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Proxim Corporation                                    November 2002
WaveLAN Station firmware Update utility (WSU)              WSU10872
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TABLE OF CONTENTS:

1.  Software Description
2.  System Requirements
3.  New In This Release
4.  Technical Support

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1.  SOFTWARE DESCRIPTION

1.1 About this software
    The WaveLAN Station firmware Update utility (WSU) is a tool to
    update the firmware on your ORiNOCO "Wireless" Card.

    The WSU can function on any computer running the MS-Windows 95,
    98, 98-ME, 98-SE, NT, 2000 or XP Operating System, that has
    been equipped with a "Wireless" Card.

    The "Wireless" Card firmware makes the "Wireless" products:
    *  Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) certified by the Wireless
       Ethernet Compatiblity Alliance (WECA).
    *  Interoperable with any other wireless LAN system
       based on Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) radio
       technology that complies with the IEEE 802.11 and
       IEEE 802.11b Standards on wireless LANs.
    *  Backwards compatible with any other previously released
       product of the ORiNOCO "Wireless" product family.

1.2 Files
    The WSU comprises the following files:

    *   WSU10842.EXE          WSU
    *   WSU.HLP               WSU Help info
    *   WSU.CNT               WSU Help Contents
    *   README.TXT            this file

1.2 Versions
    WaveLAN Station firmware Update utility Variant 1 Version 4.54
    contains:
       Primary Functions firmware           Variant 1 Version 4.00
       Station Functions firmware           Variant 1 Version 8.72

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2.  SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

2.1 Operating System
    The WSU can function on any computer running the MS-Windows 95,
    98, 98-ME, 98-SE, NT, 2000 or XP Operating System, that has been
    equipped with a "Wireless" Card.

2.2 Free Disk Space
    The installation of the WSU requires a free disk space of
    approximately 500 KB.

2.3 Driver Version
    This WSU is only compatible with Windows Miniport Drivers of
    Release 6.1 (v 6.14) or higher.

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3.  NEW IN THIS RELEASE

3.1 Station Functions firmware v 8.72                 November 2002

    Addition of the following functions/features:
	• One of the fields in the transmit frame descriptor was not
	always initialised, causing FCS errors in fragmented frames.

	• Station would not follow when AP changes channel.
	The problem scenario:
	STA connected to an AP;
	AP is set to a different channel and rebooted;
	meanwhile STA reports out-of-range;
	AP in the air again, so STA would come in range again;
	station should take over the channel from the Probe Response,
	but due to a bug this channel was overwritten with the old
	channel.

	(Fixes since version 8.52:)
	• Encryption status of the connection with the AP got lost when
	Promiscuous Mode is enabled, causing frames to be sent
	unencrypted. The NCB 1 was erroneously not marked occupied and
	re-assigned to one of the STAs in the BSS due to Promiscuous
	Mode, causing the Encryption status to be cleared.

	• (# 10040) When STA is the only STA in an IBSS, it stopped
	beaconing after a while. This problem was introduced by the
	VCO band tuning fix in version 8.42. When a STA detects it’s
	the only STA in the IBSS it is going to scan other channels to
	see if the network is maybe there. Due to the bug, the scan
	process never completed as it kept hanging in the channel
	change logic.

	(Fixes since version 8.58:)
	• (# 9893) The Ruby radio needs a bit more time to wake up from
	sleep mode then was designed for in the firmware (was 750 µs).
	This sometimes caused the card to miss the Beacon that
	announces traffic for the STA, causing additional delay in the
	communication. The wake up time has now been extended to 1 ms.

	•(# 10138) A received CF-End frame did not properly reset the
	NAV, causing the STA to wait the full CFP duration announced in
	the Beacon. This resulted in some performance loss when
	associated to an AP that uses PCF.
	
