Reference Manual for the NETGEAR ProSafe Wireless Access Point 802.11g WG302

Key Size

The IEEE 802.11 standard supports two types of WEP encryption: 40-bit and 128-bit.

The 64-bit WEP data encryption method allows for a five-character (40-bit) input. Additionally, 24 factory-set bits are added to the forty-bit input to generate a 64-bit encryption key. The 24 factory-set bits are not user-configurable). This encryption key will be used to encrypt/decrypt all data transmitted via the wireless interface. Some vendors refer to the 64-bit WEP data encryption as 40-bit WEP data encryption since the user-configurable portion of the encryption key is 40 bits wide.

The 128-bit WEP data encryption method consists of 104 user-configurable bits. Similar to the forty-bit WEP data encryption method, the remaining 24 bits are factory set and not user configurable. Some vendors allow passphrases to be entered instead of the cryptic hexadecimal characters to ease encryption key entry.

128-bit encryption is stronger than 40-bit encryption, but 128-bit encryption may not be available outside of the United States due to U.S. export regulations.

When configured for 40-bit encryption, 802.11 products typically support up to four WEP Keys. Each 40-bit WEP Key is expressed as 5 sets of two hexadecimal digits (0-9 and A-F). For example, “12 34 56 78 90” is a 40-bit WEP Key.

When configured for 128-bit encryption, 802.11 products typically support four WEP Keys but some manufacturers support only one 128-bit key. The 128-bit WEP Key is expressed as 13 sets of two hexadecimal digits (0-9 and A-F). For example, “12 34 56 78 90 AB CD EF 12 34 56 78 90” is a 128-bit WEP Key.

Table B-1:

Encryption Key Sizes

 

 

 

 

Encryption Key Size

# of Hexadecimal Digits

Example of Hexadecimal Key Content

64-bit (24+40)

 

10

4C72F08AE1

 

 

 

 

128-bit (24+104)

 

26

4C72F08AE19D57A3FF6B260037

 

 

 

 

Note: Typically, 802.11 access points can store up to four 128-bit WEP Keys but some 802.11 client adapters can only store one. Therefore, make sure that your 802.11 access and client adapters’ configurations match.

B-6

Wireless Networking Basics

September 2004

Page 82
Image 82
NETGEAR WG302 manual Key Size