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# Using PROSet Profiles: Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2200BG User's Guide

# Using Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless Profiles

- Setting up Windows Network Profiles
- Profile Connection Preferences
- Transmit Data Rates and Access Points
- Creating a New Profile
- Importing and Exporting Profiles
- Setting a Profile Password
- Automatic Profile Distribution
- Editing an Existing Profile
- Deleting a Profile
- Connecting to a Network without a Profile
- Connecting to a Network if a Blank SSID displays
- Loading a Profile from the Task Tray

## Setting up Windows Network Profiles

A profile is a saved group of network settings. Profiles are displayed in the Profile List in the wireless client manager General page. Profiles can be arranged in order of network connection priority. You can connect to one network using the first profile in the Profile List, then automatically connect to another network using the next profile. This allows you to stay connected while roaming freely from one wireless network to another. Although you can assign multiple profiles to a single network, you can only use one profile per connection. To add a new profile, use the Profile Wizard sequence of dialogs to configure the profile contents. The following example uses all of the Profile Wizard dialogs. Some settings may not be required for all profiles.

Refer to the following to setup profile connection preferences:

## Profile Connection Preferences

To access the profile connection preference option:

1. From the General page, click the Networks tab.
2. Click the Advanced button.
3. Under the Auto-connection heading, click the one of the following options:

- Connect to available networks using profiles only (Default setting): Use the profiles in the Profile List to connect to any available network.
- Connect to any available network if no matching profile is found: Connect to any available network without using a profile from the Profile List.
- Connect to any network based on profiles only (Cisco Mode): Connect to any available network access point using profiles enabled for Cisco CCX (version 1) mode. This mode allows connection to access points that support multiple and blank network names (SSIDs).

  - Enable Mixed-Cell (Requires Cisco CCX options): Select this Advanced Settings check box to allow the wireless LAN adapter to communicate with mixed cells. A mixed cell is a wireless network in which some devices use WEP and some do not. The option Enable Cisco-Client eXtentions in the Profile Wizard General Settings page must be enabled for mixed cell support.

4. Click OK to save the setting and return to the previous dialog.

## Transmit Data Rates and Access Points

To achieve the optimum transmit data rate it is important to identify the type of access point that the wireless adapter is connecting to. The Advanced Settings provide the mode selections to optimize your operating environment.

### Infrastructure Mode

The following describes how the wireless preference modes operate using Infrastructure mode. The adapter can operate in three modes:

- Connect to 802.11g and 802.11b: This is the default setting. The adapter will search for either 11g or 11b access points using data transmit rates of 1, 2, 5.5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, or 54 Mbps. This connection defaults to 11g access points. The Available Networks list displays all 11b and 11g access points.

- Connect to 802.11g only: The adapter will search for a 11g access point only using data transmit rates of 1, 2, 5.5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, or 54 Mbps. The Available Networks list displays only 11g access points.

- Connect to 802.11b only: The adapter will search for the best 11b and 11g access points using data rates of 1, 2, 5.5, or 11 Mbps. The Available Networks list displays any 11b and 11g access point.

### Access Point and Client Combinations

The following table shows compare the adapter wireless preference mode, and the transmit date rates using a specific type of access point. The wireless mode (Modulation type) options determine the discovered access points displayed in the Scan list (Available Networks dialog).

11b Access Point

Wireless Mode | Scan List | Connect | Transmit Data Rates
11g and 11b | Yes | Yes | 1, 2, 5.5, or 11 Mbps
11b only | Yes | Yes | 1, 2, 5.5, or 11 Mbps
11g only | No | No | None

11g (11g and 11b) Access Point

Wireless Mode | Scan List | Connect | Transmit Data Rates
11g and 11b | Yes | Yes | 1, 2, 5.5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, or 54 Mbps*.
11b only | Yes | Yes | 1, 2, 5.5, or 11 Mbps
11g only | Yes | Yes | 1, 2, 5.5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, or 54 Mbps*.

