Authentication .................. 80

Table 29 Windows XP: Protected EAP Properties ................................................ 82

Table 30 Windows XP: Smart Card or other Certificate Properties ....................... 83

Table 31 Comparison of EAP Authentication Types .............................................. 87

Table 32 Wireless Security Relational Matrix ........................................................ 89

List of Tables 14

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

15 List of Tables

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

Preface

Congratulations on your purchase of the ZyXEL G-220F 802.11g Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter.

Note: Register your product online to receive e-mail notices of firmware
upgrades and information at www.zyxel.com for global products, or at
www.us.zyxel.com for North American products.

Your ZyXEL G-220F is easy to install and configure.

About This User's Guide

This manual is designed to guide you through the configuration of your ZyXEL G-220F for its
various applications.

Related Documentation

• Supporting Disk

Refer to the included CD for support documents.

• Quick Start Guide

The Quick Start Guide is designed to help you get up and running right away. They
contain hardware installation/connection information.

• ZyXEL Glossary and Web Site

Please refer to www.zyxel.com for an online glossary of networking terms and additional
support documentation.

User Guide Feedback

Help us help you. E-mail all User Guide-related comments, questions or suggestions for
improvement to [e-mail] or send regular mail to The Technical Writing
Team, ZyXEL Communications Corp., 6 Innovation Road II, Science-Based Industrial Park,
Hsinchu, 300, Taiwan. Thank you.

Syntax Conventions

• “Enter” means for you to type one or more characters. “Select” or “Choose” means for
you to use one predefined choices.

• The SMT menu titles and labels are in Bold Times New Roman font. Predefined field
choices are in Bold Arial font. Command and arrow keys are enclosed in square
brackets. [ENTER] means the Enter, or carriage return key; [ESC] means the Escape key
and [SPACE BAR] means the Space Bar.

• Mouse action sequences are denoted using a comma. For example, “click the Apple icon,
Control Panels and then Modem” means first click the Apple icon, then point your
mouse pointer to Control Panels and then click Modem.

Preface 16

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

• For brevity’s sake, we will use “e.g.,” as a shorthand for “for instance”, and “i.e.,” for
“that is” or “in other words” throughout this manual.

• The ZyXEL G-220F 802.11g Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter may be referred to as the ZyXEL
G-220F in this user’s guide.

Graphics Icons Key

Wireless Access Point Computer Notebook Computer

Server Modem Wireless Signal

Telephone Switch Router

Internet Cloud

17 Preface

This chapter introduces the ZyXEL G-220F and prepares you to use the ZyXEL Utility.

1.1 About Your ZyXEL G-220F

The ZyXEL G-220F is an IEEE 802.11g compliant wireless LAN adapter.

The following lists the main features of your ZyXEL G-220F. See the product specifications in
the appendix for detailed features.

• Automatic rate selection.

• Security: WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy), IEEE 802.1x, WPA-PSK, WPA (Wi-Fi
Protected Access), WPA2-PSK and WPA2

• Proprietary SoftAP feature turns your ZyXEL G-220F into an access point (AP).

• A built-in antenna

• Plug-and-play installation for Windows ME, Windows 2000 and Windows XP.

• Driver and utility support for Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows ME, Windows 2000
and Windows XP.

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

CHAPTER 1

Getting Started

1.1.1 Application Overview

This section describes some network applications for the ZyXEL G-220F.

1.1.1.1 Infrastructure

To connect to a network via an Access Point (AP), set the ZyXEL G-220F network type to
Infrastructure. Through the AP, you can access the Internet or the wired network behind the
AP.

Chapter 1 Getting Started 18

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

Figure 1 Application: Infrastructure

1.1.1.2 Ad-Hoc

In case you prefer to set up a small independent wireless workgroup without an AP, use the
Ad-Hoc mode.

Ad-hoc mode does not require an AP or a wired network. Two or more wireless clients
communicate directly to each other.

Figure 2 Application: Ad-Hoc

1.1.1.3 Access Point Mode

You can set the ZyXEL G-220F in access point mode. The following figure shows a network
example.

Figure 3 Application: Access Point Mode

In the example, the ZyXEL G-220F is installed on computer A and set to operate in access
point mode. Computer A shares Internet connection to the wireless LAN, so wireless stations
B and C can access the Internet.

19 Chapter 1 Getting Started

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

1.2 ZyXEL G-220F Hardware and Utility Installation

Follow the instructions in the Quick Start Guide to install the ZyXEL Utility and make
hardware connections.

1.3 Configuration Methods

To configure your ZyXEL G-220F, use one of the following applications:

• Wireless Zero Configuration (WZC) (recommended for Windows XP)

• ZyXEL Utility (required when you want to use the ZyXEL G-220F as an access point)

• Odyssey Client Manager (not supplied)

Note: Do NOT use the Windows XP configuration tool or the Odyssey Client Manager

and the ZyXEL Utility at the same time.

Refer to the Odyssey Client Manager documentation for more information.

1.4 Windows XP Users Only

You must disable WZC if you want to use the ZyXEL utility. Refer to the appendices on how
to deactivate WZC or how to use WZC to manage the ZyXEL G-220F.

1.5 Accessing the ZyXEL Utility

After you install and start the ZyXEL Utility, an icon for the ZyXEL Utility appears in the
system tray.

Note: When the ZyXEL Utility system tray icon displays, the ZyXEL G-220F is

installed properly.

Figure 4 ZyXEL Utility: System Tray Icon

The color of the ZyXEL Utility system tray icon indicates the status of the ZyXEL G-220F.
Refer to the following table for details.

Chapter 1 Getting Started 20

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

Table 1 ZyXEL Utility: System Tray Icon

COLOR DESCRIPTION

Red The ZyXEL G-220F is operating in wireless station mode but is not connected to a

wireless network.

Green The ZyXEL G-220F is operating in wireless station mode and connected to a wireless

network.

Pale Blue The ZyXEL G-220F is operating in access point mode.

Double-click on the ZyXEL Wireless LAN Utility icon in the system tray to open the ZyXEL
Utility. The ZyXEL Utility screens are similar in all Microsoft Windows versions. Screens for
Windows 2000 are shown.

Note: Click the icon (located in the top right corner) to display the on-line help

window.

1.6 Connecting to a Wireless LAN

This section shows you how to associate with a network using the ZyXEL Utility. You can
either manually connect to a network or configure a profile to have the ZyXEL G-220F
automatically connect to a specific network. Otherwise, configure nothing and leave the
ZyXEL G-220F to automatically scan for and connect to any other available network without
security.

See the next chapters for detailed field descriptions.

1.6.1 Site Survey

After you install the ZyXEL Utility and then insert the ZyXEL G-220F, follow the steps below
to connect to a network using the Site Survey screen.

1 Make sure a wireless network is available and within range.

2 Open the ZyXEL Utility and click the Site Survey tab to open the screen as shown next.

3 Click Scan to search for available wireless networks.

21 Chapter 1 Getting Started

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

Figure 5 ZyXEL Utility: Site Survey

4 To join a network, either click an SSID in the table and then click Connect or double-

click an SSID.

5 If the wireless security is activated for the selected wireless network, the Security

Settings screen displays. This screen varies according to the network’s encryption

method. Configure the same security settings as the associated network.

Note: If the selected network is unavailable or security settings are not correct, the

ZyXEL G-220F will be disconnected.

Figure 6 ZyXEL Utility: Security Settings

6 Verify that you have successfully connected to the selected network and check the

network information in the Link Info screen. If the ZyXEL G-220F is not connected to a
network, the fields in this screen are blank.

Chapter 1 Getting Started 22

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

Figure 7 ZyXEL Utility: Link Info

1.7 ZyXEL G-220F Modes

You can set your ZyXEL G-220F to operate in either wireless station or access point (AP)
modes.

In wireless station mode, your ZyXEL G-220F must connect to a peer wireless station or an
AP to take part in your wireless network.

In access point mode, your ZyXEL G-220F functions as an access point. This allows you to set
up your wireless network without using a dedicated AP device. Up to 16 wireless stations can
associate to the ZyXEL G-220F to form a wireless network. Refer to Section 1.7.1 on page 23
and Chapter 4 on page 50 for more information.

Note: With WZC, you cannot use the ZyXEL G-220F as an access point.

1.7.1 Change ZyXEL G-220F Mode

To change between the modes, select either the Station Mode or AP Mode option in any
ZyXEL Utility screens.

23 Chapter 1 Getting Started

Figure 8 ZyXEL Utility: Change Modes

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

Note: Wait for about five seconds for the ZyXEL Utility to complete the mode change.

The current mode is indicated by the color of the radio button.

When you use the Windows XP WZC and the ZyXEL Utility to configure the
ZyXEL G-220F at the same time, the ZyXEL G-220F automatically operates in
wireless station mode and doesn’t allow any configuration change.

1.8 ZyXEL Utility Screen Summary

This sections describes the ZyXEL Utility screens.

Figure 9 Menu Summary: Station Mode

Figure 10 Menu Summary: AP Mode

Chapter 1 Getting Started 24

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

The following table describes the menus.

Table 2 ZyXEL Utility: Menu Screen Summary

TAB DESCRIPTION

Station Mode

Link Info Use this screen to see your current connection status, configuration and data rate

Site Survey Use this screen to

Profile Use this screen to add, delete, edit or activate a profile with a set of wireless and

Adaptor Use this screen to configure a transfer rate, enable power saving and use OTIST

AP Mode

Link Info Use this screen to see your current connection status, configuration and data rate

Configuration Use this screen to configure wireless LAN settings.

MAC Filter Use this screen to configure which computer(s) you want access to the wireless

statistics.

• scan for a wireless network

• configure wireless security (if activated on the selected network).

• connect to a wireless network.

security settings.

(One-Touch Intelligent Security Technology).

statistics.

LAN through the ZyXEL G-220F.

25 Chapter 1 Getting Started

Wireless LAN Network

This chapter provides background information on wireless LAN network.

2.1 Wireless LAN Overview

This section describes the wireless LAN network terms and applications.

2.1.1 SSID

The SSID (Service Set Identity) is a unique name shared among all wireless devices in a
wireless network. Wireless devices must have the same SSID to communicate with each other.

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

CHAPTER 2

2.1.2 Channel

A radio frequency used by a wireless device is called a channel.

