ZyXEL PLA4231 User Guide - Page 65

Chapter 10 Wireless LAN

PLA4231 User’s Guide

65

You can use the MAC address filter to tell the AP which wireless clients are allowed or not allowed to

use the wireless network. If a wireless client is allowed to use the wireless network, it still has to

have the correct settings (SSID, channel, and security). If a wireless client is not allowed to use the

wireless network, it does not matter if it has the correct settings.

This type of security does not protect the information that is sent in the wireless network.

Furthermore, there are ways for unauthorized devices to get the MAC address of an authorized

wireless client. Then, they can use that MAC address to use the wireless network.

Encryption

Wireless networks can use encryption to protect the information that is sent in the wireless

network. Encryption is like a secret code. If you do not know the secret code, you cannot

understand the message.

Usually, you should set up the strongest encryption that every wireless client in the wireless

network supports. For example, suppose the AP does not have a local user database, and you do

not have a RADIUS server. Therefore, there is no user authentication. Suppose the wireless network

has two wireless clients. Device A only supports WEP, and device B supports WEP and WPA.

Therefore, you should set up

Static WEP

in the wireless network.

Note: It is recommended that wireless networks use

WPA-PSK

or stronger encryption.

WEP encryption are better than none at all, but it is still possible for unauthorized

devices to figure out the original information pretty quickly.

When you select

WPA2-PSK

in your PLA4231, you can also select an option (

WPA-PSK

Compatible

) to support WPA as well. In this case, if some wireless clients support WPA and some

support WPA2, you should set up

WPA2-PSK

and select the

WPA-PSK Compatible

option in the

PLA4231.

Many types of encryption use a key to protect the information in the wireless network. The longer

the key, the stronger the encryption. Every wireless client in the wireless network must have the

same key.

10.3.1.3

WPS

WiFi Protected Setup (WPS) is an industry standard specification, defined by the WiFi Alliance. WPS

allows you to quickly set up a wireless network with strong security, without having to configure

security settings manually. Depending on the devices in your network, you can either press a

button (on the device itself, or in its configuration utility) or enter a PIN (Personal Identification

Number) in the devices. Then, they connect and set up a secure network by themselves.

Table 17

Types of Encryption

Weakest

No Security

Static WEP

WPA-PSK

Strongest

WPA2-PSK

Section	Page
PLA4231	1
Table of Contents	3
Introduction	7
Introducing the PLA4231	9
1.1 Overview	9
1.2 Expand Your Network with the PLA4231	9
1.3 Ways to Manage the PLA4231	10
1.4 Good Habits for Managing the PLA4231	10
1.5 Powerline Security	10
1.5.1 Powerline Passwords	11
1.5.2 Setting Up Powerline Security	11
1.6 Multiple Networks	12
1.7 Resetting the PLA4231	12
1.7.1 Procedure to Use the Reset Button	12
The WPS Button	13
2.1 WPS Overview	13
2.2 How to Use the WPS Button	13
The RESET/ENCRYPT Button	15
3.1 RESET/ENCRYPT Button Overview	15
3.2 Set Up a HomePlug AV Network with ENCRYPT	15
3.3 Setting Up Multiple Networks	17
3.4 RESET/ENCRYPT Button Behavior	19
Configuration Utility	21
Installing the Powerline Configuration Utility	23
4.1 Overview of the Installation Process	23
4.2 Installing the Utility	23
Using the Powerline Configuration Utility	27
5.1 Overview	27
5.1.1 Powerline Network Security	27
5.1.2 Device Access Key (DAK)	28
5.2 Starting the Configuration Utility	28
5.3 Configuration Screen	29
5.4 Firmware Screen	30
5.5 Network Info Screen	31
5.6 Advanced Screen	32
5.7 About Screen	35
Powerline Network Setup Tutorial	37
6.1 Overview	37
6.2 Important Terms	37
6.3 Accessing Your Powerline Adapter	38
6.4 Adding a Powerline Adapter	39
6.5 Setting Up a New Network with a New Adapter	40
6.6 Splitting a Network into Two Networks	42
6.7 Troubleshooting	44
Web Configurator	47
Introducing the Web Configurator	49
7.1 Overview	49
7.2 Accessing the Web Configurator	49
7.2.1 Login Screen	49
7.2.2 Password Screen	51
7.3 Navigating the Web Configurator	52
7.3.1 Title Bar	53
7.3.2 Navigation Panel	53
7.3.3 Main Window	54
Dashboard	55
8.1 The Dashboard Screen	55
Monitor	59
9.1 Overview	59
9.2 What You Can Do	59
9.3 Log	59
9.4 Packet Statistics	60
9.5 WLAN Station Status	61
Wireless LAN	63
10.1 Overview	63
10.2 What You Can Do	63
10.3 What You Should Know	64
10.3.1 Wireless Security Overview	64
10.4 General Wireless LAN Screen	66
10.5 Wireless Security	67
10.5.1 No Security	67
10.5.2 WEP Encryption	68
10.5.3 WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK	70
10.6 MAC Filter	71
10.7 Wireless LAN Advanced Screen	73
10.8 Quality of Service (QoS) Screen	73
10.9 WPS Screen	74
10.10 WPS Station Screen	76
10.11 Scheduling Screen	76
LAN	79
11.1 Overview	79
11.2 What You Can Do	79
11.3 What You Need To Know	79
11.3.1 LAN TCP/IP	80
11.3.2 IP Alias	80
11.4 LAN IP Screen	80
11.5 IP Alias Screen	81
HomePlug	83
12.1 Overview	83
12.2 What You Can Do	83
12.3 HomePlug Screen	83
Maintenance	87
13.1 Overview	87
13.2 What You Can Do	87
13.3 General Screen	87
13.4 Password Screen	88
13.5 Time Setting Screen	88
13.6 Firmware Upgrade Screen	90
13.7 Configuration Backup/Restore Screen	92
13.8 Restart Screen	93
13.9 Language Screen	93
LEDs and Troubleshooting	95
14.1 LEDs	95
14.2 Power and Light Problems	96
14.3 Configuration Utility Problems	98
14.4 Powerline Problems	98
14.5 RESET/ENCRYPT Button Problems	99
14.6 Wireless Connection Problems	100
14.7 PLA4231 Access and Login Problems	101
Pop-up Windows, JavaScript and Java Permissions	105
Legal Information	115

ZyXEL PLA4231 User Guide - Page 65

Encryption - compatibility

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