11g (11g only mode) Access Point**

Wireless Mode | Scan List | Connect | Transmit Data Rates
11g and 11b | Yes | Yes | 1, 2, 5.5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, or 54 Mbps*.
11b only | No | No | None
11g only | Yes | Yes | 1, 2, 5.5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, or 54 Mbps*.

Note: (*) depends on the signal strength and quality. Use RTS/CTS (Default setting) to avoid collisions in mixed mode environments where the 11g and 11b clients cannot hear each other. Use CTS-to-self to improve performance in mixed mode environments where 11g and 11b clients are in close proximity and can hear each other.

Note: (**) Because 11b clients cannot connect to this access point mixed mode protection (RTS/CTS or CTS-to-self) is not used.

### Ad Hoc Mode

The following summarizes how the modulation settings operate using ad hoc mode.

Ad Hoc Initiator | Ad Hoc Joiner | Action | Comments
11b-only | 11b-only | B asic rates (1, 2, 5.5, or 11 Mbps) | 11b-only
11g-only | Down scale basic rates, turn on protection* (1, 2, 5.5, or 11 Mbps) | 11b and 11g
11b and 11g | B asic rates (1, 2, 5.5, or 11 Mbps) | 11b and 11g
11g-only | 11b-only | Does not apply to Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2200BG adapter. For other cards - down scale basic rates, turn on protection* (1, 2, 5.5, or 11 Mbps) | 11b and 11g
11g-only | B asic rates (1, 2, 5.5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, or 54 Mbps) | 11g-only
11b and 11g | U pscale) basic rates (1, 2, 5.5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, or 54 Mbps) | 11g-only
11b and 11g | 11b-only | B asic rates, turn on protection* (1, 2, 5.5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, or 54 Mbps) | 11b and 11g
11g-only | Downscale basic rates, turn on protection* depends on initiator (1, 2, 5.5, or 11 Mbps) | 11b and 11g
11b and 11g | B asic rates, turn on protection* depends on initiator (1, 2, 5.5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, or 54 Mbps) | 11b and 11g

Note: (*) See Viewing Adapter Advanced Settings in Windows - Use "RTS/CTS enable" (Default setting) to avoid collisions in mixed mode environments where the 11g and 11b clients cannot hear each other. Use "CTS-to-self enable" to improve performance in mixed mode environments where 11g and 11b clients are in close proximity and can hear each other.

### Ad Hoc Transmit Rates Overview

The following describes how the wireless preference modes operate using Ad Hoc mode. The adapter can operate in three modes:

- Connect to 802.11g and 802.11b: mixed mode (default setting). The adapter will search for either 11g or 11b access points using data transmit rates of 1, 2, 5.5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, or 54 Mbps. This connection defaults to 11g access points. The Available Networks list displays all 11b and 11g access points.
- Connect to 802.11g only: The adapter will search for a 11g access point only using data transmit rates of 1, 2, 5.5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, or 54 Mbps. The Available Networks list displays only 11g access points.
- Connect to 802.11b only: The adapter will search for the best 11b and 11g access points using data rates of 1, 2, 5.5, or 11 Mbps. The Available Networks list displays any 11b and 11g access point.

When different modulation settings are used in ad hoc mode, they influence the computer in the following ways:

- It determines to which ad hoc network we are allowed to connect to.
- It determines whom we show in our scan list.

A station in an ad hoc network constantly adapts itself to the current situation in the ad hoc network as far as other stations capabilities are concerned. Updating of the supported transmit data rates is done in the following way:
Only the basic rates change. Supported rates of a station never change. At all times the basic rates advertised by stations in an ad hoc network should be the same, and should reflect the set of basic rates supported by every station in this ad hoc network. Since basic rates is the actual information used by a station to decide if it can join the ad hoc network then this is enough to determine if a station can or cannot connect to this ad hoc network.

### Mixed Mode

Mixed mode stations (802.11g and 802.11b) are able to join any ad hoc network they hear.

