New Windows XP-based Wireless Access Point

By
iApplianceWeb
(10/22/01, 11:09:16 PM EDT)

Taking advantage of the new Windows XP operating system (OS), along with 802.1x, Agere Systems has unveiled the ORiNOCO AP-2000 access point to provide high security wireless networking.

Because the AP-2000 offers two card slots, a single AP-2000 access point can simultaneously host both 802.11a and Wi-Fi radios, enabling both networks to operate in the same physical space. IT managers can currently install AP-2000 access points in their enterprise or public area networks and gradually migrate those networks to the new 802.11a technologies without replacing their access points or client devices. Today, they can install AP-2000's and populate them with Wi-Fi radios. As 802.11a radios become available, they can simply pop out the Wi-Fi radios and replace them with new 802.11a radios.

The AP-2000 uses Windows XP and the industry standard 802.1x security protocol to provide user-based authentication and automatic key-distribution to the wireless system. Authentication is certificate based (EAP-TLS) via RADIUS server and provides mutual authentication. To make hacking much more difficult, the AP-2000's re-keying mechanism can refresh the key at set intervals (i.e. every five minutes).

Agere System's implementation of the 802.1x protocol distributes the WEP keys in both directions (one up and one down key). Other 802.1x implementations may not be as secure because they use a fixed WEP key from the access point to the client devices. This can negate the advantage of changing the per-user keys in the opposite direction, from the clients back to the access point.

The AP-2000 also provides improvements with additional components, such as the Wireless Distribution System (WDS), which enables a single radio in an AP-2000 to act as a repeater station or wireless bridge. Additional wireless network security capabilities include MAC access control tables and RADIUS access control implementation. Network management upgrades include Web browser management that allows configuration and monitoring of the AP-2000 with a standard Web browser. Other new network management features include full SNMP management, TFTP kernel upload, extended MIBs and traps, and embedded Telnet and CLI.

AP-2000 is available now for $1295.

Link:
Agere