Netopia 3387W-ENT manual Wireless LAN Configuration

Wireless LAN Configuration 7-3

		Wireless LAN Configuration
	Enable Wireless:		Yes
	SSID:		4405 2605
	Channel...		6
	Closed System...		Open
	Enable WEP...		On - Manual
	Default Key...		1
Key	1	(40b): 9a82ff3d92
Key	2	(128b): 2f5d42db7b734ff4e17b65881e
Key	3	(128b): db298860b6f380e6daec7dbfd4
Key	4	(40b): c8e5281016
Enter 10	digits for 40 bit, 26 digits for 128 bit, or 58 for 256bit WEP.

You can then configure:

•Channel: (1 through 11) on which the network will broadcast. This is a frequency range within the 2.4Ghz band. Channel selection depends on government regulated radio frequencies that vary from region to region. The widest range available is from 1 to 14. However, in North America only 1 to 11 may be selected. Europe, France, Spain and Japan will differ. Channel selection can have a significant impact on performance, depending on other wireless activity close to this Router. Channel selection is not necessary at the client computers; the clients will scan the available channels seeking access points using the same SSID as the client.

•Closed System: If you toggle Closed System to Closed, the wireless network is hidden from the scanning features of wireless client computers. Unless both the wireless clients and the Netopia 3387W-ENT share the same SSID in Closed System mode, the Netopia 3387W-ENT’s wireless LAN will not appear as an available network when scanned for by wireless-enabled computers. Members of the Closed System WLAN must log onto the Netopia 3387W-ENT’s wireless network with the identical SSID as that configured in the router.

Closed System mode is an ideal way to increase wireless security and to prevent casual detection by unwanted neighbors, office users, or malicious users such as hackers.

If you toggle it to Open, it is more convenient, but potentially less secure, for clients to access your WLAN by scanning available access points. You must decide based on your own network requirements.

•Enable WEP: You can provide a level of data security by enabling WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) for encryption of network data. You can enable 40-, 128-, or 256-bit WEP Encryption (depending on the capability of your client wireless card) for IP traffic on your LAN.

You select a single key for encryption of outbound traffic. The WEP-enabled client must have an identical key of the same length, in the identical slot (1 – 4) as the Router, in order to successfully receive and decrypt the traffic. Similarly, the client also has a ‘default’ key that it uses to encrypt its transmissions. In order for the Router to receive the client’s data, it must likewise have the identical key of the same length, in the same slot. For simplicity, a Router and its clients need only enter, share, and use the first key.