Joining an ad hoc network

- Join an 11b ad hoc network only – keep the supported rates and update the basic rates to fit the ad hoc network you are joining. Protection (RTS/CTS or CTS-to-self) is on.
- Join an 11g ad hoc network only – keep the supported rates and up scale the basic rates advertised in the beacons. Note that this is not good because the station ceases being a “mixed mode” and become an 11g only station.
- Join an 11a and 11b ad hoc network only – keep the supported rates and update the basic rates to fit the ad hoc network you are joining.

Initiating an ad hoc network

When initiating a mixed mode ad hoc network the default rates for mixed mode is: 1, 2, 5.5, 11, 6, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48 and 54 Mbps with rates 1, 2 as basic. When other stations join in, the basic rates are down scaled if required. Protection is on when 11b station are joining.

### 11b only mode

Joining an ad hoc network
In this mode you can only join an ad hoc network that advertises only basic data rates of 1, 2, 5.5, or 11 Mbps. So, the list of potential ad hoc networks will include 11b and 11b and 11g, but not 11g. Supported rates remain unchanged, and basic rates are adapted to match those advertised by the ad hoc network which you are joining in the beacons.
Initiating an ad hoc network

When initiating an 11b only ad hoc network, the following rates 1, 2, 5.5 and 11 Mbps, with 1 and 2 as basic. As other stations join in they down scale their basic rates if required. Protection (RTS/CTS or CTS-to-self) is on.

### 11g only mode

Initiate an ad hoc network as an 11g only (1, 2, 5.5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, or 54 Mbps). Support joining and down scaling in the same way as in Mixed mode. When initiating such an ad hoc network the advertised rates are: 1, 2, 5.5, 6, 11, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48 and 54 with 1, 2, 5.5, 6, 11, 12 and 24 Mbps as basic.

11g only stations are able to join any ad hoc network they hear.
Joining an ad hoc network

The basic rates in this case are taken from the beacons.

- Join an 11b ad hoc network only – keep the supported rates and down scale the basic rates to fit the ad hoc network you are joining. Protection (RTS/CTS or CTS-to-self) is on.
- Join an 11g ad hoc network only – keep the supported rates and adopt the basic rates advertised in the beacons.
- Join an 11a and 11b ad hoc network only – keep the supported rates and update the
  basic rates to fit the ad hoc network you are joining.

Initiating an ad hoc network

When initiating an 11g only ad hoc network the advertised rates are: 1, 2, 5.5, 6, 11, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48 and 54 Mbps with 1, 2, 5.5, 6, 11, 12 and 24 Mbps as basic.

When other stations join in, the basic rates are down scaled if required. Protection (RTS/CTS or CTS-to-self) is on when 11b station is joining.

### Creating a New Profile

To add a new profile, use the Profile Wizard sequence of dialogs to configure the profile contents. The following example uses all of the Profile Wizard dialogs, although some of the settings may not be required.

To create a new profile and connect to a network:

1. From the General page, click the Networks tab.
2. Click the Add button. The General Settings dialog displays.

| NOTE: If this is the first time you have created a profile, click the profile named Default in the Profile List, click the Edit button and rename the default profile in the Profile Name field on the General page.

General Settings

1. From the General page, click the Networks tab.
2. Click the Add button. The General Settings dialog displays.
3. Enter a profile name in the Profile Name field.
4. Enter the network SSID, in the Network Name (SSID) field.
5. Click Infrastructure or Ad hoc for the operating mode.
6. Click Password protect this profile to set a password for the profile.
7. The Mandatory AP option is only used if Infrastructure mode is selected. Use this option to connect to a specific access point. Click the Mandatory AP button, enter the MAC address for the access point. Click OK to save the setting and return to the General Settings page.
8. If you are using Cisco CCX, click the Enable Cisco Client eXtentions option to enable Cisco CKIP data encryption on the Security Settings page. If you have checked the Cisco's "Mixed-Cell" box in the Advanced Setting, this option
   must also be checked.
9. Check the Enable Auto-Import check box to allow this profile to be imported. Refer to Automatic Profile Distribution for more information.
10. Click Next.

