3Com OfficeConnect 3CRWE554G72 User Manual

Contents

Wireless Settings 493Com recommends that you install your wireless network with thisfeature enabled and then disable it once you have set up the Gatewayand wireless clients.Encryption When setting up wireless networks, it is important to remember that withencryption disabled, anyone with a Wireless PC can eavesdrop on yournetwork. 3Com recommends that you get the network working withencryption disabled first and then enable it as the last step. This willsimplify setting up your network.The Gateway supports two types of encryption:■ WPA — Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) is a 256 bit encryption methodwith keys that change over time.■ WEP — Wireless Equivalent Privacy (WEP) is a 64 bit or 128 bitencryption method with user configurable fixed keys.WPA provides a higher level of security, provided by its longer key anddynamic changes made to the key over time. 3Com recommends thatyou use WPA with any clients which support it.If you enable encryption on the Gateway, you must reconfigure yourwireless PCs to use exactly the same Encryption Type and Keys otherwisethe devices will not understand each other.The encryption methods used by the Gateway secure data transmittedthrough wireless communications between the Gateway and its wirelessclients. Enabling encryption has no security effect on data transmittedthrough wired (Ethernet) connections or through your connections to theInternet.Configuring WPAEncryptionThe only configuration that is needed for WPA is to enter the pre-sharedkey. This key is used to start the dialog between the Gateway and theclient. During this dialog, a new key is agreed, making it more difficult toeavesdrop on wireless networks encrypted using WPA, than thoseencrypted using WEP. The pre-shared key can be entered as a 256 bitseries of hexadecimal digits or as a pass-phrase.