SMC Networks EZ Connect SMC2602W User manual

EZ Connect™
Wireless PCI Adapter
User Guide
SMC2602W
V1.0
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Hello and welcome!
SMC’s EZ Connect Wireless PCI Adapter is an 11 Mbps wireless
network card that seamlessly integrates with existing Ethernet
networks to support applications such as mobile users or
temporary conferences. This solution offers fast, reliable wireless
connectivity with considerable cost savings over wired LANs (which
include long-term maintenance overhead for cabling). Just plug
wireless cards into your desktop PCs and start networking.
Using this card in conjunction with SMC’s EZ Connect Wireless
access point, you can create an instant network that integrates
seamlessly with 10 Mbps Ethernet LANs. Moreover, moving or
expanding your network is as easy as moving or installing
additional access points - no wires!
Package Checklist
The EZ Connect Wireless PCI Adapter package includes:
• 1 EZ Connect Wireless PCI Adapter (SMC2602W)
• 1 driver diskette
• 1 utility diskette
• Quick Installation Guide
• This User Guide
Please register this product and upgrade product warranty at
www.smc.com.
Please inform your dealer if there are any incorrect, missing or
damaged parts. If possible, retain the carton, including the
original packing materials. Use them again to repack the product
in case there is a need to return it for repair.
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Hardware Description
SMC’s EZ Connect Wireless PCI Adapter supports an 11 Mbps half-
duplex connection to Ethernet networks. This adapter is fully
compliant with 2.4 GHz DSSS CSMA/CA wireless networking as
defined in IEEE 802.11b. It can be installed in any notebook with
a Type II PCMCIA slot. Support is provided for Windows
95/98/NT/2000.
Applications
The EZ Connect Wireless products offer a fast, reliable, cost-
effective solution for wireless client access to the network in
applications such as:
•Remote access to corporate network information
E-mail, file transfer and terminal emulation
•Difficult-to-wire environments
Historic or old buildings, asbestos installations, and open areas
where wiring is difficult to employ
•Frequently changing environments
Retailers, manufacturers and banks who frequently rearrange
the workplace and change location
•Temporary LANs for special projects or peak time
Trade shows, exhibitions and construction sites which need a
temporary setup for a short time period. Retailers, airline and
shipping companies who need additional workstations for a
peak period. Auditors who require workgroups at customer sites
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•Access to databases for mobile workers
Doctors, nurses, retailers, white-collar workers who need access
to databases while being mobile in the hospital, retail store or
office campus
•SOHO (Small Office and Home Office) users
SOHO users who need easy and quick installation of a small
computer network
LED Indicators
The EZ Connect Wireless PCI Adapter includes one status LED
indicator, as described in the following figure and table.
Mode Status Description
AdHoc Flashing Indicates that the PCI Adapter
is operating in AdHoc mode.
Infrastructure Flashing Indicates that the PCI Adapter
is browsing active access
points.
On Indicates avalid connection to
an access point.
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System Requirements
Before you install the EZ Connect Wireless PCI Adapter, check your
system for the following requirements:
• An available PCI bus-master slot in your computer.
• Windows 95/98/NT/2000 (Have the Windows installation
CD-ROM ready for use during installation).
• A minimum of 500 Kbytes of free disk space for installing the
driver and utility program.
• Another IEEE 802.11b-compliant device installed in your
network, such as the SMC2652W Wireless Access Point, or the
SMC 2602W Wireless PCI Adapter.
Installation
Warnings:
• Network cards are sensitive to static electricity. To protect the
card, always touch the metal chassis of your computer before
handling the card.
• Backup your driver diskette and use the copy as the working
diskette to protect the original from accidental damage.
• Do not remove the PCI adapter from, or plug it into, the
computer while it is powered on.
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1. Switch off the computer, unplug the power cord, and remove
the computer’s cover.
2. Select an unused PCI bus-master slot and remove its protective
bracket.
3. Carefully insert the card and press until all the edge connectors
are firmly seated inside the slot. Then, screw the card’s bracket
securely into the PC’s chassis.
4. Install the appropriate network driver for your operating
system. Drivers can be found on the driver diskette. See “Driver
Installation” for more information.
