# 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:

1. 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.
2. Select the wireless adapter on the left side of the Intel® PROSet II window.

3. 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.

1. Double click the Intel® PROSet II icon on the right side of the Windows taskbar.
2. Select the wireless adapter on the left side of the Intel® PROSet II window.
3. Click the Settings tab.
4. Click Network Settings.
5. For the operating mode, select Communicate with access point (802.11 Station).
6. 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:

1. Double click the Intel® PROSet II icon on the right side of the Windows taskbar.
2. Select the wireless adapter on the left side of the Intel® PROSet II window.
3. Click the Settings tab.
4. Click Network Settings.
5. For the operating mode, select Peer to Peer (802.11 Ad Hoc).
6. Enter a Network Name (SSID) or select one from the list.
7. 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:

1. Double click the Intel® PROSet II icon on the right side of the Windows taskbar.
2. Select the wireless adapter on the left side of the Intel® PROSet II window.
3. Click the Settings tab.
4. Click Network Settings.
5. Click WEP Keys.
6. If required, enter your WEP password.
7. Click OK . The WEP Key Configuration dialog box is displayed.
8. 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.
9. 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:

1. Double click the Intel® PROSet II icon on the right side of the Windows taskbar.
2. Select the wireless adapter on the left side of the Intel® PROSet II window.
3. Click the Settings tab.
4. Click Network Settings.
5. Click WEP Keys.
6. If required, enter your WEP password.
7. Click OK . The WEP Key Configuration dialog box is displayed.
8. Enter Keys 1 through 4. Use numbers 0 through 9 and letters A through F .
9. 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:

1. Double click the Intel® PROSet II icon on the right side of the Windows taskbar.
2. Select the wireless adapter on the left side of the Intel® PROSet II window.
3. Click the Settings tab.
4. Click My WLAN Places.

#### To edit a profile:

1. Click the Settings tab.
2. Click My WLAN Places.

#### To start using a profile:

1. Click the Settings tab.
2. From the pull-down menu, select the appropriate wireless LAN profile for your networking situation.
3. 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:

1. Double click the Intel® PROSet II icon on the right side of the Windows taskbar.
2. Select the wireless adapter on the left side of the Intel® PROSet II window.
3. Click the Mobility tab.
4. 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.

1. Double click the Intel® PROSet II icon on the right side of the Windows taskbar.
2. Select the wireless adapter on the left side of the Intel® PROSet II window.
3. Click the Settings tab.
4. Click Power Settings.
5. Make sure that the Switch power mode based on power source check box is not checked.
6. 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:

1. Double-click My Computer, and then double-click Control Panel.
2. Double-click Network.
3. Select the Intel® PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN Adapter and click Properties.

To display the adapter properties in Windows 2000 and XP:

1. Double-click My Computer, and then double-click Control Panel.
2. Double-click Network .
3. 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:

1. Double click the Intel® PROSet II icon on the right side of the Windows taskbar.
2. Select the wireless adapter on the left side of the Intel® PROSet II window.
3. Click the Network Driver tab.
4. If you have a newer firmware file from Intel, you can click the Update button and update the Firmware.

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