SonicOS 7 Internal Wireless

About Authentication

The authentication types are described in the following table:

Authentication Types
Type Features and use
WEP (Wired Equivalent Protocol)
  • Protects data over wireless networks
  • Provides no protection past the SonicWall appliance
  • Provides minimum protection for transmitted dat
  • Uses a static key for encryption
  • Useful for older legacy devices, PDAs, wireless printers
  • Not recommended for deployments needing a high degree of security
WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access)
  • Good security (uses TKIP)
  • For use with trusted corporate wireless clients
  • Transparent authentication with Windows log-in
  • No client software needed in most cases
  • Requires a separate authentication protocol, such as RADIUS to authenticate the users
  • Uses a dynamic key

This option is only visible when it has been enabled on the diagnostics page.

WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access, v2)
  • Best security (uses AES)
  • For use with trusted corporate wireless clients
  • Transparent authentication with Windows log-in
  • Client software install might be necessary in some cases
  • Supports 802.11i WPA/WPA2 EAP authentication mode
  • No backend authentication needed after first log-in (allows for faster roaming)
  • Supports two protocols for storing and generating keys: PSK (Pre-Shared Key) and EAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol)

EAP support is only available in Access Point Mode (selected on the DEVICE | Internal Wireless > Settings page). EAP support is not available in Bridge Mode.

WPA2-AUTO
  • Tries to connect using WPA2 security
  • If the client is not WPA2 capable, the connection defaults to WPA
WPA3
  • WPA3 is a WFA security standard for personal and enterprise networks
  • It improves Wi-Fi security by using modern security algorithms and stronger cipher suites.
  • Supports the following protocols for storing and generating keys: PSK (Pre-Shared Key), EAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol), and OWE (opportunistic wireless encryption)
WPA3/WPA2
  • Tries to connect using WPA3 security
  • If the client is not WPA3 capable, the connection defaults to WPA2
WPA3-EAP-192B
  • The 192-bit security mode offered by WPA3-Enterprise ensures the right combination of cryptographic tools are used and sets a consistent baseline of security within a WPA3 network.
  • Uses extensible authentication protocol.

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