WPA2 is software Based ?

[Mir96TA]

OS XP Pro SP3 (now)
Nic: D-Link AirPlus Xtreme G DWL-G132
Router: Dlink DGL 4300 WPA2 (only) Enable
After I have install SP3 now I can do WPA2
I have set my WiFi security in my Router for WPA2 Only which is AES(CCMP)
Before I have installed SP3 I couldn't do the WPA 2 I had to use WPA.
Now I have installed the SP3 I can do WPA2.
I have installed to confirm this Myth. Sure enough without SP3 it won't do WPA2.
I always thought WPA2 is hardware based encryption standad ?
Can some body explain to me ?

 

[mcmilljb]

Windows XP SP2 does support WPA2.
You need an update for SP2 to support it though. link
SP3 just has that update included.

As far as your question about WPA2 being "software-based", software is required to support it, but you most also have hardware that also supports it, like access points and network adaptors. WPA2 itself is just a standard from the Wi-Fi Alliance, but it essentially upgrades WPA1 to meet the 802.11i standard. You can read a little bit about that and Microsoft's update here - link

 

[Mir96TA]

Perhaps I didn't word it right. My NIC does not support WPA2. My Nic only Support WPA ONLY.
It was true until I have installed SP3. Now it can support WPA2
With SP1 and 2 in XP or WIN 2000 with SP3 NIC is not capable of that.
WPA2
Spec
I do not understand when Hardware is not capable of doing WPA2. How in the world it started doing with SP3
It never did it with XP, XP SP1, and XP SP2.

 

[Fardringle]

Originally posted by: Dlink specs page
Security
? 64/128bit WEP
? WPA-Personal
? WPA-Enterprise (includes 802.1x)

WPA and WPA2 are both part of the 802.1x standard. The only real difference between WPA and WPA2 is that WPA2 supports AES encryption. The reason your card did not show its compatibility with WPA2 in Windows 2000 or previously in XP is because you did not have the WPA2 patch installed from Microsoft. This patch is NOT installed by Windows Update. It has to be done with a manual download so most people don't have it. Service Pack 3 automatically installed that patch so now you are able to access the WPA2 capability of your wireless card.

 

[mcmilljb]

Originally posted by: Fardringle

Originally posted by: Dlink specs page
Security
? 64/128bit WEP
? WPA-Personal
? WPA-Enterprise (includes 802.1x)

WPA and WPA2 are both part of the 802.1x standard. The only real difference between WPA and WPA2 is that WPA2 supports AES encryption. The reason your card did not show its compatibility with WPA2 in Windows 2000 or previously in XP is because you did not have the WPA2 patch installed from Microsoft. This patch is NOT installed by Windows Update. It has to be done with a manual download so most people don't have it. Service Pack 3 automatically installed that patch so now you are able to access the WPA2 capability of your wireless card.

They are not part of the 802.1x standard. WPA and WPA2 implement the 802.1x standard for authentication. It's basically a process for authenticating a user, but it's only used for the enterprise setup because that's when you need a 802.1x server. WPA was created before 802.11i was completed, and it did not have the complete implementation when 802.11i was completed which is why they created WPA2.

 

[mcmilljb]

Originally posted by: Mir96TA
Perhaps I didn't word it right. My NIC does not support WPA2. My Nic only Support WPA ONLY.
It was true until I have installed SP3. Now it can support WPA2
With SP1 and 2 in XP or WIN 2000 with SP3 NIC is not capable of that.
WPA2
Spec
I do not understand when Hardware is not capable of doing WPA2. How in the world it started doing with SP3
It never did it with XP, XP SP1, and XP SP2.

I explained this in my first post. You have to have the update that I mentioned to even have WPA2 in Windows XP SP2. Without the patch, you won't see WPA2 in Windows XP SP2, ever. That's just how it is. Why do you see it listed which in the manufacturer says it's not supported? Who knows. If it works, it works. Consider it a bonus. From what I have read, TKIP was around because some legacy hardware wasn't able to support the more secure AES.

 

[Mir96TA]

I understand Now
My hardware was/is capable of because it can do 802.1X. Thus Hardware had a capable of of doing WPA2.
As you mention the patch enable to software (OS) support Enable. Now which I guess it automatically some how get installed when you install card where the Manafactures are adverstising it support the WPA2.
In my case when I installed the SP3 that patch got installed automatically as you have mentioned
Thank you

 

[spidey07]

Mir96TA - you got it.

But just to clarify again - 802.1x is an authentication protocol used in many things besides just wireless. 802.11i is what standardized WPA2/AES for encryption. Any card within the last 3-4 years does encryption in hardware.

 

[Fardringle]

Originally posted by: mcmilljb

Originally posted by: Fardringle

Originally posted by: Dlink specs page
Security
? 64/128bit WEP
? WPA-Personal
? WPA-Enterprise (includes 802.1x)

WPA and WPA2 are both part of the 802.1x standard. The only real difference between WPA and WPA2 is that WPA2 supports AES encryption. The reason your card did not show its compatibility with WPA2 in Windows 2000 or previously in XP is because you did not have the WPA2 patch installed from Microsoft. This patch is NOT installed by Windows Update. It has to be done with a manual download so most people don't have it. Service Pack 3 automatically installed that patch so now you are able to access the WPA2 capability of your wireless card.

They are not part of the 802.1x standard. WPA and WPA2 implement the 802.1x standard for authentication. It's basically a process for authenticating a user, but it's only used for the enterprise setup because that's when you need a 802.1x server. WPA was created before 802.11i was completed, and it did not have the complete implementation when 802.11i was completed which is why they created WPA2.

Thanks for fixing that for me. I typed it while half asleep so I'm not surprised I got it backwards.