Netgear FWG114P v2 ユーザーズマニュアル

Wireless Networking Basics

E-3

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Shared Key. With Shared Key authentication, only those PCs that possess the correct 
authentication key can join the network. By default, IEEE 802.11 wireless devices operate in 
an Open System network. 

Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) data encryption is used when the wireless devices are configured 
to operate in Shared Key authentication mode. 

The 802.11 standard defines several services that govern how two 802.11 devices communicate. 
The following events must occur before an 802.11 Station can communicate with an Ethernet 
network through an access point, such as the one built in to the FWG114P:

1.

Turn on the wireless station.

2.

The station listens for messages from any access points that are in range.

3.

The station finds a message from an access point that has a matching SSID.

4.

The station sends an authentication request to the access point.

5.

The access point authenticates the station.

6.

The station sends an association request to the access point.

7.

The access point associates with the station.

8.

The station can now communicate with the Ethernet network through the access point.

An access point must authenticate a station before the station can associate with the access point or 
communicate with the network. The IEEE 802.11 standard defines two types of authentication: 
Open System and Shared Key.

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Open System Authentication allows any device to join the network, assuming that the device 
SSID matches the access point SSID. Alternatively, the device can use the “ANY” SSID 
option to associate with any available Access Point within range, regardless of its SSID. 

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Shared Key Authentication requires that the station and the access point have the same WEP 
Key to authenticate. These two authentication procedures are described below.

The following steps occur when two devices use Open System Authentication:

1.

The station sends an authentication request to the access point.