Ruckus Wireless ZoneDirector User Guide | Managing a Wireless Local Area Network
20
An Overview of Wireless Networks
When your Ruckus ZoneDirector setup is complete, you have a fully functional wireless net-
work, based on two secure WLANs (“internal” and “guest”) with access for authorized users
and guests. The internal WLAN provides “zero IT” connectivity for “standard” client
devices, those computers running Windows XP/SP2 and utilizing WPA-ready NICs.
There are two scenarios in which you create additional WLANs, in addition to the internal
WLAN: (1) To limit certain WLANs to groups of qualified users, to enhance security and effi-
ciency. For example, an “Engineering” WLAN with a closed roster of users.) Or, (2) to con-
figure a specific WLAN with different security settings. For example, you may need a WLAN
that utilizes WEP encryption for wireless handheld devices that only support WEP-key encry-
tion.
In the first scenario, specific WLANs (esp. regarding authentication and encryption algo-
rithm) can be set up that support specific groups of users. This requires a two-step process:
(1) create the custom WLAN and link it to qualified user accounts by “roles”, and (2) assist
all qualified users to prepare their client devices for custom WLAN connection.
As a result, you will have the default internal WLAN, plus the needed WLANs that fulfill dif-
ferent wireless security requirements.
Customizing Ruckus WLAN Security
The default security environment for your internal WLAN incorporates a WPA-based authen-
tication passphrase and the TKIP encryption algorithm, and utilizes a dynamic pre-shared
key. To review the default WLAN configurations and the available options, review the fol-
lowing procedures.
Reviewing the initial security configuration
1
Go to
Monitor
>
WLANs
.
2
When the
WLANs
workspace appears, a
WLANs
table lists the two default WLANs cre-
ated in the setup process:
corporate
and
guest
. The internal WLAN,
corporate
, is the
one used by your authorized users, and you can review the details of its configuration
by clicking the WLAN name. See “FIGURE 3-1” on page 21.
3
You have three options with the internal WLAN: [1] continue using the current configu-
ration, [2] fine-tune the existing WPA-based mode, or [3] replace this mode entirely
with either a WEP-based mode or an 802.1x mode. The two WLAN-editing processes
are described separately, in the following sections.
