Sierra Wireless AirCard 555 - Manual (Page 91)

Chapter 8: The Network Adapter Manager
Rev 3.0 Dec.01 91
Installat
ion and Use
o
n
Note
book
PCs
Windows 2000 and XP
Windows 2000 and XP have more advanced device handling
capabilities than Windows 95, 98, NT, and Me. If more than
one network card is detected, Windows 2000/XP automati-
cally routes network traffic through the card that provides the
highest transmission speed.
Generally a wireline LAN card (such as an Ethernet card)
provides faster transmission speed than a wireless card (such
as the AirCard). If, for example, you have an AirCard and an
Ethernet card installed and active on your laptop, Windows
routes network traffic through the Ethernet card because it
offers the higher transmission speed. If you then want to take
the computer to another location, you can stop the Ethernet
card (see below), disconnect the cable to the Ethernet card, and
Windows 2000/XP automatically begins routing network
traffic through the AirCard.
Since Windows 2000/XP has this enhanced method of handling
multiple PC cards, the Network Adapter Manager does not
allow you to switch cards from the shortcut menu in this
operating system.
In Windows 2000/XP you can control which card is the
primary card by stopping the cards you do not want to use.
To stop a card:
1. Click the PC card icon in the status area.
2. A listing of active cards is displayed.
Windows 2000
Windows XP
3. Click the card you want to stop.