AT-TQ2403 Management Software User's Guide

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FieldDescription

Authentication The authentication algorithm defines the method used to determine whether a client station is allowed to associate with an access point when static WEP is the security mode. Specify the authentication algorithm you want to use by choosing one of the following options:

∙Open System

∙Shared Key

Note: You can also select both the Open System and Shared Key checkboxes.

Open System: This authentication allows any client station to associate with the access point whether that client station has the correct WEP key or not. This is algorithm is also used in plaintext, IEEE 802.1x, and WPA modes. When the authentication algorithm is set to Open System, any client can associate with the access point.

Note that just because a client station is allowed to associate does not ensure it can exchange traffic with an access point. A station must have the correct WEP key to be able to successfully access and decrypt data from an access point, and to transmit readable data to the access point.

Shared Key: This authentication requires the client station to have the correct WEP key in order to associate with the access point. When the authentication algorithm is set to Shared Key, a station with an incorrect WEP key will not be able to associate with the access point.

When you select both Open System and Shared Key authentication algorithms:

∙Client stations configured to use WEP in shared key mode must have a valid WEP key in order to associate with the access point.

∙Client stations configured to use WEP as an open system (shared key mode not enabled) will be able to associate with the access point even if they do not have the correct WEP key.

Rules to Remember for Static WEP

∙All client stations must have the Wireless LAN (WLAN) security set to WEP and all clients must have one of the WEP keys specified on the AP in order to de-code AP-to-station data transmissions.

∙The AP must have all keys used by clients for station-to-AP transmit so that it can de-code the station transmissions.

∙The same key must occupy the same slot on all nodes (AP and clients). For example if the AP defines abc123 key as WEP key 3, then the client stations must define that same string as WEP key 3.

∙On some wireless client software (like Funk Odyssey), you can configure multiple WEP keys and define a client station “transfer key index”, and then set the stations to encrypt the data they transmit using different keys. This ensures that neighboring APs cannot decode each other’s transmissions.