Microsoft MN-500 User's Guide download pdf (Page 17)

MN-500 Base Station Configuration Guide 17

The WEP key that you establish is stored with all of your network settings on each networked computer so that data

can be encrypted and decrypted as it is transmitted over the network. If you change the WEP key that the base

station uses, you must ensure that each computer on your wireless network uses the same WEP key so that it can

communicate with the base station. For information about how to change the WEP key on each computer, see the

Broadband Network Utility Help.

When you enable wireless encryption, you can choose between 64-bit or 128-bit encryption. The number defines

the strength of the data encryption. The higher the number, the more difficult the data is to decrypt.

After you select the wireless encryption strength, you can type the WEP keys. For 64-bit encryption, you can type up

to four WEP keys, each of which consists of ten hexadecimal digits. For 128-bit encryption, you must type one WEP key

that consists of 26 hexadecimal digits. A hexadecimal digit is a number or letter in the range 0–9 or A–F.

Although encryption may slow down the speed at which data is transmitting, you will not observe any noticeable

changes to network behavior as a result of data encryption and decryption.

To enable wireless security

1. Open the Base Station Management Tool, and then click Security.

2. On the Security menu, click Wireless Security.

3. Click Enable wireless security.

4. In the Encryption strength drop-down list box, click 128-bit or leave the default setting of 64-bit.

5. Type an encryption key in the Key box.

6. To enable the wireless encryption, click Apply.

7. Update the WEP keys stored on each wireless device on your network.

You can update wireless encryption settings for each network device from the Broadband Network Utility. If you are

using a non-Microsoft adapter, use the software installed with that adapter to update wireless encryption settings.

Firewall Settings

The Broadband Networking wireless Base Station provides a firewall to protect your network against malicious

transmissions. Just as the name implies, a firewall acts as a barrier or buffer zone between your local network and

the Internet. It checks data packets that are being transmitted to your network and discards any suspicious data.

The firewall is enabled by default, but you can choose to disable it from the Base Station Management Tool. Do not

disable the firewall unless you have a good reason to do so.

To change the firewall settings

1. Open the Base Station Management Tool, and then click Security.

2. On the Security menu, click Firewall Settings.

3. Do one of the following:

To enable the firewall, select the Enable the integrated firewall check box.

To disable the firewall, clear the Enable the integrated firewall check box.

4. To save your changes, click Apply.

Block Ping Commands

You can configure the firewall to discard network ping commands. A ping command is like a short conversation

between a device on the WAN and your base station. When a device on the WAN sends a ping command, the base

station responds.

When you block ping commands, you are telling the base station not to respond to a ping initiated from the WAN.

This security mechanism hides your network from hackers who might be pinging random IP addresses to see where

they get a response. A response verifies your network location, and a hacker can then use this information to send

malicious communications to your network.

In general, it is a good idea to discard ping commands sent from the WAN. The only circumstances in which

blocking ping commands might present a problem are:

When your ISP needs to ping your network to ensure that the connection is still valid.

When you or another person needs to check your Internet connection from an external network. For example,

you might want to do this to make sure that you can access your Web server.

When you are playing games on the Internet, and other players need to verify your network location and

connection speed.

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Microsoft MN-500 User's Guide Page 17

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