User's Manual

Reference Manual for the Model DG834GT 108 Mbps Super Wireless ADSL Router
Wireless Networking Basics D-17
August 2004
• The new WPA information element
To advertise their support of WPA, wireless APs send the beacon frame with a new 802.11
WPA information element that contains the wireless AP's security configuration (encryption
algorithms and wireless security configuration information).
• The WPA two-phase authentication
Open system, then 802.1x (EAP with RADIUS or preshared key).
• TKIP
• Michael
• AES (optional)
To upgrade your wireless access points to support WPA, obtain a WPA firmware update from your
wireless AP vendor and upload it to your wireless AP.
Changes to Wireless Network Adapters
Wireless networking software in the adapter, and possibly in the OS or client application, must be
updated to support the following:
• The new WPA information element
Wireless clients must be able to process the WPA information element and respond with a
specific security configuration.
• The WPA two-phase authentication
Open system, then 802.1x supplicant (EAP or preshared key).
• TKIP
• Michael
• AES (optional)
To upgrade your wireless network adapters to support WPA, obtain a WPA update from your
wireless network adapter vendor and update the wireless network adapter driver.
For Windows wireless clients, you must obtain an updated network adapter driver that supports
WPA. For wireless network adapter drivers that are compatible with Windows XP (Service Pack 1)
and Windows Server 2003, the updated network adapter driver must be able to pass the adapter's
WPA capabilities and security configuration to the Wireless Zero Configuration service.
Microsoft has worked with many wireless vendors to embed the WPA firmware update in the
wireless adapter driver. So, to update your Microsoft Windows wireless client, all you have to do is
obtain the new WPA-compatible driver and install the driver. The firmware is automatically
updated when the wireless network adapter driver is loaded in Windows.