Cabletron Systems RoamAbout User Manual - Setting Encryption
Configuring the RoamAbout Access Point 4-11
Setting Encryption
Setting Encryption
The Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) feature uses a specific key to encrypt all data
transmitted from the Access Point. However, it uses one of 4 keys to decode received
encrypted data. A wireless client without the correct encryption keys cannot receive
and decipher encrypted data from the Access Point. You can configure the AP to
communicate with clients that use WEP and clients that do not.
One version of the RoamAbout PC Card in the AP supports the 802.11 standard 40-bit
encryption only. Another version supports both 40-bit and 128-bit encryption. The
standard 40-bit encryption uses a 5 character key (or 10 hexadecimal digits). The
128-bit encryption uses a 13 character key (or 26 hexadecimal digits).
NOTE
A hexadecimal digit key must start with 0x, which is not counted in the number of
digits. For example, 0xABCDEF0123 is a valid 40-bit encryption hexadecimal
key (10 hex digits).
There are 4 positions, Key 1, Key 2, Key 3, and Key 4. The position of each key is
important, since the clients must enter the same key in the same position to
communicate with the AP.
In the AP Manager, the Encryption setting is available by clicking the Encryption
button. When you open the Encryption window, press F1 on your keyboard for specific
information on each field.
In the console port menu, select the Module-Specific Options. If you enable
Encryption, you must also enter at least one key and choose a transmit key.
If you wish to prevent any SNMP Manager, including the AP Manager, from changing
the Encryption parameters, select Set Exclude WEP SNMP from the Encryption
menu in the console port and enable it.
NOTE
If you enable/disable Encryption or allow/disallow nonencrypted clients to
communicate with the AP, you need to reset the AP as described in “Resetting the
RoamAbout Access Point” on page 4-14. You do not need to reset the AP to add,
delete, or modify keys.