Question

Cisco AP WPA2 security now available

Asked by: haik0315

In my Cisco 1230 AP, has two radio's (one a band and one b band). Both work fine.
Except, that by specification of the radio modules (both) they should be able to handle WPA2 AES encryption.

In the configuration the highest I can select is WPA.

How can I enable and where, the WPA 2 AES function? Does it has to do with the system software?

Technical details:

Product/Model Number:          AIR-AP1230B-A-K9
System Software Version:         12.3(8)JEA1
Radio: b-band:       Radio 350 Series Firmware 6.00.1
Radio a-band:        Radio AIR-RM20A  Firmware: 6.00.1

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Asked On
2009-08-30 at 04:31:02ID24692967
Tags

Cisco

Topic

802.11 Wireless Access Points

Participating Experts
1
Points
250
Comments
10

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Answers

 

by: wiscomPosted on 2009-08-30 at 06:53:39ID: 25217667

Hi,

AES-CCMP (WPA2) was introduced in IOS release 12.3(2)JA.

You AP is already supporting WPA2, with the GUI (webserver) you can find it on the AES-CCMP tab.

See snapshot: http://supportwiki.cisco.com/ViewWiki/images/7/77/Wpa2_config2_67134.gif

A/

 

by: haik0315Posted on 2009-08-30 at 09:09:17ID: 25218129

Thanks wiscom.

The picture is clear, but it does not show on my options. i checked at Security--Encryption manager---Radio a (or b).

Only the following is available:
WEP 128 bit
WEP 40 bit
TKIP
CKIP
CMIC
CKIP-CMIC
TKIP+WEP 128 bit
TKIP+WEP 40 bit

See the attached file.

Under "Security: Global SSID Manager", "Client Authenticated Key Management" Key management only shows CCKM and WPA. I checked WPA, and filled in the key in the "WPA Pre-shared Key" box.

Strange...

 

by: wiscomPosted on 2009-08-30 at 11:05:31ID: 25218535

Hi,

The AP is not WPA2 capable. You need to upgrade   AIR-AP1230B-A-K9.

The 1230B would require a Radio upgrade to support WPA2.

So you would need to install the Radio Upgrade kit to install the (AIR-MP21G-A-K9).

Cisco Aironet 802.11G 1100 and 1200 Series Access Point Upgrade Kit

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/wireless/ps5678/ps430/product_data_sheet0900aecd801b9233.html

A/

 

by: haik0315Posted on 2009-08-30 at 12:19:25ID: 25218848

Hi wiscom,

I do not understand.

I have two radio modules, one with B band, and one with A band. You are suggesting to upgrade the B-band to B/G band.
I do not need this.
And what about the A band? Is that module not WPA2-AES capable? Or is the whole AP not compatible?

I am confused now.

Kind regards,


Haik

 

by: wiscomPosted on 2009-08-30 at 13:28:16ID: 25219173

Hi Haik,

Sorry for the misunderstanding.

There is not much info about this problem ... a lot of contradictory info ...

Try to configure this on the command prompt:

dot11 ssid TEST_AP
   authentication key-management wpa
!
interface Dot11Radio0
 !
 encryption mode ciphers aes-ccm tkip
 !
 ssid TEST_AP
!
end



Source: http://www.qsor.pl/articles/networking/cisco_aironet_1200_wpa_ias_radius_on_windows_2003/



A/

 

by: haik0315Posted on 2009-08-30 at 14:30:13ID: 25219477

Hi Wiscom

I am not very good in Cisco command line, but I know that there is a privileged mode.

I enter it, and the command "dot11 ssid....." gives an error on the first "s" letter:

login as: Cisco
Cisco@192.168.1.250's password:

AP>enable
Password:
AP#dot11 ssid TEST_AP
                 ^
% Invalid input detected at '^' marker.

AP#

Can you please guide me with this problem?


Thanks.

 

by: wiscomPosted on 2009-08-30 at 14:34:23ID: 25219498

Hi,

Ok, you need to go firstly to the global configuration mode:

conf t [enter]

A/

 

by: haik0315Posted on 2009-08-30 at 14:41:48ID: 25219530

OK, I found the config.txt file.

