Overview Of Wep Parameters - NETGEAR MA111 User Manual

User Manual for the NETGEAR 11 Mbps Wireless USB Adapter MA111
If the decrypted text does not match the original challenge text (i.e., the access point and station do
not share the same WEP Key), then the access point will refuse to authenticate the station and the
station will be unable to communicate with either the 802.11 network or Ethernet network.
This process is illustrated in below.
802.11 Authentication
1) Authentication
request sent to AP
Client
3) Client encrypts
attempting
challenge text and
to connect
sends it back to AP
5) Client connects to network
Figure 4-4: 802.11 shared key authentication

Overview of WEP Parameters

Before enabling WEP on an 802.11 network, you must first consider what type of encryption you
require and the key size you want to use. Typically, there are three WEP Encryption options
available for 802.11 products:
Do Not Use WEP: The 802.11 network does not encrypt data. For authentication purposes,
1.
the network uses Open System Authentication.
Use WEP for Encryption: A transmitting 802.11 device encrypts the data portion of every
2.
packet it sends using a configured WEP Key. The receiving 802.11b device decrypts the data
using the same WEP Key. For authentication purposes, the 802.11b network uses Open
System Authentication.
Use WEP for Authentication and Encryption: A transmitting 802.11 device encrypts the
3.
data portion of every packet it sends using a configured WEP Key. The receiving 802.11
device decrypts the data using the same WEP Key. For authentication purposes, the 802.11
network uses Shared Key Authentication.
B-6
Shared Key Steps
2) AP sends challenge text
4) AP decrypts, and if correct,
authenticates client
202-10032-01
Access Point (AP)
IN TER N ET W LA N LO CA L MODEL FVM318
ProSafeWirelessVPN Security Firewall
Cable/DSL LNK 100
PWR TEST
ACT Enable LNK/ACT
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Cable or
DLS modem
Wireless Networking Basics