Configuring ISA and PCMCIA/CardBus adapters

The Network Configuration Manager presents you with a list of supported adapters arranged by vendor. Select the adapter from the list that most closely corresponds to the one in your machine. If the Network Configuration Manager can search for your adapter, it asks if you want to search for it.

Configuring PCMCIA/CardBus wireless adapters

If you are configuring a PCMCIA/CardBus 802.11b wireless network adapter, there are several configuration parameters, listed in ``Wireless network adapter configuration parameters'', that you need to set in the Network Configuration Manager. After you have selected the adapter to configure, click on the Advanced Options button.

Wireless network adapter configuration parameters

Parameter	Type	Values	Default Setting
ESSID	text	a-z, A-Z	Wireless
MODE	enum	Demo_Ad_hoc, IEEE_Ad_hoc, Managed	Managed
RATE	enum	1, 2, 5, 11, auto	auto
CHANNEL	int	1-11	6
ENCRYPTION	int	0, 40, 128	0
40 BIT KEY	text	0-9, a-f	0123456789
128 BIT KEY	text	0-9, a-f	0123456789abcdef0123456789

These parameters control the following aspects of a wireless network adapter:

ESSID -- Extended Service Set ID

This parameter defines the ID of the wireless network, which allows you to isolate multiple wireless networks.

MODE

This parameter defines the operating mode of the wireless network. Values include:

Demo_Ad_hoc

This is the pre-IEEE version of point-to-point mode. Also known as the ``point-to-point'' mode.

IEEE_Ad_hoc

This is the IEEE version of the point-to-point mode. Also known as ``point-to-point'' mode.

Managed

Also known as ``Infrastructure'' mode. Use this setting for a wireless network that is managed by an Access Point.

RATE

This parameter defines the baud rate (Mb/s) to be used.

CHANNEL

This parameter sets the RF channel. Similar to a wireless telephone, you need to change this parameter if you experience interference with other devices.

ENCRYPTION

This parameter is for Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP), defining the encryption mode to be used. You can specify:

0

for no encryption

40

for 40-bit mode

128

for 128-bit mode

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NOTE: 40-bit mode is sometimes referred to as 64-bit mode. 128-bit mode is sometimes called 104-bit mode.

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40 BIT KEY

This parameter defines the 40-bit WEP key.

10 characters x 4 bits/character = 40 bits

128 BIT KEY

This parameter defines the 128-bit WEP key.

26 characters x 4 bits/character = 104 bits.

See also:

• ``Adding PC Card devices''