	•(# 10040 continuation) When STA is the “Beacon Master” in an
	IBSS, it did not always respond to the Diagnostic Scan request
	from the host and did stop beaconing then, especially if the
	STA is the only STA left in the IBSS
	(so always “Beacon Master”). Version 8.58 did not solve this
	completely. A signal, between the connection control process
	where the “Beacon Master” status is maintained and the
	diagnostic control process, was missing in case the
	“Beacon Master” state was suspended because of the Diagnostic
	Scan request.

	•(# 10174) In environments with multiple repetitive roaming
	events (e.g. with heavy RF interference), the WEP encryption
	engine reset procedure got mixed up and kept hanging, causing
	all outgoing signals to be encrypted, including frame headers.
	This caused all further communication to fail.
	
	•(# 10285) The Promiscuous Mode fix applied in version 8.52
	left a problem that multiple NCBs could be created in the STA
	to represent the AP. This caused information about the AP to be
	scattered over the NCBs and therefore wrongly interpreted.

	(Fixes/changes since version 8.70:)
	• The change in the data rate fallback algorithm, as introduced
	in version 8.42 (CN000120, SR02-1), turned out to cause
	performance problems due to the increased number of lost
	messages in mobile applications. The original algorithm
	(as in version 8.10) has been restored.
	Note: This may decrease the throughput performance (up to 6%)
	in stationary tests with multiple (5 or more) stations.)

	• The special fragmentation of encrypted frames transmitted at
	11 Mbit/s, as introduced in version 8.10
	(CN000107, Winter 2002), caused performance degradation when
	the STA is connected to a non-Agere (Hermes1-based) AP.
	In addition, it caused an interoperability issue with a
	LinkSys AP. Therefore, this feature has been removed.
	Note: This may decrease the throughput performance with WEP
	encryption enabled in tests against an
	Agere (Hermes1-based) AP.
	The solution for this is an upgrade of the AP to a
	Hermes2-based NIC.

	• The Ruby modem out-of-band check was continued even when the
	modem was asleep due to card power management. Although this
	check had no impact, if was superfluous and is therefore now no
	longer done in this state.

	• The configuration value for the PM Holdover Duration
	(RID 0xFC0D) was not used; instead always the default value of
	100 (ms) was used.
	Note: This configuration parameter is supported in a limited
	number of environments only; typically under DOS only.)

3.2 Station Functions firmware v 8.42                      May 2002

    Addition of the following functions/features:

    · New batch Ruby cards showing that VCO band tuning under
      temperature changes is not working correctly.
      VCO band-tuning algorithm checks out-of-band situation,
      on detection the VCO band is changed.

    · Special LEAP authentication mode is using normal open system
      authentication type instead of LEAP auth. Mode 0x80.

    · The observation was made that access point firmware could
      select the wrong RF channel after the ruby radio (PHY) is
      powered. Disable/enable command sequence forces the radio
      to select the right RF channel.

    · WDS connection is not set-up accordingly WEP or clear text
      setting. No communication possible.

    · When two IBSS networks with different SSID’s were on the same
      channel it was possible to receive and transmit traffic .

    · Rate algorithm change removed to send last retry at 2 Mbit/s.
      This was resulting in wrong dynamic results in roaming
      environments.

    · Initialise command functionality change in respect to PHY
      power setting. After the initialise command is finalized
      the PHY power is turn off, this to avoid power usage when
      the card is running idle after the initialise command.

    · Performance improvement, changed fallback algorithm send
      last retry frame at 2 Mbit/s to avoid exhausted retry
      situation that need higher layer recovery.

    · Repaired WEP capability bit settings.

    · Repaired Fixed bug in AP when configuration changed from WEP
      to Clear text operation, capability bits were not set correct
      in Beacon and Auth. Frames.

    · Performance improvement, changed fallback-rate algorithm to
      fallback on retry exhausted event,
      Sta and AP (Functional change).