Here is the listing: (I changed the secrets to random numbers / letters).

How can I change it?

AP#sh config
Using 2166 out of 32768 bytes
!
! Last configuration change at 00:17:36 GMT Mon Aug 17 2009 by Cisco
! NVRAM config last updated at 00:17:36 GMT Mon Aug 17 2009 by Cisco
!
version 12.3
no service pad
service timestamps debug datetime msec
service timestamps log datetime msec
service password-encryption
!
hostname AP
!
enable secret 5 $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
!
clock timezone GMT 2
ip subnet-zero
ip domain name BORG
!
!
no aaa new-model
!
dot11 ssid BORG
   authentication open
   authentication key-management wpa
   guest-mode
   wpa-psk ascii 7 874698690287650876
!
dot11 ssid CUBE
   authentication open
   authentication key-management wpa
   guest-mode
   wpa-psk ascii 7 )*(&)$(*&#_(*&#@^&)&*(#@
!
!
!
username Cisco password 7 1âfuihioasuhfyuiof
!
bridge irb
!
!
interface Dot11Radio0
 no ip address
 no ip route-cache
 !
 encryption mode ciphers tkip
 !
 ssid CUBE
 !
 speed basic-1.0 2.0 5.5 11.0
 station-role root
 antenna receive right
 antenna transmit right
 world-mode dot11d country NL indoor
 bridge-group 1
 bridge-group 1 subscriber-loop-control
 bridge-group 1 block-unknown-source
 no bridge-group 1 source-learning
 no bridge-group 1 unicast-flooding
 bridge-group 1 spanning-disabled
!
interface Dot11Radio1
 no ip address
 no ip route-cache
 !
 encryption mode ciphers tkip
 !
 ssid BORG
 !
 speed basic-6.0 9.0 basic-12.0 18.0 basic-24.0 36.0 48.0 54.0
 station-role root
 world-mode dot11d country NL indoor
 bridge-group 1
 bridge-group 1 subscriber-loop-control
 bridge-group 1 block-unknown-source
 no bridge-group 1 source-learning
 no bridge-group 1 unicast-flooding
 bridge-group 1 spanning-disabled
!
interface FastEthernet0
 no ip address
 no ip route-cache
 duplex auto
 speed auto
 bridge-group 1
 no bridge-group 1 source-learning
 bridge-group 1 spanning-disabled
 hold-queue 160 in
!
interface BVI1
 ip address 192.168.1.250 255.255.255.0
 no ip route-cache
!
ip default-gateway 192.168.1.254
ip http server
no ip http secure-server
ip http help-path http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/779/smbiz/prodconfig/help/eag
!
!
control-plane
!
bridge 1 route ip
!
!
!
line con 0
line vty 0 4
 login local
!
sntp server 130.88.212.143
sntp broadcast client
end

AP#

 

by: haik0315Posted on 2009-08-30 at 14:49:36ID: 25219561

Good, I entered the conf t mode

It does not work, on the point when I enter AES encryption. Have a look:


AP#conf t
Enter configuration commands, one per line.  End with CNTL/Z.
AP(config)#dot11 ssid TEST_AP
AP(config-ssid)#authentication key-management wpa
AP(config)#interface Dot11Radio0
AP(config-if)#encryption mode ciphers aes-ccm tkip
                                                               ^
% Invalid input detected at '^' marker.

AP(config-if)#end
AP#

 

by: haik0315Posted on 2009-08-30 at 15:09:22ID: 25219624

OK, Problem "solved".

In a document of how to configure WiFi Protected Access on a Cisco Aironet, I found the following notes:

Link to the document:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/tech/tk722/tk80 /technologies_configuration_example09186a008054339e.shtml#supp


Note: Cisco Aironet 350 series products do not support WPA 2 because their radios lack AES support. (and exactly I have the 350 series for the B-band).

Note: The Aironet 1200 radio module with the part number AIR-RM20A does               not support WPA 2. (and that is exactly what I have).


So it will never work, because the radio modules do not support it. It is not the "fault" of the AP.

I am going to close this question.


Thanks for the help anyway.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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