D-Link AirPlus Xtreme G DWL-G520 High-Speed 802.11g Wireless PCI Adapter TM Manual Rev. B1 Building Networks for People Contents Package Contents ................................................................................3 Introduction............................................................................................4 Wireless Basics ....................................................................................6 Getting Started ......................................................................................9 Using the Configuration Utility ..............................................................12 Networking Basics ..............................................................................26 Troubleshooting ...................................................................................39 Technical Specifications ......................................................................44 Contacting Technical Support ..............................................................46 Warranty and Registration ...................................................................47 2 Package Contents Contents of Package: ! D-Link AirPlus Xtreme GTM DWL-G520 High-Speed 2.4 GHz/802.11g Wireless PCI Adapter ! Manual and Drivers on CD ! Quick Installation Guide If any of the above items are missing, please contact your reseller. System Requirements: ! A computer or laptop with an available 32-bit PCI slot ! Windows XP/2000/Me/98SE ! At least 32 MB of memory and a 300 MHz processor ! An 802.11g or 802.11b Access Point (for Infrastructure mode), or another 802.11g or 802.11b wireless adapter (for Ad-Hoc, Peer-toPeer networking mode). 3 Introduction The D-Link AirPlus Xtreme GTM DWL-G520 Wireless PCI Adapter is an 802.11g highperformance, wireless adapter that supports high-speed wireless networking at home, at work or in public places. Unlike most network cards, the DWL-G520 provides data transfers at up to 54 Mbps. The 802.11g standard is backwards compatible with 802.11b products. The DWL-G520 has the newest, strongest, and most advanced security features available today. When used with other 802.11 WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) and 802.1x compatible products in a network with a RADIUS server, the security features include: WPA: Wi-Fi Protected Access which authorizes and identifies users based on a secret key that changes automatically at regular intervals. WPA uses TKIP (Temporal Key Integrity Protocol) to change the temporal key every 10,000 packets (a packet is a kind of message transmitted over a network.) This ensures much greater security than the standard WEP security. (By contrast, the older WEP encryption required the keys to be changed manually.) 802.1x: Authentication which is a first line of defense against intrusion. In the authentication process, the Authentication Server* verifies the identity of the client attempting to connect to the network. Unfamiliar clients would be denied access. For home users that will not incorporate a RADIUS server in their network, the security for the DWL-G520, used in conjunction with other WPA-compatible 802.11 products, will still be much stronger than ever before. Utilizing the Pre Shared Key mode of WPA, the DWL-G520 will obtain a new security key every time it connects to the 802.11 network. You only need to input your encryption information once in the configuration menu. No longer will you have to manually input a new WEP key frequently to ensure security. With the DWL-G520, you will automatically receive a new key every time you connect, vastly increasing the safety of your communication. * Not all servers can provide Authentication. 4 Features & Benefits ! Five times faster - achieve data transfer speeds up to 54 Mbps; up to 5x ! faster than conventional 802.11b networks, when used with other 802.11g devices Fully compliant with the 802.11b standard and interoperable with all existing 802.11b-compliant and 802.11g compliant devices puter to a wireless network at home, at the office, or in public places ! Provides a simple and inexpensive way to connect your desktop com! Quick and Easy Installation- The DWL-G520 installs quickly and easily into a standard PCI 2.2 slot in a desktop computer. By following the simple steps outlined in the Quick Installation Guide, you can connect to an available wireless network in a matter of seconds ! High Performance 32-bit PCI - The high capacity PCI interface utilized by the DWL-G520 ensures optimal performance in transmitting a wireless signal within the desktop computer. By utilizing a standard PCI 2.2 interface, the DWL-G520 ensures a wide range of compatibility with motherboards used by PC manufacturers ! Operates in the 2.4GHz frequency range ! Maximum reliability, throughput and connectivity with automatic data rate switching ! Supports Infrastructure networks via an access point and Peer-to-Peer communication in Ad-Hoc mode ! User-friendly configuration and diagnostic utilities ! Provides a measure of security for the information transmitted over a wireless network with high data encryption at 64-, 128-, and 152-bit WEP ! Stronger Security than ever before with WPA - Wi-Fi Protected Access authorizes and identifies users based on a secret key that changes automatically at regular intervals, for example: ! TKIP (Temporal Key Integrity Protocol), in conjunction with a RADIUS server, changes the temporal key every 10,000 packets, ensuring greater security ! Pre-Shared Key mode means that the home user, without a RADIUS server, will obtain a new security key every time he or she connects to the network, vastly improving the safety of communications on the network ! Extra Protection - 802.1x Authentication in conjunction with the RADIUS server verifies the identity of wireless clients wishing to gain access to the WLAN 5 Wireless Basics D-Link wireless products are based on industry standards to provide easy-to-use and compatible high-speed wireless connectivity within your home, business or public access wireless networks. D-Link wireless products will allow you access to the data you want, when and where you want it. You will be able to enjoy the freedom that wireless networking brings. A Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) is a computer network that transmits and receives data with radio signals instead of wires. WLANs are used increasingly in both home and office environments, and public areas such as airports, coffee