2.1.3 Transmission Rate (Tx Rate)

The ZyXEL G-220F provides various transmission (data) rate options for you to select.
Options include Fully Auto, 1 Mbps, 2 Mbps, 5.5 Mbps, 6 Mbps, 9 Mbps, 11 Mbps, 12
Mbps, 18 Mbps, 24 Mbps, 36 Mbps, 48 Mbps and 54 Mbps. In most networking scenarios,
the factory default Fully Auto setting proves the most efficient. This setting allows your
ZyXEL G-220F to operate at the maximum transmission (data) rate. When the communication
quality drops below a certain level, the ZyXEL G-220F automatically switches to a lower
transmission (data) rate. Transmission at lower data speeds is usually more reliable. However,
when the communication quality improves again, the ZyXEL G-220F gradually increases the
transmission (data) rate again until it reaches the highest available transmission rate. You can
select any of the above options. If you wish to balance speed versus reliability, select 54 Mbps
in a networking environment where you are certain that all wireless devices can communicate
at the highest transmission (data) rate. 1 Mbps or 2 Mbps are used often in networking
environments where the range of the wireless connection is more important than speed.

Note: With USB1.0/1.1, the ZyXEL G-220F can only transmit at up to 11Mbps.

2.2 Wireless LAN Security Overview

Wireless LAN security is vital to your network to protect wireless communications.

Chapter 2 Wireless LAN Network 26

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

Configure the wireless LAN security using the Configuration or the Profile Security
Settings screen. If you do not enable any wireless security on your ZyXEL G-220F, the

ZyXEL G-220F’s wireless communications are accessible to any wireless networking device
that is in the coverage area.

2.2.1 Data Encryption with WEP

WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) encryption scrambles all data packets transmitted between
the ZyXEL G-220F and the AP or other wireless stations to keep network communications
private. Both the wireless stations and the access points must use the same WEP key for data
encryption and decryption.

There are two ways to create WEP keys in your ZyXEL G-220F.

• Automatic WEP key generation based on a “password phrase” called a passphrase. The
passphrase is case sensitive. You must use the same passphrase for all WLAN adapters
with this feature in the same WLAN.

For WLAN adapters without the passphrase feature, you can still take advantage of this
feature by writing down the four automatically generated WEP keys from the Security
Settings screen of the ZyXEL Utility and entering them manually as the WEP keys in the
other WLAN adapter(s).

• Enter the WEP keys manually.

Your ZyXEL G-220F allows you to configure up to four 64-bit, 128-bit or 256-bit WEP
keys and only one key is used as the default key at any one time.

2.2.2 IEEE 802.1x

The IEEE 802.1x standard outlines enhanced security methods for both the authentication of
wireless stations and encryption key management. Authentication can be done using an
external RADIUS server.

2.2.2.1 EAP Authentication

EAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol) is an authentication protocol that runs on top of the
IEEE 802.1x transport mechanism in order to support multiple types of user authentication. By
using EAP to interact with an EAP-compatible RADIUS server, an access point helps a
wireless station and a RADIUS server perform authentication.

The type of authentication you use depends on the RADIUS server and an intermediary AP(s)
that supports IEEE 802.1x. The ZyXEL G-220F supports EAP-TLS and EAP-PEAP. Refer to

Appendix E on page 86 for descriptions.

For EAP-TLS authentication type, you must first have a wired connection to the network and
obtain the certificate(s) from a certificate authority (CA). A certificate (also called digital IDs)
can be used to authenticate users and a CA issues certificates and guarantees the identity of
each certificate owner.

27 Chapter 2 Wireless LAN Network

2.2.3 WPA(2)

Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) is a subset of the IEEE 802.11i standard. Key differences
between WPA(2) and WEP are user authentication and improved data encryption.

2.2.3.1 User Authentication

WPA(2) applies IEEE 802.1x and Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) to authenticate
wireless clients using an external RADIUS database.

Therefore, if you don't have an external RADIUS server, you should use WPA(2)-PSK (WPA ­Pre-Shared Key) that only requires a single (identical) password entered into each access
point, wireless gateway and wireless client. As long as the passwords match, a client will be
granted access to a WLAN.

2.2.3.2 Encryption

WPA(2) improves data encryption by using Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) or
Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), Message Integrity Check (MIC) and IEEE 802.1x.

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) uses 128-bit keys that are dynamically generated and
distributed by the authentication server. It includes a per-packet key mixing function, a
Message Integrity Check (MIC) named Michael, an extended initialization vector (IV) with
sequencing rules, and a re-keying mechanism.

TKIP regularly changes and rotates the encryption keys so that the same encryption key is
never used twice. The RADIUS server distributes a Pairwise Master Key (PMK) key to the AP
that then sets up a key hierarchy and management system, using the pair-wise key to
dynamically generate unique data encryption keys to encrypt every data packet that is
wirelessly communicated between the AP and the wireless clients. This all happens in the
background automatically.

AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) is a newer method of data encryption that also uses a
secret key. This implementation of AES applies a 128-bit key to 128-bit blocks of data.

The Message Integrity Check (MIC) is designed to prevent an attacker from capturing data
packets, altering them and resending them. The MIC provides a strong mathematical function
in which the receiver and the transmitter each compute and then compare the MIC. If they do
not match, it is assumed that the data has been tampered with and the packet is dropped.

By generating unique data encryption keys for every data packet and by creating an integrity
checking mechanism (MIC), TKIP makes it much more difficult to decode data on a Wi-Fi
network than WEP, making it difficult for an intruder to break into the network.

The encryption mechanisms used for WPA(2) and WPA(2)-PSK are the same. The only
difference between the two is that WPA(2)-PSK uses a simple common password, instead of
user-specific credentials. The common-password approach makes WPA(2)-PSK susceptible to
brute-force password-guessing attacks but it's still an improvement over WEP as it employs an
easier-to-use, consistent, single, alphanumeric password.

Chapter 2 Wireless LAN Network 28

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

2.2.4 WPA(2)-PSK Application Example

A WPA(2)s-PSK application looks as follows.

1 First enter identical passwords into the AP and all wireless clients. The Pre-Shared Key

(PSK) must consist of between 8 and 63 ASCII characters (including spaces and
symbols).

2 The AP checks each client's password and (only) allows it to join the network if it

matches its password.

3 The AP derives and distributes keys to the wireless clients.

4 The AP and wireless clients use the TKIP encryption process to encrypt data exchanged

between them.

Figure 11 WPA-PSK Authentication

2.2.5 WPA with RADIUS Application Example

You need the IP address of the RADIUS server, its port number (default is 1812), and the
RADIUS shared secret. A WPA application example with an external RADIUS server looks as
follows. "A" is the RADIUS server. "DS" is the distribution system.

1 The AP passes the wireless client's authentication request to the RADIUS server.

2 The RADIUS server then checks the user's identification against its database and grants

or denies network access accordingly.

3 The RADIUS server distributes a Pairwise Master Key (PMK) key to the AP that then

sets up a key hierarchy and management system, using the pair-wise key to dynamically
generate unique data encryption keys to encrypt every data packet that is wirelessly
communicated between the AP and the wireless clients.

29 Chapter 2 Wireless LAN Network

Figure 12 WPA with RADIUS Application Example

2.3 Authentication Type

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

The IEEE 802.11b/g standard describes a simple authentication method between the wireless
stations and AP. Three authentication modes are defined: Auto, Open System and Shared
Key.

• Open System mode is implemented for ease-of-use and when security is not an issue.
The wireless station and the AP do not share a secret key. Thus the wireless stations can
associate with any AP and listen to any data transmitted plaintext.

• Shared Key mode involves a shared secret key to authenticate the wireless station to the
AP. This requires you to enable the WEP encryption and specify a WEP key on both the
wireless station and the AP.

• Auto authentication mode allows the ZyXEL G-220F to switch between the open and
shared key authentication modes automatically. Use the auto mode if you do not know the
authentication mode of the other wireless stations.

2.4 Preamble Type

Preamble is used to signal that data is coming to the receiver.

Short preamble increases performance as less time sending preamble means more time for
sending data. All IEEE 802.11b/g compliant wireless adapters support long preamble, but not
all support short preamble.

Select Long Preamble if you are unsure what preamble mode the wireless adapters support,
and to provide more reliable communications in busy wireless networks.

Select Short Preamble if you are sure the wireless adapters support it, and to provide more
efficient communications.

Chapter 2 Wireless LAN Network 30

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

Select Auto to have the ZyXEL G-220F automatically use short preamble when all access
point/wireless stations support it, otherwise the ZyXEL G-220F uses long preamble.

Note: The ZyXEL G-220F and the access point/wireless stations MUST use the same

preamble mode in order to communicate.

2.5 Introduction to OTIST

In a wireless network, the wireless clients must have the same SSID and security settings as
the access point (AP) or wireless router (we will refer to both as “AP” here) in order to
associate with it. Traditionally this meant that you had to configure the settings on the AP and
then manually configure the exact same settings on each wireless client.

OTIST (One-Touch Intelligent Security Technology) allows you to transfer your AP’s SSID
and WEP or WPA-PSK security settings to wireless clients that support OTIST and are within
transmission range. You can also choose to have OTIST generate a WPA-PSK key for you if
you didn’t configure one manually.

2.5.1 Enabling OTIST

You must enable OTIST on both the AP and wireless client before you start transferring
settings.

We use the Prestige 334WT in this guide as an example. Screens may vary slightly for your
ZyXEL devices.

Note: The AP and wireless client(s) MUST use the same Setup key.

2.5.1.1 AP

On the Prestige 334WT, you can enable OTIST using the Reset button or the web
configurator. If you use the Reset button, the default (01234567) or previous saved (through
the web configurator) Setup key is used to encrypt the settings that you want to transfer.

Hold in the Reset button for one or two seconds.

Note: If you hold in the Reset button too long, the device will reset to the factory

defaults!

In the web configurator, go to the Wireless LAN main screen and then select OTIST. To
change the Setup key, enter zero to eight printable characters. To have OTIST automatically
generate a WPA-PSK key, select the Ye s check box. If you manually configured a WEP key or
a WPA-PSK key and you also selected this check box, then the key you manually configured
is used.

31 Chapter 2 Wireless LAN Network

2.5.1.2 Wireless Client

Start the ZyXEL Utility and click the Adapter tab. Select the OTIST check box, enter the
same Setup Key as your AP’s and click Save.

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

2.5.2 Starting OTIST

Note: You must click Start in the AP OTIST web configurator screen and in the

wireless client(s) Adapter screen all within three minutes (at the time or
writing). You can start OTIST in the wireless clients and AP in any order but
they must all be within range and have OTIST enabled.

See the user’s guide for more information.

1 In the AP, a web configurator screen pops

up showing you the security settings to
transfer. After reviewing the settings, click
OK.

Chapter 2 Wireless LAN Network 32

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

2 This screen appears while OTIST settings are being transferred. It closes when the

transfer is complete.

• In the wireless client, you see this screen if
it can't find an OTIST-enabled AP (with the
same Setup key). Click OK to go back to
the ZyXEL utility main screen.

• If there is more than one OTIST-enabled AP within range, you see a screen asking you to
select one AP to get settings from.

