Installation Guide
Table Of Contents
- Copyright
- Limited Warranty
- Information for Canadian Users
- Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Interference Statement
- Customer Support
- List of Figures
- List of Tables
- Preface
- Wireless Network Basics
- Disable Windows XP Configuration Tool
- Using the Wireless LAN Utility
- Wireless LAN Security
- Advanced Configuration
- Removing and Upgrading the WLAN Utility
- Troubleshooting
- Index
Wireless LAN Utility
Wireless LAN Security 4-1
Chapter 4
Wireless LAN Security
This chapter shows you how to set up the wireless LAN security available in the WLAN Adapter.
4.1 Introduction
Wireless LAN security is vital to your network to protect wireless communication between wireless clients
and the wired network.
Configure the wireless LAN security using the Security screen. If you do not enable any wireless security
on your WLAN Adapter, communication between the WLAN Adapter and the wired network is accessible
to any wireless networking device that is in the coverage area.
4.2 Data Encryption with WEP
WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) encryption scrambles the data transmitted between the WLAN Adapter
and the AP or other wireless stations to keep network communications private. It encrypts unicast and
multicast communications in a network. Both the wireless clients and the access points must use the same
WEP key for data encryption and decryption.
Your WLAN Adapter allows you to configure up to four 64-bit or 128-bit WEP keys but only one key can
be enabled at any one time.
4.2.1 Authentication Mode
The IEEE 802.11b standard describes a simple authentication method between the wireless clients and AP.
Three authentication modes are defined: Auto, Open and Shared.
Open authentication mode is implemented for ease-of-use and when security is not an issue. The wireless
station and the AP do not share a secret key. Thus the wireless stations can associate with any AP and listen
to any data transmitted plaintext.
Shared authentication mode involves a shared secret key to authenticate the wireless station to the AP. This
requires you to enable a security feature and specify a shared secret key (usually the WEP encryption and
WEP key) on both the wireless station and the AP.
Auto authentication mode allows the WLAN Adapter to switch between the open and shared key
authentication modes automatically. Use the auto mode if you do not know the authentication mode of the
other wireless clients.
4.2.2 Configuring the WEP Encryption
Click the Security tab to display the Security screen as shown below.