5. Install the configuration program for your wireless PCI adapter.
The SETUP.EXE file can be found on the utility diskette. See
“Configuration and Diagnostic Utility” (page 20) for more
information.
Driver Installation
The diskette labeled ”driver Diskette” that comes with the package
contains all the software drivers available for the EZ Connect
Wireless PCI Card. Select the driver you need for your system and
refer to this guide for the installation and configuration procedure.
Any new or updated drivers can be downloaded from SMC’s Web
site at http://www.smc.com.
Windows 95/98/2000 Installation
1. Windows 95/98/2000 will automatically detect the new
hardware and prompt you to install the driver Click “Next” to
find the driver.
2. Insert the floppy disk labeled “driver Diskette” specify the
location “A:\” and click ”next”
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3. Click “Next” to copy files from the floppy disk.
4. For Windows 2000, select the protocols you want to use and
click “OK”.
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5. To communicate with SMC 11 Mbps Wireless devices set
ie Authentication Algorithmlc to i˜ÄShared Key.li Products from
some other vendors use the setting ieOpen System.lm Use the
same setting as other devices in your network.
6. To set up an ad hoc wireless LAN (refer to page 17), set
“Channel” to the same radio channel as that used by the other
wireless clients in your group. However, if you are connecting
to a network via an access point, the adapter will automatically
set the channel to be the same as that used by the access
point.
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7. Set “Network Type” to ”AdHoc” or “Infrastructure” depending
on the type of network you want to connect to (See page 17).
8. Enable the “Power Save Model” for reducing power loading.
(Default: Disabled)
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9. Set the RTS threshold to the same as that used by other devices
in your network. (The default is 2432 which means “Disable”)
10.Set the “SSID” identifier to the same as that used by the ad
hoc work group or access point you want to connect to.
(SMC2652W Access point default: WLAN)
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11. For more secure data transmission, set the “Use Wep” to io128
- bitl8 or ir64 - bitl8 to ensure wireless network security. The
advance Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) is implemented in this
card to prevent unauthorized access. The 128 bit setting gives
a higher level of security but the setting must be the same for
all clients in your wireless network. (Default: Disabled)
12.If you want to add more protocols after installation, go to
control panel and double click on “Network”
13.Select the “Configuration” tab and click “Add” to install the
network protocols you want to use, such as IPX/SPX, NetBEUI
or TCP/IP. If you install TCP/IP, be sure to set the appropriate
Gateway, DNS Server, and Domain for your network. If you
install an IPX/SPX-compatible protocol, then you also need to
install the Client for NetWare Networks.
14.Click “File and Print Sharing–lo to share files or printers.
15.Click on the “identification” tab on the Network dialog box,
and specify your computer name and network workgroup.
16.Click “Close” in the Network dialogue box and the system will
restart your computer.
Installation For Windows NT 4.0
1. From the desktop, select ”control Panel” double- click
“Network” click “Adapters” and then click the “Add” button on
the Network dialog box.
2. Windows NT will present a list of all its supported adapters.
Click “Have Disk” to continue.
3. Windows NT will ask for the drive/path containing the
SMC2602W Windows NT drivers. Insert the SMC2602W Diskette
into the floppy drive, then type “A:\” and click “OK”
4. Windows NT will attempt to locate an INF file in the specified
path. If you have entered the path name correctly, Windows NT
will copy the appropriate drivers to the Windows NT system.
Select “SMC2602W EZ Connect Wireless PCI Adapter” and click
“OK”
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5. The Adapter Setup dialog box will appear. Configure the card as
described below, and click “OK”
Mode - Set to AdHoc or Infrastructure, depending on the type of
network you want to connect to (see page 17).
SS ID - Set the “SSID” identifier to the same as that used by the
ad hoc workgroup or access point you want to connect to.
(SMC2652W Access point default: WLAN)
DS Channel - If you are setting up an ad hoc wireless LAN (see
page 17), set the channel number to the same radio channel as
that used by the other wireless clients in your group. However, if
you are connecting to a network via an access point, then use the
same channel as that used by the access point.
