NETGEAR WPN311 user manual

Version v1.0

February 2005

NETGEAR, Inc.

4500 G reat Ame rica Parkway

Santa Clara, CA 95054 US A

User Manual for the

NETGEAR RangeMax™

Wireless PCI Adapter

WPN311

Contents

Main Page iii FCC Electronic Emission Notices FCC Radio Frequency Interference Statement Export Restrictions Canadian Department of Communications Radio Interference Regulations Page Contents Page Page Page Chapter 1 About This Manual Audience, Scope, Conventions How to Print this Manual Chapter 2 Introduction About the NETGEAR RangeMax Wireless PCI Adapter WPN311 Key Features and Whats in the Box? A Road Map for How to Get There From Here Chapter 2-4 Introduction Table 2-1. A Road Map for How to Get There From Here Introduction Chapter 2-5 Table 2-1. A Road Map for How to Get There From Here Chapter 2-6 Introduction Table 2-1. A Road Map for How to Get There From Here Chapter 3 Basic Setup What You Will Need Before You Begin Verify System Requirements Observe Location and Range Guidelines Two Basic Operating Modes WPN311 Default Wireless Configuration Settings Page For Windows XP Users Installing a WPN311 Page Page Page For Windows 2000 & 98SE/Me Users Installing a WPN311 Page Page WPN311 Wireless Connection Indicators 3-12 Basic Setup Interpreting System Tray Icon Colors The System Tray (SysTray) resides on one end of the taskbar in the Microsoft Windows desktop. Basic Troubleshooting Tips About Page Page Chapter 4 Configuration Understanding the Configuration Options the network you want to join. Using Configuration Profiles Networks Page Connecting to an Access Point in Infrastructure Mode How to Configure an Infrastructure Mode Profile Page Connecting to Another PC in Ad-Hoc Mode How to Configure an Ad-Hoc Mode Profile Page Page Enabling Wireless Security Features Identifying the Wireless Security Settings How to Configure WEP Encryption Security How to Configure WPA-PSK Encryption Security Statistics Page Advanced Settings Page Page Chapter 5 Troubleshooting Frequently Asked Questions General Questions Page Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) Questions Page Technica l Sp ecifications A-1 Appendix A Technical Specifications Page Appendix B Wireless Networking Basics Wireless Networking Overview Infrastructure Mode Ad-Hoc Mode (Peer-to-Peer Workgroup) Network Name: Extended Service Set Identification (ESSID) Authentication and WEP 802.11 Authentication Open System Authentication Shared Key Authentication Overview of WEP Parameters Key Size WEP Configuration Options Wireless Channels WPA Wireless Security How Does WPA Compare to WEP? How Does WPA Compare to IEEE 802.11i? What are the Key Features of WPA Security? Page Wired Network with Optional 802.1x Port Based Network Access Control Wireless LAN Page Page Page Is WPA Perfect? Product Support for WPA Page Page Appendix C Preparing Your PCs for Network Access Preparing Your Computers for TCP/IP Networking Configuring Windows 98SE and Me for TCP/IP Networking Install or Verify Windows Networking Components Page Enabling DHCP to Automatically Configure TCP/IP Settings in Windows 98SE and Me Page Selecting the Internet Access Method Verifying TCP/IP Properties Configuring Windows 2000 or XP for TCP/IP Networking Install or Verify Windows Networking Components DHCP Configuration of TCP/IP in Windows XP or 2000 DHCP Configuration of TCP/IP in Windows XP Page DHCP Configuration of TCP/IP in Windows 2000 Page Verifying TCP/IP Properties for Windows XP or 2000 Page Glossary List of Glossary Terms Use the list below to find definitions for technical terms used in this manual. Page Page Page Page Page Index