® A Division of Cisco Systems, Inc. 2.4 GHz 802.11g WIRELESS Model No. Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter User Guide WUSB54GC Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter Copyright and Trademarks Specifications are subject to change without notice. Linksys is a registered trademark or trademark of Cisco Systems, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and certain other countries. Copyright © 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Other brands and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. WARNING: This product contains chemicals, including lead, known to the State of California to cause cancer, and birth defects or other reproductive harm. Wash hands after handling. How to Use this User Guide This User Guide has been designed to make understanding networking with the Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter easier than ever. Look for the following items when reading this User Guide: This checkmark means there is a Note of interest and is something you should pay special attention to while using the Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter. This exclamation point means there is a Caution or warning and is something that could damage your property or the Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter. This question mark provides you with a reminder about something you might need to do while using the Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter. In addition to these symbols, there are definitions for technical terms that are presented like this: word: definition. Also, each figure (diagram, screenshot, or other image) is provided with a figure number and description, like this: Figure 0-1: Sample Figure Description Figure numbers and descriptions can also be found in the "List of Figures" section in the "Table of Contents". WUSB54Gv4-UG-50418NC BW Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction Welcome What's in this Guide? 1 1 2 Chapter 2: Planning your Wireless Network Network Topology Roaming Network Layout 4 4 4 5 Chapter 3: Getting to Know the Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter The LED Indicators 6 6 Chapter 4: Setting up and Connecting the USB Adapter Starting the Setup Wizard Connecting the Adapter Setting Up the Adapter 7 7 8 9 Chapter 5: Using the Wireless Network Monitor Accessing the Wireless Network Monitor Link Information Screens SecureEasySetup Site Survey Profiles Creating a New Profile 23 23 23 26 28 29 30 Appendix A: Troubleshooting Common Problems and Solutions Frequently Asked Questions 44 44 45 Appendix B: Using Windows XP Wireless Configuration Appendix C: Wireless Security Security Precautions Security Threats Facing Wireless Networks 48 51 51 51 Appendix D: Windows Help Appendix E: Glossary Appendix F: Warranty Information Appendix G: Specifications 54 55 60 61 Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter Appendix H: Regulatory Information Appendix I: Contact Information 63 69 Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter List of Figures Figure 3-1: Front Panel Figure 4-1: Setup Wizard's Welcome Screen Figure 4-2: Setup Wizard's License Agreement Figure 4-3: The Connecting the Adapter Screen Figure 4-4: Available Wireless Network Figure 4-5: Available Wireless Network Figure 4-6: SecureEasySetup Figure 4-7: The SecureEasySetup Logo and Location Figure 4-8: SecureEasySetup Complete Figure 4-9: Available Wireless Network Figure 4-10: WEP Key Needed for Connection Figure 4-11: WPA-Personal Needed for Connection Figure 4-12: PSK2 Needed for Connection Figure 4-13: The Congratulations Screen Figure 4-14: Available Wireless Network Figure 4-15: Network Settings Figure 4-16: Wireless Mode Figure 4-17: Ad-Hoc Mode Settings Figure 4-18: Wireless Security Figure 4-19: Wireless Security - WEP Figure 4-20: Wireless Security - WPA Personal Figure 4-21: Wireless Security - PSK2 Figure 4-22: Wireless Security - WPA Enterprise - EAP-TLS Figure 4-23: Wireless Security - WPA Enterprise - PEAP Figure 4-24: Wireless Security - RADIUS - EAP-TLS Figure 4-25: Wireless Security - RADIUS - PEAP Figure 4-26: Wireless Security - LEAP Figure 4-27: Confirm New Settings Figure 4-28: Congratulations Figure 5-1: Wireless Network Monitor Icon Figure 5-2: Link Information 6 7 7 8 9 10 10 10 11 12 12 13 13 14 15 15 16 16 17 17 18 18 19 19 20 20 21 22 22 23 23 Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter Figure 5-3: More Information - Wireless Network Status Figure 5-4: More Information - Wireless Network Statistics Figure 5-5: The SecureEasySetup Button Figure 5-6: The SecureEasySetup Logo and Location Figure 5-7: SecureEasySetup Figure 5-8: SecureEasySetup is Complete Figure 5-9: Site Survey Figure 5-10: WEP Key Needed for Connection Figure 5-11: WPA-Personal Needed for Connection Figure 5-12: PSK2 Needed for Connection Figure 5-13: Profiles Figure 5-14: Import a Profile Figure 5-15: Export a Profile Figure 5-16: Create a New Profile Figure 5-17: Available Wireless Network Figure 5-18: Available Wireless Network Figure 5-19: The SecureEasySetup Logo and Location Figure 5-20: SecureEasySetup Figure 5-21: SecureEasySetup Complete Figure 5-22: Available Wireless Network Figure 5-23: WEP Key Needed for Connection Figure 5-24: WPA-Personal Needed for Connection Figure 5-25: PSK2 Needed for Connection Figure 5-26: The Congratulations Screen Figure 5-27: Available Wireless Network Figure 5-28: Network Settings Figure 5-29: Wireless Mode Figure 5-30: Ad-Hoc Mode Settings Figure 5-31: Wireless Security Figure 5-32: Wireless Security - WEP Figure 5-33: Wireless Security - WPA Personal Figure 5-34: Wireless Security - PSK2 Figure 5-35: Wireless Security - WPA Enterprise - EAP-TLS Figure 5-36: Wireless Security - WPA Enterprise - PEAP Figure 5-37: Wireless Security - RADIUS - EAP-TLS Figure 5-38: Wireless Security - RADIUS - PEAP 24 25 26 26 26 27 28 28 28 29 29 29 30 30 30 31 31 31 32 33 33 34 34 35 35 36 36 37 37 38 39 39 40 40 41 41 Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter Figure 5-39: LEAP Figure 5-40: Confirm New Settings Figure 5-41: The Congratulations Screen Figure B-1: Wireless Network Monitor Icon Figure B-2: Windows XP - Use Windows XP Wireless Configuration Figure B-3: Windows XP Wireless Configuration Icon Figure B-4: Available Wireless Network Figure B-5: No Wireless Security Figure B-6: Network Connection - Wireless Security Figure B-7: Wireless Network Connection 42 43 43 48 48 48 49 49 50 50 Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter Chapter 1: Introduction Welcome Thank you for choosing the Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter. With this Adapter, your wireless networking experience will be faster and easier than ever. network: a series of computers or devices connected for the purpose of data sharing, storage, and/or transmission between users. How does the Adapter do this? Like all wireless products, the Adapter allows for greater range and mobility adapter: a device that adds network functionality to your PC. within your wireless network. Connecting to your PC via the USB port means that this Adapter leaves the PC's slots open for other purposes. This adapter communicates over the 802.11g wireless standard, one of the newest wireless standards, to communicate with your network. 