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# Profile Management

NOTE: This section describes profiles created with Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiFi Connection Utility. For users/clients running Windows* XP, these profiles are not used by Microsoft Windows* XP Wireless Zero Configuration.

NOTE: Throughout this Help, the terms "wireless" and "WiFi" are used interchangeably.

- What is a Profile?
- Profiles Types
- Profiles List
- Profile Icons
- Connect to a Profile
- Create a New Profile
- Edit an Existing Profile
- Remove a Profile
- Set a Profile Password
- Export or Import Profiles

# What is a Profile?

A profile is a saved group of network settings. Profiles are displayed in the Profiles List. Profiles are useful when moving from one wireless network to another. Different profiles can be configured for each wireless network. Profile settings include the network name (SSID), operating mode, and security settings.

A profile is created when you connect to a wireless network.

1. Select a network from the WiFi Networks list.
2. Click Connect.
3. If the wireless network requires a WEP password or encryption key, you are prompted to enter this information prior to connection. To change the security options, click Advanced to open the Configure WiFi Settings.
4. Click OK to connect. A profile is created and added to the Profiles list.

The Create WiFi Profile Wizard guides you through the settings required to connect with the wireless network. At completion, the profile is saved and added to the Profiles list. Since these wireless settings are saved, the next time you are in range of this wireless network you are automatically connected.

## Profile Types

There are two basic types of profiles that can be used to connect to a wireless network. The profile types are:

- User Profiles: These profiles are created by individual users. If there is more than one user on a computer, each user needs to create their own set of user profiles. User-created wireless profiles are not accessible by other users of a computer.
- Administrator Profiles: If one or more profiles need to be shared among users on a computer, the Administrator Tool must be installed to create Administrator profiles. For more information, see Administrator Profiles

## Profiles List

The Profiles list displays a list of existing profiles. When you come in range of a wireless network, the WiFi connection utility software scans the Profiles list to see if there is a match. If a match is found, you are automatically connected to the network.

### Profiles List Priority Arrows

- Use the up-arrow to move the position of a selected profile up in the profiles list.
- Use the down-arrow to move the position of a selected profile down in the profiles list.

## Profile Icons

The network profile status icons indicate whether the adapter is associated with a network, the type of operating mode being used, and whether security encryption is enabled. These icons display next to the profile name in the Profiles list.

Name | Description
--- | ---
Profile Name | The Profile Name is your name for this network. It can be anything that helps you identify this network. For example, My Home Network, Coffee Shop on A Street.
Network Name | Name of the wireless network (SSID) or computer.
Connection Icons: The network profile status icons indicate the different connection states of the adapter with a wireless network, the type of operating mode being used, and whether network security is being used.
| Blue circle: The WiFi adapter is associated with an access point or computer (Device to Device [ad hoc] mode). If a profile has 802.1X security enabled, this indicates that the WiFi adapter is associated and authenticated.
| Indicates Network (infrastructure) mode.
| Indicates Device to Device (ad hoc) mode.
| Indicates an Administrator profile.
| The wireless network uses Security encryption.
| Indicates that this network is on the Exclude list, e.g. is set for manual rather than automatic connection. When on the Exclude list, to connect the user must connect manually.
Arrows | Use the arrows to position profiles in a preferred order for auto-connection.

- Up-arrow: Move the position of a selected profile up in the Profiles list.
- Down-arrow: Move the position of a selected profile down in the Profiles list.

Connect | Connect the selected profile for the wireless network.
Add | Opens the Create WiFi Profile General Settings, which are used to create a new profile. See Create a New Profile for more information.
Remove | Removes a selected profile from the Profiles list. See Remove a Profile for more information.
Properties | Used to edit the contents of an existing profile. You can also double-click a profile in the Profiles list to edit the profile. See Edit an Existing Profile for more information.
| Export/Import: Imports and exports user-based profiles to and from the Profiles list. Wireless profiles can be automatically imported into the Profiles list. See Export or Import Profiles for more information.
Close | Closes the profile management window.
Help? | Provides help information for this page.

## Connect to a Profile

When you are in range of a wireless network that has a matching profile you are automatically connected to that network. If a network with a lower priority profile is also in range you can force the connection to that lower profile. This is achieved the from the WiFi connection utility or from the Taskbar icon.

Manually connect to a profile from the Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software:

1. Double-click the Taskbar icon to open the main window.
2. Click Profiles to open the Profiles list.
3. Select the profile from the Profiles list.
4. Click Connect. Remember that the connection is only made if the wireless network is in range.

Manually connect to a profile from the Taskbar:

1. Right-click the taskbar icon.
2. Click Connect to Profile.
3. Select a profile.
4. Click to start the connection.

## Create a New Profile

Select a network from the WiFi Networks list. Click Connect. The Create WiFi Profile manager guides you through the necessary steps to create a profile and connect to the network. During this process, the Create WiFi Profile Security Settings attempts to detect the appropriate security settings for you.