Security Settings

11. Select Open or Shared in the Network Authentication options. Open, does not use any authentication method. Shared uses the WEP key as the authentication method.
12. Select either None, WEP or CKIP (if Enable Cisco Client eXtentions is enabled on the General Settings page) for the data encryption.
13. If WEP is selected, select either 64 or 128-bit for the Encryption Level.
14. Select the key index 1, 2, 3 or 4.
15. Enter the required pass phrase or hex key.
16. Click the 802.1x Enabled checkbox to enable the 802.1x security option.
17. Select MD5 or the appropriate 802.1x Authentication Type set by your system administrator.
18. After selecting your authentication type, click the Configure button to open the Settings dialog. Enter the user name and password of the user you have created on the authentication server. The user name and password do not have to be the same as name and password of your current Windows user login. The "Server Identity" can be use the default setting. The "Client Certificate" should be the one obtained from your RADIUS server or other certification server.
19. Click Close to save the settings.
20. If the Password Protection checkbox was checked on the General settings page, then click Next to display the Password page.

Password Protection Settings

21. Click the Password protect this profile checkbox.
22. Enter a password in the Password field.
23. Reenter the same password in the Confirm New Password field.
24. Click the Back button to change or verify the settings or click Finish when you have completed the profile settings and return to the Networks page.

Connect to the Network

25. Click the new profile name shown in the Profile List. Use the up and down arrows to position the priority of the new profile in the priority list.
26. Click the Advanced button to set the network connection preferences.
27. Click the Connect button to connect to the network.
28. Click OK to close the Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless utility.

## Importing and Exporting Profiles

| NOTE: A password protected profile can be imported and exported, however, before editing the profile, the password must be entered. Refer to Setting a Profile Password for more information.

To import profiles:

1. From the General page, click the Networks tab.
2. Click the Advanced button.
3. Click the Import/Export button.
4. Click the Import button.
5. Locate the profile to import on your hard disk or enter the profile name in the File name field. The profile extension is .profile.
6. Click the Import to import the profile into the Profile List.
7. Click OK twice to return to the Networks tab.
8. Click OK to close the Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless utility.

To export profiles:

1. From the General page, click the Networks tab.
2. Click the Advanced button.
3. Click the profiles to export from the export profile list.
4. Click the Browse button and select a directory to save the profiles in. Click OK to return to the previous dialog.
5. Click the Export button to start exporting the profiles.
6. Click OK twice to return to the Networks tab.
7. Click OK to close the Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless utility.

## Setting a Profile Password

To set a password for an existing profile:

1. Select the profile from the Profile List in the Networks page, and click the Edit button.
2. Click the Password tab.
3. Click the check box next to "Password protect this profile" to enable profile password.
4. Enter a ten character password in the Password field.
5. Enter the new password again in the Confirm New Password field.
6. Click OK to exit and return to the Networks tab.
7. Click OK to close and exit the Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless utility.

To password protect a new profile:

1. Select the profile from the Profile List in the Networks page, and click the Add button.
2. Click the Password tab.
3. Click the check box next to "Password protect this profile" to enable profile password.
4. Enter a ten character password in the Password field.
5. Enter the new password again in the Confirm New Password field.
6. A message box displays that the new password was successfully applied. Click OK to close the message box. Note, if the new password is not successfully confirmed, click OK to close the message box and repeat step 4 and 5.
7. Click OK to exit and return to the Networks tab.
8. Click OK to close and exit the wireless Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless utility.

## Automatic Profile Distribution

The Enable Auto-Import feature allows a network administrator to distribute a profile automatically to computers connected to a network. The Enable Auto-Import box is located on the Profile Wizard dialogs. When the checkbox is checked the profile must be copied to a specific directory on the host computer, from there it can be distributed to multiple computers. Once the profile is received by the remote computer it will automatically be available for use from the Scan profile list. If an attempt is made to edit a distributed profile that is password protected, a password prompt will appear.

