ZyAIR G-300 Wireless LAN PCI Adapter User's Guide Version 2.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Copyright Copyright ©2004 by ZyXEL Communications Corporation The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in any part or as a whole, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, translated into any language, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, magnetic, optical, chemical, photocopying, manual, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of ZyXEL Communications Corporation. Published by ZyXEL Communications Corporation.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide ZyXEL Limited Warranty ZyXEL warrants to the original end user (purchaser) that this product is free from any defects in materials or workmanship for a period of up to one (1) year from the date of purchase.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Information for Canadian Users The Industry Canada label identifies certified equipment. This certification means that the equipment meets certain telecommunications network protective operation and safety requirements. The Industry Canada does not guarantee that the equipment will operate to a user's satisfaction. Before installing this equipment, users should ensure that it is permissible to be connected to the facilities of the local telecommunications company.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Interference Statement The device complies with Part 15 of FCC rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: • This device may not cause harmful interference. • This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operations. 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.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Customer Support When contacting your Customer Support Representative, please have the following information ready: Product model and serial number. Warranty Information. Date you received your product. Brief description of the problem and the steps you took to solve it. METHOD SUPPORT E-MAIL SALES E-MAIL TELEPHONE1 FAX 1 WEB SITE REGULAR MAIL FTP SITE LOCATION WORLDWIDE NORTH AMERICA GERMANY FRANCE support@zyxel.com.tw +886-3-578-3942 www.zyxel.com www.europe.zyxel.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide METHOD SUPPORT E-MAIL SALES E-MAIL TELEPHONE1 FAX 1 WEB SITE REGULAR MAIL FTP SITE LOCATION SWEDEN FINLAND viii support@zyxel.se +46 31 744 7700 sales@zyxel.se +46 31 744 7701 support@zyxel.fi +358-9-4780-8411 www.zyxel.se ZyXEL Communications A/S Sjöporten 4, 41764 Göteborg Sweden www.zyxel.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Table of Contents Copyright.........................................................................................................................................ii ZyXEL Limited Warranty ...............................................................................................................iii Information for Canadian Users...................................................................................................
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide 2.3.1 2.3.2 2.3.3 The Advanced Configuration Screen .................................................................... 2-12 The Security Screen.............................................................................................. 2-13 The Certificate Screen .......................................................................................... 2-16 2.4 The Site Survey Screen .............................................................................................
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide List of Figures Figure 1-1 ZyAIR Utility: System Tray Icon .................................................................................. 1-2 Figure 2-1 Ad-hoc Network Example............................................................................................ 2-2 Figure 2-2 BSS Example .............................................................................................................. 2-2 Figure 2-3 Infrastructure Network Example...............................
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide List of Tables Table 1-1 ZyAIR Utility: System Tray Icon .................................................................................... 1-2 Table 2-1 Configuration............................................................................................................... 2-10 Table 2-2 Configuration: Advanced............................................................................................. 2-12 Table 2-3 Configuration: Privacy Configuration: Security ...........
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Preface Congratulations on the purchase of your new ZyAIR G-300 Wireless LAN PCI Adapter! About This User's Guide This guide provides information about the ZyAIR G-300 Wireless LAN Utility that you use to configure your ZyAIR. Syntax Conventions • “Type” or “Enter” means for you to type one or more characters. "Select" or "Choose" means for you to use one of the predefined choices. • Mouse action sequences are denoted using a comma.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Wireless Access Point Server Telephone xiv Computer Notebook computer Modem Wireless Signal Switch Router Preface
