Gateway 7001 Series 96

Field	Description

Authentication	The authentication algorithm defines the method used to determine whether
Algorithm	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 from the list:
	• Open System
	• Shared Key
	• Both
	Open System authentication lets any client station associate with the access
	point 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 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 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.
	Both is the default. When the authentication algorithm is set to Both:
	• 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-crypt AP-to-station data transmissions.

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

■The same key most 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, then set the stations to encrypt the data they transmit using different keys. This ensures that neighboring APs cannot decrypt each other’s transmissions.