Chapter 9 Wireless LAN
EMG6765-Q10A User’s Guide
74
MAC Address Filter
Every wireless client has a unique identification number, called a MAC address.
1
A MAC address is
usually written using twelve hexadecimal characters
2
; for example, 00A0C5000002 or 00:A0:C5:00:00:02.
To get the MAC address for each wireless client, see the appropriate User’s Guide or other
documentation.
You can use the MAC address filter to tell the AP which wireless clients are allowed or not allowed to use
the wireless network. If a wireless client is allowed to use the wireless network, it still has to have the
correct settings (SSID, channel, and security). If a wireless client is not allowed to use the wireless
network, it does not matter if it has the correct settings.
This type of security does not protect the information that is sent in the wireless network. Furthermore,
there are ways for unauthorized devices to get the MAC address of an authorized wireless client. Then,
they can use that MAC address to use the wireless network.
User Authentication
You can make every user log in to the wireless network before they can use it. This is called user
authentication. However, every wireless client in the wireless network has to support IEEE 802.1x to do
this.
For wireless networks, there are two typical places to store the user names and passwords for each user.
• In the AP: this feature is called a local user database or a local database.
• In a RADIUS server: this is a server used in businesses more than in homes.
If your AP does not provide a local user database and if you do not have a RADIUS server, you cannot
set up user names and passwords for your users.
Unauthorized devices can still see the information that is sent in the wireless network, even if they cannot
use the wireless network. Furthermore, there are ways for unauthorized wireless users to get a valid user
name and password. Then, they can use that user name and password to use the wireless network.
Local user databases also have an additional limitation that is explained in the next section.
Guest WLAN
Guest WLAN allows you to set up a wireless network where users can access to Internet via the
EMG6765-Q10A (
Z
), but not other networks connected to the
Z
. In the following figure, a guest user can
access the Internet from the guest wireless network
A
via
Z
but not the home or company network
N
.
Note: The home or company network
N
and Guest WLAN network are independent networks.
1.
Some wireless devices, such as scanners, can detect wireless networks but cannot use wireless networks. These
kinds of wireless devices might not have MAC addresses.
2.
Hexadecimal characters are 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E, and F.
