Reference Manual for the MR814 v3 Cable/DSL Wireless Router
Wireless Networking Basics D-5
202-10039-01
• Shared Key Authentication requires that the station and the access point have the same WEP
Key to authenticate. These two authentication procedures are described below.
Open System Authentication
The following steps occur when two devices use Open System Authentication:
1. The station sends an authentication request to the access point.
2. The access point authenticates the station.
3. The station associates with the access point and joins the network.
This process is illustrated in below.
Figure 8-1: 802.11b open system authentication
Shared Key Authentication
The following steps occur when two devices use Shared Key Authentication:
1. The station sends an authentication request to the access point.
2. The access point sends challenge text to the station.
3. The station uses its configured 64-bit or 128-bit default key to encrypt the challenge text, and
sends the encrypted text to the access point.
4. The access point decrypts the encrypted text using its configured WEP Key that corresponds
to the station’s default key. The access point compares the decrypted text with the original
challenge text. If the decrypted text matches the original challenge text, then the access point
and the station share the same WEP Key and the access point authenticates the station.
INTERNET LOCAL
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Cable/DSLProSafeWirelessVPNSecurityFirewall
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PWR TEST
WLAN
Enable
Access Point
1)Authentication request sent to AP
2)AP authenticates
3)Client connects to network

802.11bAuthentication

Open System Steps

Cableor
DLSmodem
Client
attempting
to connect