Belkin F5D7634-4A-H User Manual

Page 38

G Wireless Modem Router

sections

table of contents

ManUallY ConfIGURInG YoUR RoUTeR

Wi-fi Protected access (WPa)

WPA is a new Wi-Fi standard that was designed to improve upon the

security features of WEP� To use WPA security, the drivers and software

of your wireless equipment must be upgraded to support WPA� These

updates will be found on the wireless vendors’ websites� There are two

types of WPA security: WPA-PSK (no server) and WPA (with 802�1x

radius server)�

WPa-PsK (no server)

This method uses what is known as a “pre-shared key” as the

network key� A network key is basically a password that is between

eight and 63 characters long� It can be a combination of letters,

numbers, or characters� Each client uses the same network key to

access the network� Typically, this is the mode that will be used in a

home environment�

WPa (with 8021x radius server)

With this system, a radius server distributes the network key to the

clients automatically� This is typically found in a business environment�

WPa2

The Router features WPA2, which is the second generation of the

WPA-based 802�11i standard� It offers a higher level of wireless security

by combining advanced network authentication and stronger AES

encryption methods�

WPa2 Requirements

IMPoRTanT:

In order to use WPA2 security, all your computers and

wireless client adapters must be upgraded with patches, drivers,

and client utility software that support WPA2� At the time of this

User Manual’s publication, a couple security patches are available,

for free download, from Microsoft

� These patches work only with

the Windows XP operating system� Other operating systems are not

supported at this time