Wireless Networking Fundamentals

[scuzzman]

Simple, unencrypted wireless networking with Windows XP

Required components:

- Windows XP (Pro or Home)

- Wireless Network Interface Card (NIC)

- Wireless Router, Hub, or some other type of Wireless Access Point

Wireless NICs (commonly also referred to as "wireless cards") come in varying styles. The most often used are PCMCIA (usually used in laptops), USB and PCI. The installation is out of the scope of this article, so we won't cover that right now.

As far as configuring a wireless network goes, it is very simple and straight-forward. As for first configuring your wireless router/hub/etc for internet access, you'll want to consult "Networking Fundamentals, Part 1, 2, & 3" which can be found here:

- Part 1: http://www.windowsforum.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=13745

- Part 2: http://www.windowsforum.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=13725

- Part 3: http://www.windowsforum.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=15591

Now for the easy part - actually configuring your wireless network.

Access your router configuration and there will be a wireless configuration area. On most, wireless is enabled by default, but in case it isn't, go to the wireless configuration and assure that "Wireless" (may be different on yours) is set to "Enabled". There should also be an option to set the "SSID". This is a unique identifier for your wireless network, so set it to something you'll remember.

Now, on your computer (I assume Windows XP right now) go to Start->Control Panel (you may need to go to Settings->Control Panel depending on your setup). Click on "Network and Internet Connections" (if you don't see it, skip this step), and now go to "Network Connections".

Right-click on "Wireless Connection" (if you don't see it, please post in our Hardware Troubles forum to resolve this problem first) and select "View available wireless networks". When the list finishes populating, you should see a network with your particular SSID. Click it, check the box that says "Allow me to connect to a network although it is not secured" and click "Connect".

You're done!

Encrypting wireless networks using WEP and Windows XP

Required components:

- Windows XP (Pro or Home)

- Wireless Network Interface Card (NIC)

- Wireless Router, Hub, or some other type of Wireless Access Point

Wireless NICs (commonly also referred to as "wireless cards") come in varying styles. The most often used are PCMCIA (usually used in laptops), USB and PCI. The installation is out of the scope of this article, so we won't cover that right now.

As far as configuring a wireless network goes, it is very simple and straight-forward. As for first configuring your wireless router/hub/etc for internet access, you'll want to consult "Networking Fundamentals, Part 1, 2, & 3" which can be found here:

- Part 1: http://www.windowsforum.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=13745

- Part 2: http://www.windowsforum.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=13725

- Part 3: http://www.windowsforum.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=15591

Now for the easy part - actually configuring your WEP secured wireless network.

Access your router configureation and there will be a wireless configuration area. On most, wireless is enabled by default, but in case it isn't, go to the wireless configuration and assure that "Wireless" (may be different on yours) is set to "Enabled". There should also be an option to set the "SSID". This is a unique identifier for your wireless network, so set it to something you'll remember. Now, look for "Wireless Security". You'll want to set this to "WEP", and a new menu should now be available. There will likely be a box that reads "Key Select" (again, may be different) that you'll want to set to "Key 1". There should also be several text boxes with drop-down menus beside/around them. In the first, enter a unique combination of characters, and specify the encryption bitrate following the chart below (again, this may vary depending on your router, but these are usually the defaults. Read your router docs for more information):

- 5 numbers = 64-bit

- 13 numbers = 128 bit

- 29 numbers = 256 bit

Now write down this number or remember it. This is essentially a "password" for accessing your network. Now, apply/save these settings and close the window.

Now, on your computer (I assume Windows XP right now) go to Start->Control Panel (you may need to go to Settings->Control Panel depending on your setup). Click on "Network and Internet Connections" (if you don't see it, skip this step), and now go to "Network Connections".

Right-click on "Wireless Connection" (if you don't see it, please post in our Hardware Troubles forum to resolve this problem first) and select "View available wireless networks". When the list finishes populating, you should see a network with your particular SSID. Click the network, and there should be a prompt avaiable to input your WEP Key - this is the number we just wrote down. Enter it in this box, and click "Connect".

You're done!

Encrypting wireless networks using WPA and Windows XP

Required components:

- Windows XP (Pro or Home)

- Wireless Network Interface Card (NIC)

- Wireless Router, Hub, or some other type of Wireless Access Point

Wireless NICs (commonly also referred to as "wireless cards") come in varying styles. The most often used are PCMCIA (usually used in laptops), USB and PCI. The installation is out of the scope of this article, so we won't cover that right now.

As far as configuring a wireless network goes, it is very simple and straight-forward. As for first configuring your wireless router/hub/etc for internet access, you'll want to consult "Networking Fundamentals, Part 1, 2, & 3" which can be found here:

- Part 1: http://www.windowsforum.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=13745

- Part 2: http://www.windowsforum.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=13725

- Part 3: http://www.windowsforum.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=15591

Now for the easy part - actually configuring your WPA secured wireless network.

