ZyXEL Communications N220 Computer Drive User Manual


 
Chapter 3 Wireless LANs
N220 User’s Guide
39
If two wireless networks overlap, they should use a different channel.
Like radio stations or television channels, each wireless network uses a specific
channel, or frequency, to send and receive information.
Every device in the same wireless network must use security compatible with
the AP or peer computer.
Security stops unauthorized devices from using the wireless network. It can also
protect the information that is sent in the wireless network.
3.3 Wireless LAN Security
Wireless LAN security is vital to your network to protect wireless communications.
If you do not enable any wireless security on your N220, the N220’s wireless
communications are accessible to any wireless networking device that is in the
coverage area.
Note: You can use only WEP encryption if you set the N220 to Ad-hoc mode.
See the appendices for more detailed information about wireless security.
3.3.1 User Authentication and Encryption
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.
Wireless networks can use encryption to protect the information that is sent in the
wireless network. Encryption is like a secret code. If you do not know the secret
code, you cannot understand the message.
3.3.1.1 WEP
3.3.1.1.1 Data Encryption
WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) encryption scrambles all data packets transmitted
between the N220 and the AP or other wireless stations to keep network
communications private. Both the wireless stations and the access points must
use the same WEP key for data encryption and decryption.
There are two ways to create WEP keys in your N220.