NETGEAR WG111 Chapter Basic Setup, What You Need Before You Begin, Verifying System Requirements

Page 21

Chapter 3

Basic Setup

This chapter describes how to install your NETGEAR 54 Mbps Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter WG111 and set up basic wireless connectivity on your Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). Advanced wireless network configuration is covered in Chapter 4, “Configuration” in this manual.

Note: Indoors, computers can easily connect to 802.11 wireless networks at distances of several hundred feet. Because walls do not always block wireless signals, others outside your immediate area could access your network. It is important to take appropriate steps to secure your network from unauthorized access. The NETGEAR 54 Mbps Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter WG111 provides highly effective security features which are covered in “Enabling Wireless Security Features” on page 4-6in this manual. Deploy the security features appropriate to your needs.

What You Need Before You Begin

You need to verify your computer meets the minimum system requirements and identify the wireless network configuration settings of the WLAN where you will connect before you can configure your wireless USB adapter and connect.

Verifying System Requirements

Before installing the NETGEAR 54 Mbps Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter WG111, please make sure that these minimum requirements have been met:

You must have a PC with a Pentium® 300 MHz or higher compatible processor with an available USB 2.0 or 1.1 port.

Note: If you do not have a USB 2.0 port on your PC, the throughput of the WG111 will be limited to the 14 Mbps of the USB 1.1 standard.

A CD-ROM drive.

5 Mbytes of free hard disk space.

Basic Setup

3-1

202-10026-01

Image 21
Contents 202-10026-01 Vcci Statement Certificate of the Manufacturer/ImporterFCC Guidelines for Human Exposure Declaration Of ConformityFCC Requirements for Operation in the United States Netgear 54 Mbps Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter WG111 Operation Using 2.4 GHz Channels in FranceMetropolitan Regions with Eased Restrictions in 2.4GHz Band 202-10026-01 Contents Appendix C Preparing Your PCs for Network Access Glossary Index Contents Chapter About This Manual Manual SpecificationsAudience, Scope, Conventions Typographical conventionsHtml version of this manual How to Use this ManualHow to Print this Manual About This Manual Key Features Chapter IntroductionAbout the WG111 What’s in the Box? Road Map for ‘How to Get There From Here’If I Want To? What Do I Do? What’s Needed? How Do I? Road Map for How to Get There From HereNetgear 54 Mbps Exchange files Use printers Chapter Basic Setup What You Need Before You BeginVerifying System Requirements Observing Location and Range Guidelines Two Basic Operating ModesWG111 Default Wireless Configuration Settings Basic Installation Instructions Install the WG111 driver and configuration utility software For Windows XP Users Installing a WG111Install the Netgear 54 Mbps Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter WG111 Configure your WG111 Verify wireless connectivity to your network Click Install Driver and Utility For Windows 2000 & 98/Me Users Installing a WG111Found New Hardware Wizard WG111 System Tray Icon Profile Configure your WG111 and saveVerify wireless connectivity to your network WG111 Wireless Connection Indicators Interpreting the LED on the WG111LED Descriptions Interpreting System Tray Icon Colors TroubleshootingRed YellowBasic Tips Troubleshooting Frequently Asked QuestionsBasic Setup Basic Setup Basic Setup Chapter Configuration Understanding the Configuration OptionsUsing Configuration Profiles How to Configure an Infrastructure Mode Profile Connecting to an Access Point in Infrastructure ModeRun the WG111 Configuration Utility Configure the wireless Network settingsHow to Configure an Ad-hoc Mode Profile Connecting to Another PC in Ad-hoc ModeWindows Run program dialog box Configure the PC network settingsPing test results How to Start a Computer-to-Computer Ad-Hoc Network Enabling Wireless Security FeaturesConfigure the Security settings How to Configure WEP Encryption SecuritySave your settings in a Profile Statistics Advanced SettingsConfiguration USB Appendix a Technical SpecificationsTechnical Specifications Appendix B Wireless Networking Basics Wireless Networking OverviewInfrastructure Mode Authentication and WEP Ad Hoc Mode Peer-to-Peer WorkgroupNetwork Name Extended Service Set Identification Essid Open System Authentication AuthenticationAuthentication Open System Steps Do Not Use WEP Authentication Shared Key StepsKey Size WEP Configuration OptionsWireless Channels 802.11b and g Radio Frequency Channels Radio frequency channels used are listed in TableConfiguring Windows 98 and Me for TCP/IP Networking Appendix C Preparing Your PCs for Network AccessInstall or Verify Windows Networking Components Preparing Your Computers for TCP/IP NetworkingPreparing Your PCs for Network Access Choose Settings, and then Control Panel Enabling Dhcp in Windows 98 and MeLocate your Network Neighborhood icon Primary Network Logon is set to Windows logon Verifying TCP/IP Properties Selecting Windows’ Internet Access MethodConfiguring Windows 2000 or XP for TCP/IP Networking Dhcp Configuration of TCP/IP in Windows XP Dhcp Configuration of TCP/IP in Windows XP orTCP/IP details are presented on Support tab Dhcp Configuration of TCP/IP in Windows Verify that Obtain an IP addressRight click on Local Area Connection and select Properties Obtain an IP address automatically is selected Verifying TCP/IP Properties for Windows XP or Preparing Your PCs for Network Access Glossary DSL Internet service provider Ssid Wins Glossary Numerics Index