3.2.2 Enable WPA in Windows XP
Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) is a specification of standards-based, interoperable security
enhancement that strongly increases the level of data protection (encryption) and access control
(authentication) for existing and future wireless LAN systems. The technical components of WPA
include Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) for dynamic key exchange, and 802.1x for
authentication.
There are two types of WPA security: WPA-PSK (no server) and WPA (with server). WPA requires a
Radius Server to complete the authentication among wireless stations and Access Points. Typically,
this mode is used in an enterprise environment. WPA-PSK uses a so-called pre-shared key as the
security key. A pre-shared key is a password that each wireless station uses the same key to access
the network. Typically, this mode will be used in a home environment.
To enable the WPA function in Windows XP, the following software systems are required:
1. Windows XP Service Pack 1 with Windows XP Support Patch for Wi-Fi Protected Access program
in addition.
2. Configure the card by Wireless built-in utility (Wireless Zero Configuration).
Note: In that kind of system, there are two utility selections when you open the configuration
utility of the card. You can select to use the XP’s built-in utility with full WPA function. If “Use
XP Wireless Zero Configuration” is selected, you can only configure the advance setting or
check the link status and statistics from the “RaConfig” utility.
1. From here, right click the
icon to select “View
Available Wireless
Networks”.
2. Press
“Advanced”
button
from “Wireless Network
Connection”.
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