Table Of Contents

Troubleshooting

Accessing the Latest Troubleshooting Information

Using the Indicator LEDs

Determining the Driver Version and Client Utility Release

Problems after Installing the Driver

Client Adapter Recognition Problems

Problems Associating to the Access Point

Problems Authenticating to the Access Point

Problems Connecting to the Network

Getting Help

Troubleshooting

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This chapter provides general information for diagnosing and correcting common problems encountered when installing or operating a Cisco Aironet Wireless LAN Adapter.

The following topics are covered in this section:

•Accessing the Latest Troubleshooting Information

•Using the Indicator LEDs

•Determining the Driver Version and Client Utility Release

•Problems after Installing the Driver

•Problems Associating to the Access Point

•Problems Authenticating to the Access Point

•Problems Connecting to the Network

•Getting Help

Accessing the Latest Troubleshooting Information

This chapter provides basic troubleshooting tips for your client adapter. For more up-to-date and complex troubleshooting information, refer to the TAC web site at http://www.cisco.com/tac. Select Wireless Technologies under Top Issues.

Using the Indicator LEDs

The client adapter shows messages and error conditions through its two LEDs:

•Link Integrity/Power LED (green)—This LED lights when the client adapter is receiving power and blinks slowly when the adapter is linked with the network.

•Link Activity LED (amber)—This LED blinks quickly when the client adapter is receiving or transmitting data and blinks in a repeating pattern to indicate an error condition.

Table 8-1 interprets the LED operating messages.

Table 8-1 LED Operating Messages 

Green LED	Amber LED	Condition
Off	Off	Client adapter is not receiving power or an error has occurred
Blinking quickly	Blinking quickly	Power is on, self-test is OK, and client adapter is scanning for a network
Blinking slowly	Blinking quickly	Client adapter is associated to an access point
Blinking slowly	Blinking quickly	Client adapter is transmitting or receiving data while associated to an access point
Off	Blinking quickly	Client adapter is in power save mode
On continuously	Blinking quickly	Client adapter is in ad hoc mode
Off	On	Driver installed incorrectly
Off	Blinking in a pattern	Indicates an error condition

Determining the Driver Version and Client Utility Release

To determine the driver version, select Status from the Commands pull-down menu in ACU. The driver version is displayed in the Status screen.

Follow these steps to determine the client utility release:

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Step 1 Open the ACU.

Step 2 Select the Commands tab and click About.

In the output returned, the ACU version is indicated by v.xx, which appears before the date/time stamp.

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Problems after Installing the Driver

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Note If you experience problems during driver installation, you might want to restart the installation process. Go to the "Uninstalling the Driver and Client Utilities" section to start with a clean install.

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Follow the instructions in this section if you experience difficulty with your client adapter after installing the driver (for instance, your computer repeatedly freezes at the network login screen, the green LED does not blink to indicate that the adapter is active, etc.).

Client Adapter Recognition Problems

If your client adapter is not being recognized by your computer's PCMCIA adapter, check your computer's BIOS and make sure that the PC card controller mode is set to PCIC compatible.

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Note A computer's BIOS varies depending on the manufacturer. For support on BIOS-related issues, consult your computer's manufacturer.

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Problems Associating to the Access Point

Follow these guidelines if your client adapter fails to associate to the access point.

•If possible, move your workstation a few feet closer to the access point and try again.

•Make sure the client adapter is securely inserted in your computer's PC card slot or PCI expansion slot.

•If you are using a PCI client adapter, make sure the antenna is securely attached.

•Make sure the access point is turned on and operating.

•If you have access, check the access point's console to see if it is returning any error messages.

•Ensure that all parameters are set properly for both the client adapter and the access point. These include the SSID, LEAP activation, WEP activation, network type, and channel.

•If the client adapter still fails to establish contact, refer to the "Obtaining Technical Assistance" in the Preface for technical support information.

Problems Authenticating to the Access Point

If your client adapter is a 40-bit card and LEAP is enabled, the adapter can associate to but not authenticate to access points using 128-bit encryption. To authenticate to an access point using 128-bit encryption, you have two options:

•Purchase a 128-bit client adapter. This is the most secure option.

•Disable WEP for the client adapter and configure the adapter and the access point to associate to mixed cells. This option presents a security risk because your data is not encrypted as it is sent over the RF network.

Problems Connecting to the Network

After you have installed the appropriate driver and client utilities, contact your IS department if you have a problem connecting to the network. Proxy server, network protocols, and further authentication information might be needed to connect to the network.

Getting Help

You can access HTML browser-based online help for your client adapter by clicking the Help button in any screen having one and selecting a web browser. Once you have selected a web browser, the ACU's online help pages are accessed. Follow these steps to access online help.

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Step 1 From any screen having one, click the Help button. The acu screen appears (Figure 8-1).

Figure 8-1 The ACU Screen

Step 2 Enter the name of your HTML browser (for example Netscape, Lynx, Opera, or Mozilla) and click OK. The browser opens and the Help Home Page appears (Figure 8-2).

Figure 8-2 Help Home Page

Step 3 Click the link for the specific help you need (for example, SSID). The SSID help page appears
(Figure 8-3)

Figure 8-3 SSID Help Page

Step 4 When you have finished with the screen, you can access another help page or return to the ACU.

•To access another help page, click the Contents or the browser's Back button to return to the Help Home page. From there, select another help page to view.

•To return to the ACU, open the File pull-down menu and click Exit or the X in the left corner of the Help window.

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