Hamlet HNW300APN2 User Manual

Wireless AP Router HNW300APN2
User Manual 85
Introduction of WPS
Although home Wi-Fi networks have become more and more popular, users still have trouble with the initial
set up of network. This obstacle forces users to use the open security and increases the risk of
eavesdropping. Therefore, WPS is designed to ease set up of security-enabled Wi-Fi networks and
subsequently network management (Wi-Fi Protected Setup Specification 1.0h.pdf, p. 8).
The largest difference between WPS-enabled devices and legacy devices is that users do not need the
knowledge about SSID, channel and security settings, but they could still surf in a security-enabled Wi-Fi
network. For examples, in the initial network set up, if users want to use the PIN configuration, the only thing
they need to do is entering the device PIN into registrar, starting the PIN method on that device and simply
wait until the device joins the network. After the PIN method is started on both sides, a registration protocol
will be initiated between the registrar and the enrollee. Typically, a registrar could be an access point or other
device that is capable of managing the network. An enrollee could be an access point or a station that will join
the network. After the registration protocol has been done, the enrollee will receive SSID and security
settings from the registrar and then join the network. In other words; if a station attempts to join a network
managed by an access point with built-in internal registrar, users will need to enter station’s PIN into the web
page of that access point. If the device PIN is correct and valid and users start PIN on station, the access
point and the station will automatically exchange the encrypted information of the network settings under the
management of AP’s internal registrar. The station then uses this information to perform authentication
algorithm, join the secure network, and transmit data with the encryption algorithm. More details will be
demonstrated in the following sections.
Supported WPS features
Currently, Wireless Gateway supports WPS features for AP mode, AP+WDS mode, Infrastructure-Client
mode, and the wireless root interface of Universal Repeater mode.
Other modes such as WDS mode, Infrastructure-Adhoc mode, and the wireless virtual interface of
Universal Repeater mode are not implemented with WPS features.
If those unsupported modes are enforced by users, WPS will be disabled. Under the configuration of
every WPS-supported mode, Wireless Gateway has Push Button method and PIN method. For each
method, Wireless Gateway offers different security levels included in network credential, such as open
security, WEP 64 bits, WEP 128 bits, WPA-Personal TKIP, WPA-Personal AES, WPA2-Personal TKIP, and
WPA2-Personal AES. Users could choose either one of the methods at their convenience.
AP mode
For AP mode, Wireless Gateway supports three roles, registrar, proxy, and enrollee in registration protocol.
At different scenarios, Wireless Gateway will automatically switch to an appropriate role depending on the
other device’s role or a specific configuration.
AP as Enrollee
If users know AP’s PIN and enter it into external registrar, the external registrar will configure AP with a new
wireless profile such as new SSID and new security settings. The external registrar does this job either
utilizing the in-band EAP (wireless) or out-of-band UPnP (Ethernet). During the WPS handshake, a wireless
profile is encrypted and transmitted to AP. If the handshake is successfully done, AP will be re-initialized with
the new wireless profile and wait for legacy stations or WPS stations to join its network.
AP as Registrar
Wireless Gateway also has a built-in internal registrar. Whenever users enter station’s PIN into AP’s
webpage, click “Start PBC”, or push the physical button, AP will switch to registrar automatically. If users
apply the same method on station side and the WPS handshake is successfully done, SSID and security
settings will be transmitted to that station without the risk of eavesdropping. And then the station will
associate with AP in a security-enabled network.

Hamlet HNW300APN2 Specifications

General

Brand	Hamlet
Model	HNW300APN2
Category	Wireless Router
Language	English