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Chapter 1 Getting Started This chapter prepares you to using the ZyAIR Utility. 1.1 About Your ZyAIR G-300 The ZyAIR G-300 is an IEEE 802.11g compliant wireless LAN adapter. With the ZyAIR, you can enjoy the wireless mobility within the coverage area. The following lists the main features of your ZyAIR. • • • • • • • • 1.2 Your ZyAIR can communicate with other IEEE 802.11b/g compliant wireless devices. Automatic rate selection.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide 1.4 Windows XP Users Only You must disable WZC if you want to use the ZyAIR utility. Refer to the appendices on how to deactivate WZC or how to use WZC to manage the ZyAIR. 1.5 Accessing the ZyAIR Utility After you installed the ZyAIR Utility, an icon for the ZyAIR Utility appears in the system tray. When the ZyAIR Utility system tray icon displays, the ZyAIR is installed properly.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Chapter 2 Using the ZyAIR Utility This chapter shows you how to configure the ZyAIR using the ZyAIR Utility. 2.1 About Wireless LAN Network This section describes each wireless LAN parameter. 2.1.1 Channel A radio frequency used by a wireless device is called a channel. 2.1.2 SSID The SSID (Service Set Identity) is a unique name shared among all wireless devices in a wireless network. Wireless devices must have the same SSID to communicate with each other. 2.1.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Figure 2-1 Ad-hoc Network Example To set up an ad-hoc network, configure all wireless clients in ad-hoc network type and use the same SSID and channel. Infrastructure When a number of wireless clients are connected using a single AP, you have a Basic Service Set (BSS). Figure 2-2 BSS Example A series of overlapping BSS and a network medium, such as an Ethernet forms an Extended Service Set (ESS) or infrastructure network.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Figure 2-3 Infrastructure Network Example 2.1.5 Roaming In an infrastructure network, wireless stations are able to switch from one BSS to another as they move between the coverage areas. During this period, the wireless stations maintain uninterrupted connection to the network. This is roaming. As the wireless station moves from place to place, it is responsible for choosing the most appropriate AP depending on the signal strength, network utilization or other factors.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide 2.1.6 Profile The Profile function allows you to save the wireless network settings in this screen, use one of the preconfigured network profiles or reset the settings in this screen to the factory default values. 2.1.7 Threshold Controls Fragmentation Threshold A fragmentation threshold is the maximum data fragment size (between 256 and 2432 bytes) that can be sent in the wireless network before the ZyAIR will fragment the packet into smaller data frames.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide send it. The AP then responds with a CTS (Clear to Send) message to all other stations within its range to notify them to defer their transmission. It also reserves and confirms with the requesting station the time frame for the requested transmission. Stations can send frames smaller than the specified RTS Threshold directly to the AP without the RTS (Request To Send)/CTS (Clear to Send) handshake.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Data Encryption with WEP WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) encryption scrambles all data packets transmitted between the ZyAIR and the AP or other wireless stations to keep network communications private. Both the wireless stations and the access points must use the same WEP key for data encryption and decryption. Your ZyAIR allows you to configure up to four 64-bit or 128-bit WEP keys and only one key is used as the default key at any one time. 2.2.1 Authentication Mode The IEEE 802.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Therefore, if you don’t have an external RADIUS server, you should use WPA-PSK (WPA -Pre-Shared Key) that only requires a single (identical) password entered into each access point, wireless gateway and wireless client. As long as the passwords match, a client will be granted access to a WLAN. Encryption WPA improves data encryption by using Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP), Message Integrity Check (MIC), IEEE 802.1x and Advanced Encryption Standard (AES).
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Figure 2-7 WPA-PSK Authentication 2.2.5 WPA with RADIUS Application Example You need the IP address of the RADIUS server, its port number (default is 1812), and the RADIUS shared secret. A WPA application example with an external RADIUS server looks as follows. “A” is the RADIUS server. “DS” is the distribution system. 1. The AP passes the wireless client’s authentication request to the RADIUS server. 2.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Figure 2-8 WPA with RADIUS Application Example 2.3 The Configuration Screen Click the Configuration tab to display the screen as shown next.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Figure 2-9 Configuration The following table describes the labels in this screen. Table 2-1 Configuration LABEL Profile DESCRIPTION This field displays the name of a predefined profile. To use a previously saved network profile, select the profile file name from the dropdown list box. Once you activate a profile, the ZyAIR Utility will use that profile the next time it is started. If you do not activate a profile, the ZyAIR Utility reverts to use the default profile.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Table 2-1 Configuration LABEL DESCRIPTION SSID Advanced Enter the SSID (Service Set IDentifier) of the AP or the peer ad-hoc computer to which you want to associate. To associate to an ad-hoc network, you must enter the same SSID as the peer ad-hoc computer. Enter “any” to associate to or roam between any infrastructure wireless networks. Click Advanced to display the Advanced Configuration screen. Refer to Section 2.3.1.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Table 2-1 Configuration LABEL DESCRIPTION Link Strength The status bar and the percentage number or a number in dBm show the strength of the signal. Rescan Click Rescan to re-establish connection to the wireless device whose SSID is shown in the State field. 