ZyXEL Communications Corporation G210H User Manual

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ZyXEL G-210H User’s Guide
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Chapter 3 Wireless LAN Network
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.
3.2  Wireless LAN Security 
Wireless LAN security is vital to your network to protect wireless communications.
Configure the wireless LAN security using the Configuration or the Profile Security Setting 
screen. If you do not enable any wireless security on your G-210H, the G-210H’s wireless 
communications are accessible to any wireless networking device that is in the coverage area. 
Note: You can only use WEP encryption if you set the G-210H to Ad-hoc.
See the appendices for more detailed information about wireless security.
3.2.1  Hide SSID
This type of security is fairly weak, because there are ways for unauthorized wireless devices 
to get the SSID. In addition, unauthorized wireless devices can still see the information that is 
sent in the wireless network.
3.2.2  MAC Address Filter
Every device that can use a wireless network has a unique identification number, called a 
MAC address.
1
 A MAC address is usually written using twelve hexadecimal characters
2
; for 
example, 00A0C5000002 or 00:A0:C5:00:00:02. To get the MAC address for each device in 
the wireless network, see the device’s User’s Guide or other documentation.
This type of security does not protect the information that is sent in the wireless network. 
Furthermore, there are ways for unauthorized wireless devices to get the MAC address of an 
authorized device. Then, they can use that MAC address to access the wireless network.
3.2.3  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.
1.
Some wireless devices, such as scanners, can detect wireless networks but cannot use wireless 
networks. These kinds of wireless devices might not have MAC addresses.
2.
Hexadecimal characters are 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E, and F.