Wi-Fi Protected Setup - Methods

Methods

The standard emphasizes usability and security, and allows up to four usage modes aimed at a home network user adding a new device to the network:

  1. PIN Method, in which a personal identification number (PIN) has to be read from either a sticker or the display on the new wireless device. This PIN must then be entered at the "representant" of the network, usually the access point of the network. Alternately, a PIN on the Access Point may be entered into the new device. The PIN Method is the mandatory baseline mode; every Wi-Fi Protected Setup certified product must support it.
  2. Push-Button-Method, in which the user simply has to push a button, either an actual or virtual one, on both the access point (or a registrar of the network) and the new wireless client device. Support of this mode is mandatory for access points and optional for connecting devices.
  3. Near-Field-Communication Method, in which the user simply has to bring the new client close to the access point to allow a near field communication between the devices. NFC Forum compliant RFID tags can also be used. Support of this mode is optional.
  4. USB Method, in which the user uses a USB flash drive to transfer data between the new client device and the access point of the network. Support of this mode is optional, but deprecated.

The last two modes are usually referred as out-of-band methods as there is a transfer of information by a channel other than the Wi-Fi channel itself. Only the first two modes are currently covered by the Wi-Fi Protected Setup certification. The USB method has been deprecated and is not part of the Alliance's certification testing.

Read more about this topic:  Wi-Fi Protected Setup

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