802.11g: an IEEE wireless networking standard that specifies a maximum data transfer rate of 54Mbps, an operating frequency But what does all of this mean? of 2.4GHz, and backward compatibility with 802.11b devices. Networks are useful tools for sharing computer resources. You can access one printer from different computers and access data located on another computer's hard drive. Networks are even used for playing multiplayer video games. So, networks are not only useful in homes and offices, they can also be fun. PCs equipped with wireless cards and adapters can communicate without cumbersome cables. By sharing the same wireless settings, within their transmission radius, they form a wireless network. And now, with SecureEasySetup, setting up your network and your Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter is easier than ever. Use the instructions in this Guide to help you connect the Adapter, set it up, and configure it for your network. These instructions should be all you need to get the most out of the Adapter. Chapter 1: Introduction Welcome 1 Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter What's in this Guide? This user guide covers the steps for setting up and using the Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter. · Chapter 1: Introduction This chapter describes the Adapter's applications and this User Guide. · Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network This chapter discusses a few of the basics about wireless networking. · Chapter 3: Getting to Know the Compact USB Adapter This chapter describes the physical features of the Adapter. · Chapter 3: Setting Up and Connecting the USB Adapter This chapter shows you how to setup and connect the Adapter. · Chapter 4: Using the Wireless Network Monitor This chapter show you how to use the Adapter's Wireless Network Monitor. · Appendix A: Troubleshooting This appendix describes some problems and solutions, as well as frequently asked questions, regarding installation and use of the Adapter. · Appendix B: Using Windows XP Wireless Configuration This appendix describes how Windows XP users can use Window's built-in wireless configuration to monitor their Adapter. · Appendix C: Wireless Security This appendix discusses security issues regarding wireless networking and measures you can take to help protect your wireless network. · Appendix D: Windows Help This appendix describes how you can use Windows Help for instructions about networking, such as installing the TCP/IP protocol. · Appendix E: Glossary This appendix gives a brief glossary of terms frequently used in networking. · Appendix F: Specifications This appendix provides the Adapter's technical specifications. Chapter 1: Introduction What's in this Guide? 2 Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter · Appendix G: Warranty Information This appendix supplies the Adapter's warranty information. · Appendix H: Regulatory Information This appendix supplies the Adapter's regulatory information. · Appendix I: Contact Information This appendix provides contact information for a variety of Linksys resources, including Technical Support. Chapter 1: Introduction What's in this Guide? 3 Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter Chapter 2: Planning your Wireless Network Network Topology A wireless network is a group of computers, each equipped with one wireless adapter. Computers in a wireless network must be configured to share the same radio channel. Several PCs equipped with wireless cards or adapters can communicate with one another to form an ad-hoc network. Linksys wireless adapters also provide users access to a wired network when using an access point or wireless router. An integrated wireless and wired network is called an infrastructure network. Each wireless PC in an infrastructure network can talk to any computer in a wired network infrastructure via the access point or wireless router. An infrastructure configuration extends the accessibility of a wireless PC to a wired network, and can double the effective wireless transmission range for two wireless adapter PCs. Since an access point is able to forward data within a network, the effective transmission range in an infrastructure network can be doubled. ad-hoc: a group of wireless devices communicating directly with each other (peerto-peer) without the use of an access point access point: device that allows wirelessequipped computers and other devices to communicate with a wired network. infrastructure: Configuration in which a wireless network is bridged to a wired network via an access point. Roaming Infrastructure mode also supports roaming capabilities for mobile users. Roaming means that you can move your wireless PC within your network and the access points will pick up the wireless PC's signal, providing that they both share the same channel and SSID. Before enabling you consider roaming, choose a feasible radio channel and optimum access point position. Proper access point positioning combined with a clear radio signal will greatly enhance performance. roaming: the ability to take a wireless device from one access point's range to another without losing the connection. ssid: your wireless network's name Chapter 2: Planning your Wireless Network Network Topology 4 Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter Network Layout Linksys wireless access points and wireless routers have been designed for use with 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g products. With 802.11g products communicating with the 802.11b standard and some products incorporating both "a" and "g", products using these standards can communicate with each other. Access points and wireless routers are compatible with 802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11g adapters, such at the PC Cards for your laptop computers, PCI Card for your desktop PC, and USB Adapters for when you want to enjoy USB connectivity. Wireless products will also communicate with the wireless PrintServer. When you wish to connect your wired network with your wireless network, networ ...