Installation Guide

Method of Procedure
Connecting to the Customer LAN
108 RFN_3.1 Beta
6.2.2 WEP Encryption
The Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption technology is defined in the
IEEE 802.11 standard, and is intended to provide the same quality of privacy and
access control for an 802.11 LAN as is provided for a wired LAN. That is, a WEP-
protected 802.11 is should be no easier to infiltrate or eavesdrop than would be
on a wired LAN.
Any LAN (wired or wireless) can be made more secure and private by applying
additional security measures (such as encryption, centralized strong
authentication, firewalling, etc.). The difference between a wired LAN and a
wireless LAN, however, is that without including encryption of user traffic and
encryption-based access control, a wireless LAN is inherently less secure than a
wired LAN, all other things being equal.
6.2.2.1 Encryption (On/Off)
WEP encryption is enabled or disabled by selecting “On” or “Off,” respectively.
When “Off” is selected, all other items related to WEP encryption are disabled
(WEP Keys and Shared Key Authentication), and need not be configured. When
“On” is selected, then the WEP keys must be entered.
6.2.2.2 Shared Key Authentication
When Shared Key Authentication is enabled, or “checked,” the RAPs will require
client devices (such as laptop computers) to prove their authenticity by answering
a challenge from the RAP. This challenge (authentication protocol) can be
answered correctly only if the client device “knows” the WEP keys configured into
this RFS.
NOTE: RFN does not recommend the use of Shared key authentication,
because the messages used to accomplish this authentication may provide
information to eavesdroppers as an aid in cracking the WEP encryption on future
messages. The ability to enable or disable Shared Key Authentication is provided
mainly for compatibility purposes. Some client adapters may require Shared Key
Authentication whenever WEP encryption is enabled. If this is not the case with
the client adapters used in your location, then it is best to leave this setting
disabled. This does not compromise security, however, because with WEP
encryption enabled, the RAP will not accept traffic from 802.11 client devices
unless the traffic is encrypted.
6.2.2.3 WEP Keys
When WEP Encryption is enabled, you must enter values for the four WEP keys
in order for the RFS 802.11 implementation to function. WEP Keys are used to
encrypt 802.11 traffic that is transmitted by a RAP.
Each WEP Key has a radio button. When you select the radio button, you can
enter, change, or delete information for that key only. Each WEP key consists of