User's Manual

NPort W2150A/W2250A Series Web Console: Network Settings
6-14
Authentication
Default Open System
Options Open System, Shared Key, WPA, WPA-PSK, WPA2, WPA2-PSK
Description This field specifies how wireless devices will be authenticated. Only authenticated devices will
be allowed to communicate with the NPort. If a RADIUS server is used, this setting must
match the setting on the RADIUS server.
Open System: The NPort will simply announce a desire to associate with another station or
access point. No authentication is required. For Ad-hoc Mode, this is the only option for
authentication, since Ad-hoc Mode was designed for open communication.
Shared Key: This option is only available in Infrastructure Mode. Authentication involves a
more rigorous exchange of frames to ensure that the requesting station is authentic. WEP
encryption is required.
WPA: This is a managed authentication option that is only available in Infrastructure Mode.
WPA was created by the Wi-Fi Alliance, the industry trade group that owns the Wi-Fi
trademark and certifies devices with the Wi-Fi name. It is based on Draft 3 of the IEEE
802.11i standard. Each user uses a unique key for authentication, distributed from an IEEE
802.1X authentication server, also known as a RADIUS server. This option is also referred to
as WPA Enterprise Mode, since it is intended to meet rigorous enterprise security
requirements. Tunneled authentication is supported, depending on the EAP method selected.
WPA-PSK: This is an unmanaged authentication option that is only available in Infrastructure
Mode. Instead of a unique key for each user, a pre-shared key (PSK) is manually entered on
the access point to generate an encryption key that is shared among all users. Consequently,
this method does not scale well for enterprise. A PSK that uses a mix of letters, numbers and
non-alphanumeric characters is recommended. This option is also referred to as WPA
Personal Mode, since it is designed for the needs and capabilities of small home and office
WLANs.
WPA2: This is a managed authentication option that is only available in Infrastructure Mode.
WPA2 implements the mandatory elements of 802.11i. Supported encryption algorithms
include TKIP, Michael, and AES-based CCMP, which is considered fully secure. Since March
13, 2006, WPA2 has been mandatory for all Wi-Fi-certified devices. This option may also be
referred to as WPA Enterprise Mode. Tunneled authentication is supported, depending on the
EAP method selected.
WPA2-PSK: This is an unmanaged authentication option that is only available in
Infrastructure Mode. It employs WP2 encryption algorithms but relies on a PSK for
authentication. A PSK that uses a mix of letters, numbers and non-alphanumeric characters
is recommended. This option can also be referred to as WPA Personal Mode.