Introduction
The D-Link AirPlus G DI-524 802.11g/2.4 Ghz Wireless Router is an 802.11g high- performance, wireless router that supports high-speed wireless networking at home, at work or in public places.
Unlike most routers, the DI-524 provides data transfers at up to 54 Mbps (compared to the standard 11 Mbps) when used with other D-Link AirPlus G products. The 802.11g standard is backwards compatible with 802.11b products. This means that you do not need to change your entire network to maintain connectivity. You may sacrifice some of 802.11g’s speed when you mix 802.11b and 802.11g devices, but you will not lose the ability to communicate when you incorporate the 802.11g standard into your 802.11b network. You may choose to slowly change your network by gradually replacing the 802.11b devices with 802.11g devices .
In addition to offering faster data transfer speeds when used with other 802.11g products, the DI-524 has the newest, strongest, most advanced security features available today. When used with other 802.11g WPA (WiFi Protected Access) and 802.1x compatible products in a network with a RADIUS server, the security features include:
WPA: Wi-Fi Protected Access authorizes and identifies users based on a secret key that changes automatically at a regular interval. WPA uses TKIP (Temporal Key Integrity Protocol) to change the temporal key every 10,000 packets (a packet is a kind of message transmitted over a network.) This insures much greater security than the standard WEP security. (By contrast, the older WEP encryption required the keys to be changed manually.)
802.1x: Authentication is a first line of defense against intrusion. In the Authentication process the server verifies the identity of the client attempting to connect to the network. Unfamiliar clients would be denied access.
For home users that will not incorporate a RADIUS server in their network, the security for the DI-524, used in conjunction with other 802.11g products, will still be much stronger than ever before. Utilizing the Pre Shared Key mode of WPA, the DI-524 will obtain a new security key every time it connects to the 802.11g network. You only need to input your encryption information once in the configuration menu. No longer will you have to manually input a new WEP key frequently to ensure security, with the DI-524, you will automatically receive a new key every time you connect, vastly increasing the safety of your communications.