SMC Networks EZ Connect SMC2632W User manual

EZ Connect™
Wireless PC Card
User Guide
SMC2632W
V1.0
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Hello and welcome!
The SMC™s EZ Connect Wireless PC Card 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 notebook 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 PC Card package includes:
• 1 EZ Connect Wireless PC Card (SMC2632W)
• 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 Descrition
SMC™s EZ Connect Wireless PC Card supports an 11 Mbps half-
duplex connection to Ethernet networks. This card 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
Indicator LED
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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 users
SOHO (Small Office and Home Office) users
who need easy and quick installation of a small
computer network
LED Indicator
The EZ Connect Wirelss PC Card includes one status LED indicator,
as described in the following figure and table.
Mode Status Description
AdHoc Flashing Indicates that the PC card is
operating in AdHoc mode.
Infrastructure Flashing Indicates that the PC card is
browsing active access points.
On Indicates a valid connection to an
access points
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System Requirements
Before you install the EZ Connect Wireless PC Card, check your
system for the following requirements:
• A computer with a PCMCIA Type II slot, and a PCMCIA card and
socket services compliant with revision 2.10 of the PCMCIA
specification
• 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
• Other IEEE 802.11b-compliant devices installed in your service
area (such as the SMC2652W Wireless Access Point, or the
SMC2602W Wireless PCI Adapter) Status LED
Installation
Warnings:
Backup your driver diskette and use the copy as the working
diskette to protect the original from accidental damage.
1. Turn your computer on and boot to your operating system.
2. Find an available Type II or Type III PCMCIA slot in your
computer.
3. With the PC Card™s 68-pin connector facing the PCMCIA slot
and the "EZ Connect Wireless PC Card" label facing up, slide the
card completely into the PCMCIA slot as shown below.
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Note:
The PCMCIA slot allows you to "hot swap" PC Cards any time, even
when the power of your computer is on.
4. For Windows 95/98/NT/2000, PCMCIA card and socket services
compliant with revision 2. 10 of the PCMCIA specification are
required. Please check the documents for your PCMCIA driver
before installing the software driver for the SMC2632W.
5. Install the appropriate network driver for your operating
system. Drivers can be found on the driver diskette. See "Driver
Installation and Configuration". for more information.
6. Install the configuration program for your wireless PC Card. 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 PC 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. Insert the PC Card into a standard Type II or III PCMCIA slot in
your notebook and then boot up the computer.
2. Windows 95/98/2000 will automatically detect the new
hardware and prompt you to install the driver. Click "Next" to
find the driver.
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3. Insert the floppy disk labeled "Driver Diskette", specify the
location "A:\", and click "Next".
4. Click "Next", to copy files from the floppy disk.
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5. For Windows 2000, select the protocols you want to use and
click "OK".
6. To communicate with SMC 11 Mbps wireless devices set the
"Authentication Algorithmlc" to "Shared Key" Products from
some other vendors use the setting "Open System". Use the
same setting as the other devices in your network.
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7. To set up an ad hoc wireless LAN (refer to page 17), set the
"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 (Infrastructure mode), then
the card will automatically set to the same channel as that
used by the access point.
8. Set "Network Type" to "Ad Hoc" or "Infrastructure" depending
on the type of network you want to connect to (see page 17.)
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9. Enable the "Power Save Model" for reducing power loading.
(Default: Disabled)
10. Set the "RTS Threshold" to the same as that used by the other
devices in your network. (The default is 2432 which means the
RTS threshold is "Disable" )
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11.Set the "SSID" identifier to the same as that used by the ad
hoc workgroup or access point you want to connect to. (The
SMC2652W default is WLAN.)
12.For more secure data transmission, set the "Use Wep" to "128
bit" or "64 bit" to ensure wireless network security. The
advanced 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 the other clients in your wireless network.
(Default: Disabled)
13.To add protocols after installation, go to the "Control Panel"
and double-click "Network"
14.Click "Add…." to install the network protocolsyou 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.
15.Click "File and Print Sharing" to share files or printers.
16.Click on the "Identification" tab on the Network dialog box,
and specify your computer name and network workgroup.
17. Click "Close" in the Network dialogue box and the system will
restart your computer.
Driver Installation for Windows NT 4.0
1. Insert the PC Card into a standard Type II or III PCMCIA slot in
your notebook and then boot up your PC.
2. From the desktop, select "Control Panel" double-click "Network"
click "Adapters". and then click the "Add" button on the
Network dialog box.
3. Windows NT will present a list of all its supported adapters.
Click "Have Disk" to continue.
4. Windows NT will ask for the drive/path containing the
SMC2632W Windows NT drivers. Insert the SMC2632W Driver
Diskette into the floppy drive, and then type "A:\"
Click "OK"
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5. Windows NT will attempt to locate the SYS and INF files 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 ieSMC2632W EZ Connect Wireless PC
Card and click "OK"
6. The Adapter Setup dialog box will appear. Configure the card as
described below, and click "OK"
I/O Base - Default: 240 (Check for available resources under
Windows NT Diagnostics.)
