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The Configuration Service feature operates in background to automatically display available networks
not listed in the Profile List. This method provides automatic connection in
a 2.4 or 5GHz environment to available networks in the range of your wireless
adapter. The Configuration Service constantly monitors your wireless adapter's connection status.
If no matching profiles are found in the Profile
List for a network, a dialog automatically displays the available
network access points and computers (ad hoc mode) within range of the
wireless adapter. The Configuration Service can also be used if there
is more than one wireless adapter installed using 802.11a and 802.11b
bands.
The Configuration Service features:
The Configuration Service can be used in two ways:
The Configuration Service also monitors
for the "resume status" after a laptop computer suspend
event. When this occurs, the Configuration Service will re-enable the
automatic connection service.
These features can be enabled again after
rebooting your computer or after a suspend and resume cycle.
Enable profile management features: Check this setting in the Advanced Settings options
to manually re-enable the Configuration Service profile management features after
being disabled from the notification dialog when another profile management application
is detected. This option can only be used to re-enable the Configuration Service
features, it cannot be used to manually disable the Configuration Service features.
Refer to Profile Switching for more information.
The following Profile Management options can be found in Advanced Settings.
Display available networks when not associated: If no networks are available that
match any profiles in the Profile List, the Configuration Service dialog is displayed,
listing the available networks. By checking "Don’t show this again" option, the dialog
listing the available networks will not be displayed again, if the adapter becomes
unassociated. The Configuration Service will continue to function and attempt to
connect, using a profile from the Profile List, or to an available network depending
on the selection mode. This mean that if Connect Using Preferred Profiles Only is
selected and no matching profile is found, then the adapter will remain unassociated.
You can still use the Connect button from the Networks tab to connect to an available
network. The Configuration Service dialog can be re-enabled from the Advanced Settings
options.
Connecting to a Network using Intel(R)
PROSet
Connecting to a Network Automatically
Enabling Automatic Connection
Profile Management Options
Notify when disabling profile management features: Check this box to display the
service disabling notification dialog when another Profile Management service is
detected such as Windows XP Zero Configuration or AAA clients. The notification dialog is
displayed, indicating that another service has been detected and that some of the
Intel(R) PROSet management features will be disabled. From this dialog, you can also choose
"Don’t show this again," in which case the Intel(R) PROSet features will automatically be
disabled without notification. This dialog can be re-enabled from the Advanced Settings
options.
Features affected when another profile management application is detected
For AAA Client:
S For Windows XP Zero Configuration:
Affected Intel(R) PROSet features:
A fast way to connect to a network is to use the Scan button to search for a
network access point in range of your wireless adapter. When a network is found, you can instantly connect without a profile or
create a new profile.
To scan for available networks:
An infrastructure network consists of one or more access points and one or more computers
with wireless adapters installed. Each access point must have a wired connection
to the Local Area Network (LAN).
The following describes how to create a new profile using the Profile Wizard and
connect to an access point using the Connect button. You can also connect to a network,
by using the Scan button.
In peer-to-peer (ad hoc) mode, you can send and receive information
to other computers without using an access point. Each computer in a peer-to-peer network is called a peer.
To create or join an ad hoc network, enter a personal password.
Network related settings (SSID), operating
mode, WEP 128-bit encryption, and IP addresses are automatically
created. Once a network connection is established, after permission
rights are given by other computers in the ad hoc network, you can
freely share files. All wireless clients in the ad hoc network
must use the same network name (SSID) and channel number. For a list of allowed
802.11b ad hoc channels, refer to the Adapter
Settings for more information.
Refer to Starting an Ad Hoc (peer-to-peer) Connection
below for details. To end an ad hoc session, click the Close
button. After the session is ended, an attempt is made to re-connect
to the last profile used from the Profile List.
The following describes how to create a new ad hoc profile using the Profile Wizard
and connect to an ad hoc network. You can also connect to a network, by using the Scan button.
To communicate properly, all computers/peers on an ad hoc network
must have Intel wireless adapters installed. To connect to an ad hoc network for a one-time session:
To disconnect from a network, turn the radio to OFF from the General page in
elect Yes, to disable Windows XP Zero
Configuration. Intel(R) PROSet will continue to manage the
adapter.
NOTE:
If the buttons described above are used, the following message displays: "Another
wireless LAN utility is communicating with the Intel(R) PRO/Wireless LAN adapter.
To avoid conflicts,
Intel(R) PROSet has temporarily disabled its Profile Management features."
