Overview of wep parameters – NETGEAR ME103 User Manual

Page 75

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Reference Manual for the ME103 802.11b ProSafe Wireless Access Point

Wireless Networking Basics

B-5

August 2003

Figure 6-2: 802.11 shared key authentication

Overview of WEP Parameters

Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) data encryption is used when the wireless devices are configured
to operate in Shared Key authentication mode. There are two shared key methods implemented in
most commercially available products, 64-bit and 128-bit WEP data encryption.

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

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

802.11b Authentication

Shared Key Steps

Cable or

DLS modem

Client
attempting
to connect

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