Automatically importing WLAN profiles is accomplished by monitoring the import folder on your hard disk for new profile files. Only profiles that have the Enable Auto-Import box checked on the Profile Wizard dialogs can be automatically imported. If a profile of the same name already exists in the Profile List, a dialog is displayed from which you can either reject the import, or accept in which case the existing profile will be replaced. All imported profiles will be placed at the bottom of the Profile List, and the profile file will be immediately deleted after the import whether the import was successful or not.

Step 1: To export an "Enabled Auto-Import" profile from the profile list:

1. Select a profile to be edited from the Profile List in the Networks page, and click the Edit button or click the Add button to create a new profile using the Profile Wizard.
2. Check the Enable Auto-Import checkbox on the General page.
3. Click OK (Edit a profile) or Finish (Add a profile) to save the settings.

Step 2: Export the profile from the profile list to a folder on your computer.

4. From the General page, click the Networks tab.

5. Click the Advanced
   button.

6. Click the profile to export from the export profile list.

7. Click the Browse button and select a folder to save the profiles in. Click OK to return to the previous dialog.

8. Click the Export button to start exporting the profile.

9. Click OK twice to return to the Networks dialog.

10. Click OK to close the Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless.

Step 3: Copy (not drag-and-drop) the exported profile from its folder (see step 7) to the following directory, Programs Files\Intel\PROSetWireless\PROSet\Import. The profile is now ready to distribute to other computers. Once the profile is received by the remote computer it will automatically be available for use from the profile list.

## Editing an Existing Profile

To edit an existing profile:

1. From the General page, click the Networks tab.
2. Select the profile to edit from the Profile List.
3. Click the Edit button. The General page displays.
4. Click on the General, Security, and Password tabs to make the necessary changes for the network profile settings:
5. Click OK on any of the pages to save all the settings and return to the Networks tab.
6. Click the new profile name shown in the Profile List. Use the up and down arrows to position the priority of new profile in the priority list.
7. Click the Advanced button to set the network connection preferences.
8. Click the Connect button to connect to the network.
9. Click OK to close the Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless utility.

## Deleting a Profile

To delete a profile:

1. From the General page, click the Networks tab.
2. Click the profile to be deleted from the Profile List.
3. Click the Delete button.
4. Click Yes to permanently delete the profile.

| NOTE: You cannot delete all profiles from the profile list. There must always be one profile displayed in the list.

## Connecting to a Network without a Profile

To connect to an available network without a profile:

1. From the General page, click the Networks tab.
2. Click the Scan button.
3. Select the network profile name with <no profile> shown, and click the Connect button.
4. Click the No, connect me directly without creating a profile option. Note, you can click Yes, create a profile for this network now to create a profile to be used later.
5. Click OK to connect.

## Connecting to a Network if a Blank SSID displays

If the wireless adapter receives a blank network name (SSID) from a stealth access point, both the blank SSID and <no profile> display in the available networks list. To associate with a stealth access point, a new profile must first be created before connection. After connection both the blank SSID and the associated SSID can be viewed in the available networks list.

To connect to an access point that transmits a blank network name (SSID) in the Available Networks list:

1. From the General page, click the Networks tab.
2. Click the Scan button.
3. Select the network name with a blank SSID and <no profile> shown in the Available Networks list.
4. Click the Connect button.
5. The Profile Wizard dialog displays. Enter a profile name and Network Name (SSID) and security settings if required. Click Next to save the profile settings and return to the Networks tab.
6. Click Next.
7. Click Finish.
8. Select the new profile from the profile list and click Connect.

## Loading a Profile from the Task Tray

To load a profile from the Task Tray:

1. Right-click Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless icon in the task tray.
2. Select the Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2200BG Network Connection.
3. Click Select Profile and select the profile to be launched.

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