    · IBSS interoperability issue resolved with Cisco configured
      for fixed datarate , Station (Bug-fix)

    · Next Receive frame lost after collision,
      Receive buffer was not cleared. Sta and AP (Bug-fix)

    · IBSS not fragment WEP frames at 11Mbit/s, was resulting
      in USB IBSS hang-up during large file transfers,
      Sta (Bug-fix)

    · Power-LED functionality change,
      continuously power-LED ON during searching for connection.

    · Closed system AP show zero (0x0) in probe response,
      Windows XP zero config, AP (Functionality change)

    · Fixed bug in AP when configuration changed from WEP to
      Clear text operation, disable command was not clearing
      WEP enabled flag.

    · PAEL support for Apple prop. Authentication type.

    · IBSS connect events changed for Windows XP,
      Station (Functional change)

    · Apple special added LEAP support.

3.3 Station Functions firmware v 8.10                   Winter 2002

    Addition of the following functions/features:

    · Repaired capability bit setting in probe responses,
      to avoid interoperability issue’s (STA and AP, Bug-fix)

    · Tx Gain value for Ruby 4 chip changed
      (STA and AP, Functionality change)

    · Apple special added LEAP support.

    · Select correct synthesizer tables for type SA8026 (MFI =4)
      mainly used on MiniPCI cards, Station and AP (Bug-fix)

    · Initialise WEP engine after generated random IV, Station and AP 
      (Bug-fix; This caused Shared Key Authentication to fail))

    · Ruby 4.0 support, Gain Table loaded from PDA item 161,
      MFI range 6..6. (STASupRange Top := 12)

    · Queuing Services move Transmit scheduler / Access Control function
      was using context 6 resources, 
      change into context 4 resources ( AP, Bug-fix)

    · Linktest response changed for power management bits
      to comply with documented format.

    · Repaired write DesiredSSID copy to ScanSSID with “ANY” resulting
      in memory overwrite, non-functional card.

    · Support for Cards with Ruby-based Radio.
    In addition to support for the previously developed RF Modems,
    the firmware now also supports the Ruby based RF Modems.

    · WEP Weak Key Avoidance.
    The key that is input to the WEP RC4 encryption algorithm consists
    of the secret key configured by the user (or via 802.1x)
    concatenated with the IV (Initialization Vector). The IV is
    determined by the transmitting station. By excluding certain IV
    values that would create so-called "weak keys", the weakness of
    WEP as described in "Weaknesses in the Key Scheduling Algorithm
    of RC4" by Scott Fluhrer, Itsik Mantin and Adi Shamir, and
    demonstrated through the AirSnort program, are avoided.
    Note that, as the IV is always determined by the transmitting
    station, there is no impact on interoperability. Stations/APs with
    weak key avoidance implemented can interoperate with stations/APs
    that do not have this. Of course, protection against this attack
    is provided only if all stations and APs implement this new scheme.

    · Product Differentiation for "Personal" Card.
    A new ORiNOCO card is in development: the "Personal Card". The
    Station Functions firmware applies restrictions when running on
    such card. Currently identified restriction is:
      * WakeOnLAN is not supported.
    Additional features may be restricted on this card.

    · Encrypted Frames at 11 Mbit/s are now Fragmented.
    Frames to be transmitted encrypted at 11 Mbit/s are now fragmented
    into fragments of maximum 540 bytes. This is a workaround to
    reduce the performance impact on the AP when multiple stations are
    transmitting encrypted frames at 11 Mbit/s to the AP.

    Correction of the following problems:
    · The firmware did not pass through the WaveLAN-II Management Protocol
    frames for the APList protocol (WMP PDU-Types 2 and 3). Now it does.

    · In RF monitor mode a hang-up could occur due to received CF End
    or CF-End+CF-Ack frames.