2.5.3 Notes on OTIST

1 If you enabled OTIST in the wireless client, you see this screen each time you start the

utility. Click Ye s for it to search for an OTIST-enabled AP.

2 If an OTIST-enabled wireless client loses its wireless connection for more than ten

seconds, it will search for an OTIST-enabled AP for up to one minute. (If you manually
have the wireless client search for an OTIST-enabled AP, there is no timeout; click
Cancel in the OTIST progress screen to stop the search.)

3 When the wireless client finds an OTIST-enabled AP, you must still click Start in the AP

OTIST web configurator screen or hold in the Reset button (for one or two seconds) for

the AP to transfer settings.

4 If you change the SSID or the keys on the AP after using OTIST, you need to run OTIST

again or enter them manually in the wireless client(s).

5 If you configure OTIST to generate a WPA-PSK key, this key changes each time you run

OTIST. Therefore, if a new wireless client joins your wireless network, you need to run
OTIST on the AP and ALL the wireless clients again.

33 Chapter 2 Wireless LAN Network

CHAPTER 3

Wireless Station Mode

Configuration

This chapter shows you how to configure your ZyXEL G-220F in wireless station mode.

3.1 Wireless Station Mode Overview

To set your ZyXEL G-220F in wireless station mode, refer to Section 1.7.1 on page 23.

3.2 The Link Info Screen

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

When the ZyXEL Utility starts, the Link Info screen displays, showing the current
configuration and connection status of your ZyXEL G-220F.

Figure 13 Station Mode: Link Info

The following table describes the labels in this screen.

Chapter 3 Wireless Station Mode Configuration 34

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

Table 3 Station Mode: Link Info

LABEL DESCRIPTION

AP Mode
Station Mode

Wireless Network
Status

Profile Name This is the name of the profile you are currently using.

Network Name
(SSID)

AP MAC Address This field displays the MAC address of the wireless device to which the ZyXEL G-

Network Type This field displays the network type (Infrastructure(BSS) or Ad Hoc) of the

Transmission Rate This field displays the current transmission rate of the ZyXEL G-220F in megabits

Security This field displays whether data encryption is activated (WEP (for WEP or

Channel This field displays the radio channel the ZyXEL G-220F is currently using.

Status This field displays the authentication type of the wireless network.

Stat istics

Transmit Rate This field displays the current data transmission rate in kilobits per second (Kbps).

Receive Rate This field displays the current data receiving rate in kilobits per second (Kbps).

Authentication This field displays the authentication method of the ZyXEL G-220F.

Wireless Mode This field displays the wireless standard (802.11b or 802.11g) of the wireless

Total Transmit This field displays the total number of data frames transmitted.

Total Receive This field displays the total number of data frames received.

Signal Strength This field displays the signal strength of the ZyXEL G-220F.

Trend Chart Click this button to display the real-time statistics of the data rate in kilobits per

Signal Strength The status bar shows the strength of the signal.

Link Quality The status bar shows the quality of the signal.

Use the radio button to set the ZyXEL G-220F to operate in wireless station or
access point mode. Refer to Section 1.7.1 on page 23 for more information.

The SSID identifies the Service Set to which a wireless station is associated. This
field displays the name of the wireless device to which the ZyXEL G-220F is
associated.

220F is associated.

wireless network.

per second (Mbps).

RADIUS) or TKIP (WPA-PSK or WPA-RADIUS)) or inactive (Disabled).

device.

second (Kbps).

3.2.1 Trend Chart

Click Trend Chart in the Link Info screen to display a screen as shown below. Use this
screen to view real-time data traffic statistics.

35 Chapter 3 Wireless Station Mode Configuration

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

Figure 14 Station Mode: Link Info: Trend Chart

The following table describes the labels in this screen.

Table 4 Station Mode: Link Info: Trend Chart

LABEL DESCRIPTION

Transmit This field displays the current data transmission rate in kilobits per second (Kbps).

Receive This field displays the current data receiving rate in kilobits per second (Kbps).

3.3 The Site Survey Screen

Use the Site Survey screen to scan for and connect to a wireless network automatically.

Figure 15 Station Mode: Site Survey

Chapter 3 Wireless Station Mode Configuration 36

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

The following table describes the labels in this screen.

Table 5 Station Mode: Site Survey

LABEL DESCRIPTION

Available Network
List

,

,

or

SSID This field displays the SSID (Service Set IDentifier) of each wireless device.

Channel This field displays the channel number used by each wireless device.

Signal This field displays the signal strength of each wireless device.

Scan Click Scan to search for available wireless devices within transmission range.

Connect Click Connect to associate to the selected wireless device.

Site Info Click an entry in the Available Network List table to display the information of the

Network Type This field displays the network type (Infrastructure or Ad Hoc) of the wireless

Channel This field displays the channel number used by each wireless device.

Encryption This field shows whether data encryption is activated (WEP (for WEP or RADIUS)

MAC address This field displays the MAC address of the wireless device.

Surveyed at This field displays the time when the wireless device is scanned.

Click a column heading to sort the entries.

denotes that the wireless device is in infrastructure mode and the wireless
security is activated.

denotes that the wireless device is in infrastructure mode but the wireless
security is deactivated.

denotes that the wireless device is in Ad-Hoc mode and the wireless
security is activated.

denotes that the wireless device is in Ad-Hoc mode but the wireless
security is deactivated.

selected wireless device.

device.

WPA-PSK or WPA-RADIUS) or inactive (Disabled).

3.3.1 Connecting to a WLAN Network

Follow the steps below to connect to a WLAN network using the Site Survey screen.

1 Click Scan to search for all available wireless networks within range.

2 To join a network, click an entry in the table to select a wireless network and then click

Connect.

3 If the WEP encryption is activated for the selected wireless network, the Security

Settings screen displays. You must set the related fields in the Security Settings screen

to the same security settings as the associated wireless device. Refer to Section 3.3.2 on

page 38 for more information.

Otherwise click the close ( ) button and connect to another wireless network without
data encryption.

4 Verify that you have successfully connected to the selected network and check the

network information in the Link Info screen.

37 Chapter 3 Wireless Station Mode Configuration

3.3.2 Security Settings

When you configure the ZyXEL G-220F to connect to a network with wireless security
activated and the security settings are disabled on the ZyXEL G-220F, the screen varies
according to the encryption method used by the selected network.

3.3.2.1 WEP Encryption

Figure 16 Station Mode: Security Settings: WEP

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

The following table describes the labels in this screen.

Table 6 Station Mode: Security Settings: WEP

LABEL DESCRIPTION

Security Settings

WEP Select 64 Bits, 128 Bits or 256 Bits to activate WEP encryption and then fill in the

related fields.
Select Disable to deactivate WEP encryption.

Authentication Select an authentication method. Choices are Auto, Shared Key and Open

System. Refer to Section 2.3 on page 30 for more information.

Pass Phrase When you select the radio button, enter a passphrase of up to 63 case-sensitive

Transmit Key Select a default WEP key to use for data encryption. The key displays in the field

printable characters. As you enter the passphrase, the ZyXEL G-220F
automatically generates four different WEP keys and displays it in the key field
below. Refer to Section 2.2.1 on page 27 for more information.

At the time of writing, you cannot use passphrase to generate 256-bit WEP keys.

below.

Chapter 3 Wireless Station Mode Configuration 38

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

Table 6 Station Mode: Security Settings: WEP (continued)

LABEL DESCRIPTION

Key x (where x is a
number between 1
and 4)

Select this option if you want to manually enter the WEP keys. Enter the WEP key
in the field provided.

If you select 64 Bits in the WEP field.

Enter either 10 hexadecimal digits in the range of “A-F”, “a-f” and “0-9” (for
example, 11AA22BB33) for HEX key type.

or
Enter 5 ASCII characters (case sensitive) ranging from “a-z”, “A-Z” and “0-9”

(for example, MyKey) for ASCII key type.

If you select 128 Bits in the WEP field,

Enter either 26 hexadecimal digits in the range of “A-F”, “a-f” and “0-9” (for
example, 00112233445566778899AABBCC) for HEX key type

or
Enter 13 ASCII characters (case sensitive) ranging from “a-z”, “A-Z” and “0-9”

(for example, MyKey12345678) for ASCII key type.

If you select 256 Bits in the WEP field,

Enter either 58 hexadecimal digits in the range of "A-F", "a-f" and "0-9" (for
example,
00001111222 23333444455556666777788889999AAAABBBBCCCC000011)
for HEX key type

or
Enter 29 ASCII characters (case sensitive) ranging from "a-z", "A-Z" and "0-9"

(for example, MyKey111122223333444455556678) for ASCII key type.

Note: The values for the WEP keys must be set up exactly the

same on all wireless devices in the same wireless LAN.

Save Click Save to save the changes back to the ZyXEL G-220F and display the Link

3.3.2.2 WPA-PSK

Figure 17 Station Mode: Security Settings: WPA-PSK

ASCII WEP keys are case sensitive.

Info screen. Otherwise, click the close ( ) button to discard changes and go
back to the Site Survey screen.

39 Chapter 3 Wireless Station Mode Configuration

The following table describes the labels in this screen.

Table 7 Station Mode: Security Settings: WPA-PSK

LABEL DESCRIPTION

Encryption Type The encryption mechanisms used for WPA and WPA-PSK are the same. The only

Pass Phrase Type a passphrase from 8 to 63 case-sensitive ASCII characters (including spaces

Save Click Save to save the changes back to the ZyXEL G-220F and display the Link

3.3.2.3 WPA-RADIUS

3.3.2.3.1 Encryption

Figure 18 Station Mode: Security Settings: WPA-RADIUS: Encryption

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

difference between the two is that WPA-PSK uses a simple common password,
instead of user-specific credentials.

Select TKIP. Refer to Section 2.2.3 on page 28 for more information.

and symbols).

Info screen. Otherwise, click the close ( ) button to discard changes and go
back to the Site Survey screen.

The following table describes the labels in this screen.

Table 8 Station Mode: Security Settings: WPA-RADIUS: Encryption

LABEL DESCRIPTION

Encryption Type The encryption mechanisms used for WPA and WPA-PSK are the same. The only

Next Click Next to go to the next screen.

Chapter 3 Wireless Station Mode Configuration 40

difference between the two is that WPA-PSK uses a simple common password,
instead of user-specific credentials.

Select TKIP. Refer to Section 2.2.3 on page 28 for more information.

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

3.3.2.3.2 Authentication

Figure 19 Station Mode: Security Settings: WPA-RADIUS: Authentication

The following table describes the labels in this screen.

Table 9 Station Mode: Security Settings: WPA-RADIUS: Authentication

LABEL DESCRIPTION

Authentication
Type

Login Name Enter a user name.

Password This field is not available when you select EAP-TLS in the Authentication Type

Certificate This field is only available when you select EAP-TLS in the Authentication Type

Select an authentication method from the drop down list. Options are EAP-TLS
and EAP-PEAP.

