About Closed System Mode - Netopia 2200 series Software User's Manual

Configure
Enable Closed System Mode: If enabled, Closed System Mode hides the wireless net-
work from the scanning features of wireless client computers. Unless both the wireless cli-
ents and the Gateway share the same SSID in Closed System mode, the Gateway's
wireless LAN will not appear as an available network when scanned for by wireless-enabled
computers. Members of the Closed System WLAN must log onto the Gateway's wireless
network with the identical SSID as that configured in the router.
Closed System mode is an ideal way to increase wireless security and to prevent casual
detection by unwanted neighbors, office users, or malicious users such as hackers.
If you do not enable Closed System Mode, it is more convenient, but potentially less
secure, for clients to access your WLAN by scanning available access points. You must
decide based on your own network requirements.

About Closed System Mode

Enabling Closed System Mode on your wireless Gateway provides another level of security,
since your wireless LAN will no longer appear as an available access point to client PCs
that are casually scanning for one.
Your own wireless network clients, however, must log into the wireless LAN by using the
exact SSID of the Netopia Gateway.
In addition, if you have enabled WEP encryption on the Netopia Gateway, your network cli-
ents must also have WEP encryption enabled, and must have the same WEP encryption
key as the Netopia Gateway.
Once the Netopia Gateway is located by a client computer, by setting the client to a match-
ing SSID, the client can connect immediately if WEP is not enabled. If WEP is enabled then
the client must also have WEP enabled and a matching WEP key.
Wireless client cards from different manufacturers and different operating systems accom-
plish connecting to a wireless LAN and enabling WEP in a variety of ways. Consult the doc-
umentation for your particular wireless card and/or operating system.
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NOTE:
While clients may also have a passphrase feature, these are vendor-specific
and may not necessarily create the same keys. You can passphrase generate
a set of keys on one, and manually enter them on the other to get around this.
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