2.3.1 The Advanced Configuration Screen In the Configuration screen, click Advanced to display the pop-up screen as shown. Figure 2-10 Configuration: Advanced The following table describes the labels in this screen.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Table 2-2 Configuration: Advanced LABAL DESCRIPTION RTS Threshold Data with its frame size larger than this value will perform the RTS/CTS handshake. Setting this attribute to be larger than the maximum MSDU (MAC service data unit) size turns off the RTS/CTS handshake. Setting this attribute to zero turns on the RTS/CTS handshake. Frag Threshold The threshold (number of bytes) for the fragmentation boundary for directed messages.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Figure 2-11 Configuration: Privacy Configuration: Security The following table describes the labels in this screen. Table 2-3 Configuration: Privacy Configuration: Security LABEL DESCRIPTION Privacy Authentication Mode Encryption Mode Select an authentication mode. Choices are Open, Share, WPA and WPAPSK. Select an encryption method. Choices are WEP, TKIP and AES. IEEE 802.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Table 2-3 Configuration: Privacy Configuration: Security LABEL Enable IEEE 802.1X Authentication for this network EAP Type Keys will be generated automatically for data privacy. Pre-configured Key (WEP) Format for entering key Key Index Key Length Network Key DESCRIPTION Select this checkbox to enable IEEE 802.1X authentication to log into the network. Select an EAP type. Choices are TLS, PEAP and LEAP.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Table 2-3 Configuration: Privacy Configuration: Security LABEL DESCRIPTION Network Key Enter the pre-shared key (PSK) or passphrase from 8 to 63 case-sensitive ASCII characters (including spaces and symbols). Confirm Network Key Enter the PSK again for confirmation. OK Click OK to save the changes. Cancel Click Cancel to discard all changes and close the screen. 2.3.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Figure 2-12 Configuration: Privacy Configuration: Certification The following table describes the labels in this screen. Table 2-4 Configuration: Privacy Configuration: Certification LABEL Certificate Information DESCRIPTION Specify the certificate(s) in the fields. You must first have a wired connection to a network and obtain the certificate(s) from a certificate authority (CA). Consult your network administrator for more information.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Table 2-4 Configuration: Privacy Configuration: Certification LABEL Certificate Authority Verify Server Certificate User Information User Name Password Login Information Server Name Login Name DESCRIPTION This field is applicable for PEAP and TLS authentication modes. Select a certificate authority. Select the check box to check the certificate of the authentication server. These fields are applicable for LEAP and PEAP authentication modes. Enter the user name.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Figure 2-13 Site Survey The following table describes the labels in the table. Table 2-5 Site Survey LABEL DESCRIPTION ESSID This field displays the SSID (or name) of each wireless device. BSSID This field displays the MAC address of the wireless device. Channel This field displays the channel number used by each wireless device. Network Type This field displays the wireless network type (Infrastructure or Ad Hoc) of the wireless device.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Table 2-5 Site Survey LABEL Join DESCRIPTION Click Join to associate to the selected wireless device. 2.4.1 Connecting to a Network Follow the steps below to connect to a network using the Site Survey screen. 1. Click Search to scan for all available wireless networks within range. 2. To join a network, either click an entry in the table to select a wireless network and then click Connect or double-click an entry. 3.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Figure 2-14 ZyAIR Utility: About The following table describes the read-only fields in this screen. Table 2-6 ZyAIR Utility: About FIELD DESCRIPTION Configuration Utility Version This field displays the version number of the ZyAIR Utility. Network Driver Version This field displays the version number of the Windows driver for the ZyAIR. NIC Firmware Version This field displays the firmware version and the MAC address of the ZyAIR.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Chapter 3 Maintenance This chapter describes how to uninstall or upgrade the ZyAIR Utility. 3.1 Removing the ZyAIR Utility Follow the steps below to remove (or uninstall) the ZyAIR Utility from your computer. 1. Close and exit the ZyAIR Utility. 2. Click Start, (all) Programs, ZyAIR G-300 PCI Adapter Utility, Uninstall ZyAIR G-300 Adapter Utility. 3. When prompted, click OK to remove the driver and the utility software. Figure 3-1 Confirm Uninstallation 4.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Chapter 4 Troubleshooting This chapter covers potential problems and the possible remedies. After each problem description, some instructions are provided to help you to diagnose and to solve the problem. 4.1 Problems Starting the ZyAIR Utility Program Table 4-1 Troubleshooting Starting ZyAIR Utility Program Cannot start the ZyAIR Wireless LAN Utility Make sure the ZyAIR is properly inserted and the LED is on. Refer to the Quick Installation Guide for the LED descriptions.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Table 4-2 Troubleshooting Communication Problems PROBLEM B. 4.3 CORRECTIVE ACTION Ad-Hoc Verify that the peer computer(s) is turned on. Make sure the ZyAIR and the peer computer(s) are using the same SSID and channel. Use another radio channel if interference is high. Make sure that the computer and the AP shares the same authentication and encryption mode. Verify the settings in the Privacy Configuration screens..