This is the user name that you or an administrator set up on a RADIUS server.

field.
Enter the password associated with the user name above.

field.
Specify the location and name of a certificate in the Certificate field or click

Browse to locate it.

Note: You must first have a wired connection to a network and

obtain the certificate(s) from a certificate authority (CA).
Consult your network administrator for more information.

Browse This field is only available when you select EAP-TLS in the Authentication Type

field.
Click this button to display the Select Certificate screen, select a certificate and

click OK.

Validate Server
Certificate

PEAP Inner EAP This field is only available when you select EAP-PEAP in the Authentication

Save Click Save to save the changes back to the ZyXEL G-220F and display the Link

Select the check box to check the certificate of the authentication server.

Typ e field.
Use the drop-down list box to select a PEAP protocol. Options are MD5

CHALLENGE, TOKEN CARD and MS CHAP v2.

Info screen. Otherwise, click the close ( ) button to discard changes and go

back to the Site Survey screen.

41 Chapter 3 Wireless Station Mode Configuration

3.3.2.4 RADIUS

Configure IEEE 802.1x security with various authentication methods in this screen.

Figure 20 Station Mode: Security Settings: RADIUS

The following table describes the labels in this screen.

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

Table 10 Station Mode: Security Settings: RADIUS

LABEL DESCRIPTION

Authentication
Type

Login Name Enter a user name.

Password This field is not available when you select EAP-TLS in the Authentication Type

Certificate This field is only available when you select EAP-TLS in the Authentication Type

Select an authentication method from the drop down list. Options are EAP-TLS
and EAP-PEAP.

This is the user name that you or an administrator set up on a RADIUS server.

field.
Enter the password associated with the user name above.

field.
Specify the location and name of a certificate in the Certificate field or click

Browse to locate it.

Note: You must first have a wired connection to a network and

obtain the certificate(s) from a certificate authority (CA).
Consult your network administrator for more information.

Browse This field is only available when you select EAP-TLS in the Authentication Type

field.
Click this button to display the Select Certificate screen, select a certificate and

click OK.

Validate Server
Certificate

PEAP Inner EAP This field is only available when you select EAP-PEAP in the Authentication

Save Click Save to save the changes back to the ZyXEL G-220F and display the Link

Select the check box to check the certificate of the authentication server.

Typ e field.
Use the drop-down list box to select a PEAP protocol. Options are MD5

CHALLENGE, TOKEN CARD and MS CHAP v2.

Info screen. Otherwise, click the close ( ) button to discard changes and go

back to the Site Survey screen.

Chapter 3 Wireless Station Mode Configuration 42

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

3.4 The Profile Screen

Click the Profile tab in the ZyXEL Utility program to display the Profile screen as shown
next.

The profile function allows you to save the wireless network settings in this screen, or use one
of the pre-configured network profiles.

Figure 21 Station Mode: Profile

The following table describes the labels in this screen.

Table 11 Station Mode: Profile

LABEL DESCRIPTION

Profile List Click a column heading to sort the entries.

,

,

or

Profile Name This is the name of the pre-configured profile.

SSID This is the SSID of the wireless network to which the selected profile associate.

Connect To use a previously saved network profile, select a pre-configured profile name in

Add To add a new profile into the table, click Add.

Delete To delete an existing wireless network configuration, select a profile in the table

denotes that the wireless device is in infrastructure mode and the wireless
security is activated.

denotes that the wireless device is in infrastructure mode but the wireless
security is deactivated.

denotes that the wireless device is in Ad-Hoc mode and the wireless
security is activated.

denotes that the wireless device is in Ad-Hoc mode but the wireless
security is deactivated.

the table and click Connect.

and click Delete.

43 Chapter 3 Wireless Station Mode Configuration

Table 11 Station Mode: Profile (continued)

LABEL DESCRIPTION

Edit To edit an existing wireless network configuration, select a profile in the table and

click Edit.

Profile Info The following fields display detail information of the selected profile in the Profile

List table.

Network Type This field displays the network type (Infrastructure or Ad Hoc) of the profile.

SSID This field displays the SSID (Service Set IDentifier) of the profile.

Channel This field displays the channel number used by the profile.

Security This field shows whether data encryption is activated (WEP, WPA-PSK, WPA-

RADIUS, RADIUS) or inactive (Disabled).

Transmission Rate This field displays the transmission speed of the selected profile in megabits per

second (Mbps).

3.4.1 Adding a New Profile

Follow the steps below to add a new profile.

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

1 Click Add in the Profile screen. An Add New Profile screen displays as shown next.

Click Next to continue.

Figure 22 Station Mode: Profile: Add New Profile

The following table describes the labels in this screen.

Table 12 Station Mode: Profile: Add New Profile

LABEL DESCRIPTION

Add New Profile

Profile Name Enter a descriptive name in this field.

Chapter 3 Wireless Station Mode Configuration 44

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

Table 12 Station Mode: Profile: Add New Profile (continued)

LABEL DESCRIPTION

SSID Select an available wireless device in the Scan Info table and click Select, or enter

Network Type Select the Infrastructure radio button to associate to an AP. Select the Ad-Hoc

Next Click Next to go to the next screen.

Exit Click Exit to go back to the previous screen without saving.

Scan Info This table displays the information of the available wireless networks within the

,

,

or

SSID This field displays the SSID (Service Set IDentifier) of each wireless device.

Scan Click Scan to search for available wireless devices within transmission range.

Select Select an available wireless device in the table and click Select to add it to this

the SSID of the wireless device to which you want to associate in this field
manually. Otherwise, leave this field blank to have the ZyXEL G-220F associate to
or roam between any infrastructure wireless networks.

radio button to associate to a peer computer.

transmission range.

denotes that the wireless device is in infrastructure mode and the wireless
security is activated.

denotes that the wireless device is in infrastructure mode but the wireless
security is deactivated.

denotes that the wireless device is in Ad-Hoc mode and the wireless
security is activated.

denotes that the wireless device is in Ad-Hoc mode but the wireless security
is deactivated.

profile.
Whenever you activate this profile, the ZyXEL G-220F associates to the selected

wireless network only.

2 If you select the Infrastructure network type in the previous screen, skip to step 3. If

you select the Ad-Hoc network type in the previous screen, a screen displays as follows.
Select a channel number and wireless LAN mode and click Next to continue.

Figure 23 Station Mode: Profile: Select a Channel

45 Chapter 3 Wireless Station Mode Configuration

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

The following table describes the labels in this screen.

Table 13 Station Mode: Profile: Select a Channel

LABEL DESCRIPTION

Wireless Settings

Channel Select a channel number from the drop-down list box. To associate to an ad-hoc

network, you must use the same channel as the peer computer.

Wireless Mode Select Mixed Mode to have the ZyXEL G-220F connect to either an IEEE 802.11g

or IEEE 802.11b wireless device.
Select G-Only to have the ZyXEL G-220F connect to an IEEE 802.11g wireless

device only and vice versa.
Select B-Only to have the ZyXEL G-220F connect to an IEEE 802.11b wireless

device only and vice versa.

3 If you select Infrastructure network type in the first screen, select WEP, WPA-PSK,

WPA-RADIUS or RADIUS from the drop-down list box to enable data encryption. If

you select Ad-Hoc network type in the first screen, you can only use WEP encryption
method. Otherwise, select Disabled to allow the ZyXEL G-220F to communicate with
the access points or other peer wireless computers without any data encryption and skip
to step 5.

Figure 24 Station Mode: Profile: Wireless Settings

4 The screen varies depending on the encryption method you select in the previous screen.

The settings must be exactly the same on the APs or other peer wireless computers as
they are on the ZyXEL G-220F. Refer to Section 3.3.2 on page 38 for detailed
information on wireless security configuration.

Chapter 3 Wireless Station Mode Configuration 46

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

Figure 25 Station Mode: Profile: Security Settings

5 This read-only screen shows a summary of the new profile settings. Verify that the

settings are correct. Click Save to save and go to the next screen. Click Back to return to
the previous screen. Otherwise, click Exit to go back to the Profile screen without saving.

Figure 26 Station Mode: Profile: Confirm New Settings

6 To use this network profile, click the Activate Now button. Otherwise, click the Activate

Later button.

Note: Once you activate a profile, the ZyXEL Utility will use that profile the next time it

is started.

47 Chapter 3 Wireless Station Mode Configuration

Figure 27 Station Mode: Profile: Activate the Profile

3.5 The Adapter Screen

To set the advanced features on the ZyXEL G-220F, click the Adapter tab.

Figure 28 Station Mode: Adapter

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

The following table describes the labels in this screen.

Table 14 Station Mode: Adapter

LABEL DESCRIPTION

Adapter

Transmission Rate Select a transmission speed from the drop-down list box. Choose from Fully Auto

Preamble Type Select a preamble type. Choices are Long Preamble, Short Preamble and

Power Saving
Mode

Chapter 3 Wireless Station Mode Configuration 48

(default), 1 Mbps, 2 Mbps, 5.5 Mbps, 6 Mbps, 9 Mbps, 11 Mbps, 12 Mbps, 18

Mbps, 24 Mbps, 36 Mbps, 48 Mbps, and 54 Mbps.

Auto.The default setting is Auto.

Refer to Section 2.4 on page 30 for more information.

Select Enabled to save power (especially for notebook computers). This forces
the ZyXEL G-220F to go to sleep mode when it is not transmitting data.

When you select Disabled, the ZyXEL G-220F will never go to sleep mode.

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

Table 14 Station Mode: Adapter (continued)

LABEL DESCRIPTION

OTIST (One­Touch Intelligent
Security
Technology)

Setup Key Enter the same setup key (up to eight printable characters) as the ZyXEL AP or

Select this check box to enable OTIST.

wireless router to which you want to associate. The default OTIST setup key is
"01234567".

Note: If you change the OTIST setup key on the ZyXEL AP or

wireless router, you must also make the same change here.

Start Click Start to encrypt the wireless security data using the setup key and have the

Save Click Save to save the changes back to the ZyXEL G-220F and return to the Link

ZyXEL AP or wireless router set your ZyXEL G-220F to use the same wireless
settings as the ZyXEL AP or wireless router. You must also activate and start
OTIST on the ZyXEL AP or wireless router at the same time.

The process takes three minutes to complete

Info screen.

49 Chapter 3 Wireless Station Mode Configuration

CHAPTER 4

Access Point Mode

Configuration

This chapter shows you how to configure your ZyXEL G-220F in access point mode.

4.1 Access Point Mode Introduction

To set your ZyXEL G-220F as an Access Point (AP), refer to Section 1.7.1 on page 23.

