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An infrastructure network consists of one or more access points and one or more computers with wireless
adapters installed. Each access point must have a wired connection to a wireless network.
Set up a Client with No Authentication or Data Encryption (None)
On the Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless main page, select one of the following methods to connect to an Infrastructure
network:
● Double-click an Infrastructure network in the Wireless Networks list.
● Select an Infrastructure network in the Wireless Networks list. Click Connect. The Intel PROSet/Wireless
software automatically detects the security settings for the wireless adapter.
If there is no authentication required, the network connects without a prompt to enter any log-on credentials.
Any wireless device with the correct network name (SSID) is able to associate with other devices in the network.
To create a profile for a wireless network connection with no encryption:
1. Click Profiles on the Intel PROSet/Wireless main window.
2. On the Profile page, click Add to open the Create Wireless Profile General Settings.
3. Profile Name: Enter a descriptive profile name.
4. Wireless Network Name (SSID): Enter the network identifier.
5. Operating Mode: Click Network (Infrastructure)
6. Click Next.
7. Click Enterprise Security to open the Security Settings.
8. Network Authentication: Open (Selected).
Open authentication allows a wireless device access to the network without 802.11 authentication. If
no encryption is enabled on the network, any wireless device with the correct network name (SSID)
can associate with an access point and gain access to the network.
9. Data Encryption: None is the default.
10. Click OK. The profile is added to the Profiles list and connects to the wireless network .
Set up a Client with Shared Network Authentication
When Shared Key authentication is used, each wireless station is assumed to have received a secret shared key
over a secure channel that is independent from the 802.11 wireless network communications channel. Shared
key authentication requires that the client configure a static WEP or CKIP key. The client access is granted only if
it passes a challenge-based authentication. CKIP provides stronger data encryption than WEP, but not all
operating systems and access points support it.
NOTE: While shared key would appear to be the better option for a higher level of security, a known
weakness is created by the clear text transmission of the challenge string to the client. Once an
invader finds the challenge string, the shared authentication key can be easily reverse engineered.
Therefore, open authentication is actually, and counter intuitively, more secure. To create a profile
with shared authentication:
1. Click Profiles on the Intel PROSet/Wireless main window.
2. On the Profile Page, click Add to open the Create Wireless Profile General Settings.
3. Profile Name: Enter a descriptive profile name.
4. Wireless Network Name (SSID): Enter the network identifier.
5. Operating Mode: Click Network (Infrastructure).
6. Click Next to access the Security Settings.
7. Click Enterprise Security.