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Appendix A Disable Windows XP Wireless LAN Configuration Tool Windows XP includes a configuration tool (also known as Wireless Zero Configuration (WZC)) for wireless devices. Follow the steps below to disable the configuration tool in Windows XP after you install the ZyAIR Utility. The screen varies depending on the version of Windows XP service pack.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide 2. Windows XP SP1: When a Wireless Network Connection window displays, click Advanced…. Diagram 2 Windows XP SP1: Wireless Network Connection Windows XP SP2: When a Wireless Network Connection window displays, click Change advanced settings under Related Tasks and then the Wireless Networks tab.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide 3. In the Wireless Network Connection Properties window, make sure the Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings check box is not selected. Click OK.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Diagram 5 Windows XP SP2: Wireless Network Connection Properties Via the Control Panel 1. If the icon for the wireless network connection is not in the system tray, click Start, Control Panel and double-click Network Connections.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide 2. Double-click on the icon for wireless network connection to display a status window as shown next. Diagram 6 Windows XP SP1: Wireless Network Connection Status Diagram 7 Windows XP SP2: Wireless Network Connection Status 3. Click Properties and click the Wireless Networks tab.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide 4. In the Wireless Network Connection Properties window, make sure the Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings check box is not selected. Click OK.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Diagram 9 Windows XP SP2: Wireless Network Connection Properties Disable Windows XP Wireless LAN Configuration Tool G
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Appendix B Management with Wireless Zero Configuration This appendix shows you how to manage your ZyAIR using the Windows XP wireless configuration tool. Be sure you have the Windows XP service pack 2 installed on your computer. Otherwise, you should at least have the Windows XP service pack 1 already on your computer and download the support patch for WPA from the Microsoft web site. Windows XP SP2 screen shots are shown unless otherwise specified.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Connecting to a Wireless Network 1. Double-click the network icon for wireless connections in the system tray to open the Wireless Network Connection Status screen. Diagram 11 Windows XP SP2: System Tray Icon The type of the wireless network icon in Windows XP SP2 indicates the status of the ZyAIR. Refer to the following table for details. Chart 1 Windows XP SP2: System Tray Icon ICON DESCRIPTION The ZyAIR is connected to a wireless network.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Diagram 12 Windows XP SP2: Wireless Network Connection Status Windows XP SP1: In the Wireless Network Connection Status screen, click Properties and the Wireless Networks tab to open the Wireless Network Connection Properties screen.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Diagram 13 Windows XP SP1: Wireless Network Connection Status 3. Windows XP SP2: Click Refresh network list to reload and search for available wireless devices within transmission range. Select a wireless network in the list and click Connect to join the selected wireless network.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Diagram 14 Windows XP SP2: Wireless Network Connection The following table describes the icons in the wireless network list. Chart 2 Windows XP SP2: Wireless Network Connection ICON DESCRIPTION This denotes that the wireless security is activated for the wireless network. This denotes that this wireless network is your preferred network. Ordering your preferred networks is important because the ZyAIR tries to associate to the preferred network first in the order that you specify.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Windows XP SP1: Click Refresh to reload and search for available wireless devices within transmission range. Select a wireless network in the Available networks list, click Configure and set the related fields to the same security settings as the associated AP to add the selected network into the Preferred networks table. Click OK to join the selected wireless network. Refer to the section on security settings (discussed later) for more information.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Diagram 16 Windows XP SP2: Wireless Network Connection: WEP or WPA-PSK Diagram 17 Windows XP SP2: Wireless Network Connection: No Security 5. Verify that you have successfully connected to the selected network and check connection status in the wireless network list or the connection icon in the Preferred networks or Available networks list. The following table describes the connection icons.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Diagram 18 Windows XP: Wireless (network) properties: Association The following table describes the labels in this screen. Chart 4 Windows XP: Wireless (network) properties: Association LABEL DESCRIPTION Network name (SSID) This field displays the SSID (Service Set IDentifier) of each wireless network. Network Authentication This field automatically shows the authentication method (Share, Open, WPA or WPAPSK) used by the selected network.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Chart 4 Windows XP: Wireless (network) properties: Association LABEL DESCRIPTION Confirm network key Enter the key again for confirmation. Key index (advanced) Select a default WEP key to use for data encryption. This field is available only when the network use WEP encryption method and the The key is provided for me automatically check box is not selected. The key is provided for me automatically If this check box is selected, the wireless AP assigns the ZyAIR a key.