RTS Threshold - Set the RTS threshold to the same as that used by
the other devices in your network. (Default: Disabled)
Power Saving - Enable the “Power Save Mode” for reducing power
loading. (Default: Disabled)
WEP - For more secure data transmission, set the “Use Wep” to
io128 - bitl8 or ir64 - bitl8 to ensure wireless network security.
The advance Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) is implemented in this
card to prevent unauthorized access. The 128 - bit setting gives a
higher level of security, but the setting must be the same as other
clients in your wireless network. (Default: Disabled)
Authentication Algorithm - Set this to the same as other devices
in your network. SMC devices use “Shared Key” Devices from some
other vendors use “Open System”
6. Select the Protocols tab and Click “Add” to install the network
protocols you want to use, such as IPX/SPX, NetBEUI or TCP/IP.
If you install an IPX/SPX-compatible protocol, then you also
need to install the Client for NetWare Networks.
7. Click on the “Identification” tab and specify your computer
name and network workgroup.
8. Click “Close” and the system will restart your computer.
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Network Configuration And Planning
SMC’s EZ Connect Wireless Solution supports a stand-alone wireless
network configuration, as well as an integrated configuration with
10 Mbps Ethernet LANs.
The SMC2602W PCI adapter can be configured as:
• Ad hoc for departmental or SOHO LANs
• Infrastructure for enterprise LANs
Network Topologies
Ad hoc Wireless LAN
An ad hoc wireless LAN consists of a group of computers, each
equipped with a wireless adapter, connected via radio signals as an
independent wireless LAN. Computers in a specific ad hoc wireless
LAN must therefore be configured to the same radio channel.
An ad hoc wireless LAN can be used for a branch office or SOHO
operation.
Infrastructure Wireless LAN
The SMC2602W can also provide access to a wired LAN for wireless
workstations. An integrated wired and wireless LAN is called an
Infrastructure configuration. A Basic Service Set (BSS) consists of
a group of wireless PC users, and an access point that is directly
connected to the wired LAN. Each wireless PC in this BSS can talk
to any computer in its wireless group via a radio link, or access
other computers or network resources in the wired LAN
infrastructure via the access point.
The infrastructure configuration not only extends the accessibility
of wireless PCs to the wired LAN, but also doubles the effective
wireless transmission range for wireless PCs by passing their signal
through one or more access points.
A wireless infrastructure can be used for access to a central
database, or for connection between mobile workers, as shown in
the following figure.
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Setting the Communication Domain
Stationary Wireless PCs
The Basic Service Set (BSS) is the communication domain for each
SMC2652W access point. For wireless PCs that do not need to
support roaming, set the domain identifier (SSID) for the wireless
card to the BSS ID of the access point you want to connect to.
Check with your administrator for the BSS ID of the SMC2652W
access point he wants you to connect to.
Roaming Wireless PCs
A wireless infrastructure can also support roaming for mobile
workers. More than one access point can be configured to create
an Extended Service Set (ESS). By placing the access points so
that a continuous coverage area is created, wireless users within
this ESS can roam freely. All SMC2602W PCI adapters and
SMC2652W access points within a specific ESS must be configured
with the same SS ID.
Before setting up an ESS for roaming, you need to choose a clear
radio channel and ideal location for the SMC2652W access points
to maximize performance. (Refer to “Using the Wireless LAN
Utility” on page 19 for detailed information on installation and
usage.)
Configuration And Diagnostic Utility
SMC’s EZ Connect Wireless 2602W Wireless adapter provides free
optional management software for quick network configuration and
easy diagnostics. The diskette labeled “Utility”. that comes with
the package, contains a user-friendly interface for configuring the
EZ Connect Wireless 2602W PC Adapter.
Utility Installation
To install the utility software:
1. Insert the “Utility” setup diskette in your PC’s floppy drive
(A:).
2. Select “run” from Windows “Start” menu bar.
3. Click on “Browse” to locate the “setup”. file of this program.
4. Then click on “OK”. to run the setup program.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish installation.
Using the Wireless LAN Utility
Once the installation is completed, the configuration utility can be
accessed by selecting the ”Configuration Utility” icon from the
“PRISM 802.11 Wireless LAN” folder.
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