3.4 Station Functions firmware v 7.52                   Summer 2001

    Addition of the following functions/features:

    · Tertiary firmware.
      The Station Functions firmware is now provided in two variants:
      * Variant 1, Secondary firmware; stored in the non-volatile 
      memory (FlashROM) of the card, and during the initialization of 
      the card copied to the volatile memory (RAM) for execution. 
      This is loaded on the card during production and can be updated 
      in the field (e.g. by means of the WSU).
      * Variant 2, Tertiary firmware; during the initialization of 
      the card the host software (e.g. driver) downloads this 
      firmware into the card's volatile memory (RAM) for execution.
      (The Secondary firmware in the card's FlashROM is then not 
      updated and not used.)
      Both these variants provide the same functionality.

    · CF Awareness.
      CF (Contention Free) Awareness makes that our (client) stations 
      are coexistent with systems that use the PCF (Point Coordination
      Function) mode of operation. This is an 802.11 requirement, and 
      proposed (but probably not pursued) as an upcoming Wi-Fi 
      requirement.

    · Enhanced Power Management.
      Enhanced Power Management (EPM) is now made available.
      EPM toggles the card between Power Management mode and 
      Continuous Active mode, dependent on communications activity. 
      When the card has not done a transmit or receive for a certain 
      period, it will go into Power Management mode.

    · WEP IV starts at random value.
      The Initialization Vector (IV) for the WEP encryption now 
      starts at a random value. This is considered more secure.

    · Basic Rate settings during IBSS mode.
      The Basic Rates are now also implemented in the IBSS (Peer-to-
      Peer) mode.

3.5 Station Functions firmware v 7.28                   Spring 2001

    The following functionality has been added:
    - Microwave Oven Robustness changed to use fragmentation.
      In order to keep frames short (in time) to get them transmitted
      during the transmit gaps of a (domestic) microwave oven, the MAC
      will fragment long frames.
    - Station adaptation of cell thresholds.
      The Station adapts itself to the settings of the Access Point
      it associates with. This applies to the following parameters:
       * Distance between APs,
       * RTS/CTS Medium Reservation,
       * Microwave Oven Robustness.
      These parameters are passed to the Station by the Access Point,
      and overrule the settings in the Station. Hence this feature
      functions only if the Access Point(s) support it.
    - Load balancing.
      This feature attempts to balance the load over the available
      overlapping cells. The Access Point maintains measurement of
      the load in its cell and provides that to the Stations.
      Stations use this information in their roaming decisions. The
      better the comms quality to potential Access Points, the bigger
      the impact of the load is.
      This feature functions only if the Access Points support it.

    The following problem has been solved:
    - The power LED is turned off when the radio's modem is disabled
      through the Disable Radio function.

3.6 Station Functions firmware v 6.16                   Winter 2001

    The following problems have been solved:
    - Problems with Network Name ANY in Peer-to-Peer (IBSS) mode
      have been corrected.
    - Security with encryption in Peer-to-Peer (IBSS) mode has been
      improved. Previously, a connection could be set up between a
      station with encryption enabled and a station with encryption
      disabled and these stations would communicate in the clear.
      Note that a station that did not have encryption enabled with the
      correct key, could not intercept the (encrypted) data exchanged
      between stations with encryption enabled.
      Now the implementation is such that, with encryption enabled,
      the station will always encrypt the data. All stations need to
      have encryption enabled with the same key to be able to
      communicate in the same Peer-to-Peer (IBSS) network.

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4.  Technical Support

4.1 Finding Information
    On the Proxim Web Site you can find the most recent
    device drivers, bridge firmware, software updates and
    user documentation.

    World Wide Web:    HTTP://WWW.PROXIM.COM/SUPPORT/

4.2 Contact Technical Support
    If you encounter problems when installing or using this
    product, or would like information about our other
    "ORiNOCO" products, please contact your local Authorized
    "ORiNOCO" Reseller or Proxim Sales office.

    Addresses and telephone numbers of the Proxim Sales 
    offices are listed on our Web Site.

    Help us Helping you!
    When contacting Technical Support, please use the Problem 
    Report (report.txt) and send it to us by Fax or E-Mail.
    A completed Problem Report Form that includes the details about
    your "ORiNOCO" product and its host environment will help us
    helping you to solve your problems.

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