ZyXEL Communications NWD-370N User Manual

NWD-370N

Draft 802.11n Wireless PCI Adapter

User’s Guide

Version 1.00

Edition 1

10/2006

ZyXEL NWD-370N User’s Guide

Copyright

Copyright © 2006 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 3

ZyXEL NWD-370N 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 device has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device
pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This device generates,
uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy, and if not installed and used in accordance with
the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is
no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation.

Certifications

If this device does cause harmful interference to radio/television reception, which can be
determined by turning the device 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.

FCC Radiation Exposure Statement

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

• For operation within 5.15 ~ 5.25GHz frequency range, it is restricted to indoor
environment.

• IEEE 802.11b or 802.11g operation of this product in the U.S.A. is firmware-limited to
channels 1 through 11.

• To comply with FCC RF exposure compliance requirements, a separation distance of at
least 20 cm must be maintained between the antenna of this device and all persons.

注意 !

4 Certifications

ZyXEL NWD-370N 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。

Notices

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

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

This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.

Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est conforme à la norme NMB-003 du Canada.

Viewing Certifications

1 Go to http://www.zyxel.com.

2 Select your product on the ZyXEL home page to go to that product's page.

3 Select the certification you wish to view from this page.

Certifications 5

ZyXEL NWD-370N User’s Guide

For your safety, be sure to read and follow all warning notices and instructions.

• Do NOT use this product near water, for example, in a wet basement or near a swimming
pool.

• Do NOT expose your device to dampness, dust or corrosive liquids.

• Do NOT store things on the device.

• Do NOT install, use, or service this device during a thunderstorm. There is a remote risk
of electric shock from lightning.

• Connect ONLY suitable accessories to the device.

• Do NOT open the device or unit. Opening or removing covers can expose you to
dangerous high voltage points or other risks. ONLY qualified service personnel should
service or disassemble this device. Please contact your vendor for further information.

• Use only No. 26 AWG (American Wire Gauge) or larger telecommunication line cord.

• Antenna Warning! This device meets ETSI and FCC certification requirements when
using the included antenna(s). Only use the included antenna(s).

Safety Warnings

This product is recyclable. Dispose of it properly.

6 Safety Warnings

ZyXEL NWD-370N User’s Guide

ZyXEL Limited Warranty

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 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 or higher value, and will be solely at the discretion of ZyXEL. This warranty
shall not apply if the product has been 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 to the purchaser.

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.

Registration

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.

ZyXEL Limited Warranty 7

ZyXEL NWD-370N User’s Guide

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.

Customer Support

METHOD

LOCATION

CORPORATE
HEADQUARTERS
(WORLDWIDE)

COSTA RICA

CZECH REPUBLIC

DENMARK

FINLAND

FRANCE

GERMANY

HUNGARY

KAZAKHSTAN

NORTH AMERICA

SUPPORT E-MAIL TELEPHONE WEB SITE

SALES E-MAIL FAX FTP SITE

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

www.europe.zyxel.com

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

ftp.europe.zyxel.com

[e-mail] [phone] www.zyxel.co.cr ZyXEL Costa Rica

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

[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]

[e-mail] [phone] www.zyxel.fr ZyXEL France

[phone]

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

[e-mail] [phone]

[e-mail] [phone] www.zyxel.hu ZyXEL Hungary

[e-mail] [phone]

http://zyxel.kz/support [phone] www.zyxel.kz ZyXEL Kazakhstan

[e-mail] [phone]

[e-mail] 1-800-255-4101

[phone]

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

www.us.zyxel.com ZyXEL Communications Inc.