In access point mode, your ZyXEL G-220F functions as an access point. This allows you to set
up your wireless networks without using a dedicated AP device. Up to 16 wireless stations can
associate to the ZyXEL G-220F.

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

4.1.1 Additional Setup Requirements

To bridge your wired and wireless network using the ZyXEL G-220F, the following
requirements must be met:

1 The ZyXEL G-220F must be installed on a computer connected to the wired network.

2 Either configure network sharing (refer to Appendix B on page 64 for an example) or

bridge the two interfaces (wireless and wired) on the computer.

3 Set the wireless station’s IP address to be in the same subnet as the computer in which the

ZyXEL G-220F is installed. Refer to Appendix F on page 90.

4.2 The Link Info Screen

Select the AP Mode radio button and wait for about five seconds to display the screen as
shown.

Chapter 4 Access Point Mode Configuration 50

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

Figure 29 Access Point Mode: Link Info

The following table describes the labels in this screen.

Table 15 Access Point Mode: Link Info

LABEL DESCRIPTION

Status

SSID This field displays the name that identifies your ZyXEL G-220F in the wireless LAN

Current Channel This field displays the radio channel the ZyXEL G-220F is currently using.

Transmission Rate This field displays the current transmission rate of the ZyXEL G-220F in megabits

Security This field shows whether data encryption is activated (WEP) or inactive (Disabled).

MAC This field displays the MAC address of the ZyXEL G-220F.

Output Power This field shows the strength of the ZyXEL G-220F’s antenna gain or transmission

Association List This table lists up to 16 wireless clients that are currently connected to the ZyXEL

denotes a wireless client without WEP security.

MAC Address This field displays the MAC addresses of a wireless client that is currently

Refresh Click Refresh to update this screen.

network.

per second (Mbps).

power.

G-220F.

denotes a wireless client with WEP security enabled.

connected to the ZyXEL G-220F.

4.3 The Configuration Screen

Click Configuration in the ZyXEL Utility screen to display the screen as shown.

51 Chapter 4 Access Point Mode Configuration

Figure 30 Access Point Mode: Configuration

The following table describes the labels in this screen.

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

Table 16 Access Point Mode: Configuration

LABEL DESCRIPTION

Wireless Settings

SSID The SSID identifies the Service Set to which a wireless station is associated.

Wireless stations associating to the access point (the ZyXEL G-220F) must have
the same SSID.

Enter a descriptive name (up to 32 printable 7-bit ASCII characters) for the
wireless LAN.

Hide SSID Select this check box to hide the SSID in the outgoing beacon frame so a station

Channel Set the operating frequency/channel depending on your geographical region.

OutputPower Set this field if you need to conserve power consumption (especially for notebook

Security Settings

WEP Select 64 Bits, 128 Bits or 256 Bits to activate WEP encryption and then fill in the

Authentication
Type

cannot obtain the SSID through passive scanning using a site survey tool.

computers). This control changes the strength of the ZyXEL G-220F’s antenna
gain or transmission power. Antenna gain, measured in dBm (decibel relative units
compared to milliwatts), is the increase in coverage. Higher antenna gain improves
the range of the signal for better communications.

Select High to set the ZyXEL G-220F’s antenna to transmit at 17-dBm.
Select Medium-High to set the ZyXEL G-220F’s antenna to transmit at 15-dBm.
Select Medium-Low to set the ZyXEL G-220F’s antenna to transmit at 13-dBm.
Select Low to set the ZyXEL G-220F’s antenna to transmit at 11-dBm. This allows

for the least power consumption.

related fields.
Select Disable to deactivate the WEP encryption.

Select an authentication method. Choices are Auto, Shared Key and Open
System. Refer to Section 2.3 on page 30 for more information.

Chapter 4 Access Point Mode Configuration 52

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

Table 16 Access Point Mode: Configuration (continued)

LABEL DESCRIPTION

Pass Phrase When you select the radio button, enter a passphrase of up to 63 case-sensitive

Transmit Key Select a default WEP key to use for data encryption. The key displays in the field

Key x (where x is a
number between 1
and 4)

printable characters. As you enter the passphrase, the ZyXEL G-220F
automatically generates four different WEP key and displays it in the key field
below. Refer to Section 2.2.1 on page 27 for more information.

At the time of writing, you cannot use passphrase to generate 256-bit WEP keys.

below.

Select this option if you want to manually enter the WEP keys.
Enter the WEP key in the field provided.
If you select 64 Bits in the WEP field.

Enter either 10 hexadecimal digits in the range of “A-F”, “a-f” and “0-9” (for
example, 11AA22BB33) for HEX key type

or
Enter 5 ASCII characters (case sensitive) ranging from “a-z”, “A-Z” and “0-9”

(for example, MyKey) for ASCII key type.

If you select 128 Bits in the WEP field,

Enter either 26 hexadecimal digits in the range of “A-F”, “a-f” and “0-9” (for
example, 00112233445566778899AABBCC) for HEX key type

or
Enter 13 ASCII characters (case sensitive) ranging from “a-z”, “A-Z” and “0-9”

(for example, MyKey12345678) for ASCII key type.

If you select 256 Bits in the WEP field,

Enter either 58 hexadecimal digits in the range of "A-F", "a-f" and "0-9" (for
example,
00001111222 23333444455556666777788889999AAAABBBBCCCC000011)
for HEX key type

or
Enter 29 ASCII characters (case sensitive) ranging from "a-z", "A-Z" and "0-9"

(for example, MyKey111122223333444455556678) for ASCII key type.

Note: The values for the WEP keys must be set up exactly the

same on all wireless devices in the same wireless LAN.

ASCII WEP keys are case sensitive.

Save Click Save to save the changes.

Cancel Click Cancel to discard the changes.

4.4 The MAC Filter Screen

The MAC Filter screen allows you to configure the ZyXEL G-220F to give exclusive access
to (Accept) devices or exclude devices from (Reject) connecting to the ZyXEL G-220F. Every
Ethernet device has a unique MAC (Media Access Control) address. The MAC address is
assigned at the factory and consists of six pairs of hexadecimal characters, for example,
00:A0:C5:00:00:02. You need to know the MAC address of the device(s) to configure this
screen.

53 Chapter 4 Access Point Mode Configuration

Figure 31 Access Point Mode: MAC Filter

The following table describes the labels in this screen.

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

Table 17 Access Point Mode: MAC Filter

LABEL DESCRIPTION

Filter Type Define the filter action for the list of MAC addresses in the MAC address filter table.

Select Disable to deactivate the MAC filter feature.
Select Reject to block access to the ZyXEL G-220F, MAC addresses not listed will

be allowed to access the ZyXEL G-220F.
Select Accept to permit access to the ZyXEL G-220F, MAC addresses not listed

will be denied access to the ZyXEL G-220F.

Filter MAC
Address 1-16

Save Click Save to save the changes back to the ZyXEL G-220F.

Cancel Click Cancel to discard the changes.

Specify the MAC address(es) of the wireless station(s) that is allowed or denied
association to the ZyXEL G-220F.

Enter six pairs of hexadecimal digits (separated by colons) in the range of “A-F”,
“a-f” and “0-9” (for example, 00:A0:C5:00:00:02).

If you enter an invalid MAC address, once you click Save to save the values, a
warning screen will be displayed.

Chapter 4 Access Point Mode Configuration 54

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

55 Chapter 4 Access Point Mode Configuration

This chapter describes how to uninstall or upgrade the ZyXEL Utility.

5.1 The About Screen

The About screen displays related version numbers of the ZyXEL G-220F. To display the
screen as shown below, click the about ( ) button.

Figure 32 About

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

CHAPTER 5

Maintenance

The following table describes the read-only fields in this screen.

Table 18 About

LABEL DESCRIPTION

Driver Version This field displays the version number of the ZyXEL G-220F driver.

Utility Version This field displays the version number of the ZyXEL Utility.

5.2 Uninstalling the ZyXEL Utility

Follow the steps below to remove (or uninstall) the ZyXEL Utility from your computer.

1 Click Start, Programs, ZyXEL G-220F Utility, Uninstall ZyXEL G-220F Utility.

2 Windows 98 SE/ Me, select Remove and click Next.

Chapter 5 Maintenance 56

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

Figure 33 Uninstall

3 When prompted, click OK or Yes to remove the driver and the utility software.

Figure 34 Uninstall: Confirm

4 Click Finish to complete uninstalling the software and restart the computer when

prompted.

Figure 35 Uninstall: Finish

5.3 Upgrading the ZyXEL Utility

Note: Before you uninstall the ZyXEL Utility, take note of the current network

configuration.

57 Chapter 5 Maintenance

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

To perform the upgrade, follow the steps below.

1 Download the latest version of the utility from the ZyXEL web site and save the file on

your computer.

2 Follow the steps in Section 5.2 on page 56 to remove the current ZyXEL Utility from

your computer.

3 Restart your computer when prompted.

4 Disconnect the ZyXEL G-220F from your computer.

5 Double-click on the setup program for the new utility to start the ZyXEL Utility

installation.

6 Insert the ZyXEL G-220F and check the version numbers in the About screen to make

sure the new utility is installed properly.

Chapter 5 Maintenance 58

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

59 Chapter 5 Maintenance

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

CHAPTER 6

Troubleshooting

This chapter covers potential problems and the possible remedies. After each problem
description, some instructions are provided to help you to diagnose and to solve the problem.

6.1 Problems Starting the ZyXEL Utility Program

Table 19 Troubleshooting Starting ZyXEL Utility Program

PROBLEM CORRECTIVE ACTION

Cannot start the
ZyXEL Wireless
LAN Utility

The ZyXEL Utility
icon does not
display.

Cannot change to
Access Point
mode

Make sure the ZyXEL G-220F is properly inserted and the LED(s) is on. Refer to
the Quick Start Guide for the LED descriptions.

Use the Device Manager to check for possible hardware conflicts. Click Start,
Settings, Control Panel, System, Hardware and Device Manager. Verify the
status of the ZyXEL G-220F under Network Adapter. (Steps may vary depending
on the version of Windows).

Install the ZyXEL G-220F in another computer.
If the error persists, you may have a hardware problem. In this case, you should

contact your local vendor.

If you install the Funk Odyssey Client software on the computer, uninstall (remove)
both the Funk Odyssey Client software and ZyXEL utility, and then install the
ZyXEL utility again after restarting the computer.

If you use the Windows XP configuration tool and the ZyXEL Utility to configure the
ZyXEL G-220F at the same time, the ZyXEL Utility icon does not display. You
need to disable the Windows XP configuration tool (refer to Appendix C on page

68 for more information).

If you use the Windows XP configuration tool and the ZyXEL Utility to configure the
ZyXEL G-220F at the same time, the ZyXEL G-220F automatically operates in
wireless station mode. You need to disable the Windows XP configuration tool to
change between the modes using the ZyXEL Utility (refer to Section 1.7.1 on

page 23 for more information).

