ZyXEL Communications P-334W - Manual (Page 103)

Prestige 334W User’s Guide
Wireless Security 8-5
Figure 8-3 WEP Authentication Steps
Open system authentication involves an unencrypted two-message procedure. A wireless station sends an
open system authentication request to the AP, which will then automatically accept and connect the wireless
station to the network. In effect, open system is not authentication at all as any station can gain access to the
network.
Shared key authentication involves a four-message procedure. A wireless station sends a shared key
authentication request to the AP, which will then reply with a challenge text message. The wireless station
must then use the AP’s default WEP key to encrypt the challenge text and return it to the AP, which attempts
to decrypt the message using the AP’s default WEP key. If the decrypted message matches the challenge text,
the wireless station is authenticated.
When your Prestige's authentication method is set to open system, it will only accept open system
authentication requests. The same is true for shared key authentication. However, when it is set to auto
authentication, the Prestige will accept either type of authentication request and the Prestige will fall back to
use open authentication if the shared key does not match.