Wireless: How to configure wireless on the SonicWall Pro/NSA appliance using WEP encryption

03/26/2020 1,194 People found this article helpful 479,441 Views

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Wireless: How to configure wireless on the SonicWall Pro/NSA appliance with SonicPoint using WEP encyrption (SonicOS Enhanced)?

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Wired Equivalent Protocol (WEP) can be used to protect data as it is transmitted over the wireless network, but it provides no protection past the SonicWall. It is designed to provide a minimal level of protection for transmitted data, and is not recommended for network deployments requiring a high degree of security. WiFiSec should be enabled in addition to WEP for added security on the wireless network.

Task List:

Part One: Configuration on the SonicWall Appliance

Step 1: Configuring the WLAN Interface
Step 2: Configuring the WLAN Zone.
Step 3: Configuring SonicPoint Profiles (Wireless settings – enabling WEP encryption)
Step 4: Connecting the SonicPoint Device to the SonicWall Appliance

Part Two: Configuration on the Wireless client computer

Step 1: Connectivity using the Wireless card utility for initial association with the WLAN Zone.

Part One: Configuration on the SonicWall Appliance

Step 1: Assigning an available Interface to the WLAN Zone

A Wireless interface is an interface that has been assigned to a Wireless zone and is used to support SonicWall SonicPoint secure access points.

1. Log into the SonicWall Management GUI, go to Network > Interfaces.

2. Click on the Configure icon in the Configure column for the Interface you want to modify. The Edit Interface window is displayed. You can configure X2 through X9, Opt, a VLAN sub-interface or a PortShield interface.

3. In the Zone list, select WLAN or a custom Wireless zone.

4. Enter the IP address (172.16.31.1) and subnet mask (255.255.255.0) of the Zone in the IP Address and Subnet Mask fields.

5. In the SonicPoint Limit field, select the maximum number of SonicPoints allowed on this interface. (you can accept the default value)

6. Enter any optional comment text in the Comment field. This text is displayed in the Comment column of the Interface table.

7. Uncheck all supported management protocol(s): HTTP, HTTPS, SSH, Ping, SNMP, and/or SSH. (In this scenario, we are not allowing wireless clients to manage the SonicWall to ensure complete security).

8. Click OK.

Step 2: Configuring the WLAN Zone

1. Go to Network > Zones; Click the Edit icon for the WLAN zone. The Edit Zone window is displayed.

2. In the General tab, uncheck Allow Interface Trust. Select any of the following settings to enable the SonicWall Security Services on the WLAN Zone.

– Enforce Content Filtering Service - Enforces content filtering on multiple interfaces in the same Trusted, Public and WLAN zones.

– Enforce Client Anti-Virus Service - Enforces managed anti-virus protection on multiple interfaces in the same Trusted, Public or WLAN zones. SonicWall Client Anti-Virus manages an anti-virus client application on all clients on the zone.

– Enable Gateway Anti-Virus - Enforces gateway anti-virus protection on multiple interfaces in the same Trusted, Public or WLAN zones. SonicWall Gateway Anti-Virus manages the anti-virus service on the SonicWall appliance.

– Enable IPS - Enforces intrusion detection and prevention on multiple interfaces in the same Trusted, Public or WLAN zones.

– Enable Anti-Spyware Service - Enforces anti-spyware detection and prevention on multiple interfaces in the same Trusted, Public or WLAN zones.

– Enforce Global Security Clients - Enforces security policies for Global Security Clients on multiple interfaces in the same Trusted, Public or WLAN zones.

3. Click the Wireless tab, select Only allow traffic generated by a SonicPoint to allow only traffic from SonicWall SonicPoints to enter the WLAN Zone interface. This allows maximum security of your WLAN.

4. Uncheck SSL-VPN Enforcement (if enabled: requires all traffic that enters into the WLAN Zone be authenticated through a SonicWall SSL-VPN appliance)

5. Uncheck WiFiSec Enforcement.
(All wireless clients must connect to the SonicWall via the SonicWall Global VPN Client if they wish to access anything (policy-allowed LAN resources, policy-allowed WAN access, and other wireless clients).

6. When WiFiSec Enforcement is enabled, you can specify services that are allowed to bypass the WiFiSec enforcement by checking WiFiSec Exception Service and then selecting the service you want to exempt from WiFiSec enforcement.

7. Uncheck Require WiFiSec for Site-to-Site VPN Tunnel Traversal (if enabled: requires WiFiSec security for all wireless connections through the WLAN zone that are part of a site-to-site VPN.)

8. Uncheck Trust WPA traffic as WiFiSec. (Allows WPA to be used as an alternative to WiFiSec.)

9. Under the SonicPoint Settings heading, select the SonicPoint Provisioning Profile you want to apply to all SonicPoints connected to this zone. Whenever a SonicPoint connects to this zone, it will automatically be provisioned by the settings in the SonicPoint Provisioning Profile, unless you have individually configured it with different settings.