6.2 Problem Connecting to an Access Point

Table 20 Troubleshooting Access Point Connection Problem

PROBLEM CORRECTIVE ACTION

When using the
Windows XP
configuration tool,
cannot scan for or
connect to any
access points.

Chapter 6 Troubleshooting 60

The ZyXEL G-220F might still be operating in access point mode. This results
when you set the ZyXEL G-220F to operate in access point mode using the ZyXEL
Utility, close the ZyXEL Utility and then use the Windows XP configuration tool.

Before you use the Windows XP configuration tool, make sure you set the ZyXEL
G-220F to operate in station mode before you close and exit the ZyXEL Utility.

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

6.3 Problem with the Link Status

Table 21 Troubleshooting Link Quality

PROBLEM CORRECTIVE ACTION

The link quality
and/or signal
strength is poor all
the time.

Search and connect to another AP with a better link quality using the Site Survey
screen.

Move your computer closer to the AP or the peer computer(s) within the
transmission range.

There may be too much radio interference (for example microwave or another AP
using the same channel) around your wireless network. Relocate or reduce the
radio interference.

6.4 Problems Communicating With Other Computers

Table 22 Troubleshooting Communication Problem

PROBLEM CORRECTIVE ACTION

In wireless station
mode, the
computer with the
ZyXEL G-220F
installed cannot
communicate with
the other
computer(s).

In access point
mode, the wireless
station(s) cannot
associate to the
ZyXEL G-220F.

In Infrastructure Mode

• Make sure that the AP and the associated computers are turned on and
working properly.

• Make sure the ZyXEL G-220F computer and the associated AP use the same
SSID.

• Change the AP and the associated wireless clients to use another radio
channel if interference is high.

• Make sure that the computer and the AP share the same security option and
key. Verify the settings in the Profile Security Settings screen.

In Ad-Hoc (IBSS) Mode

• Verify that the peer computer(s) is turned on.

• Make sure the ZyXEL G-220F computer and the peer computer(s) are using
the same SSID and channel.

• Make sure that the computer and the peer computer(s) share the same
security settings.

• Change the wireless clients to use another radio channel if interference is high.

Verify that the computer with the ZyXEL G-220F installed is turned on.
Make sure the wireless station(s) uses the same SSID as the ZyXEL G-220F.
Make sure the wireless station(s) uses the same security settings.
Verify that the wireless station(s) is not blocked in the MAC Filter screen.

61 Chapter 6 Troubleshooting

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

Appendix A

Product Specifications

Table 23 Product Specifications

PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL

Product Name ZyXEL G-220F 802.11g Wireless USB Adapter

Interface USB 2.0 compatible

Standards IEEE 802.11b

IEEE 802.11g

Network Architectures Infrastructure

Ad-Hoc

Operating Frequencies 2.412-2.484GHz

Operating Channels IEEE 802.11b: 11 Channels (North America)

IEEE 802.11g: 11 Channels (North America)
IEEE 802.11b: 13 Channels (Europe)
IEEE 802.11g: 13 Channels (Europe)

Data Rate IEEE 802.11b: 11, 5.5, 2, 1Mbps

IEEE 802.11g: 54, 48, 36, 24, 18, 12, 9, 6 Mbps

Modulation IEEE 802.11g: Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (64QAM,

16QAM, QPSK and BPSK)
IEEE 802311b: PBCC, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (CCK,

DQPSK, DBPSK).

Security 64/128/256-bit WEP

Operating Temperature 0 ~ 50 degrees Centigrade

Storage Temperature -30 ~ 60 degrees Centigrade

Operating Humidity 20 ~ 95% (non-condensing)

Storage Humidity 20 ~ 95% (non-condensing)

Power IEEE 802.11g: TX: 450mA RX: 345mA

IEEE 802.11b: TX: 450mA RX: 345mA

Voltage 5V

Weight 25.8 g

Dimension (W) 95 mm × (D) 30 mm × (H) 16 mm

RADIO SPECIFICATIONS

Media Access Protocol IEEE 802.11

Frequency 2.4 ~ 2.484GHz (Industrial Scientific Medical Band)

Channels 1~11 Channels (USA, Canada)

1~13 Channels (Europe)

Data Rate IEEE 802.11g (OFDM): 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54 Mbps

IEEE 802.11b: 1, 2, 5.5, 11 Mbps

Appendix A 62

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

Table 23 Product Specifications (continued)

Modulation IEEE 802.11g: 54, 48, 36, 24, 18, 12, 9, 6 Mbps (OFDM)

Output Power 17 dBm (typical) at 11Mbps CCK, QPSK, BPSK

RX Sensitivity IEEE 802.11g (OFDM): 54 Mbps: < -72 dBm

SOFTWARE SPECIFICATIONS

Device Drivers Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows ME, Windows 2000,

Roaming IEEE 802.11b/g compliant

WEP Supports 64-bit, 128-bit and 256-bit WEP encryption

IEEE 802.11b: 11, 5.5 Mbps (CCK), 2 Mbps (DQPSK), 1 Mbps
(DBPSK)

15 dBm (typical) at 54Mbps OFDM

IEEE 802.11b (CCK): 11 Mbps: < -85 dBm

Windows XP

63 Appendix A

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

Appendix B

Access Point Mode Setup Example

This example uses the network sharing feature in Windows 2000 to bridge the wired and
wireless network when you set the ZyXEL G-220F in access point (AP) mode.

Refer to Chapter 4, “Access Point Mode Configuration,” on page 50 for setup methods and
requirements.

Steps may vary depending on your Windows version. You may need to install additional
software in Windows 98 Second Edition and Windows ME.

Configuring the Computer on Which You Install the ZyXEL G­220F

1 Refer to Section 1.7.1 “Change ZyXEL G-220F Mode” on page 23 to set the ZyXEL G-

220F to operate in AP mode.

2 Click Start, Settings, Network and Dial-up Connections (or click Start, Settings,

Control Panel and double-click Network and Dial-up Connections).

Figure 36 Windows 2000: Start

3 Right-click on the icon for your wired Ethernet adapter and click Properties.

Appendix B 64

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

Figure 37 Windows 2000: Network and Dial-up Connections

4 A Properties screen displays. Click the Sharing tab and select Enable Internet

Connection Sharing for this connection. Click OK.

Figure 38 Windows 2000: Network Properties

If there is more than one network adapter on the computer, select Enable Internet
Connection Sharing for this connection and select the network adapter to which you

want to share network access.

65 Appendix B

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

Figure 39 WIndows 2000: Network Properties: Select Network Adapter

5 A notice screen displays. Click Ye s .

Figure 40 Windows 2000: Local Network

Configuring the Wireless Station Computer

Refer to Appendix F, “Setting up Your Computer’s IP Address,” on page 90 for more
information on how to set up the wireless station computer(s) IP address.

Appendix B 66

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

67 Appendix B

APPENDIX C

Disable Windows XP Wireless LAN

Configuration Tool

Windows XP includes a configuration tool (also known as Wireless Zero Configuration
(WZC)) for wireless devices.

Follow the steps below to disable the configuration tool in Windows XP after you install the
ZyXEL Utility. The screen varies depending on the version of Windows XP service pack.

Via the Wireless Network System Tray Icon

If the network icon for wireless connections is not present in the system tray, see the next
section.

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

1 Double-click the network icon for wireless connections in the system tray.

Figure 41 Windows XP: System Tray Icon

2 Windows XP SP1: When a Wireless Network Connection window displays, click

Advanced….

Appendix C 68

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Figure 42 Windows XP SP1: Wireless Network Connection

Windows XP SP2: When a Wireless Network Connection window displays, click
Change advanced settings under Related Tasks and then the Wireless Networks tab.

Figure 43 Windows XP SP2: Wireless Network Connection

3 In the Wireless Network Connection Properties window, make sure the Use Windows

to configure my wireless network settings check box is not selected. Click OK.

69 Appendix C

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Figure 44 Windows XP SP1: Wireless Network Connection Properties

Figure 45 Windows XP SP2: Wireless Network Connection Properties

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Via the Control Panel

1 If the icon for the wireless network connection is not in the system tray, click Start,

Control Panel and double-click Network Connections.

2 Double-click on the icon for wireless network connection to display a status window as

shown below.

3 Click Properties and click the Wireless Networks tab.

Figure 46 Windows XP SP1: Wireless Network Connection Status

Figure 47 Windows XP SP2: Wireless Network Connection Status

71 Appendix C

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4 In the Wireless Network Connection Properties window, make sure the Use Windows

to configure my wireless network settings check box is not selected. Click OK.

Figure 48 Windows XP SP1: Wireless Network Connection Properties

Figure 49 Windows XP SP2: Wireless Network Connection Properties

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73 Appendix C

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APPENDIX D

Management with Wireless Zero

Configuration

This appendix shows you how to manage your G-220F using the Windows XP wireless zero
configuration tool.

Be sure you have the Windows XP service pack 2 installed on your computer. Otherwise, you
should at least have the Windows XP service pack 1 already on your computer and download
the support patch for WPA from the Microsoft web site.

Windows XP SP2 screen shots are shown unless otherwise specified. Click the help icon ( )
in most screens, move the cursor to the item that you want the information about and click to
view the help.

Activating Wireless Zero Configuration

Make sure the Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings check box is
selected in the Wireless Network Connection Properties screen. Refer to

page 68.

If you see the following screen, refer to article 871122 on the Microsoft web site for
information on starting WZC.

Figure 50 Windows XP SP2: WZC Not Available

Appendix C on

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Connecting to a Wireless Network

1 Double-click the network icon for wireless connections in the system tray to open the

Wireless Network Connection Status screen.

Figure 51 Windows XP SP2: System Tray Icon

The type of the wireless network icon in Windows XP SP2 indicates the status of the ZyXEL
G-220F. Refer to the following table for details.

Table 24 Windows XP SP2: System Tray Icon

ICON DESCRIPTION

The ZyXEL G-220F is connected to a wireless network.

The ZyXEL G-220F is in the process of connecting to a wireless network.

The connection to a wireless network is limited because the network did not assign a
network address to the computer.

The ZyXEL G-220F is not connected to a wireless network.

2 Windows XP SP2: In the Wireless Network Connection Status screen, click View

Wireless Networks to open the Wireless Network Connection screen.

Figure 52 Windows XP SP2: Wireless Network Connection Status

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Windows XP SP1: In the Wireless Network Connection Status screen, click Properties
and the Wireless Networks tab to open the Wireless Network Connection Properties
screen.

Figure 53 Windows XP SP1: Wireless Network Connection Status

3 Windows XP SP2: Click Refresh network list to reload and search for available wireless

devices within transmission range. Select a wireless network in the list and click Connect
to join the selected wireless network.

