Generally, when people refer to mixed mode in relation to Wi-Fi encryption
they mean WPA/TIP and WPA2/AES.

Frank 

-----Original Message-----
From: Walter Reynolds [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] 
Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2006 7:13 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] WPA or VPN

On Fri, 22 Sep 2006, David Spindler wrote:

> I would not suggest WPA/WPA2 mixed mode. We've found that older macs that 
> don't support WPA2 would not work with mixed mode either. Windows boxes

Maybe I am the only one, but the use of the phrase 'mixed mode' is leading 
to confusion.  Are we talking mixed mode = WEP and TKIP, or are we talking 
mixed mode = WPA (TKIP) and WPA2 (AES).

As far as I am aware, there was an issue with WEP/TKIP on the macs, but 
there is no issues I have seen so far with TKIP/AES.

> mostly worked fine with mixed mode, but if the hardware only supported
WPA, 
> then WZC would try to use WPA/AES (a valid but mostly unsupported option).

> You could force it to use WPA/TKIP but if you ever connect/reconnect it
would 
> revert to WPA/AES.

Actually, this is a bug with, it appears, Microsoft.  I have a case open 
with them.  But the problem where is reverts back to WPA/AES only seems to 
happen if you have connected successfully to a WPA/AES network.  If you 
have not, your machine will connect, and remain at, WPA/TKIP.

>
> I don't have a whole of experience with the VPN side of things. It
probably 
> wouldn't work well for guest users and depends a lot on the client. We use

> the Cisco VPN client and it is very poor over wireless. We would notice
that 
> if their are any wireless issues at all the VPN client would disconnect, 
> while TCP applications that were not using the VPN would continue to work 
> fine. I've heard other VPN vendors (maybe Nortel) have much more stable 
> clients, to the point that some of them will let you change IP addresses 
> underneath the connection without losing any sessions.
>

We use the cisco VPN client, and it has been pretty stable (at least with 
the newer versions).

>
>
> --David
> UT Austin
>
>
> Phone:
> 512-475-9299(w)
> 512-775-8033(c)
>
> Public Key at : http://webspace.utexas.edu/~spindler/pubkey.txt
>
> On Fri, 22 Sep 2006, Crawford, Tim M. wrote:
>
>> We're doing something a little different from the main Stanford campus.
>> The main campus AP's do not use encryption. However, we're currently
>> using WEP. We're in the process of looking at the alternatives too (WPA
>> vs. VPN). The main campus is looking to require VPN whenever secure
>> communications are required...but not requiring VPN by default for AP
>> access.
>> 
>> Here at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, we're looking to move
>> from WEP to  WPA. There are really two arguments that come to mind...and
>> they're from the user experience perspective.
>> 
>> Argument for WPA:
>> Regardless if you use a laptop with wired connection in your office vs.
>> wireless, the experience is the same. If you're off campus, the
>> experience is completely different. This appears to be a more widely
>> acceptable solution in terms of how users think of the experience
>> relationships (on campus/ off campus, wired/ wireless).
>> 
>> Argument for VPN:
>> Regardless if you are on campus or off campus, the experience to access
>> applications is identical. However, this creates a different experience
>> for users between wired and wireless connections...even in their office.
>> This also seems to be a more challenging experience for users to keep
>> track of.
>> 
>> I'm sure others may have other recommendations.
>> 
>> Regards,
>> 
>> Tim
>> 
>> ______________________________________
>> Tim M. Crawford
>> Associate Director, IT Operations
>> Stanford Graduate School of Business
>> 650.724.2447
>> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Robinson, Ronald [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>> Sent: Friday, September 22, 2006 12:00 PM
>> To: [email protected]
>> Subject: [WIRELESS-LAN] WPA or VPN
>> 
>> We are in the process of re-evaluating the security on our wireless
>> network.  Currently we support Dynamic WEP/802.1x and WPA with PEAP
>> authentication.  What I would like to know from this group is the pros
>> and cons to using WPA/2 or VPN, especially with regards to end user
>> support and, if you are migrating from one to the other, your reasons
>> for doing so.
>> 
>> ------------------------------------------------------
>> Ron Robinson, Network Architect, Bradley University
>> 
>> 1501 West Bradley Ave.       |       E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>> Morgan Hall Room 205F        |       Phone:  (309) 677-3350
>> Peoria, Illinois 61625       |       FAX:    (309) 677-3460
>> 
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>
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>
>

-- Walter Reynolds
    Principle Systems Security Development Engineer
    Information Technology Central Services
    University of Michigan
    (734)615-9438

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