User’s Manual for the NETGEAR Double 108 Mbps Wireless PC Card 32-bit CardBus WG511U

B-8 Wireless Networking Basics

August 2004

Figure B-2: 802.11 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.

The WEP Shared Key authentication process is illustrated in below.

Figure B-3: 802.11 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.

INTERNET LOCAL
ACT
12345678
LNK
LNK/ACT
100
Cable/DSLProSafeWirelessVPNSecurityFirewall
MODELFVM318
PWR TEST
WLAN
Enable
Access Point (AP)
1)Authentication request sent to AP
2)AP authenticates
3)Client connects to network
802.11Authentication
Open System Steps
Cableor
DLSmodem
Client
attempting
to connect
INTERNET LOCAL
ACT
12345678
LNK
LNK/ACT
100
Cable/DSLProSafeWirelessVPNSecurityFirewall
MODELFVM318
PWR TEST
WLAN
Enable
Access Point (AP)1)Authentication
requestsent to AP
2)AP sends challenge text
3)Client encrypts
challengetext and
sendsit back to AP
4)AP decrypts, and if correct,
authenticatesclient
5)Client connects to network
802.11Authentication
Shared Key Steps
Cableor
DLSmodem
Client
attempting
to connect