wpa2 security vs. wpa2/wpa mixed mode

[hchewning]

What's the advantage of using the "wpa2/wpa mixed mode" security setting vs. wpa2? Is the mixed mode setting as security as the wpa2 only setting?

Thanks

[gv · Accepted solution]

In mixed mode you can connect with WPA/TKIP and WPA2/AES. TKIP is not as secure as AES. Use AES only if possible. However, some older wireless clients are WPA/TKIP only which may leave you no choice but use mixed mode.

In addition, 802.11n only supports AES for speeds higher than 54 Mbit/s.

Unless you have to use mixed mode use WPA2/AES only.

[hchewning]

Thank you.

[Ricewind]

WPA2 is the next generation of Wi-Fi security. It is the Wi-Fi Alliance's interoperable implementation of the ratified IEEE 802.11i standard. It implements the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recommended Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) encryption algorithm using Counter Mode with Cipher Block Chaining Message Authentication Code Protocol (CCMP). WPA2 facilitates government FIPS 140-2 compliance, and it is fully supported by the Cisco Wireless Security Suite..

WPA and WPA2 mixed mode operation permits the coexistence of WPA and WPA2 clients on a common SSID. WPA and WPA2 mixed mode is a Wi-Fi certified feature. During WPA and WPA2 mixed mode, the Access Point (AP) advertises the encryption ciphers (TKIP, CCMP, other) that are available for use. The client selects the encryption cipher it would like to use and the selected encryption cipher is used for encryption between the client and AP once it is selected by the client.