Activating A Profile - SMC Networks SMCWUSB-N4 User Manual

Options
Authentication Type
Encryption Type
802.1x
WPA Pre-Shared Key
WEP SETTING

Activating a Profile

After you create one or more profiles, activate it either by double-clicking the profile in the
Profile List screen or by clicking it and then clicking the Activate button. A green check mark
appears next to the profile to show it is activated.
SMCWUSB-N4 300 Mbps Wireless USB Adapter User Manual
Using the SMC Wireless Utility (Mac)
Table 4-2. Authentication & Security Screen
Choose the authentication method to gain access to the wireless network. Choices are:
Open = open systems authentication. Allows the Adapter to connect to the network as long as

the Adapter knows the SSID. Wireless transmissions between your Adapter and the network are
not protected. Encryption selections are None and WEP.
 Shared = shared-key authentication. Uses a WEP key as a shared-key to be exchanged between
the Adapter and access point as a simple form of authentication. If you select this option, select
WEP SETTINGS below. No encryption can be selected.
 WPA = encrypts data transmission using a 256-bit key. WPA-PSK offers greater protection than
WEP. Use this method if wireless network supports WPA-PSK. Encryption selections are TKIP
and AES.
 WPA-PSK = second generation of WPA that adds CCMP encryption with mathematically proven
security WPA2-PSK offers greater protection than WPA-PSK and WEP. Use this method if the
wireless network supports WPA2-PSK. If the network has older devices, however, use WPA-
PSK. Encryption selections are TKIP and AES.
WPA2 = successor of WPA, and replaces the TKIP encryption protocol with CCMP to provide

additional security. Encryption selections are TKIP and AES.
WPA2-PSK = encrypts data transmission WPA-PSK or WPA2-PSK. Select this option if the

wireless network supports WPA-PSK or WPA2-PSK. Encryption selections are TKIP and AES.
Choose the authentication method to secure wireless communications. Choices are:
TKIP = offers strong encryption. However, TKIP may not address all of the security issues facing

wireless networks, and may not be reliable or efficient enough for sensitive corporate and
government data transmissions.
 AES = requires more computing power than TKIP, but is the most secure option you can select to
connect to wireless networks. AES also has less of a performance hit than TKIP.
Check to enable 802.1X authentication. 802.1x authentication can help enhance security for 802.11
wireless networks and wired Ethernet networks by requiring a certificate or a smart card for network
access. 802.1x authentication is typically used for workplace connections.
If you selected WPA-PSK or WPA2-PSK, enter a Shared Secret Key between 8 and 63 characters
long.
Use the Key fields to specify a minimum of one and a maximum of four hex or ASCII keys you want
to use for registration on the network. Hex and ASCII keys can be 64 or 128 bits long.
Hex = the keys are entered as hexadecimal characters. Entries should be made with the digits zero
through 9 and the characters A through F only. 26 hexadecimal characters are used to specify a
128-bit key or 10 hexadecimal characters are used to specify a 64-bit key.
ASCII = the keys are formed from characters of the ASCI character set. 13 ASCII characters are
used to specify a 128-bit key or 5 characters are used to specify a 64-bit key.
Description
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