D-Link DWL-122 User manual

Manual
Building Networks for People
2.4GHz Wireless USB Adapter
D-Link Air® DWL-122

2
Contents
Package Contents ................................................................................ 3
Introduction ........................................................................................... 4
Wireless Basics .................................................................................... 6
Inserting and Removing the DWL-122; Using the Extension Cord ...... 9
Getting Started ................................................................................... 10
Using the Configuration Utility with Windows OS ............................... 13
Using the Configuration Utility with Macintosh OS ............................. 20
Networking Basics .............................................................................. 25
Troubleshooting .................................................................................. 38
Technical Specifications ..................................................................... 41
Contacting Technical Support ............................................................. 43
Warranty and Registration .................................................................. 44

3
At least 32MB of memory and a 300MHz processor
Properly installed and working USB Controller
Windows XP/2000/Me/98SE
A computer or laptop with an available USB port
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D-Link Air DWL-122
2.4 GHz Wireless USB Adapter
Manual on CD-ROM
Quick Installation Guide
USB Extension Cable
Contents of Package:
Package Contents
If any of the above items are missing, please contact your reseller.
System Requirements:
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Mac OS X (v10.2x or later)
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4
Introduction
The D-Link Air DWL-122 Wireless USB Adapter is a convenient Plug & Play USB
1.1 solution that brings wireless networking to your laptop or desktop PC.
With transfer rates up to 11Mbps* you can connect to a wireless network at
home, at the office or at any wireless hotspot. Now you can stay connected
wherever you are and wherever you go.
The DWL-122 is Wi-Fi compliant, meaning that it can connect and interoperate
with other 802.11b Wi-Fi-compliant wireless routers, access points and adapters.
The DWL-122 connects to any available USB port on a laptop or desktop
Windows and Macintosh-based computer and also includes a standard USB
extension cable. With the optional USB extension cable, the DWL-122 can be
positioned virtually anywhere at a workstation to achieve the best available
wireless signal reception - whether that workstation is in your office, on your
deck or patio, by the pool, at the local coffee shop, or in an airport terminal while
waiting to board your next flight.
The adapter works with Apple Mac OS X (10.2x or later) Jaguar, Microsoft
Windows XP, Windows 2000 and other Windows operating systems to
ensure that you’ll be up and running on a wireless network in just a matter of
seconds.
Using its default settings, the DWL-122 automatically connects to other D-Link
wireless products as soon as it’s active.
In addition to featuring 64- or 128-bit WEP encryption, the DWL-122 has the
newest, strongest and most advanced security features available today.1 When
used with other 802.11 WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) and 802.1x compatible
products in a network with a RADIUS server, the security features include:
WPA: Wi-Fi Protected Access which authorizes and identifies users based on
a secret key that changes automatically at regular intervals. WPA uses
TKIP (Temporal Key Integrity Protocol) to change the temporal key
every 10,000 packets (a packet is a kind of message transmitted over
a network.) This ensures much greater security than the standard WEP
security. (By contrast, the previous WEP encryption implementations
required the keys to be changed manually.)
802.1x: Authentication which is a first line of defense against intrusion. In the
authentication process, the Authentication server2 verifies the identity of
the client attempting to connect to the network. Unfamiliar clients would
be denied access.
1WPA will be available soon as a download for Mac users.
2Not all servers can provide Authentication.

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For home users that will not incorporate a RADIUS server in their network, the
security for the DWL-122, used in conjunction with other WPA-compatible 802.11
products, will still be much stronger than ever before. Utilizing the Pre- Shared
Key mode of WPA, the DWL-122 will obtain a new security key every time it
connects to the 802.11 network. You only need to input your encryption information
once in the configuration menu. No longer will you have to manually input a new
WEP key frequently to ensure security. With the DWL-122, you will automatically
receive a new key every time you connect, vastly increasing the safety of your
communication.
Introduction (continued)
*”Maximum wireless signal rate based on IEEE Standard 802.11b specifications. Actual data throughput will
vary. Network conditions and environmental factors, including volume of network traffic, building materials
and consturction, and network overhead lower actual data throughput rate.”

