WEP key -- What is it? 1

[mindsweeper]

Hello, I've currently got a Mac and a PC networked together and they can share files and an internet connection fine, without WEP that is. When I enable WEP on the Mac and specify 40 bit encryption I am prompted to enter a 5 digit password.

Having done that I entered the same password when prompted under Windows but it would not work. I see an option that says "the key is provided to me automatically" but I don't understand what it means.

Many thanks.

 

[bcastner]

The two adapters likely have a different notion of WEP key length and character requirements. You have to find the common denominator between the WEP length of both cards. Do not use a passphrase generator: type the WEP keys in by hand.

WEP Math:

40 is the same as 64
104 is the same as 128

(In both cases there are 24 bits of padding, so add 24 to 40 or 104)

1 ASCII Character=8 Bits
1 HEX Character=4 Bits

40 or 64 bit ASCII WEP code has 5 characters
40 or 64 bit HEX WEP code has 10 characters

104 or 128 bit ASCII WEP code has 13 characters
104 or 128 bit HEX WEP code has 26 characters