User guide

7-14
BreezeNET DS.11b User’s Guide
Manual Version 1.0
Enable Encryption & Deny non-encrypted
Data
When you select to enable encryption and deny non-encrypted data, your Base
Station will:
! Only process messages received at its wireless interface, when the
messages have been encrypted with either one of the four identified keys.
! Always transmit wireless data using the selected WEP key.
! Also encrypt all its multicast and broadcast traffic that it will transmit to the
wireless medium.
If your network includes wireless stations configured with a non-matching WEP
key, or equipped with PC Cards that do not support WEP encryption, such
stations will not be able to establish a wireless connection because they will not
be able to understand (decrypt) crucial network information.
Enable Encryption & Allow non-encrypted
Data
When you select to enable encryption, but you cleared the deny non-encrypted
data
check box, the Base Station will:
! Process all messages received at its wireless interface, regardless whether
the messages have been encrypted with one of the identified keys or not.
! Encrypt wireless transmissions based on the encryption settings of the
addressed station.
! If the addressed station does use WEP encryption, the Base Station will
send the message in encrypted format, using the selected transmit key
value.
! If the addressed station does not use WEP encryption, the Base Station will
send the message in non-encrypted format.
! If the data message is a multicast or broadcast message, typically addressed
to “all stations”, the Base Station will send the message in non-encrypted
format.
This behavior of the Base Station is not related to the way the wireless message
was received at the Base Station. If for example a wireless station that uses
WEP encryption wishes to send data to another station in the same wireless
cell, the data transmission will:
! Go encrypted from the WEP station to the Base Station
! Go un-encrypted from the Base Station to its final destination, if the
addressed station does not support WEP encryption, or does not have the
WEP option enabled.
For most network environments that require a higher level of security than the standard
security mechanisms supported by BreezeNET and most of today's network operating
systems (e.g. user names and passwords), Alvarion advises against using this option,