Cisco WAP131 Administration Manual page 90

Wireless
Networks
Cisco WAP131 and WAP351 Administration Guide
Use the same number of characters for each key as specified in the
Characters Required field. These are the RC4 WEP keys shared with the
stations using the WAP device.
Each client station must be configured to use one of these same WEP keys
in the same slot as specified on the WAP device.
• Characters Required—The number of characters you enter into the WEP
Key fields is determined by the key length and the key type that you select.
For example, if you use 128-bit ASCII keys, you must enter 26 characters in
the WEP key. The number of characters required updates automatically
based on how you set the key length and the key type.
• 802.1X Authentication—The authentication algorithm defines the method
used to determine whether a client station is allowed to associate with the
WAP device when static WEP is the security mode.
Specify the authentication algorithm that you want to use by choosing one
of these options:
- Open System authentication allows any client station to associate with
the WAP device whether that client station has the correct WEP key or
not. This algorithm is also used in plain text, IEEE 802.1X, and WPA
modes. When the authentication algorithm is set to Open System, any
client can associate with the WAP device.
Just because a client station is allowed to associate does not ensure
NOTE
it can exchange traffic with an WAP device. A station must have the
correct WEP key to be able to successfully access and decrypt data
from the WAP device, and to transmit readable data to the WAP
device.
- Shared Key authentication requires the client station to have the correct
WEP key in order to associate with the WAP device. When the
authentication algorithm is set to Shared Key, a station with an incorrect
WEP key cannot associate with the WAP device.
- Both Open System and Shared Key. When you select both
authentication algorithms, the client stations configured to use WEP in
shared key mode must have a valid WEP key in order to associate with
the WAP device. Also, the client stations configured to use WEP as an
open system (shared key mode not enabled) can associate with the
WAP device even if they do not have the correct WEP key.
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