Figure 54 Windows XP SP2: Wireless Network Connection

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The following table describes the icons in the wireless network list.

Table 25 Windows XP SP2: Wireless Network Connection

ICON DESCRIPTION

This denotes that wireless security is activated for the wireless network.

This denotes that this wireless network is your preferred network. Ordering your preferred
networks is important because the ZyXEL G-220F tries to associate to the preferred
network first in the order that you specify. Refer to the section on ordering the preferred
networks for detailed information.

This denotes the signal strength of the wireless network.
Move your cursor to the icon to see details on the signal strength.

Windows XP SP1: Click Refresh to reload and search for available wireless devices
within transmission range. Select a wireless network in the Available networks list, click
Configure and set the related fields to the same security settings as the associated AP to
add the selected network into the Preferred networks table. Click OK to join the selected
wireless network. Refer to the section on security settings (discussed later) for more
information.

Figure 55 Windows XP SP1: Wireless Network Connection Properties

4 4.Windows XP SP2: If the wireless security is activated for the selected wireless network,

the Wireless Network Connection screen displays. You must set the related fields in the
Wireless Network Connection screen to the same security settings as the associated AP

and click Connect. Refer to the section about security settings for more information.
Otherwise click Cancel and connect to another wireless network without data encryption.

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If there is no security activated for the selected wireless network, a warning screen
appears. Click Connect Anyway if wireless security is not your concern.

Figure 56 Windows XP SP2: Wireless Network Connection: WEP or WPA-PSK

Figure 57 Windows XP SP2: Wireless Network Connection: No Security

5 Verify that you have successfully connected to the selected network and check the

connection status in the wireless network list or the connection icon in the Preferred
networks or Available networks list.

The following table describes the connection icons.

Table 26 Windows XP: Wireless Networks

ICON DESCRIPTION

This denotes the wireless network is an available wireless network.

This denotes the ZyXEL G-220F is associated to the wireless network.

This denotes the wireless network is not available.

Security Settings

When you configure the ZyXEL G-220F to connect to a secure network but the security
settings are not yet enabled on the ZyXEL G-220F, you will see different screens according to
the authentication and encryption methods used by the selected network.

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Association

Select a network in the Preferred networks list and click Properties to view or configure
security.

Figure 58 Windows XP: Wireless (network) properties: Association

The following table describes the labels in this screen.

Table 27 Windows XP: Wireless (network) properties: Association

LABEL DESCRIPTION

Network name
(SSID)

Network
Authentication

Data Encryption This field automatically shows the encryption type (TKIP, WEP or Disable) used

Network Key Enter the pre-shared key or WEP key.

Confirm network
key

Key index
(advanced)

The key is
provided for me
automatically

This field displays the SSID (Service Set IDentifier) of each wireless network.

This field automatically shows the authentication method (Share, Open, WPA or
WPA-PSK) used by the selected network.

by the selected network.

The values for the keys must be set up exactly the same on all wireless devices in
the same wireless LAN.

Enter the key again for confirmation.

Select a default WEP key to use for data encryption.
This field is available only when the network use WEP encryption method and the

The key is provided for me automatically check box is not selected.

If this check box is selected, the wireless AP assigns the ZyXEL G-220F a key.

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Table 27 Windows XP: Wireless (network) properties: Association (continued)

LABEL DESCRIPTION

This is a
computer-to­computer (ad hoc)
network; wireless
access points are
not used

OK Click OK to save your changes.

Cancel Click Cancel to leave this screen without saving any changes you may have made.

Authentication

Click the Authentication tab in the Wireless (network) properties screen to display the
screen shown next. The fields on this screen are grayed out when the network is in Ad-Hoc
mode or data encryption is disabled.

Figure 59 Windows XP: Wireless (network) properties: Authentication

If this check box is selected, you are connecting to another computer directly.

The following table describes the labels in this screen.

Table 28 Windows XP: Wireless (network) properties: Authentication

LABEL DESCRIPTION

Enable IEEE

802.1x
authentication for
this network

EAP Type Select the type of EAP authentication. Options are Protected EAP (PEAP) and

Properties Click this button to open the properties screen and configure certificates. The

Appendix D 80

This field displays whether the IEEE 802.1x authentication is active.
If the network authentication is set to Open in the previous screen, you can choose

to disable or enable this feature.

Smart Card or other Certificate.

screen varies depending on what you select in the EAP type field.

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

Table 28 Windows XP: Wireless (network) properties: Authentication (continued)

LABEL DESCRIPTION

Authenticate as
computer when
computer
information is
available

Authenticate as
guest when user
or computer
information is
unavailable

OK Click OK to save your changes.

Cancel Click Cancel to leave this screen without saving any changes you may have made.

Select this check box to have the computer send its information to the network for
authentication when a user is not logged on.

Select this check box to have the computer access to the network as a guest when
a user is not logged on or computer information is not available.

Authentication Properties

Select an EAP authentication type in the Wireless (network) properties: Authentication
screen and click the Properties button to display the following screen.

Protected EAP Properties

Figure 60 Windows XP: Protected EAP Properties

81 Appendix D

The following table describes the labels in this screen.

Table 29 Windows XP: Protected EAP Properties

LABEL DESCRIPTION

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

Validate server
certificate

Connect to these
servers

Trusted Root
Certification
Authorities:

Select the check box to verify the certificate of the authentication server.

Select the check box and specify a domain in the field below to have your
computer connect to a server which resides only within this domain.

Select a trusted certification authority from the list below.

Note: You must first have a wired connection to a network and

obtain the certificate(s) from a certificate authority (CA).
Consult your network administrator for more information.

Do not prompt
user to authorize
new server or
trusted
certification
authorities.

Select
Authentication
Method:

Enable Fast
Reconnect

OK Click OK to save your changes.

Cancel Click Cancel to leave this screen without saving any changes you may have made.

Select this check box to verify a new authentication server or trusted CA without
prompting.

This field is available only if you installed the Windows XP server pack 2.

Select an authentication method from the drop-down list box and click Configure
to do settings.

Select the check box to automatically reconnect to the network (without re­authentication) if the wireless connection goes down.

Smart Card or other Certificate Properties

Figure 61 Windows XP: Smart Card or other Certificate Properties

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The following table describes the labels in this screen.

Table 30 Windows XP: Smart Card or other Certificate Properties

LABEL DESCRIPTION

Use my smart card Select this check box to use the smart card for authentication.

Use a certificate
on this computer

Validate server
certificate

Connect to these
servers

Trusted Root
Certification
Authorities:

View Certificate Click this button if you want to verify the selected certificate.

Use a different
user name for the
connection:

OK Click OK to save your changes.

Cancel Click Cancel to leave this screen without saving any changes you may have made.

Select this check box to use a certificate on your computer for authentication.

Select the check box to check the certificate of the authentication server.

Select the check box and specify a domain in the field below to have your
computer connect to a server which resides only within this domain.

Select a trusted certification authority from the list below.

Note: You must first have a wired connection to a network and

obtain the certificate(s) from a certificate authority (CA).
Consult your network administrator for more information.

Select the check box to use a different user name when the user name in the smart
card or certificate is not the same as the user name in the domain that you are
logged on to.

Ordering the Preferred Networks

Follow the steps below to manage your preferred networks.

1 Windows XP SP2: Click Change the order of preferred networks in the Wireless

Network Connection screen (see

Figure 54 on page 76). The screen displays as shown.

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Figure 62 Windows XP SP2: Wireless Networks: Preferred Networks

Windows XP SP1: In the Wireless Network Connection Status screen, click Properties
and the Wireless Networks tab to open the screen as shown.

Figure 63 Windows XP SP1: Wireless Networks: Preferred Networks

2 Whenever the ZyXEL G-220F tries to connect to a new network, the new network is

added in the Preferred networks table automatically. Select a network and click Move
up or Move down to change it's order, click Remove to delete it or click Properties to

view the security, authentication or connection information of the selected network. Click
Add to add a preferred network into the list manually.

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85 Appendix D

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Appendix E

Types of EAP Authentication

This appendix discusses some popular authentication types: EAP-MD5, EAP-TLS, EAP­TTLS, PEAP and LEAP.

The type of authentication you use depends on the RADIUS server or the AP (consult your
network administrator for more information). Your wireless LAN device may not support all
authentication types.

EAP-MD5 (Message-Digest Algorithm 5)

MD5 authentication is the simplest one-way authentication method. The authentication server
sends a challenge to the wireless station. The wireless station ‘proves’ that it knows the
password by encrypting the password with the challenge and sends back the information.
Password is not sent in plain text.

However, MD5 authentication has some weaknesses. Since the authentication server needs to
get the plaintext passwords, the passwords must be stored. Thus someone other than the
authentication server may access the password file. In addition, it is possible to impersonate an
authentication server as MD5 authentication method does not perform mutual authentication.
Finally, MD5 authentication method does not support data encryption with dynamic session
key. You must configure WEP encryption keys for data encryption.

EAP-TLS (Transport Layer Security)

With EAP-TLS, digital certifications are needed by both the server and the wireless stations
for mutual authentication. The server presents a certificate to the client. After validating the
identity of the server, the client sends a different certificate to the server. The exchange of
certificates is done in the open before a secured tunnel is created. This makes user identity
vulnerable to passive attacks. A digital certificate is an electronic ID card that authenticates the
sender’s identity. However, to implement EAP-TLS, you need a Certificate Authority (CA) to
handle certificates, which imposes a management overhead.

EAP-TTLS (Tunneled Transport Layer Service)

EAP-TTLS is an extension of the EAP-TLS authentication that uses certificates for only the
server-side authentications to establish a secure connection. Client authentication is then done
by sending username and password through the secure connection, thus client identity is
protected. For client authentication, EAP-TTLS supports EAP methods and legacy
authentication methods such as PAP, CHAP, MS-CHAP and MS-CHAP v2.

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PEAP (Protected EAP)

Like EAP-TTLS, server-side certificate authentication is used to establish a secure connection,
then use simple username and password methods through the secured connection to
authenticate the clients, thus hiding client identity. However, PEAP only supports EAP
methods, such as EAP-MD5, EAP-MSCHAPv2 and EAP-GTC (EAP-Generic Token Card),
for client authentication. EAP-GTC is implemented only by Cisco.

LEAP

LEAP (Lightweight Extensible Authentication Protocol) is a Cisco implementation of IEEE

802.1x.

Dynamic WEP Key Exchange

The AP maps a unique key that is generated with the RADIUS server. This key expires when
the wireless connection times out, disconnects or reauthentication times out. A new WEP key
is generated each time reauthentication is performed.

If this feature is enabled, it is not necessary to configure a default encryption key in the
Wireless screen. You may still configure and store keys here, but they will not be used while
Dynamic WEP is enabled.

