NETGEAR MA111 - Manual (Page 52)

User Manual for the NETGEAR 11 Mbps Wireless USB Adapter MA111
B-6 Wireless Networking Basics
202-10032-01
If the decrypted text does not match the original challenge text (i.e., the access point and station do
not share the same WEP Key), then the access point will refuse to authenticate the station and the
station will be unable to communicate with either the 802.11 network or Ethernet network.
This process is illustrated in below.
Figure 4-4: 802.11 shared key authentication
Overview of WEP Parameters
Before enabling WEP on an 802.11 network, you must first consider what type of encryption you
require and the key size you want to use. Typically, there are three WEP Encryption options
available for 802.11 products:
1. Do Not Use WEP: The 802.11 network does not encrypt data. For authentication purposes,
the network uses Open System Authentication.
2. Use WEP for Encryption: A transmitting 802.11 device encrypts the data portion of every
packet it sends using a configured WEP Key. The receiving 802.11b device decrypts the data
using the same WEP Key. For authentication purposes, the 802.11b network uses Open
System Authentication.
3. Use WEP for Authentication and Encryption: A transmitting 802.11 device encrypts the
data portion of every packet it sends using a configured WEP Key. The receiving 802.11
device decrypts the data using the same WEP Key. For authentication purposes, the 802.11
network uses Shared Key Authentication.
I N TER N ET LO C A L
ACT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
LNK
LNK/ACT
100 Cable/DSL ProSafe Wireless VPN Security Firewall MODEL FVM318
PWR TEST
W LA N
Enable
Access Point (AP) 1) Authentication
request sent to AP
2) AP sends challenge text
3) Client encrypts
challenge text and
sends it back to AP
4) AP decrypts, and if correct,
authenticates client
5) Client connects to network
802.11 Authentication
Shared Key Steps
Cable or
DLS modem Client
attempting
to connect