Encryption; Configuring Wpa Encryption - 3Com 3CRWE554G72T - OfficeConnect Wireless 11g Cable/DSL Router User Manual

54 C 5: R
HAPTER OUTER

Encryption

Configuring WPA
Encryption
C
ONFIGURATION
Nitro Mode
The presence of an 11b device in your network can adversely affect the
performance of an 11g device, such as the Router. Nitro Mode ensures
that the effects of an 11b device are minimized. 3Com recommends that
you enable Nitro Mode if you have one or more 11b devices in your
network. Check the Enable Nitro Mode check box to activate Nitro Mode.
The client machines must also support Nitro Mode for this feature to
work.
When setting up wireless networks, it is important to remember that with
encryption disabled, anyone with a Wireless PC can eavesdrop on your
network. 3Com recommends that you get the network working with
encryption disabled first and then enable it as the last step. This will
simplify setting up your network.
The Router supports two types of encryption:
WPA — Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) is a 256 bit encryption method
■
with keys that change over time.
WEP — Wireless Equivalent Privacy (WEP) is a 64 bit or 128 bit
■
encryption method with user configurable fixed keys.
WPA provides a higher level of security, provided by its longer key and
dynamic changes made to the key over time. 3Com recommends that
you use WPA with any clients which support it.
If you enable encryption on the Router, you must reconfigure your
wireless PCs to use exactly the same Encryption Type and Keys otherwise
the devices will not understand each other.
The encryption methods used by the Router secure data transmitted
through wireless communications between the Router and its wireless
clients. Enabling encryption has no security effect on data transmitted
through wired (Ethernet) connections or through your connections to the
Internet.
The only configuration that is needed for WPA is to set up an
authentication method. You can choose to use a RADIUS server to
authenticate clients, or you can specify a pre-shared key.