Note: EAP-MD5 cannot be used with Dynamic WEP Key Exchange

For added security, certificate-based authentications (EAP-TLS, EAP-TTLS and PEAP) use
dynamic keys for data encryption. They are often deployed in corporate environments, but for
public deployment, a simple user name and password pair is more practical. The following
table is a comparison of the features of authentication types.

Table 31 Comparison of EAP Authentication Types

EAP-MD5 EAP-TLS EAP-TTLS PEAP LEAP

Mutual Authentication No Ye s Ye s Yes Yes

Certificate – Client No Ye s Optional Optional No

Certificate – Server No Ye s Yes Yes No

Dynamic Key Exchange No Ye s Yes Yes Ye s

Credential Integrity None Strong Strong Strong Moderate

Deployment Difficulty Easy Hard Moderate Moderate Moderate

Client Identity Protection No No Ye s Yes No

87 Appendix E

WPA

ZyXEL G-220F User’ Guide

User Authentication

WPA applies IEEE 802.1x and Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) to authenticate
wireless stations using an external RADIUS database.

Encryption

WPA improves data encryption by using Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) or
Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), Message Integrity Check (MIC) and IEEE 802.1x.

TKIP uses 128-bit keys that are dynamically generated and distributed by the authentication
server. It includes a per-packet key mixing function, a Message Integrity Check (MIC) named
Michael, an extended initialization vector (IV) with sequencing rules, and a re-keying
mechanism.

TKIP regularly changes and rotates the encryption keys so that the same encryption key is
never used twice.

The RADIUS server distributes a Pairwise Master Key (PMK) key to the AP that then sets up
a key hierarchy and management system, using the PMK to dynamically generate unique data
encryption keys to encrypt every data packet that is wirelessly communicated between the AP
and the wireless stations. This all happens in the background automatically.

AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) also uses a secret key. This implementation of AES
applies a 128-bit key to 128-bit blocks of data.

The Message Integrity Check (MIC) is designed to prevent an attacker from capturing data
packets, altering them and resending them. The MIC provides a strong mathematical function
in which the receiver and the transmitter each compute and then compare the MIC. If they do
not match, it is assumed that the data has been tampered with and the packet is dropped.

By generating unique data encryption keys for every data packet and by creating an integrity
checking mechanism (MIC), TKIP makes it much more difficult to decrypt data on a Wi-Fi
network than WEP, making it difficult for an intruder to break into the network.

The encryption mechanisms used for WPA and WPA-PSK are the same. The only difference
between the two is that WPA-PSK uses a simple common password, instead of user-specific
credentials. The common-password approach makes WPA-PSK susceptible to brute-force
password-guessing attacks but it’s still an improvement over WEP as it employs an easier-to­use, consistent, single, alphanumeric password.

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Security Parameters Summary

Refer to this table to see what other security parameters you should configure for each
Authentication Method/ key management protocol type. MAC address filters are not
dependent on how you configure these security features.

Table 32 Wireless Security Relational Matrix

AUTHENTICATION
METHOD/ KEY
MANAGEMENT PROTOCOL

Open None No No

Open WEP No Enable with Dynamic WEP Key

Shared WEP No Enable with Dynamic WEP Key

WPA WEP No Yes

WPA TKIP No Yes

WPA-PSK WEP Yes Yes

WPA-PSK TKIP Yes Yes

ENCRYPTION
METHOD

ENTER
MANUAL KEY

Yes Enable without Dynamic WEP Key

Yes Disable

Yes Enable without Dynamic WEP Key

Yes Disable

ENABLE IEEE 802.1X

89 Appendix E

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Appendix F

Setting up Your Computer’s IP Address

All computers must have a 10M or 100M Ethernet adapter card and TCP/IP installed.

Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP, Macintosh OS 7 and later operating systems and all versions
of UNIX/LINUX include the software components you need to install and use TCP/IP on your
computer. Windows 3.1 requires the purchase of a third-party TCP/IP application package.

TCP/IP should already be installed on computers using Windows NT/2000/XP, Macintosh OS
7 and later operating systems.

After the appropriate TCP/IP components are installed, configure the TCP/IP settings in order
to "communicate" with your network.

If you manually assign IP information instead of using dynamic assignment, make sure that
your computers have IP addresses that place them in the same subnet as the ZyXEL G-220F’s
LAN port.

Windows 95/98/Me

Click Start, Settings, Control Panel and double-click the Network icon to open the Network
window

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Figure 64 WIndows 95/98/Me: Network: Configuration

Installing Components

The Network window Configuration tab displays a list of installed components. You need a
network adapter, the TCP/IP protocol and Client for Microsoft Networks.

If you need the adapter:

1 In the Network window, click Add.

2 Select Adapter and then click Add.

3 Select the manufacturer and model of your network adapter and then click OK.

If you need TCP/IP:

1 In the Network window, click Add.

2 Select Protocol and then click Add.

3 Select Microsoft from the list of manufacturers.

4 Select TCP/IP from the list of network protocols and then click OK.

If you need Client for Microsoft Networks:

1 Click Add.

2 Select Client and then click Add.

91 Appendix F

3 Select Microsoft from the list of manufacturers.

4 Select Client for Microsoft Networks from the list of network clients and then click

5 Restart your computer so the changes you made take effect.

Configuring

1 In the Network window Configuration tab, select your network adapter's TCP/IP entry

2 Click the IP Address tab.

Figure 65 Windows 95/98/Me: TCP/IP Properties: IP Address

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

OK.

and click Properties

• If your IP address is dynamic, select Obtain an IP address
automatically.

• If you have a static IP address, select Specify an IP address and type
your information into the IP Address and Subnet Mask fields.

3 Click the DNS Configuration tab.

• If you do not know your DNS information, select Disable DNS.

• If you know your DNS information, select Enable DNS and type the
information in the fields below (you may not need to fill them all in).

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Figure 66 Windows 95/98/Me: TCP/IP Properties: DNS Configuration

4 Click the Gateway tab.

• If you do not know your gateway’s IP address, remove previously

• If you have a gateway IP address, type it in the New gateway field

5 Click OK to save and close the TCP/IP Properties window.

6 Click OK to close the Network window. Insert the Windows CD if prompted.

7 Turn on your ZyXEL G-220F and restart your computer when prompted.

Verifying Settings

1 Click Start and then Run.

2 In the Run window, type "winipcfg" and then click OK to open the IP Configuration

window.

3 Select your network adapter. You should see your computer's IP address, subnet mask and

default gateway.

Windows 2000/NT/XP

installed gateways.

and click Add.

1 For Windows XP, click start, Control Panel. In Windows 2000/NT, click Start,

Settings, Control Panel.

93 Appendix F

Figure 67 Windows XP: Start Menu

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

2 For Windows XP, click Network Connections. For Windows 2000/NT, click Network

and Dial-up Connections.

Figure 68 Windows XP: Control Panel

3 Right-click Local Area Connection and then click Properties.

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Figure 69 Windows XP: Control Panel: Network Connections: Properties

4 Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) (under the General tab in Win XP) and click

Properties.

Figure 70 Windows XP: Local Area Connection Properties

5 The Internet Protocol TCP/IP Properties window opens (the General tab in Windows

XP).

• If you have a dynamic IP address click Obtain an IP address
automatically.

95 Appendix F

• If you have a static IP address click Use the following IP Address
and fill in the IP address, Subnet mask, and Default gateway fields.
Click Advanced.

Figure 71 Windows XP: Advanced TCP/IP Settings

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

6 If you do not know your gateway's IP address, remove any previously installed gateways

in the IP Settings tab and click OK.

Do one or more of the following if you want to configure additional IP addresses:

•In the IP Settings tab, in IP addresses, click Add.

•In TCP/IP Address, type an IP address in IP address and a subnet
mask in Subnet mask, and then click Add.

• Repeat the above two steps for each IP address you want to add.

• Configure additional default gateways in the IP Settings tab by
clicking Add in Default gateways.

•In TCP/IP Gateway Address, type the IP address of the default
gateway in Gateway. To manually configure a default metric (the
number of transmission hops), clear the Automatic metric check box
and type a metric in Metric.

• Click Add.

• Repeat the previous three steps for each default gateway you want to
add.

• Click OK when finished.

7 In the Internet Protocol TCP/IP Properties window (the General tab in Windows XP):

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Figure 72 Windows XP: Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties

• Click Obtain DNS server address automatically if you do not know
your DNS server IP address(es).

• If you know your DNS server IP address(es), click Use the following
DNS server addresses, and type them in the Preferred DNS server
and Alternate DNS server fields.

If you have previously configured DNS servers, click Advanced and
then the DNS tab to order them.

8 Click OK to close the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties window.

9 Click OK to close the Local Area Connection Properties window.

10Turn on your ZyXEL G-220F and restart your computer (if prompted).

Verifying Settings

1 Click Start, All Programs, Accessories and then Command Prompt.

2 In the Command Prompt window, type "ipconfig" and then press [ENTER]. You can

also open Network Connections, right-click a network connection, click Status and then
click the Support tab.

Macintosh OS 8/9

1 Click the Apple menu, Control Panel and double-click TCP/IP to open the TCP/IP

Control Panel.

97 Appendix F

Figure 73 Macintosh OS 8/9: Apple Menu

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

2 Select Ethernet built-in from the Connect via list.

Figure 74 Macintosh OS 8/9: TCP/IP

3 For dynamically assigned settings, select Using DHCP Server from the Configure: list.

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4 For statically assigned settings, do the following:

5 Close the TCP/IP Control Panel.

6 Click Save if prompted, to save changes to your configuration.

7 Turn on your ZyXEL G-220F and restart your computer (if prompted).

Verifying Settings

Check your TCP/IP properties in the TCP/IP Control Panel window.

Macintosh OS X

•From the Configure box, select Manually.

• Type your IP address in the IP Address box.

• Type your subnet mask in the Subnet mask box.

• Type the IP address of your ZyXEL G-220F in the Router address
box.

1 Click the Apple menu, and click System Preferences to open the System Preferences

window.

Figure 75 Macintosh OS X: Apple Menu

2 Click Network in the icon bar.

• Select Automatic from the Location list.

• Select Built-in Ethernet from the Show list.

• Click the TCP/IP tab.

3 For dynamically assigned settings, select Using DHCP from the Configure list.

99 Appendix F

Figure 76 Macintosh OS X: Network

ZyXEL G-220F User’s Guide

4 For statically assigned settings, do the following:

5 Click Apply Now and close the window.

6 Turn on your ZyXEL G-220F and restart your computer (if prompted).

Verifying Settings

Check your TCP/IP properties in the Network window.

•From the Configure box, select Manually.

• Type your IP address in the IP Address box.

• Type your subnet mask in the Subnet mask box.

• Type the IP address of your ZyXEL G-220F in the Router address
box.

Appendix F 100