REGULAR MAIL

ZyXEL Communications Corp.
6 Innovation Road II

Science Park
Hsinchu 300
Ta iw a n

Plaza Roble Escazú
Etapa El Patio, Tercer Piso
San José, Costa Rica

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

Columbusvej
2860 Soeborg
Denmark

Malminkaari 10
00700 Helsinki
Finland

1 rue des Vergers
Bat. 1 / C
69760 Limonest
France

Adenauerstr. 20/A2 D-52146
Wuerselen
Germany

48, Zoldlomb Str.
H-1025, Budapest
Hungary

43, Dostyk ave.,Office 414
Dostyk Business Centre
050010, Almaty
Republic of Kazakhstan

1130 N. Miller St.
Anaheim
CA 92806-2001
U.S.A.

8 Customer Support

ZyXEL NWD-370N User’s Guide

METHOD

LOCATION

NORWAY

POLAND

RUSSIA

SPAIN

SWEDEN

UKRAINE

UNITED KINGDOM

SUPPORT E-MAIL TELEPHONE WEB SITE

SALES E-MAIL FAX FTP SITE

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

[e-mail] [phone]

[e-mail] [phone] www.pl.zyxel.com ZyXEL Communications

[phone]

http://zyxel.ru/support [phone] www.zyxel.ru ZyXEL Russia

[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]

[e-mail] [phone] www.ua.zyxel.com ZyXEL Ukraine

[e-mail] [phone]

[e-mail] [phone]

08707 555779 (UK only)

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

www.zyxel.co.uk ZyXEL Communications UK

REGULAR MAIL

Nils Hansens vei 13
0667 Oslo
Norway

ul. Okrzei 1A
03-715 Warszawa
Poland

Ostrovityanova 37a Str.
Moscow, 117279
Russia

Arte, 21 5ª planta
28033 Madrid
Spain

Sjöporten 4, 41764 Göteborg
Sweden

13, Pimonenko Str.
Kiev, 04050
Ukraine

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

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

Customer Support 9

ZyXEL NWD-370N User’s Guide

10 Customer Support

ZyXEL NWD-370N User’s Guide

Table of Contents

Copyright ..................................................................................................................3

Certifications ............................................................................................................4

Safety Warnings ....................................................................................................... 6

ZyXEL Limited Warranty.......................................................................................... 7

Customer Support.................................................................................................... 8

Table of Contents ................................................................................................... 11

List of Figures ........................................................................................................ 13

List of Tables .......................................................................................................... 15

Preface ....................................................................................................................17

Chapter 1

Getting Started ....................................................................................................... 19

1.1 About Your NWD-370N ....................................................................................19

1.2 Application Overview ..........................................................................................20

1.2.0.1 Infrastructure ...................................................................................20

1.2.0.2 Ad-Hoc ............................................................................................21

1.3 NWD-370N Hardware and Utility Installation .....................................................22

1.3.1 ZyXEL Utility Icon .....................................................................................22

1.4 Configuration Methods ......................................................................................22

1.4.1 Enabling WZC ...........................................................................................22

1.4.2 Accessing the ZyXEL Utility .....................................................................23

Chapter 2

Tutorial .................................................................................................................... 25

2.1 Connecting to a Wireless LAN ..........................................................................25

2.2 Creating and Using a Profile ..............................................................................27

Chapter 3

Wireless LAN Network........................................................................................... 31

3.1 Wireless LAN Overview ....................................................................................31

3.2 Wireless LAN Security ......................................................................................32

3.2.1 User Authentication and Encryption .........................................................32

3.2.1.1 WEP ................................................................................................32

Table of Contents 11

ZyXEL NWD-370N User’s Guide

3.2.1.2 IEEE 802.1x ....................................................................................33

3.2.1.3 WPA and WPA2 ..............................................................................33

Chapter 4

Wireless Configuration.......................................................................................... 35

4.1 ZyXEL Utility Screen Summary .........................................................................35

4.2 The Link Info Screen ..........................................................................................35

4.2.1 Trend Chart ...............................................................................................37

4.3 The Site Survey Screen ....................................................................................37

4.3.1 Security Settings ......................................................................................39

4.3.1.1 WEP Encryption ..............................................................................39

4.3.1.2 WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK .....................................................................40

4.3.1.3 WPA/WPA2 .....................................................................................41

4.3.1.4 IEEE 802.1x ....................................................................................42

4.3.2 Confirm Save Screen ................................................................................43

4.4 The Profile Screen .............................................................................................44

4.4.1 Adding a New Profile ................................................................................46

4.5 The Adapter Screen ...........................................................................................50

Chapter 5

Maintenance ........................................................................................................... 53

