Radio Configuration / Diagnostic Utility
RLXIB-IHW-66
♦
802.11a, b, g
User Manual
Industrial Hotspot
ProSoft Technology, Inc.
Page 53 of 109
May 18, 2009
4.3.1 Encryption
type
The preferred encryption type is WPA (WiFi Protected Access). You should only
select WEP (wired equivalency protocol) for use with an older client radio that
only has WEP encryption. For compatibility with clients that do not support WPA,
you can select WPA+WEP128 (bits) or WPA+WEP64 (bits) as the encryption
type. Then the older clients can connect to an access point using the WEP
setting, but new clients will use WPA and the RLXIB radios will still use WPA
among themselves.
IMPORTANT:
If WPA+WEP is selected, some clients using WPA might not be able to connect
unless you use a WEP key other than number 1, due to limitations in these clients. In such cases,
you should set a WEP key other than key 1 and set this same key in all clients that are using WEP.
See WEP key (page 53).
WEP is the original security protocol used by 802.11 networks, but WPA offers
better protection against attacks, for several reasons: WPA distances the
encryption key from the actual data by performing several algorithms to the key
before generating the encrypted data, it performs dynamic key management by
changing keys frequently, and it performs message integrity checks to prevent
forgery and replay.
You can also select WEP 128, WEP 64, or None (no encryption) as the
encryption type, but none of these settings are recommended.
Note:
If an RLXIB is set to use WPA+WEP, it will connect to other radios set to WPA only or
WPA+WEP, but it will not communicate with radios set to WEP only. Likewise, an RLXIB in client
mode with WPA+WEP selected will not connect to an access point with WEP only selected.
4.3.2 WPA
phrase
To use WPA encryption on packets sent between the radios, enter a WPA pass
phrase of between eight and 63 normal keyboard characters. This phrase
automatically generates an encryption key of 128 hexadecimal characters. This
field is only available if you select WPA as the encryption type.
The default WPA-AES Phrase when a module ships is 'passphrase'.
4.3.3 WEP
key
A key is a set of hexadecimal (hex) or ASCII characters used to encrypt data.
This field is only available if you select WEP as the encryption type. Write down
your WEP encryption key as you create it, because you must enter the same key
on your client.
To create a 64-bit WEP key, enter five normal text characters in the WEP key
field, which converts the characters automatically to 10 hex digits. Alternatively,
you can enter 10 hex digits (0 to 9, a to f, A to F) directly in the WEP key field. To
create a 128-bit key, enter 13 normal text characters, which convert to 26 hex
digits, or enter 26 hex digits (0 to 9, a to f, A to F) directly.