INTEL(R) PRO/Wireless 2011B LAN PCI Adapter Software Release Version 1.00 January 18, 2002 Thank you for purchasing your Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2011B LAN PCI Adapter. The software in this release is compatible with the following Intel products: Product Name Model Number ------------ ------------ Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2011B LAN PCI Adapter WPCI2011B README CONTENTS =============== 1. Supported Operating Systems 2. What's New In The 1.00 Software Release 3. Release Notes/Known Issues 1. SUPPORTED OPERATING SYSTEMS ============================== The Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2011B LAN PCI Adapter is supported under the following operating systems: Windows(R) 98 Windows(R) 98SE Windows(R) Millennium Windows NT(R) 4.0 SP6 Windows(R) 2000 Windows(R) XP 2. WHAT'S NEW IN THE 1.00 SOFTWARE RELEASE ========================================== This is the initial release of this product. 3. RELEASE NOTES/KNOWN ISSUES ============================= Driver Installation Information ------------------------------- -During the WPCI2011B Windows(R) driver installation process, if a “Digital Signature” notification dialog displays, click Continue to proceed with the installation. Issues specific to use with certain Access Points ------------------------------------------------- -When connecting to Cisco Aironet 340 Series Access Points, the RTS threshold keyword should not be set to a value below 1536. If the RTS threshold is set lower than this, an "unable to communicate with device driver" message will be displayed in the link tab of the utility, and the link with the Access Point will be lost during data transmission. This limitation does not apply to use with Intel(R) 2011B Access Points. -When connecting to an Intel(R) 2011 Access Point, the DHCP setting must be enabled. Regardless of the actual state of the IP protocol in the operating system (static or dynamic), this setting must be enabled for the Access Point to work with the client. If DHCP is disabled it will not be possible associate to the Access Point or transfer data. This is believed to be an issue with the Access Point. Window XP specific information ------------------------------ All items listed in this section are specific to issues related to the Wireless Networking features supported by Windows(R) XP. For detailed information regarding the Windows(R) XP Wireless Networking capabilities, consult the Windows(R) XP help documentation. The XP Wireless Networking features can be used to configure the WPCI2011B device, but there are some limitations. These instances are listed below. In these cases, the phrase "while XP is controlling network settings" is used to indicate that XP control of the Wireless Network connection is invoked. It is possible to disable this if desired. This can be done using the following steps: 1. In Control Panel, open Network Connections. 2. Right click Wireless Network Connection, and then click Properties. 3. On the Wireless Networks tab, uncheck the "Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings" check box. -By default, XP control of network settings is enabled in the operating system. This setting cannot be changed until a wireless device has been installed (the dialog in which this is done is not accessible unless a device is present in the system). As a result of this condition, the device will not start immediately after the initial installation is complete. Therefore, after the installation completes, it will be necessary to disable XP control at this point and then re- configure the settings in the IMWEB Wireless Settings utility. This should allow the device to start successfully. Once the device is running, XP control can then be re-enabled if desired. -The PCI device cannot be disabled via selection of the wireless connection icon in the task bar tray. Attempts to do so will return an error. The device can be disabled or enabled by via the device manager. -Changing encryption settings while XP is controlling network settings does not work. If the encryption parameters are modified on the card to match the Access Point's encryption, you will no longer be able to associate to the host PC. -When XP is controlling network settings, XP will indicate that encryption is set when it is not. The display on the Configure AP tab under the Wireless Networks tab will indicate that encryption is being used even if it is not in fact invoked. -When XP is controlling network settings, the Authentication Algorithm cannot be set. The value for the Authentication Algorithm parameter in the Advanced tab will be indicated as "Value not present". If you set this value, the value will change temporarily, but after a few seconds will revert to the "not present" state. Issues specific to use in Adhoc Mode ------------------------------------ All items listed in this section are specific to use in Adhoc mode. These statements are not applicable when the device is used in infrastructure mode. -The configuration utility will display a "not applicable" value for the Signal Strength and Link Quality indicators. -The transmit mode indicator will indicate 2 mbps when idle, even if the rate settings are forced. While data transfer is in progress the correct transmit rate will be displayed, but will revert to 2 mpbs while in an idle state. -Channel indications may be incorrect. For example, even if both clients are set to channel 11, the configuration may utility may indicate a different channel, such as 3. -It is not possible to change channels while the adapter is running in this mode (that is, channel changes made "on the fly" will not work correctly). The system must be re-started after an Adhoc channel change is made. -When used with an Orinoco Gold Wireless adapter in Adhoc mode, it is necessary to bring up the Orinoco adapter first. Otherwise the devices will fail to connect. Transmit Rate Indication ------------------------ -The displayed transmit rate does not always display correctly when roaming. For example, if the transmit rate is at 11 mbps, as the distance from the access point increases, the expected rate drop to 5.5 mpbs may not be displayed. It has been determined that the rate does not negotiate down unless there is currently a data transfer in progress. Issues with use in a 16-bit Virtual Environment ----------------------------------------------- -In Windows(R) Millennium and Windows(R) XP, use of the device from within a 16-bit Virtual DOS Machine (a "DOS box") is subject to limitations. Extended periods of use or performance of large data transfers from within this environment may result in loss of the connection to the Access Point. If this occurs, the client may appear to still be connected, even though the Access Point has dropped the connection and data transfer is no longer able to continue. A restart of the computer may be required to correct this condition.