Chapter 7 Wireless Security Configuration

Your ZyXEL Device allows you to configure up to four 64-bit, 128-bit or 152-bit WEP keys but only one key can be enabled at any one time.

7.2 802.1x Overview

The IEEE 802.1x standard outlines enhanced security methods for both the authentication of wireless stations and encryption key management. Authentication can be done using a RADIUS server.

7.3 EAP Authentication Overview

EAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol) is an authentication protocol that runs on top of the IEEE802.1x transport mechanism in order to support multiple types of user authentication. By using EAP to interact with an EAP-compatible RADIUS server, the access point helps a wireless station and a RADIUS server perform authentication.

The type of authentication you use depends on the RADIUS server or the AP. The ZyXEL Device supports EAP-TLS, EAP-TTLS, EAP-MD5 and PEAP with RADIUS. Refer to the Types of EAP Authentication appendix for descriptions on the common types.

The following figure shows an overview of authentication when you specify a RADIUS server on your access point.

Figure 54 EAP Authentication

The details below provide a general description of how IEEE 802.1x EAP authentication works. For an example list of EAP-MD5 authentication steps, see the IEEE 802.1x appendix.

1The wireless station sends a “start” message to the ZyXEL Device.

2The ZyXEL Device sends a “request identity” message to the wireless station for identity information.

3The wireless station replies with identity information, including username and password.

4The RADIUS server checks the user information against its user profile database and determines whether or not to authenticate the wireless station.

7.4Introduction to WPA

Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) is a subset of the IEEE 802.11i standard. Key differences between WPA and WEP are user authentication and improved data encryption.

100

 

ZyXEL NWA-3160 Series User’s Guide