Sony VGN-FS Series User Manual
Page 51
51
Using Your VAIO Computer
✍
In some countries, using WLAN products may be restricted by the local regulations (e.g. limited number of channels). Therefore, before activating the
WLAN functionality, read the Regulations Guide carefully. Channel selection is explained further in this manual (see Wireless LAN Channel Selection
WLAN uses the IEEE 802.11a
*
/b/g standard, which specifies the used technology. The standard includes the encryption method: Wired Equivalent
Privacy (WEP), which is a security protocol and WiFi Protected Access (WPA - Proposed jointly by the IEEE and Wi-Fi Alliance, WiFi Protected Access
is a specification of standards based, interoperable security enhancements that increase the level of data protection and access control for existing WiFi
networks. WPA has been designed to be forward compatible with the IEEE 802.11i specification. It utilizes the enhanced data encryption TKIP (Temporal
Key Integrity Protocol) in addition to user authentication using 802.1X and EAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol)). Data encryption protects the
vulnerable wireless link between clients and access points. Besides that, there are other typical LAN security mechanisms to ensure privacy, such as:
password protection, end-to-end encryption, virtual private networks, and authentication.
* See the online Specifications to see whether your model supports the IEEE 802.11a standard.
Wireless LAN devices using the IEEE 802.11a standard and the ones using the IEEE 802.11b or g standard cannot communicate because the frequencies
are different.
IEEE 802.11b: The standard speed is 11 Mbps, or about 30 to 100 times faster than a standard dial up.
IEEE 802.11a/g: The standard speed is 54 Mbps, or about 5 times faster than a Wireless LAN device using the IEEE 802.11b standard.