shops and universities. Innovative ways to utilize WLAN technology are helping people to work and communicate more efficiently. Increased mobility and the absence of cabling and other fixed infrastructure have proven to be beneficial for many users. Wireless users can use the same applications they use on a wired network. Wireless adapter cards used on laptop and desktop systems support the same protocols as Ethernet adapter cards. People use WLAN technology for many different purposes: Mobility - Productivity increases when people have access to data in any location within the operating range of the WLAN. Management decisions based on real-time information can significantly improve worker efficiency. Low Implementation Costs ­ WLANs are easy to set up, manage, change and relocate. Networks that frequently change can benefit from WLANs ease of implementation. WLANs can operate in locations where installation of wiring may be impractical. Installation and Network Expansion - Installing a WLAN system can be fast and easy and can eliminate the need to pull cable through walls and ceilings. Wireless technology allows the network to go where wires cannot go - even outside the home or office. Scalability ­ WLANs can be configured in a variety of ways to meet the needs of specific applications and installations. Configurations are easily changed and range from peer-to-peer networks suitable for a small number of users to larger infrastructure networks to accommodate hundreds or thousands of users, depending on the number of wireless devices deployed. Inexpensive Solution - Wireless network devices are as competitively priced as conventional Ethernet network devices. 6 Wireless Basics (continued) The DWL-G520 is compatible with 802.11g and 802.11b wireless products, which include: ! D-Link Air DWL-650,D-Link AirPlus DWL-650+, D-Link AirPlus Xtreme G DWL-G650 2.4GHz Wireless Cardbus Adapter used with laptop computers TM ! D-Link Air DWL-520, D-Link AirPlus DWL-520+ 2.4GHz Wireless PCI cards used with desktop computers TM ! D-Link AirPlus DWL-900AP+, D-Link AirPlus Xtreme G DWL-2000AP 2.4GHz Wireless Access Points ! D-Link AirPlus DI-614+, DI-714P+ 2.4GHz Wireless Routers Standards-Based Technology The DWL-G520 Wireless PCI Adapter utilizes the new 802.11g standard. The IEEE 802.11g standard is an extension of the 802.11b standard. It increases the data rate up to 54 Mbps within the 2.4GHz band, utilizing OFDM technology. This means that in most environments, within the specified range of this device, you will be able to transfer large files quickly or even watch a movie in MPEG format over your network without noticeable delays. This technology works by transmitting high-speed digital data over a radio wave utilizing OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) technology. OFDM works by splitting the radio signal into multiple smaller sub-signals that are then transmitted simultaneously at different frequencies to the receiver. OFDM reduces the amount of crosstalk (interference) in signal transmissions. The D-Link DWLG520 will automatically sense the best possible connection speed to ensure the greatest speed and range possible. 802.11g offers the most advanced network security features available today, including: WPA , 802.1x, TKIP, AES and Pre-Shared Key mode. These security features are explained in more detail in the Introduction and the Features section of this manual. The DWL-G520 is backwards compatible with 802.11b devices. This means that if you have an existing 802.11b network, the devices in that network will be compatible with 802.11g devices at speeds up to 11Mbps in the 2.4GHz range. 7 Wireless Basics (continued) Installation Considerations The D-Link AirPlus Xtreme G TM DWL-G520 lets you access your network using a wireless connection from virtually anywhere within its operating range. Keep in mind, however, that the number, thickness and location of walls, ceilings, or other objects that the wireless signals must pass through, may limit the range. Typical ranges vary depending on the types of materials and background RF (radio frequency) noise in your home or business. The key to maximizing wireless range is to follow these basic guidelines: 1 Keep the number of walls and ceilings between the DWL-G520 and other network devices to a minimum - each wall or ceiling can reduce your DWL-G520's range from 3-90 feet (1-30 meters.) Position your devices so that the number of walls or ceilings is minimized. 2 Be aware of the direct line between network devices. A wall that is 1.5 feet thick (.5 meters), at a 45-degree angle appears to be almost 3 feet (1 meter) thick. At a 2-degree angle it looks over 42 feet (14 meters) thick! Position devices so that the signal will travel straight through a wall or ceiling (instead of at an angle) for better reception. 3 Building materials can impede the wireless signal - a solid metal door or aluminum studs may have a negative effect on range. Try to position wireless devices and computers with wireless adapters so that the signal passes through drywall or open doorways and not other materials. 4 Keep your product away (at least 3-6 feet or 1-2 meters) from electrical devices or appliances that generate RF noise. 8 Getting Started With its default settings, the DWL-G520, when activated, will connect with other D-Link AirPlus Xtreme G TM products, right out of the box. There are basically two modes of networking: ! ! Infrastructure ­ using an Access Point or Router, such as the DI-624 Ad-Hoc ­ directly connecting to another computer, for peer-topeer communication, using wireless network adapters on each computer, such as two or more DWL-G520 wireless network adapters On the following pages we will show you an example of an Infrastructure Network and an Ad-Hoc Network. An Infrastructure network contains an Access Point or Router. The Infrastructure Network example shown on the following page contains the following D-Link network devices (your existing network may be comprised of other devices): ! ! A wireless Router - D-Link AirPlus Xtreme G TM DI-624 A desktop computer with a wireless adapter D-Link AirPlus Xtreme GTM DWL-G520, D-Link Air DWL-520, or D-Link AirPlus DWL-520+ (D-Link Air devices have speeds up to 11Mbps) A Cable modem - D-Link DCM-201 ! LEDs LED stands for Light-Emitting Diode. Power: Solid green light indicates connection to the network Network: Blinking green light indicates activity on the network 9 Get ...