Netgear RANGEMAX WPN111 User Manual download pdf (Page 63)

User Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter WPN111

W ireless N etworking Basics B-17

202-10076-01

The supplicant in the station uses the authentication and cipher suite information contained in

the information elements to decide which authentication method and cipher suite to use. For

example, if the access point is using the Pre-shared key method then the supplicant need not

authenticate using full-blown 802.1X. Rather, the supplicant must simply prove to the access

point that it is in possession of the pre-shared key. If the supplicant detects that the service set

does not contain a WPA information element then it knows it must use pre-WPA 802.1X

authentication and key management in order to access the network.

• Key management. WPA features a robust key generation/management system that integrates

the authentication and data privacy functions. Keys are generated after successful

authentication and through a subsequent 4-way handshake between the station and Access

Point (AP).

• Data Privacy (Encryption). Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) is used to wrap WEP in

sophisticated cryptographic and security techniques to overcome most of its weaknesses.

• Data integrity. TKIP includes a message integrity code (MIC) at the end of each plaintext

message to ensure messages are not being spoofed.

Figure B-6: WPA/802.1x Authentication Sequence

Client with a WPA-enabled

wireless adapter and 

supplicant

For example, a 

WPA-enabled AP

For example, a 

RADIUS server

1 2 ... 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 ... 86 87

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Netgear RANGEMAX WPN111 User Manual Page 63