Linksys BEFW11S4 ver. 3 manual Configuring Wireless Security in Windows XP, 113

Instant Wireless™ Series

•WEP (64Bit or 128B) Select the level of encryption from the drop-down box. 128-bit WEP encryption is unique to Linksys and may conflict with other vendors’ WEP encryption.

Note: In order to utilize WEP encryption, all points in your wireless network must have WEP enabled and be set to the same Key Setting.

The WEP Encryption key is generated in one of two ways:

1.You may create an encryption key by using a Passphrase.

a.Enter a Passphrase, a user-defined password, into the Passphrase field. The Passphrase can be a maximum of 31 letters, symbols, and numbers. No spaces can be used.

b.Click the Generate button to create a key. The key will be 10 digits if you chose 64-bit encryption, or 26 digits if you chose 128-bit encryption. This key will be used to encrypt and decrypt the data being sent between the Router and your network’s wireless PCs.

The Key field may not display all digits. Using the mouse, click anywhere within the Key field. Move the cursor to the right to view the rest of the Key. Make sure your write down the entire Key EXACTLY the way it is displayed.

2.You may enter the encryption key manually.

Make a note of the Passphrase or Manual Key. You will need it for the other wireless devices on the network, as the same WEP encryption key must be entered in all wireless devices on the network.

Once you have chosen your key encryption method and entered either the Passphrase or manual key, click the Apply button, and the encryption portion of the setup is complete.

Note: In Windows XP, a 128-bit Key generated by the Router will be called a "104 bits (26 digits)" key, and a 64-bit Key generated by the Router will be called a “40 bits (10 digits)” key.

Wireless Access Point Router with 4-Port Switch

Configuring Wireless Security in Windows XP

As Windows XP does not allow for the use of the Linksys Passphrase feature with the wireless PC adapters, you will need to manually enter the key gen- erated in the previous section.

The following steps will help you enable WEP and enter the encryption key manually for your wireless PC cards, in order to enable your Windows XP system to communicate with the Router wirelessly.

These steps assume that your CD-ROM drive is letter D and that you are running Windows XP in the default mode.

Be sure you have the WEP Key generated by the Router.

1.As shown in Figure C-3, click the Start button and go to the Control Panel.

Figure C-3

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