Configuring with Intel® PROSet II
Intel® PROSet II software allows you to configure and manage all Intel wired
and wireless LAN connections.
The Intel® PROSet II configuration utility can be installed during the
adapter installation process. This
utility can be used to set up profiles and perform other wireless network
management tasks.
Intel® PROSet II provides the following features:
- Wired and wireless auto-sensing and switching
- Network performance management
- Profile management
- Power management
- Diagnostics
- User-configurable settings
For
Windows XP users: In order to use PROSet II as your configuration utility
(recommended), you have to turn off the built-in Windows XP wireless
configuration feature. See Turn Off Windows XP Wireless
Configuration for instructions. For information on the Windows XP feature,
see your Windows XP documentation.
Viewing and Changing Network Settings
Intel® PROSet II allows you to change two groups of network settings:
- Mobile unit settings are settings for your laptop. You configure a laptop
to communicate with either an access point or other computers in a
peer-to-peer network.
- Security settings allow you to protect data. Data in a wireless network is
broadcast through the air. If the data is unprotected, anyone can intercept
it.
To view or change the network settings:
- Double click the Intel® PROSet II icon on the right side of the Windows
taskbar. If the icon is not present, click Start, select Settings, and
Control Panel, and then double-click the Intel® PROSet II icon. To display
the PROSet II icon on the taskbar, make sure Show the tray icon is checked
in the PROSet II main window.
- Select the wireless adapter on the left side of the Intel® PROSet II
window.
- To view or change basic settings, click the Settings
tab.
For more information about configuring wireless network settings, click Help
on the PROSet II Help menu.
Connecting to the Network Using an Access Point
An infrastructure network consists of one or more access points and one or more
laptops with wireless adapters installed. Each access point can have a wired
connection to the Local Area Network (LAN). Laptops with an installed wireless
adapter communicate with an access point.
- Double click the Intel® PROSet II icon on the right side of the Windows
taskbar.
- Select the wireless adapter on the left side of the Intel® PROSet II
window.
- Click the Settings tab.
- Click Network Settings.
- For the operating mode, select Communicate with access point (802.11
Station).
- Enter a Network Name (SSID) or select one from the list.
Use the Network Name (SSID) assigned to the access points in the wireless LAN
(WLAN). The wireless adapter scans the access point and uses the channel
selected by the access point. You cannot change the channel.
Connecting to a Peer-to-Peer Network
A peer-to-peer wireless network is a simple network of wireless computers
that communicate directly with each other without using an access point.
To connect to a peer-to-peer network:
- Double click the Intel® PROSet II icon on the right side of the Windows
taskbar.
- Select the wireless adapter on the left side of the Intel® PROSet II
window.
- Click the Settings tab.
- Click Network Settings.
- For the operating mode, select Peer to Peer (802.11 Ad Hoc).
- Enter a Network Name (SSID) or select one from the list.
- Select a Channel Number from the pull-down list.
The Network Name (SSID) and Channel Number must be the same for all the
computers in a peer-to-peer network.
Protecting Your Network with WEP Encryption
You can prevent unauthorized reception of your wireless data using the IEEE
802.11 Wired Equivalent Privacy ( WEP). The standard includes two levels of
security, using a 64-bit key (sometimes referred to as 40-bit) or a
128-bit key. For better security, use a 128-bit key. If you use encryption, all
wireless devices on your WLAN must use the same encryption settings.
To set up 64-bit (40-bit) encryption:
- Double click the Intel® PROSet II icon on the right side of the Windows
taskbar.
- Select the wireless adapter on the left side of the Intel® PROSet II
window.
- Click the Settings tab.
- Click Network Settings.
- Click WEP Keys.
- If required, enter your WEP password.
- Click OK . The WEP Key Configuration dialog box is displayed.
- Enter Keys 1 through 4. Use numbers 0 through 9 and letters A through F.
Only the first two columns are available for 64-bit (40-bit) encryption.
- Select the key you want to use for encryption. The keys and selected key
must be the same for the access point or for all other computers in a
peer-to-peer network.
