ZyXEL Communications Wireless Gateway Series 7.3Configuring WEP Encryption

ZyAIR Wireless Gateway Series User’s Guide

Shared key authentication involves a four-message procedure. A wireless station sends a shared key authentication request to the AP, which will then reply with a challenge text message. The wireless station must then use the AP’s default WEP key to encrypt the challenge text and return it to the AP, which attempts to decrypt the message using the AP’s default WEP key. If the decrypted message matches the challenge text, the wireless station is authenticated.

When your ZyAIR's authentication method is set to open system, it will only accept open system authentication requests. The same is true for shared key authentication. However, when it is set to auto authentication, the ZyAIR will accept either type of authentication request and the ZyAIR will fall back to use open authentication if the shared key does not match.

7.3Configuring WEP Encryption

In order to configure and enable WEP encryption; click ADVANCED and then WIRELESS to display the Wireless screen.

The WEP Encryption, Authentication Method and the WEP key fields are not visible when you enable Dynamic WEP Key, WPA or WPA-PSK in the 802.1x/WPA screen.

Wireless Security 7-3