Netgear MP101NA MP101 User Manual - Page 46
WEP Authentication, authentication: Open System and Shared Key.
UPC - 006449030561
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User's Manual for the MP101 Digital Music Player WEP Authentication The 802.11 standard defines several services that govern how two 802.11 devices communicate. The following events must occur before an 802.11 station such as the one built in to the MP101 can communicate with an Ethernet network through an access point: 1. Turn on the wireless station. 2. The station listens for messages from any access points that are in range. 3. The station finds a message from an access point that has a matching SSID. 4. The station sends an authentication request to the access point. 5. The access point authenticates the station. 6. The station sends an association request to the access point. 7. The access point associates with the station. 8. The station can now communicate with the Ethernet network through the access point. An access point must authenticate a station before the station can associate with the access point or communicate with the network. The IEEE 802.11 standard defines two types of WEP authentication: Open System and Shared Key. • Open System Authentication allows any device to join the network, assuming that the device SSID matches the access point SSID. Alternatively, the device can use the "ANY" SSID option to associate with any available access point within range, regardless of its SSID. By default, IEEE 802.11 wireless devices operate in an Open System network. • Shared Key Authentication requires that the station and the access point have the same WEP Key to authenticate. These two authentication procedures are described below. WEP Encryption 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 40-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. B-4 Wireless Networking Basics