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Features and Benefits
1WPA will be available soon as a download for Mac users
Convenience of Plug & Play installation.
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Fully 802.11b compatible.
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One year warranty (USA only).
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Connects at up to 328 feet indoors.2
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User-friendly configuration and diagnostic utilities.
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Supports Infrastructure networks via an access point or router and
Peer-to-Peer communication in Ad-Hoc mode.
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USB 1.1 standard.
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Powered by the USB port; no external power source is needed.
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Compact size for placement anywhere.
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Better Security with 802.1x and WPA1 - In addition to 64-,128-bit WEP
encryption, you can also securely connect to a wireless network using
802.1x for wireless authentication, as well as WPA (Wi-Fi Protected
Access) providing you a much higher level of security for your data and
communication than has previously been available.
2Environmental factors may adversely affect range

7
Wireless Basics
Features
Link/Activity LED
Power - Indicates that
the DWL-122 is properly
installed in the computer.
Link - Blinks when data is
being transmitted through
the wireless connection.
USB connector
Used to connect the
DWL-122 to your
computer
Internal Antenna
Used to wirelessly connect
to 802.11b networks
D-Link wireless products are based on industry standards to provide easy-to-use
and compatible high-speed wireless connectivity within your home, business
or public access wireless networks. D-Link wireless products will allow you
access to the data you want, when and where you want it. You will be able to
enjoy the freedom that wireless networking brings.
A Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) is a computer network that transmits and
receives data with radio signals instead of wires. WLANs are used increasingly
in both home and office environments, and public areas such as airports, coffee
shops and universities. Innovative ways to utilize WLAN technology are helping
people to work and communicate more efficiently. Increased mobility and the
absence of cabling and other fixed infrastructure have proven to be beneficial
for many users.
Wireless users can use the same applications they use on a wired network.
Wireless adapter cards used on laptop and desktop systems support the same
protocols as Ethernet adapter cards.

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Wireless Basics (continued)
People use wireless LAN technology for many different purposes:
Mobility - Productivity increases when people have access to data in any
location within the operating range of the WLAN. Management decisions based
on real-time information can significantly improve worker efficiency.
Low Implementation Costs – WLANs are easy to set up, manage, change
and relocate. Networks that frequently change can benefit from WLANs ease
of implementation. WLANs can operate in locations where installation of wiring
may be impractical.
Installation and Network Expansion - Installing a WLAN system can
be fast and easy and can eliminate the need to pull cable through walls and
ceilings. Wireless technology allows the network to go where wires cannot go
- even outside the home or office.
Scalability – WLANs can be configured in a variety of topologies to meet
the needs of specific applications and installations. Configurations are easily
changed and range from peer-to-peer networks suitable for a small number of
users to larger infrastructure networks to accommodate hundreds or thousands
of users, depending on the number of wireless devices deployed.
Inexpensive Solution - Wireless network devices are as competitively
priced as conventional Ethernet network devices.

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Wireless Basics (continued)
Installation Considerations
The D-Link Air DWL-122 lets you access your network, using a wireless
connection, from virtually anywhere within its operating range. Keep in mind,
however, that the number, thickness and location of walls, ceilings, or other
objects that the wireless signals must pass through, may limit the range. Typical
ranges vary depending on the types of materials and background RF (radio
frequency) noise in your home or business. The key to maximizing wireless
range is to follow these basic guidelines:
Keep the number of walls and ceilings between the DWL-122 and other
network devices to a minimum - each wall or ceiling can reduce your D-
Link wireless product’s range from 3-90 feet (1-30 meters.) Position your
devices so that the number of walls or ceilings is minimized.
Be aware of the direct line between network devices. A wall that is 1.5 feet
thick (.5 meters), at a 45-degree angle appears to be almost 3 feet (1 meter)
thick. At a 2-degree angle it looks over 42 feet (14 meters) thick! Position
devices so that the signal will travel straight through a wall or ceiling (instead
of at an angle) for better reception.
Keep your product away (at least 3-6 feet or 1-2 meters) from electrical
devices or appliances that generate extreme RF noise.
Building Materials can impede the wireless signal - a solid metal door or
aluminum studs may have a negative effect on range. Try to position wireless
devices and computers with wireless adapters so that the signal passes
through drywall or open doorways and not other materials.
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Removing the DWL-122 (Windows XP)
After installing the DWL-122,
the icon below will appear in
the taskbar at the bottom of
the screen (for WinXP service
pack I and above).
Before you disengage the DWL-
122 from the USB port, you must
click on the icon (illustrated above)
that resides in the taskbar.
When the screen at right appears,
highlight the DWL-122.
Click Stop
Windows will notify you when it is safe to remove the DWL-122 from the USB
port.
Inserting the DWL-122
Using the DWL-122 with
Plug one end of the USB extension cord into
the USB port on your computer and plug the
other end into the DWL-122.
Insert the DWL-122 into an available USB
port.
Getting Started
DWL-122 USB Adapter
the extension cord

