What You Should Know; Wireless Security Overview; Mac Address Filter - ZyXEL Communications WAP6906 User Manual

• Use the Basic screen to enable the Wireless LAN, enter the SSID and select the wireless security mode
(Section 8.4 on page
• Use the Advanced screen to configure wireless advanced settings such as the wireless band, channel
bandwidth, and priority.
• Use the WPS screen to quickly set up a wireless network with strong security, without having to
configure security settings manually
• Use the MAC Filter screen to allow or deny wireless stations based on their MAC addresses from
connecting to the WAP6906
• Use the WDS screen to configure Wireless Distribution System on your WAP6906
53).
• Use the MBSS screen to enable and configure multiple BSSs on the WAP6906

8.3 What You Should Know

Every wireless network must follow these basic guidelines.
• Every wireless client in the same wireless network must use the same SSID.
The SSID is the name of the wireless network. It stands for Service Set IDentity.
• If two wireless networks overlap, they should use different channels.
Like radio stations or television channels, each wireless network uses a specific channel, or frequency,
to send and receive information.
• Every wireless client in the same wireless network must use security compatible with the AP.
Security stops unauthorized devices from using the wireless network. It can also protect the
information that is sent in the wireless network.

8.3.1 Wireless Security Overview

The following sections introduce different types of wireless security you can set up in the wireless
network.

8.3.2 MAC Address Filter

Every wireless client has a unique identification number, called a MAC address.
usually written using twelve hexadecimal characters
To get the MAC address for each wireless client, see the appropriate User's Guide or other
documentation.
You can use the MAC address filter to tell the AP which wireless clients are allowed or not allowed to use
the wireless network. If a wireless client is allowed to use the wireless network, it still has to have the
correct settings (SSID, channel, and security). If a wireless client is not allowed to use the wireless
network, it does not matter if it has the correct settings.
1. Some wireless devices, such as scanners, can detect wireless networks but cannot use wireless networks. These
kinds of wireless devices might not have MAC addresses.
2. Hexadecimal characters are 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E, and F.
Chapter 8 Wireless LAN
49).
(Section 8.5 on page
(Section 8.6 on page
(Section 8.7 on page
WAP6906 User's Guide
48
51).
51).
52).
2
; for example, 00A0C5000002 or 00:A0:C5:00:00:02.
(Section 8.8 on page
(Section 8.8 on page 53).
1
A MAC address is