Cisco Small Business AP541N Administration Manual page 66

Wireless
Modifying Virtual Access Point Settings
Cisco AP541N Dual-band Single-radio Access Point Quick Start Guide
Table 12 WEP Field Descriptions
Field Description
The authentication algorithm defines the method used to
802.1X
Authentication determine whether a client station is allowed to associate
with an access point when static WEP is the security mode.
Specify the authentication algorithm you want to use by
choosing one of the following options:
NOTE
• Open system authentication allows any client station
to associate with the access point whether that client
station has the correct WEP key or not. This algorithm
is also used in plaintext, Dynamic WEP, IEEE 802. 1 X,
and WPA modes. When the authentication algorithm is
set to Open System, any client can associate with the
access point.
Just because a client station is allowed to associate
does not ensure it can exchange traffic with an access
point. A station must have the correct WEP key to be
able to successfully access and decrypt data from an
access point, and to transmit readable data to the
access point.
• Shared key authentication requires the client station to
have the correct WEP key in order to associate with
the access point. When the authentication algorithm is
set to Shared Key, a station with an incorrect WEP key
will not be able to associate with the access point.
• Both Open system and Shared key. When you select
both authentication algorithms:
- Client stations configured to use WEP in shared key
mode must have a valid WEP key to associate with
the access point.
- Client stations configured to use WEP as an open
system (shared key mode not enabled) are able to
associate with the access point, even if they do not
have the correct WEP key.
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