IRQ Level - Select 9, 10 or 11. (Check for available resources
under Windows NT Diagnostics.)
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 i˜ÒPowerSaveModel. for reducing power
loading. (Default: Disabled)
WEP - For more secure data transmission, set the ihUse Weple to
io128 bitl8 or ir64 bitl8 to ensure wireless network security. The
advanced 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 the
other clients in your wireless network. (Default: Disabled)
Authentication Algorithm - Set this to the same as the other
devices in your network. SMC devices use isShared Key.lr Devices
from some other vendors use isOpen System.lO
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7. Select the Protocols tab and Click ilAdd–ll 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.
8. Click on the ihIdentificationle tab and specify your computer
name and network workgroup.
9. Click ilCloself and the system will restart your computer.
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 SMC2632W 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 one 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 application.
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Infrastructure Wireless LAN
The SMC2632W 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 extends 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.
Setting the Communication Domain
Stationary Wireless PCs
The Basic Service Set (BSS) is the communication domain for each
EZ Connect Wireless Access Point. For wireless PCs that do not
need to support roaming, set the domain identifier (ESSID) for the
wireless card to the BSSID of the access point you want 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 acontinuous coverage area is created, wireless users within
this ESS can roam freely. All wireless adapters and access points
within a specific ESS must be configured with the same ESSID.
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 20 for detailed information on installation and
usage.)
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Configuration and Diagnostic Utility
SMC™s EZ Connect Wireless PC Card 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 card.
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
"ÈPRISM 802.11 Wireless LAN" folder.
This configuration software includes the following functions:
Link Information - Allows you to monitor network status.
Configuration - Allows you to configure parameters for the
wireless adapter.
Encryption - Provides RC4 security control.
Link Information Screen
When you start the wireless LAN utility, the hardware information
window for the SMC2632W is shown on the first folder of the
utility windows as shown below. Click on the "Link Info" tab to
monitor the network status of the wireless adapter, including the
BSS ID, current channel, transmission rate used, throughput, link
quality, and signal strength condition.
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Configuration Screen
The Configuration screen allows you to check and modify the
configuration of the adapter. The user-configurable parameters are
shown in the following figure:
Mode - Set the station operation mode to "AdHoc" for network
configurations that do not have any access points, or to
"Infrastructure" for configurations with access points
"Infrastructure" is the default setting).
SSID - Input an SSID string that you want to connect to "ANY" is
the default setting.)
Tx Rate - Indicates the communication rates. Select appropriate
transmission speed to match your wireless LAN settings. (Default:
Fully Automatic)
WEP - For more secure data transmission, select the ih128 Bitl8 or
ir64 Bitl8 setting to use WEP security. The 128-bit setting gives a
higher level of security, but the setting must be the same as that
of other devices in your network. The advanced Wired Equivalent
Privacy (WEP) is implemented in this card to prevent unauthorized
access. However, for normal use it is recommended to retain the
factory-set "Disabled" WEP. (Default: Disabled)
PS Mode - Enable the Power Saving Mode to
reduce power loading. (Default: Disabled)
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 the
channel is automatically set to that which the PC Card connects
to.
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Encryption Screen
The WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) implemented in SMC™s EZ
Connect Wireless PC Card is based on an RC4 encryption algorithm.
The security keys provided to ensure data confidentiality are four
10-bit keys for the 64-bit Wep setting (first screen below) and one
26-bit key for the 128-bit Wep setting (second screen below.) This
WEP security protects your wireless LAN against eavesdropping and
unauthorized access by hackers or unexpected intruders. If the WEP
is in use, the WEP key is required for connecting to an access point
or listening to messages that pass through the air.
To use the WEP function, take the following steps:
1. Select ie128 Bitl8 or ir64 Bitl8 for the "WEP" field in the
"Configuration" folder.
2. Click on the "Encryption" tab to set up WEP security keys.
3. Enter your "Pass phrase" and click on the "Generate" button to
create security keys.
4. Then click on the "Write" button to save the WEP keys.
5. For 64 bit encryption select one encrypted key (from Key 1 to
Key 4) as your default key.
TroubleShooting
Check the following troubleshooting items before contacting SMC
Technical Support.
Adapter Installation Problems
If your computer can’t find the EZ Connect Wireless PC Card or the
network driver doesn’t install correctly, check the following:
• Make sure the adapter is securely seated in the PCMCIA slot.
When you insert the wireless adapter into the notebook’s slot,
a click should be heard if the adapter is properly inserted.
Check for any hardware problems, such as physical damage to
the card’s connector.
• Try the card in another PCMCIA slot. If this also fails, test your
computer with another SMC2632W wireless card that is known
to operate correctly.
• When operating under Windows NT, make sure a PCMCIA card
and socket services driver is installed in your computer. Also
check for mresource conflicts using the Windows NT Diagnostics
utility.
