Administrator's Guide

Wizard Setup 17
Configure the primary SSID
The R110 allows you to create up to four wireless communities, and the R120 allows you to
create up to eight wireless communities. Each wireless community defines the settings for a
distinct wireless network, with its own network name (SSID), settings for wireless protection, user
authentication, VLANs, and more. Radio settings are shared by all wireless communities.
A default wireless community is defined on the R110/R120. Its name (or SSID) is HP1 on the
R110, HP1_2G and HP1_5G on the R120, and it is assigned to VLAN 1. The settings that
initially display in the wireless community settings pertain to the default community.
The SSID can be changed if desired. The SSID name is case-sensitive and can contain up to 32
standard alphanumeric characters, including spaces. The following are not allowed:
• only spaces
• space as the first character
• space as the last character
If there are other wireless networks in your area, make sure that you give your wireless network
a unique name. Click on the SSID box and enter a new name. Click Next to make the change.
Configure wireless security
A security method (or no security method) can be associated with the default wireless
community and any additional communities you create. This section defines the available
security methods as they display in the quick setup wizard. To modify these settings after you
complete the quick setup wizard, or to access additional configuration options, use the
Wireless pages.
MAC Authentication
You can control access to the wireless network based on the MAC address of a user's wireless
device. You can either block access or allow access, depending on your requirements.
Select whether to disable MAC authentication, use a MAC authentication list stored locally on
the router, or use a list stored on a RADIUS server. If local MAC authentication is selected,
configure your MAC address list on the Wireless > MAC Authentication page.
Note that MAC authentication occurs after other authentication methods have been applied.
Authentication Mode and Encryption Type
The router supports several different security mechanisms that provide various levels of
authentication and encryption depending on the requirements of the network. Using encryption
can help keep your network secure. Encryption works on a system of keys, where the key on a
computer must match the key on the router. The router supports the following authentication and
encryption methods:
WEP: Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) is the security protocol initially specified in the IEEE
802.11 standard for wireless communications. WEP provides a basic level of security,
preventing unauthorized access to the network, and encrypting data transmitted between
wireless clients and the router. WEP uses static shared keys (fixed-length hexadecimal or
alphanumeric strings) that are manually distributed to all clients that want to use the network.
WEP is not as secure as the other security methods available.