5.1 The About Screen .............................................................................................53

5.2 Uninstalling the ZyXEL Utility ............................................................................53

5.3 Upgrading the ZyXEL Utility ..............................................................................54

Chapter 6

Troubleshooting .................................................................................................. 55

6.1 Problems Starting the ZyXEL Utility ...................................................................55

6.2 Problems with the Link Quality ...........................................................................55

6.3 Problems Communicating With Other Computers .............................................56

Appendix A

Product Specifications .......................................................................................... 57

Appendix B

Management with Wireless Zero Configuration.................................................. 59

Appendix C

Wireless Security ................................................................................................... 71

Appendix D

Setting up Your Computer’s IP Address.............................................................. 77

Index........................................................................................................................ 85

12 Table of Contents

ZyXEL NWD-370N User’s Guide

List of Figures

Figure 1 The NWD-370N ....................................................................................... 19

Figure 2 Application: Infrastructure ....................................................................... 21

Figure 3 Application: Ad-Hoc ................................................................................ 21

Figure 4 ZyXEL Utility: System Tray Icon .............................................................. 22

Figure 5 Enable WZC ............................................................................................. 23

Figure 6 Infrastructure Network .............................................................................. 25

Figure 7 ZyXEL Utility: Site Survey ........................................................................ 26

Figure 8 ZyXEL Utility: Security Settings .............................................................. 26

Figure 9 ZyXEL Utility: Confirm Save ..................................................................... 27

Figure 10 ZyXEL Utility: Link Info .......................................................................... 27

Figure 11 ZyXEL Utility: Profile .............................................................................. 28

Figure 12 ZyXEL Utility: Add New Profile ............................................................... 28

Figure 13 ZyXEL Utility: Profile Security ................................................................ 29

Figure 14 ZyXEL Utility: Profile Encryption ............................................................ 29

Figure 15 ZyXEL Utility: Profile Confirm Save ....................................................... 29

Figure 16 ZyXEL Utility: Profile Activate ................................................................ 30

Figure 17 Example of a Wireless Network ............................................................. 31

Figure 18 ZyXEL Utility Menu Summary ............................................................... 35

Figure 19 Link Info ................................................................................................ 36

Figure 20 Link Info: Trend Chart ........................................................................... 37

Figure 21 Site Survey ............................................................................................ 38

Figure 22 Security Setting: WEP .......................................................................... 39

Figure 23 Security Setting: WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK ................................................ 40

Figure 24 Security Settings: WPA/WPA2 ............................................................... 41

Figure 25 Security Setting: 802.1x ........................................................................ 42

Figure 26 Confirm Save Screen ............................................................................ 44

Figure 27 Profile ................................................................................................... 45

Figure 28 Profile: Add a New Profile ..................................................................... 46

Figure 29 Profile: Wireless Settings ...................................................................... 47

Figure 30 Profile: Wireless Settings ...................................................................... 48

Figure 31 Profile: Security Settings ....................................................................... 49

Figure 32 Profile: Confirm New Settings ............................................................... 49

Figure 33 Profile: Activate the Profile .................................................................... 50

Figure 34 Adapter ................................................................................................. 50

Figure 35 About ..................................................................................................... 53

Figure 36 Uninstall: Confirm ................................................................................. 54

Figure 37 Uninstall: Finish ..................................................................................... 54

Figure 38 Windows XP SP2: WZC Not Available .................................................. 59

List of Figures 13

ZyXEL NWD-370N User’s Guide

Figure 39 Windows XP SP2: System Tray Icon ..................................................... 60

Figure 40 Windows XP SP2: Wireless Network Connection Status ....................... 60

Figure 41 Windows XP SP1: Wireless Network Connection Status ....................... 61

Figure 42 Windows XP SP2: Wireless Network Connection .................................. 61

Figure 43 Windows XP SP1: Wireless Network Connection Properties ................ 62