To set up 128-bit encryption:
- Double click the Intel® PROSet II icon on the right side of the Windows
taskbar.
- Select the wireless adapter on the left side of the Intel® PROSet II
window.
- Click the Settings tab.
- Click Network Settings.
- Click WEP Keys.
- If required, enter your WEP password.
- Click OK . The WEP Key Configuration dialog box is displayed.
- Enter Keys 1 through 4. Use numbers 0 through 9 and letters A through F .
- Select the key you want to use for encryption. The keys and selected key
must be the same for the access point or for all other computers in an Ad
Hoc (peer-to-peer) network.
Using Wireless Profiles
A profile is a saved group of network settings. If you are moving from one
wireless network to another, it is convenient to save the network settings for
each wireless network as a profile. Then you can easily select the profile for
the appropriate network.
Settings include but are not limited to the network name (SSID), channel,
security settings, and TCP/IP settings. Intel® My WLAN Places allows you to
edit profiles and create new profiles.
To set up a profile:
- Double click the Intel® PROSet II icon on the right side of the Windows
taskbar.
- Select the wireless adapter on the left side of the Intel® PROSet II
window.
- Click the Settings tab.
- Click My WLAN Places.
To edit a profile:
- Click the Settings tab.
- Click My WLAN Places.
To start using a profile:
- Click the Settings tab.
- From the pull-down menu, select the appropriate wireless LAN profile for
your networking situation.
- Click Activate Profile.
For more information about My WLAN Places, select Contents from the pull-down
Help menu in the My WLAN Places window.
Switching Between Wired and Wireless Adapters
Adapter switching allows your computer to seamlessly switch between wired and
wireless adapters. You also indicate what type of adapter you prefer to use. If
this type of adapter is unavailable, your computer uses the type of adapter
available.
To change the Adapter Switching settings:
- Double click the Intel® PROSet II icon on the right side of the Windows
taskbar.
- Select the wireless adapter on the left side of the Intel® PROSet II
window.
- Click the Mobility tab.
- Click Adapter Switching.
Limitations on the Adapter Switching Feature
- Adapter switching requires the use of DHCP. It cannot be used with fixed
IP addressing.
- Only Intel wired and wireless adapters are supported.
- Adapter switching cannot be used on a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
- Adapter switching should not be applied while an active data transfer is
in progress.
Setting the Adapter's Power Consumption
If your notebook computer is operating on battery power, you can adjust the
power settings to extend battery life.
- Double click the Intel® PROSet II icon on the right side of the Windows
taskbar.
- Select the wireless adapter on the left side of the Intel® PROSet II
window.
- Click the Settings tab.
- Click Power Settings.
- Make sure that the Switch power mode based on power source check box is
not checked.
- Make sure that Let adapter manage power is checked.
For more information about the power settings, click the Help button.
Managing the Adapter from the Control Panel
After you install the driver for the Intel® PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN Adapter, you
can access the Intel® PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN Adapter property pages from the
Networking icon in the Windows Control Panel and configure the wireless settings
for the adapter. For driver installation instructions, click
here.
To display the adapter properties in Windows ME and 98:
- Double-click My Computer, and then double-click Control
Panel.
- Double-click Network.
- Select the Intel® PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN Adapter and
click Properties.
To display the adapter properties in Windows 2000 and XP:
- Double-click My Computer, and then double-click Control
Panel.
- Double-click Network .
- Right-click the Local Area Connection for the wireless
adapter and click Properties.
Updating the Driver and Firmware Version
Verify that the Intel® PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN Adapter driver and firmware is
the most recent version to ensure optimal functionality.
Verifying the Driver and Firmware Versions
In Windows XP, 2000, ME, and 98, use PROSet II to view driver and firmware
versions.
To view the driver and firmware version:
- Double click the Intel® PROSet II icon on the right side of the Windows
taskbar.
- Select the wireless adapter on the left side of the Intel® PROSet II
window.
- Click the Network Driver tab.
- If you have a newer firmware file from Intel, you can click the Update
button and update the Firmware.
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