Introduction - D-Link DWL-G650 - AirPlus Wireless 802.11b 11Mbps/802.11g 54Mbps PC Card Product Manual

Introduction

The D-Link AirPlus Xtreme G DWL-G650 Wireless Cardbus Adapter is a 802.11g high-
performance, wireless adapter that supports high-speed wireless networking at home,
at work or in public places.
Unlike most network cards, the DWL-G650 provides data transfers at up to 54 Mbps
(compared to the standard 11 Mbps) when used with other D-Link AirPlus Xtreme G
products. The 802.11g standard is backwards compatible with 802.11b products.This
means that you do not need to change your entire network to maintain connectivity. You
may sacrifice some of 802.11g's speed when you mix 802.11b and 802.11g devices, but
you will not lose the ability to communicate when you incorporate the 802.11g standard
into your 802.11b network. You may choose to slowly change your network by gradually
replacing the 802.11b devices with 802.11g devices .
In addition to offering faster data transfer speeds when used with other 802.11g products,
the DWL-G650 has the newest, strongest, most advanced security features available
today. When used with other 802.11g WPA (WiFi Protected Access) and 802.1x
compatible products in a network with a radius server, the security features include:
WPA*: A new security feature, Wi-Fi Protected Access authorizes and identifies users
based on a secret key that changes automatically at a regular interval.
WPA uses TKIP (Temporal Key Integrity Protocol) to change the temporal
key every 10,000 packets (a packet is a kind of message transmitted over a
network.) This insures much greater security than the standard WEP security.
(By contrast, the older WEP encryption required the keys to be changed
manually.)
802.1x: Authentication is a first line of defense against intrusion. In the Authentication
process the server verifies the identity of the client attempting to connect to the
network. Unfamiliar clients would be denied access.
For home users that will not incorporate a RADIUS server in their network, the security
for the DWL-G650, used in conjunction with other 802.11g products, will still be much
stronger than ever before. Utilizing the Pre Shared Key mode of WPA, the DWL-G650
will obtain a new security key every time it connects to the 802.11g network. You only
need to input your encryption information once in the configuration menu. No longer will
you have to manually input a new WEP key frequently to ensure security, with the
DWL-G650, you will automatically receive a new key every time you connect, vastly
increasing the safety of your communications.
*WPA will be available Spring 2003 as a free download
TM
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