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Diagram 19 Windows XP: Wireless (network) properties: Authentication The following table describes the labels in this screen. Chart 5 Windows XP: Wireless (network) properties: Authentication LABEL DESCRIPTION Enable IEEE 802.1x authentication for this network This field displays whether the IEEE 802.1x authentication is active. If the network authentication is set to Open in the previous screen, you can choose to disable or enable this feature.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Chart 5 Windows XP: Wireless (network) properties: Authentication LABEL DESCRIPTION Authenticate as guest when user or computer information is unavailable Select this check box to have the computer access to the network as a guest when a user is not logged on or computer information is not available. OK Click OK to save your changes. Cancel Click Cancel to close this screen without saving any changes you may have made.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide The following table describes the labels in this screen. Chart 6 Windows XP: Protected EAP Properties LABEL DESCRIPTION Validate server certificate Select the check box to verify the certificate of the authentication server. Connect to these servers Select the check box and specify a domain in the field below to have your computer connect to a server which resides only within this domain.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Smart Card or other Certificate Properties Diagram 21 Windows XP: Smart Card or other Certificate Properties The following table describes the labels in this screen. Chart 7 Windows XP: Smart Card or other Certificate Properties LABEL DESCRIPTION Use my smart card Select this check box to use the smart card for authentication. Use a certificate on this computer Select this check box to use a certificate on your computer for authentication.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Chart 7 Windows XP: Smart Card or other Certificate Properties LABEL DESCRIPTION Trusted Root Certification Authorities: Select a trusted certification authority from the list below. View Certificate Click this button if you want to verify the selected certificate.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Diagram 22 Windows XP SP2: Wireless Networks: Preferred Networks Windows XP SP1: In the Wireless Network Connection Status screen, click Properties and the Wireless Networks tab to open the screen as shown.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Diagram 23 Windows XP SP1: Wireless Networks: Preferred Networks 2. Whenever the ZyAIR tries to connect to a new network, the new network is added in the Preferred networks table automatically. Select a network and click Move up or Move down to change it’s order, click Remove to delete it or click Properties to view the security, authentication or connection information of the selected network. Click Add to add a preferred network into the list manually.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Appendix C Types of EAP Authentication This appendix discusses the five popular EAP authentication types: EAP-MD5, EAP-TLS, EAP-TTLS, PEAP and LEAP. The type of authentication you use depends on the RADIUS server. Consult your network administrator for more information. EAP-MD5 (Message-Digest Algorithm 5) MD5 authentication is the simplest one-way authentication method. The authentication server sends a challenge to the wireless station.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide For added security, certificate-based authentications (EAP-TLS, EAP-TTLS and PEAP) use dynamic keys for data encryption. They are often deployed in corporate environments, but for public deployment, a simple user name and password pair is more practical. The following table is a comparison of the features of five authentication types.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Appendix D Product Specifications Product Specifications Product Name ZyAIR G-300 Wireless LAN PCI Adapter Type 3.3V 32-bit PCI adapter Standards IEEE 802.11b IEEE 802.11g Network Architectures Infrastructure Ad-Hoc Operating Frequencies 2.412-2.483GHz Operating Channels IEEE 802.11b: 11 Channels (North America) IEEE 802.11g: 11 Channels (North America) IEEE 802.11b: 13 Channels (Europe) IEEE 802.11g: 13 Channels (Europe) Data Rate IEEE 802.11b: 11, 5.
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Product Specifications Weight <80g Dimension 134mm(L)*121mm(W)*22mm(H) Product Specifications BB
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide Index A D About ..................................................... 2-20 Accessing the ZyAIR Utility ..................... 1-2 AdHoc Channel ..................................... 2-11 authentication ........................................ 2-19 authentication mode .............................. 2-14 Authentication Mode................................ 2-6 Open .................................................... 2-6 Shared..................................................
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide IEEE 802.1X .......................................... 2-15 IEEE 802.1X authentication................... 2-15 Independent Basic Service Set......See IBSS Information for Canadian Users.................. iv Caution .................................................... iv Note......................................................... iv Infrastructure............................................ 2-2 L Link quality ............................................. 2-11 Link strength .......
ZyAIR G-300 User’s Guide U Upgrading the ZyAIR Utility ..................... 3-1 User Authentication ................................. 2-6 Using the ZyAIR Utility............................. 2-1 W Warranty ..................................................... iii Note......................................................... iii WEP......................................................... 2-6 WEP Data Encryption with ...................... 2-6 WEP key ................................................
