Specifications

5-12 WS2000 Wireless Switch System Reference Guide
WEP is available in two encryption modes: 40 bit (also called 64-bit) and 104 bit (also called 128 bit). The
104-bit encryption mode provides a longer algorithm that takes longer to decode than that of the 40-bit
encryption mode.
NOTE: The WEP 128 encryption mode allows devices using 104-bit key and devices using 40-bit keys to
talk to each other using 40-bit keys, if the 104-bit devices permit this option.
1. Choose between the WEP 64 (40-bit key) and WEP 128 (104-bit key) option by selecting the
appropriate radio button.
2. To use WEP encryption with the No Authentication selection, click the WEP Key Settings button to
display a sub-screen for entering keys.
3. When finished, click the Ok button to close this screen.
4. Specify a Pass Key and click the Generate button. The pass key can be any alphanumeric string. The
switch, other proprietary routers, and Symbol cards in mobile units (MUs) use an algorithm to convert an
ASCII string to the same hexadecimal number, but this conversion is not required for a wireless
connection.
5. Use the Key #1-4 fields to specify key numbers that use 26 hexadecimal characters. Select one of these
keys for active use by selecting its radio button. Four different keys can be specified, allowing each
WLAN to have a different key.
6. Click the Apply button on the WLAN Security screen to save changes.
5.3.6 Configuring WPA/WPA2-TKIP Encryption
Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) is specified in the IEEE Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) standard, 802.11i. This
security standard provides more sophisticated data encryption than WEP. WPA is designed for corporate
networks and small-business environments where more wireless traffic allows quicker discovery of
encryption keys by an unauthorized person.
WPA’s encryption method is Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP). TKIP addresses WEP weaknesses with a
re-keying mechanism, a per-packet mixing function, a message integrity check, and an extended initialization
vector. WPA/WPA2 also provides strong user authentication that is based on 802.1x EAP.
1. Select the WPA/WPA2-TKIP radio button to enable Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) with Temporal Key
Integrity Protocol (TKIP).