Figure 44 Windows XP SP2: Wireless Network Connection: WEP or WPA-PSK .. 63

Figure 45 Windows XP SP2: Wireless Network Connection: No Security ............. 63

Figure 46 Windows XP: Wireless (network) properties: Association ..................... 64

Figure 47 Windows XP: Wireless (network) properties: Authentication ................. 65

Figure 48 Windows XP: Protected EAP Properties ................................................ 66

Figure 49 Windows XP: Smart Card or other Certificate Properties ...................... 67

Figure 50 Windows XP SP2: Wireless Networks: Preferred Networks .................. 68

Figure 51 Windows XP SP1: Wireless Networks: Preferred Networks .................. 69

Figure 52 WPA-PSK Authentication ....................................................................... 75

Figure 53 WPA(2) with RADIUS Application Example ........................................... 76

Figure 54 WIndows 98/Me: Network: Configuration ............................................... 78

Figure 55 Windows 98/Me: TCP/IP Properties: IP Address ................................... 79

Figure 56 Windows 98/Me: TCP/IP Properties: DNS Configuration ...................... 80

Figure 57 Windows XP: Start Menu ....................................................................... 81

Figure 58 Windows XP: Control Panel ................................................................... 81

Figure 59 Windows XP: Control Panel: Network Connections: Properties ............ 82

Figure 60 Windows XP: Local Area Connection Properties ................................... 82

Figure 61 Windows XP: Advanced TCP/IP Settings .............................................. 83

Figure 62 Windows XP: Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties .............................. 84

14 List of Figures

ZyXEL NWD-370N User’s Guide

List of Tables

Table 1 External View ............................................................................................ 20

Table 2 NWD-370N LEDs ..................................................................................... 20

Table 3 ZyXEL Utility: System Tray Icon ............................................................... 22

Table 4 ZyXEL Utility Menu Summary ................................................................... 35

Table 5 Link Info .................................................................................................... 36

Table 6 Link Info: Trend Chart ............................................................................... 37

Table 7 Site Survey ............................................................................................... 38

Table 8 Security Setting: WEP .............................................................................. 39

Table 9 Security Setting: WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK ................................................... 41

Table 10 Security Setting: WPA/WPA2 .................................................................. 41

Table 11 Security Settings: IEEE 802.1x ............................................................... 43

Table 12 Confirm Save Screen ............................................................................. 44

Table 13 Profile ..................................................................................................... 45

Table 14 Profile: Add a New Profile ....................................................................... 46

Table 15 Profile: Wireless Settings ........................................................................ 48

Table 16 Adapter ................................................................................................... 50

Table 17 About ...................................................................................................... 53

Table 18 Troubleshooting Starting ZyXEL Utility ................................................... 55

Table 19 Troubleshooting Link Quality .................................................................. 55

Table 20 Troubleshooting Communication Problems ............................................ 56

Table 21 Product Specifications ............................................................................ 57

Table 22 Windows XP SP2: System Tray Icon ...................................................... 60

Table 23 Windows XP SP2: Wireless Network Connection .................................. 62

Table 24 Windows XP: Wireless Networks ........................................................... 63

Table 25 Windows XP: Wireless (network) properties: Association ...................... 64

Table 26 Windows XP: Wireless (network) properties: Authentication .................. 65

Table 27 Windows XP: Protected EAP Properties ................................................ 66

Table 28 Windows XP: Smart Card or other Certificate Properties ....................... 67

Table 29 Comparison of EAP Authentication Types .............................................. 73

Table 30 Wireless Security Relational Matrix ........................................................ 76

List of Tables 15

ZyXEL NWD-370N User’s Guide

16 List of Tables

ZyXEL NWD-370N User’s Guide

Preface

Congratulations on your purchase of the NWD-370N Draft 802.11n Wireless PCI Adapter.
Your NWD-370N plugs into a PCI slot in your computer and allows you to access wireless
networks.

Your NWD-370N is easy to install and configure.

About This User's Guide

This manual is designed to guide you through the configuration of your NWD-370N 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 Web Site

Please go to http://www.zyxel.com for product news, firmware, updated documents, and
other support materials.

