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3 Marvell Configuration Utility

Link Information

The “Link Information” section contains the current information about the wireless connection.

Figure 19. Link Information Section

•“Status” – the status of the wireless network connection:

•Card Unplugged – adapter plugged in, but not recognized.

See chapter 6 “Troubleshooting” on page 55 for possible solutions.

•Connected – adapter plugged in and connected to a wireless network.

•Not connected – adapter plugged in, but cannot find a wireless network. See chapter 6 “Troubleshooting” on page 55 for possible solutions.

•No Radio – adapter plugged in, but the radio is turned off.

To turn the radio on, deactivate the Radio Off checkbox at the bottom of the tab.

•“Network SSID” – network SSID label (i.e., network name). The network name is a text string of up to 32 characters.

•“Network Type” – type of environment to which you are connected. The choices are:

•Infrastructure – In this mode, wireless clients send and receive information through access points. When a wireless client communicates with another, it trans- mits to the access point. The access point receives the information and rebroadcasts it. Other devices then receive the information.

Acess points are strategically located within an area to provide optimal coverage for wireless clients. A large WLAN uses multiple access points to provide coverage over a wide area. Access points can connect to a LAN through a wired Ethernet connec- tion. Access points send and receive information from the LAN through the wired connection.

•Ad Hoc – In this mode, wireless clients send and receive information to other wire- less clients without using an access point. This type of WLAN only contains wireless clients.

Use Ad-hoc mode to network computers at home or in small offices, or to set up a temporary wireless network for a meeting.

•“Network BSSID” – Network Basic Service Set Identifier. The BSSID is a 48-bit identity used to identify a particular BSS within an area. In Infrastructure BSS networks, the BSSID is the MAC address of the access point.

In independent BSS or Ad-hoc networks, the BSSID is generated randomly.

•“Security” – reports the type and level of security set. The security level is set through the “Profile Setting” of the PROFILE MANAGER tab. Configure WEP settings also through the SITE SURVEY tab when connecting to a network.

•“Link Speed” – connection speed (i.e. 54 Mbit/s, 48 Mbit/s, etc.)