To create a new profile and connect to a wireless network:

1. From the Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiFi Connection Utility main window, click Profiles.
2. On the Profiles page, click Add to open the Create WiFi Profile General Settings. (See General Settings for more information.)
3. Profile Name: Enter a descriptive profile name.
4. WiFi Network Name (SSID): Enter the network name of the WiFi network
5. Select the Operating Mode: Network (Infrastructure) or Device to Device (ad hoc).
6. Click Advanced for the following options:

- Auto Connect: Select to automatically or manually connect to a profile.
- Auto Import: Network administrator can export a profile on another computer.
- Band Selection: Select the band(s) over which to make network connections.
- Mandatory Access Point: Select to associate the WiFi adapter with a specific access point.
- Password Protection: Select to password protect a profile.
- Application Auto Launch: Specify a program to be started when a wireless connection is made.
- Maintain Connection: Select to remain connected to a user profile after log off.

7. From the General Settings, click Next to open the Security Settings.
8. Select either Personal Security or Enterprise Security to select the Network Authentication and Data Encryption options. Enter the encryption key settings and configure the 802.1X settings as required.
9. Click OK when you have completed the profile settings. To change or verify the profile settings, click Back.
10. If you are not currently connected to a network, Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiFi Connection Utility detects that a new profile has been added and automatically attempts to connect to this new profile.
11. If you want to manually connect to this profile, click Connect. The connection icon displays the current connection status. The network name, transmit and receive speeds, and signal quality are also displayed.

## Edit an Existing Profile

To edit an existing profile:

1. Click Profiles... on the Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiFi Connection Utility main window.
2. Select the profile to edit from the Profiles List.
3. Click Properties to open the WiFi Profile Properties General Settings.
4. Click Next and Back to navigate through the WiFi Profile Properties' General and Security Settings:

- General Settings: See General Settings for more information.
- Security Settings: See Security Settings for more information.

5. Click OK to save the current settings and exit. Click Cancel to exit without saving changes.

## Remove a Profile

To remove a profile:

1. Click Profiles... on the Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiFi Connection Utility main window.
2. Select the profile from the list.
3. Click Remove. You are notified that Selected profiles will be permanently removed. Do you want to continue?
4. Click Yes. The profile is removed from the Profiles list.

If you are still connected to the network:

1. Click Profiles on the Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiFi Connection Utility main window.
2. Select the profile from the list.
3. Click Remove. You are notified that Selected profiles will be permanently removed. Do you want to continue?
4. Click Yes. You are notified that <profile name> is active and will be permanently removed. Do you want to continue?
5. Click Yes. The profile is removed from the Profiles list.

NOTE: If the profile is protected by a password, you cannot remove or edit the profile settings without entering the password. If the administrator or you do not know the password, there is no process available to reset the password.

## Set a Profile Password

To password protect an existing profile:

1. Click Profiles... on the Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiFi Connection Utility main window.
2. Select the profile from the list.
3. Click Properties to open the WiFi Profile Properties' General Settings.
4. Click Advanced to open the Advanced Settings.
5. Click Password Protection to open the Password Protection settings.
6. Click Password protect this profile (maximum 10 characters)
7. Password: Enter the password.
8. Confirm Password: Reenter the password.
9. Click OK to save the setting and return to the General Settings page.
10. Click OK to return to the main window.

## Import or Export Profiles

This feature lets you import and export user-based profiles to and from the Profiles list. Wireless profiles can be automatically imported into the Profiles list.

An administrator can set profiles to be imported automatically into the Profiles list. Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiFi Connection Utility monitors the import folder on your hard disk for new profile files. Only profiles that have been enabled through Enable Auto-Import in the Advanced Settings are automatically imported. If a profile of the same name already exists in the Profiles list, you are notified to either reject the imported profile or accept it. If accepted, the existing profile is replaced. All imported user-based profiles are placed at the bottom of the Profiles List.

NOTE: To export Administrator profiles, see Administrator Packages.

### Import Profiles into the Profiles List

To import profiles manually:

1. Click Import on the Profiles page.
2. Select the profile files to import.
3. Click Import.
4. You are notified that the profile has been successfully imported.

### Export Profiles from the Profiles List

1. Select individual or multiple profiles from the list.
2. Select Export to export one or more profiles from the Profiles list.
3. Select the destination folder. Click Browse to search your hard disk for the destination directory. The C:\ drive is the default directory.
4. Click OK to export the selected profile. You are notified: Successfully exported selected profiles to the destination folder: C:\.

To select multiple profiles:

1. Use your mouse to highlight a profile.
2. Press Ctrl.
3. Click each profile that you want selected. Follow the instructions from Step 2 above to export multiple profiles.

### Password Protected Profiles

Import and export password-protected user-based profiles automatically to remote systems. If a profile is password protected, the assigned password must be entered before it can be edited. See Set a Profile Password for more information.

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