User Guide Feedback

Help us help you. E-mail all User’s 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 choice.

• Mouse action sequences are denoted using a right angle bracket ( > ). For example, “In
Windows, click Start > Settings > Control Panel” means first click the Start button,
then point your mouse pointer to Settings and then click Control Panel.

• “e.g.,” is a shorthand for “for instance”, and “i.e.,” means “that is” or “in other words”.

• The NWD-370N Draft 802.11n Wireless PCI Adapter may be referred to as the NWD­370N in this User’s Guide.

Preface 17

ZyXEL NWD-370N User’s Guide

Graphics Icons Key

Wireless Access Point Computer Notebook Computer

Server Modem or Router Wireless Signal

Internet Cloud

18 Preface

This chapter introduces the NWD-370N and prepares you to use the ZyXEL utility. The
ZyXEL utility is a tool that helps you configure your NWD-370N.

1.1 About Your NWD-370N

The NWD-370N is an IEEE 802.11n draft compliant wireless LAN adapter, using MIMO
(Multiple-In, Multiple-Out) antenna technology to deliver high-speed wireless networking. It
can also connect to IEEE 802.11b/g wireless networks.

See the appendix for detailed product specifications.

ZyXEL NWD-370N User’s Guide

CHAPTER 1

Getting Started

Figure 1 The NWD-370N

Chapter 1 Getting Started 19

ZyXEL NWD-370N User’s Guide

The following table describes the NWD-370N.

Table 1 External View

LABEL DESCRIPTION

A Removable antennas

B LEDs (lights)

C PCI connector

The following table describes the operation of the LEDs on the device.

Table 2 NWD-370N LEDs

STATE DESCRIPTION

The LEDs are off The NWD-370N is not receiving power.

The LEDs are blinking
alternately.

The LEDs are blinking
simultaneously and regularly.

The LEDs are blinking
simultaneously and irregularly.

The NWD-370N is receiving power and is not connected to a
wireless network.

The NWD-370N is receiving power and is connected to a wireless
network.

The NWD-370N is receiving power, is connected to a wireless
network and is sending or receiving data.

1.2 Application Overview

This section describes some network applications for the NWD-370N. You can either set the
network type to Infrastructure and connect to an AP or use Ad-Hoc mode and connect to a
peer computer (another wireless device in Ad-Hoc mode).

1.2.0.1 Infrastructure

To connect to a network via an access point (AP), set the NWD-370N network type to
Infrastructure. Through the AP, you can access the Internet or the wired network behind the
AP.

20 Chapter 1 Getting Started

Figure 2 Application: Infrastructure

ZyXEL NWD-370N User’s Guide

1.2.0.2 Ad-Hoc

To set up a small independent wireless workgroup without an AP, use Ad-Hoc.

Ad-Hoc does not require an AP or a wired network. Two or more wireless clients

communicate directly with each other.

Figure 3 Application: Ad-Hoc

Chapter 1 Getting Started 21

ZyXEL NWD-370N User’s Guide

1.3 NWD-370N Hardware and Utility Installation

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

1.3.1 ZyXEL Utility Icon

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

Note: The ZyXEL utility system tray icon displays only when the NWD-370N is

installed properly.

When you use the ZyXEL utility, it automatically disables Wireless Zero
Configuration (WZC).

Figure 4 ZyXEL Utility: System Tray Icon

The color of the ZyXEL utility system tray icon indicates the status of the NWD-370N. Refer
to the following table for details.

Table 3 ZyXEL Utility: System Tray Icon

COLOR DESCRIPTION

Red The NWD-370N is not connected to a wireless network.

Green The NWD-370N is connected to a wireless network.

1.4 Configuration Methods

To configure your NWD-370N, use one of the following applications:

• Wireless Zero Configuration (WZC) (the Windows XP wireless configuration tool)

• ZyXEL Utility

Note: Do NOT use WZC at the same time you use the ZyXEL utility.

1.4.1 Enabling WZC

Note: When you use the ZyXEL utility, it automatically disables WZC.

