Wep configuration options, Wpa wireless security – NETGEAR MR814 v3 User Manual

Page 144

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Reference Manual for the MR814 v3 Cable/DSL Wireless Router

D-8

Wireless Networking Basics

202-10039-01

WEP Configuration Options

The WEP settings must match on all 802.11b devices that are within the same wireless network as
identified by the SSID. In general, if your mobile clients will roam between access points, then all
of the 802.11b access points and all of the 802.11b client adapters on the network must have the
same WEP settings.

Note: Whatever keys you enter for an AP, you must also enter the same keys for the client adapter
in the same order. In other words, WEP key 1 on the AP must match WEP key 1 on the client
adapter, WEP key 2 on the AP must match WEP key 2 on the client adapter, etc.

Note: The AP and the client adapters can have different default WEP Keys as long as the keys are
in the same order. In other words, the AP can use WEP key 2 as its default key to transmit while a
client adapter can use WEP key 3 as its default key to transmit. The two devices will communicate
as long as the AP’s WEP key 2 is the same as the client’s WEP key 2 and the AP’s WEP key 3 is
the same as the client’s WEP key 3.

WPA Wireless Security

Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) is a specification of standards-based, interoperable security
enhancements that increase the level of data protection and access control for existing and future
wireless LAN systems.

The IEEE introduced the WEP as an optional security measure to secure 802.11b (Wi-Fi) WLANs,
but inherent weaknesses in the standard soon became obvious. In response to this situation, the
Wi-Fi Alliance announced a new security architecture in October 2002 that remedies the short
comings of WEP. This standard, formerly known as Safe Secure Network (SSN), is designed to
work with existing 802.11 products and offers forward compatibility with 802.11i, the new
wireless security architecture being defined in the IEEE.

WPA offers the following benefits:

Enhanced data privacy

Robust key management

Data origin authentication

Data integrity protection

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