Chapter 4 Wireless Lan; Introduction; Wireless Security Overview; Encryption - ZyXEL Communications P-320W User Manual

This chapter discusses how to configure Wireless LAN.

4.1 Introduction

A wireless LAN can be as simple as two computers with wireless LAN adapters
communicating in a peer-to-peer network or as complex as a number of computers with
wireless LAN adapters communicating through access points which bridge network traffic to
the wired LAN.
Note: See the WLAN appendix for more detailed information on WLANs.

4.2 Wireless Security Overview

Wireless security is vital to your network to protect wireless communication between wireless
stations, access points and the wired network.
Wireless security methods available on the Prestige are data encryption, wireless client
authentication, restricting access by device MAC address and hiding the Prestige identity.

4.2.1 Encryption

• Use WPA security if you have WPA-aware wireless clients and a RADIUS server. WPA
has user authentication and improved data encryption over WEP.
• Use WPA-PSK if you have WPA-aware wireless clients but no RADIUS server.
• If you don't have WPA-aware wireless clients, then use WEP key encrypting. A higher
bit key offers better security at a throughput trade-off. You can use Passphrase to
automatically generate 64-bit or 128-bit WEP keys or manually enter 64-bit or 128-bit
WEP keys.

4.2.2 Authentication

WPA has user authentication and you can also configure IEEE 802.1x to use a RADIUS server
to authenticate wireless clients before joining your network.
• Use RADIUS authentication if you have a RADIUS server. See the appendices for
information on protocols used when a client authenticates with a RADIUS server via the
Prestige.

Chapter 4 Wireless LAN

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