Troubleshooting wireless connectivity: Step 8

• If using WEP, choose the same authentication mode (open system or shared key).
• If using WEP, enter the same keys, translating from ASCII to hex where necessary.
• If using WEP, choose the same key index number for authentication.
• If using WPA, choose the same data encryption type (TKIP or AES).
• If using WPA-PSK, enter the same passphrase (network key), including capitalization.
• If using WPA2-PSK, enter same passphrase, making sure both ends are set to WPA2-PSK.
• If using WPA or WPA2 (aka WPA/WPA2 RADIUS or 802.1X), go to step 9.

Troubleshooting wireless connectivity

  Step 1: Recheck physical connections
  Step 2: Verify wireless adapter connection
  Step 3: Verify router's LAN port activity
  Step 4: Check wireless adapter's IP address
  Step 5: Verify reachability
  Step 6: Check firewall connection
  Step 7: Verify that the adapter is associating with the wireless router
  Step 8: Find and fix a wireless security parameter mismatch
  Step 9: Debug 802.1X
  Step 10: Fix an 802.1X EAP mismatch or credential problem
  Step 11: RF interference and roaming

About the author
Lisa Phifer is vice president of Core Competence Inc., a consulting firm specializing in network security and management technology. Lisa has been involved in the design, implementation and evaluation of data communications, internetworking, security and network management products for nearly 20 years. She teaches about wireless LANs and virtual private networking at industry conferences and has written extensively about network infrastructure and security technologies for numerous publications. She is also a site expert to SearchMobileComputing.com and SearchNetworking.com.

This tip originally appeared on SearchNetworking.com.