Scanning for Available Networks
NOTE:
Profiles with the Enable Auto-Import feature enabled will also be
displayed in the profile list of available networks. Refer to
Automatic Profile Distribution for more information.
Connecting to a Network Using an Access Point
Connecting to a Peer-to-Peer (Ad Hoc) Network
NOTE:
While scanning with an ad hoc profile set to a specific transmit channel, if an ad hoc network
is found on another channel, you will be connected using the new
channel. The new channel number is displayed in the Adapter Settings.
Connect or Start an Ad Hoc Network
NOTE:
For information about connecting to an ad hoc using a profile, refer to Create
an Ad Hoc Profile using the Profile Wizard.
Start an Ad Hoc Network
Ending an Ad Hoc Session
Creating an Ad Hoc Profile Using the Profile Wizard
Starting an Ad Hoc (peer-to-peer) Connection
Disconnecting from a Network
Switching the Adapter Off and On
The wireless adapter can be switched off and on from the optional hardware radio
switch on your laptop computer, Intel(R) PROSet application, and the Windows operating
system.
Note: When your laptop is switched on, the radio is constantly transmitting signals.
In certain situations, such as in a plane, signals from the radio may cause interference.
Use the following methods if you need to disable the radio and use your laptop without
emitting radio signals.
Using the optional hardware radio on/off switch
If your laptop computer has an optional external hardware switch installed, it can
be used to switch the radio on or off. Refer to the laptop manufacturer for more
information about this switch. If you have Intel(R) PROSet installed, the current state
of the radio is displayed on the General page.
Using Intel(R) PROSet to switch the radio on/off
From Intel(R) PROSet, the radio can be switched on or off from the General page.
The current state of the radio is displayed, which also includes the state of the
optional hardware radio switch.
Hardware radio switch On/Off
Depending on the current state of the external optional hardware switch, displays
on or off on the General page.
Switching the radio On/Off
Note: When your laptop is switched on, the radio is constantly transmitting signals.
In certain situations, such as in a plane, signals from the radio may cause interference.
To switch the radio OFF: From the General page, click the Off button. next to Switch Radio On/Off.
To switch the radio ON: From the General page, click the On button, next to Switch Radio On/Off.
When the radio is on, an attempt will be made to associate with the network access
point using the last profile. If the adapter cannot connect to the access point,
the Configuration Service will attempt to find an available network. Refer to Configuration
Service for more information.
Right-click on the Intel(R) PROSet task tray icon and click Switch radio Off.
The radio can be switched on or off via the Windows operating system from the Device Properties dialog.
Adapter switching enables your computer to automatically switch between wired and the
wireless adapter, so your laptop computer can maintain the best possible connection to the network while moving from one location to another. When Adapter Switching is enabled, DHCP is disabled on all other wired adapters except for the adapter currently being used. However, connection is possible using another wired adapter using an auto IP address setting.Adapter switching switches between wired and wireless adapters for
the following Intel PRO adapters:
By default, adapter switching uses the wired Ethernet adapter when
both wired and wireless adapters are present and working.
If you detach the wired adapter, adapter switching automatically
switches to the wireless adapter. When you attach an Ethernet cable
again, adapter switching automatically switches back to the wired
Ethernet connection.
You can change your wireless preferences from the Advanced Settings dialog and
prioritize your wireless and wired adapters from the Adapter Switching dialog.
You can also install multiple wired adapters, or install two
wireless adapters if the network supports both 802.11a and 802.11b
wireless standards. Then when you detach the wired adapter, your
computer uses the wireless adapter that gives the best data rate.
One or more wired adapter and one or two wireless adapter can be
installed in the same computer. Using the adapter switching feature, you
can select your priority for a specific type of adapter, wired or
wireless.
If adapter switching is enabled, the installed adapters are
selected from a preference list. To access the network preferences:
Consider the following issues when switching adapters:
Wireless Preferences
Adapter Switching Considerations
Intel(R) PROSet supports switching between 802.11a (5 GHz) and 802.11b (2.4 GHz) bands. Using the Advanced Settings options, you can define band priorities.
If you have two adapters installed, you can define the adapter to be
used first. Adapter priorities can be set in the Adapter Switching dialog.
To change the adapter switching settings:
Select an adapter in the Adapter Type list and use the
up/down arrows on the left side of the dialog to arrange the
adapters in priority. The adapter in the highest position is used first.
NOTE:
One wireless adapter can be used for each band operating at a time.
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Copyright (c) 2003 Intel Corporation.