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There are basically two modes of networking:
Infrastructure – using an access point or router, such as the DI-614+.
Ad-Hoc – directly connecting to another computer, for Peer-to-Peer
communication, using wireless network adapters on each computer, such
as two or more DWL-122 wireless USB adapters.
On the following pages we will show you an example of an Infrastructure
Network and an Ad-Hoc Network.
An Infrastructure network contains an access point or router. The
Infrastructure Network example shown on the following page contains the
D-Link network devices listed here; (your existing network may be comprised
of other devices).
With its default settings, the DWL-122 will connect with other
D-Link Air products, right out of the box.
A wireless router-
D-Link AirPlus DI-614+
A laptop computer with a USB wireless network adapter -
D-Link Air DWL-122
A desktop computer with a USB wireless network adapter -
D-Link Air DWL-122
A Cable modem -
D-Link DCM-201
Getting Started (continued)

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You will need broadband Internet access (a Cable or DSL-subscriber
line into your home or office).
Consult with your Cable or DSL provider for proper installation of the modem.
Connect the Cable or DSL modem to your broadband router. (See the
Quick Installation Guide included with your router.)
Install the D-Link Air DWL-122 wireless USB adapter into an available
USB port on your desktop computer. (See the Quick Installation Guide
included with the DWL-122.)
If you are connecting a laptop computer to your network, you can install
the DWL-122 into an available USB port on your laptop. (See the Quick
Installation Guide included with the DWL-122.)
Getting Started (continued)
Setting up a Wireless Infrastructure Network
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2
3
5
A RADIUS server is optional. Connect a RADIUS server to your network
to use all the features of WPA. (Without a RADIUS server you can still
use the WPA Pre-Shared Key mode.) RADIUS Authentication can also
be provided by another service provider over the Internet and remote to
your network site.
For a typical
wireless setup
at home (as
shown here),
please do the
following:
6

13
Getting Started (continued)
Setting up a Wireless Ad Hoc Network
When assigning IP addresses to the computers on the network, please
remember that the IP address for each computer must be in the same
IP address range as all the computers in the network, and the subnet
mask must be exactly the same for all the computers in the network.
For example: If the first computer is assigned an IP address of 192.168.0.2
with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0, then the second computer can be
assigned an IP address of 192.168.0.3 with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0,
etc.
IMPORTANT: If computers or other devices are assigned the same IP
address, one or more of the devices may not be visible on the network.
IP Address
Install the D-Link Air DWL-122 Wireless USB adapter into the desktop
computer. (See the Quick Installation Guide included with the product
for installation instructions.)
Install another DWL-122 into the laptop computer.
(See the Quick Installation Guide included with the product for
installation instructions.)
Set the wireless configuration for the adapters to Ad-Hoc mode, set
the adapters to the same channel, and assign an IP address to each
computer on the Ad-Hoc network. (See box below.)

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D-Link Air DWL-122 uses the Configuration Utility as the management
software. The utility provides the user an easy interface to change any settings
related to the wireless adapter. After you have completed the installation
of the DWL-122 (refer to the Quick Installation Guide that came with your
purchase) whenever you start the computer, the Configuration Utility starts
automatically and the system tray icon is loaded in the toolbar (see illustration
below.*) Clicking on the utility icon will start the Configuration Utility. Another
way to start the Configuration Utility is to click on Start>Programs>D-Link
Air >D-Link Air Utility.
Select the Wireless Networks tab.
Uncheck the box in the properties window
that enables windows configuration.
Using the Configuration Utility
If you are using Windows XP, you can use either the Zero Configuration Utility
or the D-Link Configuration Utility.
If the icon does not display in the taskbar, then click on
this icon on your desktop to open.
To use the D-Link Configuration Utility with XP, right-click
on the wireless network icon in the taskbar in the lower
right-hand corner of your computer screen.
In the window that appears, select
View Available Wireless Networks
and click the Advanced button. The
screen at right will appear.
After you have done this, you can then use the D-Link
Configuration Utility with XP by clicking on the D-Link
Configuration Utility icon. *Configuration Utility icon in
the system tray

15
Using the Configuration Utility with Windows OS
(continued)
Link Info
SSID:
The Service Set Identifier
is the name assigned to
the wireless network. The
factory SSID setting is de-
fault.
Tx Rate:
The default setting is Auto; Tx Rate settings are automatically determined for
an optimal speed up to a maximum of 11Mbps.
Status:
Displays the MAC address
of the access point or
router to which the DWL-
122 is associated
Channel:
The default setting is Auto. The channel selection is automatically deter-
mined by the DWL-122.
Signal Strength:
Displays the signal strength of the DWL-122’s wireless connection to the ac-
cess point or router.
Packet Count:
Displays the statistics of the data packets that are transmitted and received.
Frequency:
802.11b indicates that the
DWL-122 is communicat-
ing in the 2.4GHz band.
Encryption:
You can see if WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) is Enabled or Disabled here.
Wireless Mode:
Either Infrastructure or Ad-Hoc will be displayed here. (Please see the Getting
Started section in this manual for an explanation of these two modes.)
Rescan Button:
Rescans for the strongest signal with the current SSID and associates with that
access point or router.