• If there are other network adapters in the computer, they may
be causing conflict. Remove all other adapters from the
computer and test the wireless adapter separately.
• Check for a defective computer or PCMCIA slot by trying the
adapter in another computer that is known to operate
correctly.
• If there are still difficulties, remove the wireless adapter.
Delete CW10.sys from c:\windows\system. Then go to "Control
Panel" and delete the adapter from your network configuration
menu. Restart your PC and reinstall the card as described in the
section "Installation" on page 5.
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Network Connection Problems
If the LED on the PC Card does not light, or if you Can’t access any
network resources from the computer. Check the following:
• Make sure the correct software driver is installed for your
operating system. If necessary, try reinstalling the driver.
• Make sure the computer and other network devices are receiving
power.
• The access point you want to attach to may be defective. Try
using another access point.
• If you cannot access a Windows or NetWare service on the
network, check that you have enabled and configured the service
correctly. If you cannot connect to a particular server, be
sure that you have access rights and a valid ID and password.
If you cannot access the Internet, be sure you have configured
your system for TCP/IP. If your wireless station cannot
communicate with a computer in the Ethernet LAN when
configured for Infrastructure mode, check the following:
• Make sure the access point which the station associated with is
powered on.
• Make sure your wireless station is configured with the same
operating radio channel as the access point.
• If you still can’t connect, change the access point and all the
stations within the BSS to another radio channel.
• Make sure the BSS ID is the same as the access point for a
station with roaming disabled, or the SS ID is the same as the
access point for a station with roaming enabled.
Compliances
FCC - Class B
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 residential installation. This
equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy
and, if not installed and used in accordance with instructions, may
cause harmful interference to radio communications. However,
there is no guarantee that the interference will not occur in a
particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful
interference to radio or 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:
• Reorient the receiving antenna
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different
from that to which the receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for
help
You are cautioned that changes or modifications not expressly
approved by the party responsible for compliance could void your
authority to operate the equipment.
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CE Mark Declaration of Conformance
This is to certify that this product complies with ISO/IEC Guide 22
and EN45014. It conforms to the following specifications:
EMC: EN55022(1988)/CISPR-22(1985) Class B
IEC 61000-4-2(2000) 4kVCD,
8kVAD
IEC 61000-4-3(2000) 3V/m
IEC 61000-4-4(2000) 1kV- (power line)
IEC 61000-4-6(2000) 3Vrms
IEC 61000-4-11(2000) 3Vrms
This product complies with the requirements of the Low Voltage
Directive 73/23/EEC and the EMC Directive 89/336/EEC, and carries
the CE Mark accordingly.
Specifications
Functional Criteria
Data Rate 1, 2, 5.5, 11 Mbps
Transmission Mode Half duplex
Network Connection IEEE 802.11b - wireless
Operating Range Up to 100 ft (30m) at 11 Mbps
Up to 1500 ft (450m) at 5.5 Mbps
and lower
Interrupt INTA
Radio Signal
Signal Type Direct Sequence Spread-Spectrum
(DSSS)
Operating Frequency USA, Canada and Europe (ETSI):
2.400-2.4835 GHz,
Japan: 2.400-2.497 GHz
Sensitivity 1, 2, 5.5 Mbps: -80 dBm,
11 Mbps: -76 dBm (typical)
Modulation CCK, BPSK, QPSK
Transmission Power +13 dBm minimum
Physical Characteristics
Power Consumption 3.3 V, 5V
350 mA @ 3.3 V transmit,
230 mA @ 3.3 V receive,
20 mA @ 3.3 V standby
Weight 50 g (4.8 oz)
Dimensions 12.8 x 5.3 cm (5.04 x 2.09 in.)
Antenna Built-in
LED Indicator ADHoc, Infrastructure (browsing AP
link)
Host Interface 68-pin connector to PC’s PCMCIA Type
II slot.
Standards Conformance IEEE 802.11b
Environmental
Temperature 32 to 140°F/ 0 to 50°C (operating)
32 to 158°F/ 0 to 70°C (storage)
Humidity 5 to 80% (noncondensing)
Vibration/Shock/Drop IEC 68-2-34, IEC 68-2-27,
IEC 68-2-32
Certification
CE Mark EN55022 Class B, EN 55024,
IEC 61000-4-2/3/4/6/11
Emissions FCC Class B, ETS 300-328,
RCR STD-33 A
Software Drivers
NDIS Drivers Windows 95
Windows 98
Windows 2000
Windows NT 4.0
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For Technical Support, call:
From U.S.A. and Canada (8:30 AM - 8:00 PM Pacific Time)
(800) SMC-4-YOU; [phone]; [phone] (Fax)
From Europe (8:00 AM - 5:30 PM UK Greenwich Mean Time)
44 (0) 1189 748740; 44 (0) 1189 748741 (Fax)
Internet
E-mail addresses:
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
Driver updates:
http://www.smc.com/support.html
World Wide Web:
http://www.smc.com/
FTP Site:
ftp.smc.com
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