TRENDnet TEW712BR manual Wireless Networking and Security

TRENDnet User’s Guide

Wireless Networking and Security

How to choose the type of security for your wireless network

Setting up wireless security is very important. Leaving your wireless network open and unsecure could expose your entire network and personal files to outsiders. TRENDnet recommends reading through this entire section and setting up wireless security on your new router.

TEW-712BR

when all wireless clients disconnect to the network and a wireless client with WPA2 encryption connects your wireless network will then change to WPA2 encryption. NOTE: WPA2 encryption supports 802.11n speeds and WPA encryption will limit your connection speeds to 54Mbps

•WPA2: This is the most secure wireless encryption available today, similar to WPA encryption but more robust. This encryption standard also supports the highest connection speeds. TRENDnet recommends setting your router to this encryption standard. If you find that one of your wireless network devices does not support WPA2 encryption, then set your router to either WPA or WPA-Auto encryption.

There are a few different wireless security types supported in wireless networking each	Note: Check the specifications of your wireless network adapters and wireless
having its own characteristics which may be more suitable for your wireless network	appliances to verify the highest level of encryption supported.
taking into consideration compatibility, performance, as well as the security strength	Below is brief comparison chart of the wireless security types and the
along with using older wireless networking hardware (also called legacy hardware).	recommended configuration depending on which type you choose for your wireless
It is strongly recommended to enable wireless security to prevent unwanted users from	network.

accessing your network and network resources (personal documents, media, etc.).	Security Standard	WEP	WPA	WPA2
In general, it is recommended that you choose the security type with the highest			IEEE 802.11a/b/g
strength and performance supported by the wireless computers and devices in your		IEEE 802.11a/b/g	(802.11n devices
network. Please review the security types to determine which one you should use for		(802.11n devices	will operate at
your network.	Compatible	will operate at	802.11g to connect
Wireless Encryption Types	Wireless	802.11g to connect	using this
	Standards	using this standard)	standard)	IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n
• WEP: Legacy encryption method supported by older 802.11b/g hardware. This is
	Highest
the oldest and least secure type of wireless encryption. It is generally not
	Performance
recommended to use this encryption standard, however if you have old 802.11 b or
	Under This
802.11g wireless adapters or computers with old embedded wireless cards(wireless
	Setting	Up to 54Mbps	Up to 54Mbps	Up to 450Mbps*
clients), you may have to set your router to WEP to allow the old adapters to
	Encryption
connect to the router. Note: This encryption standard will limit connection speeds to
	Strength	Low	Medium	High
54Mbps.
		Open System or	TKIP or AES,	TKIP or AES,
• WPA: This encryption is significantly more robust than the WEP technology. Much	Additional
		Shared Key,
of the older 802.11g hardware was been upgraded (with firmware/driver upgrades)			Preshared Key or	Preshared Key or
	Options	HEX or ASCII,
to support this encryption standard. Total wireless speeds under this encryption			RADIUS	RADIUS
		Different key sizes
type however are limited to 54Mbps.
	Recommended	Open System ASCII	TKIP	AES
• WPA-Auto: This setting provides the router with the ability to detect wireless
			Preshared Key	Preshared Key
devices using either WPA or WPA2 encryption. Your wireless network will	Configuration	13 characters
			8-63 characters	8-63 characters
automatically change the encryption setting based on the first wireless device
connected. For example, if the first wireless client that connects to your wireless	*Dependent on the maximum 802.11n data rate supported by the device (150Mbps,
network uses WPA encryption your wireless network will use WPA encryption. Only
	300Mbps, or 450Mbps)
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