Access your router configureation and there will be a wireless configuration area. On most, wireless is enabled by default, but in case it isn't, go to the wireless configuration and assure that "Wireless" (may be different on yours) is set to "Enabled". There should also be an option to set the "SSID". This is a unique identifier for your wireless network, so set it to something you'll remember. Now, look for "Wireless Security". You'll want to set this to "WPA", and a new menu should now be available. There will likely be a box that reads "WPA Shared Key" (or something similar). In here, enter a number 8 to 63 characters long. Now write down this number or remember it. This is essentially a "password" for accessing your network. There may also be a box that says something similar to "WPA Re-Key interval". A setting for this around 3600 is safe. Now, apply/save these settings and close the window.

Now, on your computer (I assume Windows XP right now) go to Start->Control Panel (you may need to go to Settings->Control Panel depending on your setup). Click on "Network and Internet Connections" (if you don't see it, skip this step), and now go to "Network Connections".

Right-click on "Wireless Connection" (if you don't see it, please post in our Hardware Troubles forum to resolve this problem first) and select "View available wireless networks". When the list finishes populating, you should see a network with your particular SSID. Click the network, and there should be a prompt avaiable to input your WEP Key - this is the number we just wrote down. Enter it in this box, and click "Connect".

You're done!

Instruction for Win2k and below:

The instructions for these, unfortunately, cannot be combined herein because of the nature of the available wireless devices and their configurations. A few pointers though (and you can always ask here for help):

- be sure to install all software that comes with wireless adapter

- configuration will usually be similar to Windows XP in verbiage used.

WARNING - WARNING - WARNING

If at all possible, it is much better to use WPA instead of WEP as it is much more secure.

Happy Networking!

[homecomputeraid]

Excellent work Scuzzman! Thanks for the posting. I hope you don't mind that I pinned this.

:thumbup: :groupwave:

[julzcompufreak]

HI, you guys seem to know what you're talking about,

I was wondering if you could post an wireless ad-hoc (peer-to-peer) Network tutorial?

I am trying to setup one and am having a bit of difficulty doing this.

Thanks in advance,

Julzcompufreak

[korgg]

And another thing I bumped into today... While trying to let windows manage my wireless connection, I discovered that I can't do that. I have Dell utility that does that, but when I deselect the option to manage my wireless connections, windows still can't do it.. that is because i installed another programs for this...

Ok ! Don't ask why do I want to let windows manage. Dell utility is nice but incredibly stupid. So I gave up..

So you can do this: Control Panel-> Networkoptions-> Wireless network connection->Properties tab-> Wireless-> select "Let windows manage my wireless connection" (or something like this)... But if that specific tab is not there, that means the Wireless Zero Configuration service is not started.

For that Start-> Run-> services.msc -> Wireless Zero Configuration -> Start (and make it start automatically). A reboot might be needed.

If the service is not listed in services, that means you need to install it.

to install the Wireless Zero Configuration service on your system, just follow the procedure outline below:

1. Click the Start button, and then click Control Panel.

2. In the Control Panel window, if you’re in Category View, then under Pick a Category, double-click the Network and Internet Connections icon (if you’re in Classic View, click on the Network Connections icon and skip to step #4).

3. In the Network and Internet Connections window, under the Control Panel icon, double-click the Network Connections icon.

4. In the Network Connections window, under LAN or High Speed Internet, click to select the Local Area Connection icon.

5. On the menu bar, click File and select Properties from the file menu. (Altneratively, right-click on the Local Area Connection icon and select Properties from the context menu).

6. In the Local Area Connections Properties window, on the General tab, click the Install button.

7. In the Select Network Component Type window, in the Click the type of network box, click to select the Service icon.

8. Click the Add button.

9. In the Select Network Service window, click the Have Disk button.

10. Click the OK button.

11. In the Install From Disk window, click the Browse button.

12. In the Locate File window, browse to the C:\Windows\Inf folder (this is a hidden folder).

13. Click to select NETWZC.INF.

14. Click the Open button.

15. In the Install from Disk window, click the OK button.

16. In the Select Network Service window, in the Network Service box, select Microsoft as the manufacturer, and then click to select Wireless Zero Configuration.

17. Click the OK button.

At this point you’ll need to reboot your PC. With that completed, you should find that the Wireless Zero Configuration service has been successfully installed on your system and you should now have access to the Windows Network tab.

NOTE: If you don’t see the Wireless Network tab when you go back into the Network Properties Page, then the most likely reason is that the service did not start. To initialize it, open Administrative Tools in the Control Panel and select Services. Scroll down to Wireless Zero Configuration, Right-click on it, and select Start. The service is now enabled, and the Wireless Network tab will be visible in Network Properties.

The final thing for you to do now is to go back to the Q&A column that discussed how to configure the Automatic Configuration for Multiple Networks and finish setting up your boss’s laptop computer. Just in case you need it, you can find the article at http://www.practicallynetworked.com/qa/qa20031120.shtml.

I hope this helps!

taken from HERE ... You can find more Q&A there, very usefull ones too ..

[Matan Schatzman]

wireless networks used to be a little cumbersome to implement, vendors are now coming out with plug-and-play tools that make wireless networking relatively pain free. "There have been more 'branch-in-a-box routers' coming on the market that include wireless as an option," says Michael Disabato, an analyst at the Burton Group. "Such tools eliminate multiple boxes and simplify management."