Linksys WAP54G bridge mode and WPA

Can a pair of WAP54G boxes, in bridge mode, do WPA encryption?
WPA is certainly in the setup:
http://www.linksysdata.com/ui/WAP54G...s-Security.htm

Today, I replaced a pair of DWL-900+ wireless bridges with a pair of
WAP54G v3.1 hardware, v3.04 firmware, bridges. The customer wanted
more speed and interference immunity. In bridge mode, the two WAP54G
radios worked just fine, but only with no encryption or with WEP.
However, when I tried WPA-PSK, they would not talk to each other. I
tried TKIP and AES, in both WPA and WPA2 without any luck. I left it
WEP which is somewhat safe because in bridge mode, no client can
connect. However, there's nothing to stop someone from capturing
packets, decrypting the WEP key, and reassembling the messages.

The firmware release notes have a comment that WPA does not work in
bridge or repeater mode to version 2.07.
| http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satel...&ssbinary=true
WPA was fixed in repeater mode in version 2.08. However, it appears
that WPA and bridging are still mutually exclusive. Crap...

I tried to find anything related on the Linksys knowledgebase.
Nothing. I'm not sufficiently desperate yet to call Linksys support.

Anyone got some clues or hints?

--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

Jeff Liebermann <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>Can a pair of WAP54G boxes, in bridge mode, do WPA encryption?

Dunno about bridge mode specifically, but putting one in AP mode and
the other in Client mode works fine with WPA in at least one instance
I can call up off the top of my head.

On Thu, 15 Jun 2006 23:49:06 -0700, Jeff Liebermann
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
<(E-Mail Removed)>:

>Today, I replaced a pair of DWL-900+ wireless bridges with a pair of
>WAP54G v3.1 hardware, v3.04 firmware, bridges. The customer wanted
>more speed and interference immunity. In bridge mode, the two WAP54G
>radios worked just fine, but only with no encryption or with WEP.
>However, when I tried WPA-PSK, they would not talk to each other. I
>tried TKIP and AES, in both WPA and WPA2 without any luck. I left it
>WEP which is somewhat safe because in bridge mode, no client can
>connect. However, there's nothing to stop someone from capturing
>packets, decrypting the WEP key, and reassembling the messages.

And other bad things, even hijacking the connection (e.g., by mounting a
DoS attack on one end while spoofing it to the other end). WEP is next
to worthless, keeping only honest people honest.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_How_To>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

William P.N. Smith <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:

>Jeff Liebermann <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>Can a pair of WAP54G boxes, in bridge mode, do WPA encryption?
>
>Dunno about bridge mode specifically, but putting one in AP mode and
>the other in Client mode works fine with WPA in at least one instance
>I can call up off the top of my head.

I tried using AP mode and client modes. That works fine with WPA.
It's only the bridge mode that doesn't do WPA.

I ran into a weird problem which doesn't make sense. In bridge mode,
I could see all 20 odd machines and boxes on both sides of the bridge.
In AP and client mode, I could only see about 6 machines. I didn't
have time to debug this headache and wanted to get the system back up
as fast as possible. I may need to ruin yet another weekend debugging
this problem.


--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558