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Setting up Wirless with Windows 9x

What is Wireless Networking?

With a Cisco wireless network card (available through the Wesleyan Computer Store for $125) your laptop can quickly and easily be configured to connect to the Wesleyan network and the Internet from key campus locations without the need of data jacks or cables. It can nevertheless allow you full access to e-mail, the World Wide Web, and many of the file servers on campus. This tipsheet will guide you through the basics of installation as well as a troubleshooting section to get you on your way. Wireless access is now available in the following locations:

• Olin Library
• Science Library
• 2nd and 5th Floor of the Science Tower
• Davenport Campus Center (includes outside patio)
• ST Lab
• Has Lab
• Clark Hall

If you are unfamiliar with computing services on campus, be sure to pick up a copy of the ITS Introduction to Network Services manual at the Helpdesk, Room SC143.

Installation Requirements

• 68030 or better processor (LCIII, IIxi or later)
• At least 16MB of RAM
• Preferably 10MB of hard drive space
• Wireless card with 128 bit encryption (such as the Cisco Aironet350 network card *)

* You can purchase a Cisco Aironet350 wireless network card from Wesleyan's Computer Store. You should receive a Cisco installation CD with your network card.

The Installation

1. While the laptop is off remove any previous network cards and insert the Aironet card into any available PCMCIA slot.

2. Install drivers

   When the new hardware is discovered, insert the installation CD and indicate that the drivers should be installed from your CDROM drive. It will find and install the drive

   

3. Install Cisco Utilities

   Open Run from the Start Menu and type in X:\Utilities\ACU\Setup.exe (where X: is your CDROM drive). Proceed through the installation. Three components will be installed with shortcuts placed on your desktop: Aironet Client Utility (ACU), Link Status Meter (LSM), and Client Encryption Manager (CEM).

   

The Configuration

To configure your 128-bit encryption, launch CEM. You will be prompted for a password type in: Cisco. Click the Commands menu and select Enter WEP Key. Click on the radio button for 128 bit encryption and enter the key found here. Note: You will be prompted for your username and email password.

Launch ACU

Select the Commands menu and select Edit Properties. Click on the System Parameters tab and enter the SSID: AirWes. Click on the Network Security tab Click on the check box for Enable WEP.

To check your signal strength Launch LSM. The screen graphic will let you know how strong a signal you are receiving.