Shared Key Authentication - NETGEAR MA701 User Manual

User Guide for the NETGEAR 802.11b Wireless Compact Flash Card MA701
1) Authentication request sent to AP
3) Client connects to network
Client
attempting
to connect
Figure 6-9: 802.11 open system authentication

Shared Key Authentication

The following steps occur when two devices use Shared Key Authentication:
The station sends an authentication request to the access point.
1.
The access point sends challenge text to the station.
2.
The station uses its configured 64-bit or 128-bit default key to encrypt the challenge text, and
3.
sends the encrypted text to the access point.
The access point decrypts the encrypted text using its configured WEP Key that corresponds
4.
to the station's default key. The access point compares the decrypted text with the original
challenge text. If the decrypted text matches the original challenge text, then the access point
and the station share the same WEP Key and the access point authenticates the station.
The station connects to the network.
5.
If the decrypted text does not match the original challenge text (i.e., the access point and station do
not share the same WEP Key), then the access point will refuse to authenticate the station and the
station will be unable to communicate with either the 802.11 network or Ethernet network.
This process is illustrated in below.
B-4
802.11 Authentication
Open System Steps
2) AP authenticates
Access Point (AP)
IN TER N ET W LA N LO CA L
Cable/DSL ProSafeWirelessVPN Security Firewall
LNK
PWR TEST
ACT Enable
1 2 3 4 5
M-10204-1
MODEL FVM318
100
LNK/ACT
6 7 8
Cable or
DLS modem
Wireless Networking Basics