Wep Shared Key Authentication - NETGEAR WGM511 User Manual

The station associates with the access point and joins the network.
3.

WEP Shared Key Authentication

This process is illustrated below.
802.11 Authentication
1) Authentication
request sent to AP
Client
3) Client encrypts
attempting
challenge text and
to connect
sends it back to AP
5) Client connects to network
Figure 6-2: 802.11 shared key authentication
The following steps occur when two devices use Shared Key Authentication:
The station sends an authentication request to the access point.
1.
The access point sends challenge text to the station.
2.
The station uses its configured 64-bit or 128-bit default key to encrypt the challenge text, and
3.
sends the encrypted text to the access point.
The access point decrypts the encrypted text using its configured WEP key that corresponds to
4.
the station's default key. The access point compares the decrypted text with the original
challenge text. If the decrypted text matches the original challenge text, then the access point
and the station share the same WEP key and the access point authenticates the station.
The station connects to the network.
5.
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.
Wireless Networking Basics
User Manual for the NETGEAR Pre-N Wireless PC Card WGM511
Shared Key Steps
2) AP sends challenge text
4) AP decrypts, and if correct,
authenticates client
December 2004
Access Point (AP)
MODEL FVM318
IN TER N ET W LA N LO CA L
Cable/DSL ProSafeWirelessVPN Security Firewall
LNK 100
PWR TEST
ACT Enable LNK/ACT
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Cable or
DLS modem
B-5