Cisco Aironet Wireless LAN Client Adapters

Document ID: 6103

Document contributed by Caz Ferguson of Ferguson Technology Solutions.

To get Cisco Aironet drivers, firmware and utility software, follow this link to the Cisco Wireless Downloads.

Contents

Introduction
Prerequisites
      Requirements
      Components Used
      Conventions
Configure
      Airport Base Station Configuration
      Aironet Client Utility Configuration
      Cisco Wireless LAN Adapter
Verify
Troubleshoot
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Related Information

Introduction

If you want your Cisco 340 or 350 PCMCIA wireless client to work with your existing Apple Airport Base Station (ABS), use this step-by-step guide. Several weeks of research, configuration, and troubleshooting went into the creation of this document.

The goal of this document is to allow the Cisco Aironet Client Adapter to effectively communicate with the Apple ABS.

Prerequisites

Requirements

There are no specific requirements for this document.

Components Used

The information in this document is based on these software and hardware versions:

• Apple Powerbook running MacOS version 9.2

• Cisco Aironet 340 series PCMCIA Client Adapter card.

Note: You must install the Cisco Aironet Client Adapter and the driver and software (available at the Cisco Wireless Software Center) before you proceed with the configuration. This document does not discuss advanced settings.

The information in this document was created from the devices in a specific lab environment. All of the devices used in this document started with a cleared (default) configuration. If your network is live, make sure that you understand the potential impact of any command.

Conventions

Refer to the Cisco Technical Tips Conventions for more information on document conventions.

Configure

Airport Base Station Configuration

You must configure ABS, and ensure that ABS functions properly before you add the Cisco client to the network. The ABS controls interoperability between itself and the clients.

The user connects to the ABS through the Airport Admin Utility, which is available in the MacOS. The documentation that accompanies the ABS (and the MacOS help system) explains how to access and configure the ABS through the utility.

You must either use a crossover cable to directly connect your computer to the ABS for configuration, or connect both the computer and the ABS to a hub. The ABS documentation explains this procedure in detail.

1. In the Airport Admin Utility, select the Airport tab.

2. Select Airport Network and configure these settings:

   1. Network Name: Type the name.

      Note: The Network Name is the Service Set Identifier (SSID) and is case-sensitive. If this is already configured, make a note of the SSID for later use when you configure the Client Adapter.

   2. Create a closed network: Enabled

   3. Channel: Select any channel, but make a note of your selection for later use when you configure the Client Adapter.

   4. Station density: Medium

   5. Multicast rate: 2

   6. Enable interference robustness: Not enabled

   7. Enable encryption (using WEP): Not enabled

3. In the Airport Admin Utility, select the Network tab. Configure these settings:

   1. Distribute IP address: Enabled

   2. Ethernet client computers also share a single IP address (using NAT): Not enabled

   3. DHCP Lease Time: 60 minutes

   4. Enable DHCP server on Ethernet: Not enabled

   5. Enable Airport to Ethernet bridging: Not enabled

4. In the Airport Admin Utility, select the Access Control tab, and delete any Airport ID (MAC) address.

Aironet Client Utility Configuration

Complete these steps to configure the Aironet Client Utility:

1. Start the Aironet Client Utility. Double-click the icon (which was added to the computer desktop when you installed the utilities).

2. In the Basic Properties window, delete any existing data from the SSID field.

3. Click Apply and close the window.

4. In the Edit Properties window, select the System Parameters tab, and configure these settings:

   1. Client name: Type a unique name for the workstation.

   2. SSID fields: Leave blank

   3. Power Save Mode: Select any option

   4. Network Type: Infrastructure mode

   5. Network: Home network

5. Select the RF Network Parameters tab, and perform these tasks:

   1. Click Defaults.

   2. Allow association to mixed cells: Select Enabled

6. Select the Home Networking tab. Configure these settings:

   1. Home radio network name: Type the SSID (same as Airport Base Station Configuration).

   2. Home encryption key: Leave blank

   3. Enable LEAP for home network: Not enabled

   4. Enable WEP for home network: Not enabled

   5. Home network type: Infrastructure

   6. Home data rate: Auto

   7. Home authentication type: Open

   8. Home channel: Select any channel, but make a note of your selection for later use when you configure the Client Adapter.

7. Click OK to close the window.

Cisco Wireless LAN Adapter

Complete these steps:

1. Double-click the Cisco Wireless LAN Adapter desktop icon to bring up the TCP/IP window.

2. From the MacOS control panel, select Location Manager to create a unique location to use your Cisco Aironet client adapter. This prevents changes to existing TCP/IP or AppleTalk settings you have for other locations, such as your work LAN.

   Note: You can search the MacOS Help system for help to configure Location Manager.

3. Type or select these values in the TCP/IP window:

   1. Connect via: Cisco Wireless LAN Adapter

   2. Configure: Using DHCP Server

   3. DHCP Client ID: Enter a unique name for the workstation.

   4. IP Address: Should be assigned via DHCP

   5. Subnet mask: Should be assigned via DHCP

   6. Router address: Must be the IP address of Airport BaseStation. Run the Airport Admin Utility to find the router address. As soon as the Airport BaseStation is found, the IP address appears in the list along with the user-assigned name of the base station.

   7. Leave all other fields blank and do not enable them.

Verify

There is currently no verification procedure available for this configuration.

Troubleshoot

There is currently no specific troubleshooting information available for this configuration.

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Related Information

• Cisco Wireless Downloads
• Installation and Configuration Guide for Mac OS
• Technical Support & Documentation - Cisco Systems