Installation Guide

User Manual for the NETGEAR Pre-N Wireless PC Card WGM511
B-4 Wireless Networking Basics
December 2004
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.
• 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 Open System Authentication
This process is illustrated below.
Figure 6-1: 802.11 open system authentication
The following steps occur when two devices use Open System Authentication:
1. The station sends an authentication request to the access point.
2. The access point authenticates the station.
INTERNET LOCAL
ACT
12345678
LNK
LNK/ACT
100
Cable/DSL
ProSafeWirelessVPN SecurityFirewall
MODEL
FVM318
PWR TEST
WLAN
Enable
Access Point (AP)
1) Authentication request sent to AP
2) AP authenticates
3) Client connects to network
802.11 Authentication
Open System Steps
Cable or
DLS modem
Client
attempting
to connect