If you want to use WZC to configure the NWD-370N, you need to disable the ZyXEL utility
by right-clicking the utility icon ( ) in the system tray and selecting Exit.

22 Chapter 1 Getting Started

Figure 5 Enable WZC

Refer to the appendices for information on how to use WZC to manage the NWD-370N.

To reactivate the ZyXEL utility, double-click the ( ) icon on your desktop or click Start,

(All) Programs, ZyXEL NWD-370N Wireless Adapter Utility, ZyXEL NWD-370N
Wireless Adapter Software.

1.4.2 Accessing the ZyXEL Utility

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 XP are shown in this User’s Guide.

ZyXEL NWD-370N User’s Guide

Note: Click the icon (located in the top right corner) to display the online help

window.

Chapter 1 Getting Started 23

ZyXEL NWD-370N User’s Guide

24 Chapter 1 Getting Started

ZyXEL NWD-370N User’s Guide

CHAPTER 2

Tutorial

The following sections show you how to join a wireless network using the ZyXEL utility, as in
the following diagrams. The wireless client is labeled C and the access point is labeled AP.

Figure 6 Infrastructure Network

There are three ways to connect the wireless client (the NWD-370N) to a network.

• Configure nothing and leave the wireless client to automatically scan for and connect to
any available network that has no wireless security configured.

• Manually connect to a network (see Section 2.1 on page 25).

• Configure a profile to have the wireless client automatically connect to a specific network
or peer computer (see Section 2.2 on page 27).

2.1 Connecting to a Wireless LAN

This example illustrates how to manually connect your wireless client to an access point (AP)
configured for WPA-PSK security and connected to the Internet. Before you connect to the
access point, you must know its Service Set IDentity (SSID) and WPA-PSK pre-shared key. In
this example, the AP’s SSID is “SSID_Example3” and its pre-shared key is “ThisismyWPA­PSKpre-sharedkey”.

After you install the ZyXEL utility and then insert the wireless client, follow the steps below
to connect to a network using the Site Survey screen.

1 Open the ZyXEL utility and click the Site Survey tab to open the screen shown next.

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Figure 7 ZyXEL Utility: Site Survey

2 The wireless client automatically searches for available wireless networks. Click Scan if

you want to search again. If no entry displays in the Available Network List, that means
there is no wireless network available within range. Make sure the AP or peer computer is
turned on, or move the wireless client closer to the AP or peer computer. See Table 4.3 on

page 37 for detailed field descriptions.

3 To connect to an AP or peer computer, either click an entry in the list and then click

Connect or double-click an entry (SSID_Example3 in this example).

4 When you try to connect to an AP with security configured, a window will pop up

prompting you to specify the security settings. Enter the pre-shared key and leave the
encryption type at the default setting.

Use the Next button to move on to the next screen. You can use the Back button at any
time to return to the previous screen, or the Exit button to return to the Site Survey
screen.

Figure 8 ZyXEL Utility: Security Settings

5 The Confirm Save window appears. Check your settings and click Save to continue.

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Figure 9 ZyXEL Utility: Confirm Save

6 The ZyXEL utility returns to the Link Info screen while it connects to the wireless

network using your settings. When the wireless link is established, the ZyXEL utility icon
in the system tray turns green and the Link Info screen displays details of the active
connection. Check the network information in the Link Info screen to verify that you
have successfully connected to the selected network. If the wireless client is not
connected to a network, the fields in this screen remain blank. See Table 4.2 on page 35
for detailed field descriptions.

Figure 10 ZyXEL Utility: Link Info

7 Open your Internet browser and enter http://www.zyxel.com or the URL of any other web

site in the address bar. If you are able to access the web site, your wireless connection is
successfully configured. If you cannot access the web site, check the Troubleshooting
section of this User's Guide or contact your network administrator if necessary.

2.2 Creating and Using a Profile

A profile lets you automatically connect to the same wireless network every time you use the
ZyXEL utility. You can also configure different profiles for different networks, for example if
you connect a notebook computer to wireless networks at home and at work.

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