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Choose one of the following modes:
Open Authentication – the DWL-122
is visible to all devices on the network.
Shared Authentication – allows
communication only with other devices
with identical WEP settings.
Auto – will automatically adjust to the Authentication mode of the
wireless access point or router.
Service Set Identifier is a name that identifies
a wireless network. Access points and
wireless devices attempting to connect to a
specific WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network)
must use the same SSID. The default setting
is default.
Configuration
Using the Configuration Utility with Windows OS
(continued)
Wireless Mode:
SSID:
Authentication:
Keys 1-4:
Select the default key.
Key Length:
Data Encryption:
IP Settings:
Click on the pull-down menu; select from the
following options:
Infrastructure - connecting to the WLAN
using an access point. (This is the
default setting).
Ad-Hoc – wireless mode used when
connecting directly to a computer
equipped with a wireless adapter in a
Peer-to-Peer environment.
Select Enabled or Disabled.
IP Settings
Select the key length and either ASCII (e.g., a word) or hexadecimal format.
Click Apply to save changes.
When you click IP Settings in the Configuration window, the pop-up screen
above will appear. Configure the IP Settings in this window.
Hexadecimal digits consist of the numbers 0-9 and the letters A-F.
ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) is a code for
representing English letters as numbers from 0-127.

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You can Enable or Disable
the IP Settings portion
of your profile here. If
you select Disable you
will need to configure the
IP address information
each time you connect to
a network. If you select
Enable you will maintain
th e sa me IP address
information each time you
connect to a network.
Using the Configuration Utility with Windows OS (continued)
Advanced
Ad-Hoc Channel:
All devices in the Ad-Hoc
network must be set to the
same channel.
Click Apply if you have made any changes.
Data Packet Parameter:
Select the parameters here.
Profile IP Settings:
Select Enable or Disable.
Launch Utility on Startup:
Power Mode:
Disable -This default setting consumes the most power.
Enable - This setting consumes the least power.
Fragmentation Threshold:
This value should remain at its default setting of 2432. If you experience
a high packet error rate, you may slightly increase your Fragmentation
Threshold within the value range of 256 to 2432. Setting the Fragmentation
Threshold too low may result in poor performance.
This value should remain at its default setting of 2432. If inconsistent data
flow is a problem, only a minor modification should be made.
RTS Threshold:

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Refresh:
Click on Refresh to get the
most updated list of available
networks.
Using the Configuration Utility with Windows OS (continued)
Site Survey
Available Network:
The top section of the window displays the Available Networks. Scroll up and
down the list and highlight the network to which you wish to connect. Click on
the Connect button.
Profile:
In the lower half of the screen, you can manage the profiles that you have created
for the wireless network at home, at the office and in public places. Scroll up and
down and highlight the profile that you wish to configure. You can Add or Remove
a profile, or configure the Properties of the profile in order to connect with an
available network.
Connect:
Highlight a network profile; click Connect to connect to that network.
Rescan:
Click Rescan to rescan and connect to the strongest signal with the current
SSID.
Configure:
Highlight an existing network
and click Configure; the
configuration window on the
next page will appear.
Advanced:
Highlight a network; click
Advanced and the screen on
the next page will appear.
Add:
Click Add and the screen on the next page will appear.
Remove:
Highlight a network profile; click Remove to remove a network from the profile
list.
Properties:
Highlight a network profile; click Properties and the screen on the next page
will appear.

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Using the Configuration Utility (continued)
Site Survey > Add
If you clicked on Add, you
can configure, in this window,
all the properties of a profile
that you wish to add to the
network.
In this window you can select the
type of network connection.
Click OK to save the changes.
If you clicked on Configuration
or Properties you can configure,
in this window, all the properties
of a profile that already exists in
the network.
Click OK to save the
changes.
Advanced
Configuration, Add or Properties
If you choose to use the IEEE
802.1X feature, please see the
detailed instructions on the
following pages.
If you select WPA in the
Authentication field, please
see detailed instructions for
configuring WPA on the fol-
lowing pages.

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Using the Configuration Utility (continued)
Site Survey > Configuration > 802.1X
To use 802.1x and to configure its settings, please do the following:
IEEE 802.1X -
Select Enabled.
Click Authentication Config
Select the EAP Type you
want to use. Configure the
information needed for
authenticating.
Click OK.
Trusted CA List.
Inner Authentication Protocol.
For an explanation of
the terms shown in this
window please see the
following pages.
Advanced Security Settings