10. Click the Guest Services tab. Uncheck Enable Wireless Guest Services (In this scenario, we will not be enabling Wireless Guest Users)

11. Click OK to apply these settings to the WLAN zone.

Step 3: Configuring SonicPoint Profiles (Wireless settings – enabling WEP encryption)

SonicPoint Provisioning Profiles provide a scalable and highly automated method of configuring and provisioning multiple SonicPoints across a Distributed Wireless Architecture. SonicPoint Profile definitions include all of the settings that can be configured on a SonicPoint, such as radio settings for the 2.4GHz and 5GHz radios, SSID’s, and channels of operation. Once you have defined a SonicPoint profile, you can apply it to a Wireless zone.

1. Go to SonicPoint > SonicPoints.

2. To add a new profile click Add below the list of SonicPoint provisioning profiles. To edit an existing profile, select the profile and click the edit icon in the same line as the profile you are editing.

3. In the General tab of the Add Profile window, specify:

– Select Enable SonicPoint.

– Name Prefix: Enter a prefix for the names of all SonicPoints connected to this zone. When each SonicPoint is provisioned, it is given a name that consists of the name prefix and a unique number, for example: “SonicPoint 126008.”

– Country Code: Select the country where you are operating the SonicPoints. The country code determines which regulatory domain the radio operation falls under.

4. In the 802.11g tab, Configure the radio settings for the 802.11g (2.4GHz band) radio:

– Select Enable 802.11g Radio

– SSID: Enter a recognizable string for the SSID of each SonicPoint using this profile. This is the name that will appear in clients’ lists of available wireless connections. (For example: SonicLAB)

TIP: If all SonicPoints in your organization share the same SSID, it is easier for users to maintain their wireless connection when roaming from one SonicPoint to another.

– ACL Enforcement: Select this to enforce Access Control by allowing or denying traffic from specific devices. Select a MAC address group from the Allow List to automatically allow traffic from all devices with MAC addresses in the group. Select a MAC address group from the Deny List to automatically deny traffic from all devices with MAC addresses in the group. The deny list is enforced before the Allow list.

(See KBID 4198: Wireless: Configuring the MAC filter list in the Related Items section below for more information)

– Authentication Type: Select WEP – Shared Key and enter a Passphrase (Min 8 - Max 63 characters)

– In the WEP Key Mode field: Select 128 bit (128-bit is considered more secure than 64-bit. This value is applied to all keys.)

– From the Default Key menu: Select Key 1 (you can select key number, 1,2,3, or 4)

– Select the key type to be either Alphanumeric or Hexadecimal.

WEP - 64-bit	WEP - 128-bit
Alphanumeric - 5 characters (0-9, A-Z)	Alphanumeric - 13 characters (0-9, A-Z)
Hexadecimal - 10 characters (0-9, A-F)	Hexadecimal - 26 characters (0-9, A-F)

Alert: The WEP Key (passphrase) must occupy the entire character length, for example: If you choose WEP – 128 bit Alphanumeric (13 characters). The passphase length must be exactly 13 characters else the Wireless Adapter will not receive a WLAN IP address.

5. In the 802.11g Advanced tab, configure the performance settings for the 802.11g radio. For most 802.11g advanced options, the default settings give optimum performance.

The settings in the 802.11a Radio and 802.11a Advanced tabs are similar to the settings in the 802.11g Radio and 802.11g Advanced tabs.

Step 4: Connecting a SonicPoint Device to the SonicWall Appliance

1. Now go ahead and physically connect the SonicPoint LAN port to the WLAN Interface port on the SonicWall Appliance

TIP: If you had already connected the SonicPoint; unplug and plug-in the cable from the port, this will ensure that the SonicPoint provisioning profile is accurately synchronized.

Part Two: Configuration on the Wireless client computer

Step 1: Connectivity using the Wireless card utility for initial association with the WLAN Zone.

In this scenario, a NetGear WG111 USB wireless adapter is used to connect to the SonicWall.

Note:

• The procedure to associate with a wireless network differs for each manufacturer; refer to your Wireless card product guides for detailed information.
• If you are using a third party wireless card utility, it is highly recommended that you disable the “Wireless Zero Configuration” service. Click here for instructions.

1. Ensure that the Wireless card driver and utility software has been configured correctly on the wireless computer.
2. Ensure that the Wireless Network Connection is enabled under Start > Control Panel > Network Connections.
3. Launch the NetGear Smart Wizard wireless utility software.
4. Click on the Networks tab and scan for “Available Wireless Networks - (SSID)” (For example: SonicLAB)
5. Double click on the SSID to associate with the wireless network.
6. The NetGear wireless utility program will identify the encryption type automatically while associating with the Wireless network.
7. Enter the WEP Key (passphrase)

8. Click on the About tab and ensure that a valid WLAN IP address (172.16.31.x / 24) has been assigned to the wireless adapter.

Test the Connection: You should be able to access the LAN resources of the SonicWall

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