2 Questions about Broadcom network adapter

While researching an *update* pop-up that I got [and denied] while at a
new web site, another question arose about my laptop security.

First question is, has anyone with a Broadcom 802ll.g ever gotten an
update message about bcmwltry.exe? Because I was visiting a new web
site when I got that pop-up message and didn't know what it was, I
denied it.

After checking Broadcom's site they say they don't offer support [i.e.
driver updates, etc.], so my question is, would a Windows application do
this? I need to know if this is an update I need.


Second question is, while looking at Broadcom's properties on my laptop,
I saw that it says the security is TKIP/WEP/AES. My Linksys router is
setup for *WPA2*, and that is what I thought I had on both.

Can someone explain to me what security protects my laptop? Is only my
desktop [directly connected] using WPA2? How does this work?
bj

On Mon, 14 May 2007 16:18:15 -0400, chicagofan <me7@privacy.net>
wrote:

>While researching an *update* pop-up that I got [and denied] while at a
>new web site, another question arose about my laptop security.
>
>First question is, has anyone with a Broadcom 802ll.g ever gotten an
>update message about bcmwltry.exe? Because I was visiting a new web
>site when I got that pop-up message and didn't know what it was, I
>denied it.

Good move. However, HP and Compaq both have automatic driver updates
that will pop up at the most inconvenient times and not offer much of
a clue that it's a real update. Dunno about bcmwltry.com, but that
doesn't sound familiar.

>After checking Broadcom's site they say they don't offer support [i.e.
>driver updates, etc.], so my question is, would a Windows application do
>this? I need to know if this is an update I need.

Go to the manufacturers web site of your unspecified manufacturer and
model laptop. See if there are any updates to download manually.

>Second question is, while looking at Broadcom's properties on my laptop,
>I saw that it says the security is TKIP/WEP/AES.

Look again. It should probably be TKIP/WPA/AES

>My Linksys router is
>setup for *WPA2*, and that is what I thought I had on both.
>
>Can someone explain to me what security protects my laptop? Is only my
>desktop [directly connected] using WPA2? How does this work?
>bj

WPA uses TKIP encryption.
WPA2 uses AES encryption. WPA2 also known as 802.11i.
There are also multiple 802.1x EAP authentication schemes and a choice
of pre-shared-key, or getting the encryption key from a RADIUS server.

See:
<http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/wireless/ps430/products_qanda_item0900aecd801e3e59.shtml>
for details.


--
# Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
# 831-336-2558 jeffl@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us
# http://802.11junk.com jeffl@cruzio.com
# http://www.LearnByDestroying.com AE6KS

Jeff Liebermann wrote:
> chicagofan <me7@privacy.net> wrote:
>
>> While researching an *update* pop-up that I got [and denied] while
>> at a new web site, another question arose about my laptop security.
>>
>> First question is, has anyone with a Broadcom 802ll.g ever gotten
>> an update message about bcmwltry.exe? Because I was visiting a new
>> web site when I got that pop-up message and didn't know what it
>> was, I denied it.
>
> Good move. However, HP and Compaq both have automatic driver updates
> that will pop up at the most inconvenient times and not offer much
> of a clue that it's a real update. Dunno about bcmwltry.com, but
> that doesn't sound familiar.


It's the Broadcom Wireless Lan tray bar application.


>> After checking Broadcom's site they say they don't offer support
>> [i.e. driver updates, etc.], so my question is, would a Windows
>> application do this? I need to know if this is an update I need.
>
> Go to the manufacturers web site of your unspecified manufacturer and
> model laptop. See if there are any updates to download manually.


Thanks, I forgot about checking Gateway's web site. I'll do that. :)


>> Second question is, while looking at Broadcom's properties on my
>> laptop, I saw that it says the security is TKIP/WEP/AES.
>
> Look again. It should probably be TKIP/WPA/AES

That is what it says under "Link Status", which I think [now] just
covers *anything possible* for this adapter. Under "Wireless Networks"
in the same "Properties" boxes... I have since found, it says "WPA-PSK".
The complete info on my WRT54-G router is WPA2-Personal, TKIP+AES.

Seems like I remember, every time I tried to change the router info to
AES only... it would always change back. I left it alone, because
everything was working.


>> My Linksys router is setup for *WPA2*, and that is what I thought I
>> had on both.
>>
>> Can someone explain to me what security protects my laptop? Is
>> only my desktop [directly connected] using WPA2? How does this
>> work?
>> bj
>
>
> WPA uses TKIP encryption. WPA2 uses AES encryption. WPA2 also known
> as 802.11i. There are also multiple 802.1x EAP authentication schemes
> and a choice of pre-shared-key, or getting the encryption key from a
> RADIUS server.
>
> See:
> <http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/wireless/ps430/products_qanda_item0900aecd801e3e59.shtml>
> for details.
>
>

Thanks for the link! This [below] *seems* to describe my setup:

> WPA2 MIXED MODE - Q. What is WPA2 Mixed Mode?
>
> A. WPA2 Mixed Mode
> operation permits the coexistence of WPA and WPA2 clients on a common
> SSID. WPA2 Mixed Mode is a Wi-Fi Certified feature. During WPA2 Mixed
> Mode, the access point 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 access point once it is
> selected by the client. The access point must support WPA2 Mixed Mode
> to use this option.


Do you agree? If so, is the client my laptop and the router the access
point? Which would mean my laptop is using WPA/TKIP not WPA2/AES? <sigh>
bj

chicagofan <me7@privacy.net> hath wroth:

>> Good move. However, HP and Compaq both have automatic driver updates
>> that will pop up at the most inconvenient times and not offer much
>> of a clue that it's a real update. Dunno about bcmwltry.com, but
>> that doesn't sound familiar.

>It's the Broadcom Wireless Lan tray bar application.

Ah... bcmwltry.com is Broadcom Wireless Tray. Did the update thing
offer you just that tray application for an update? That seems a bit
odd but possible because the tray application is usually nothing more
than a glorified connection manager, which is usually seperate from
the wireless driver. It might be for real.

>Thanks, I forgot about checking Gateway's web site. I'll do that. :)

Ok. It's a Gateway laptop. Progress, I guess.

>>> Second question is, while looking at Broadcom's properties on my
>>> laptop, I saw that it says the security is TKIP/WEP/AES.
>>
>> Look again. It should probably be TKIP/WPA/AES
>
>That is what it says under "Link Status", which I think [now] just
>covers *anything possible* for this adapter.

Maybe. I have an HP laptop in the office with a Broadcom wireless
card. However, I don't recall it ever mixing WEP with TKIP/AES, which
are features of WPA.

>Under "Wireless Networks"
>in the same "Properties" boxes... I have since found, it says "WPA-PSK".
>The complete info on my WRT54-G router is WPA2-Personal, TKIP+AES.

Ah. It's a WRT54G. Progress, I guess. (Hint: In the future, kindly
disclose what hardware you're using).

>Seems like I remember, every time I tried to change the router info to
>AES only... it would always change back. I left it alone, because
>everything was working.

It shouldn't do that. I don't use the stock WRT54G firmware so I
don't recall if that's a bug or problem with your browser cache. If a
firmware bug, it might be useful to check the Linksys web pile for the
latest firmware update.

>> <http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/wireless/ps430/products_qanda_item0900aecd801e3e59.shtml>
>Thanks for the link! This [below] *seems* to describe my setup:
>
>> WPA2 MIXED MODE - Q. What is WPA2 Mixed Mode?
> >
> > A. WPA2 Mixed Mode
>> operation permits the coexistence of WPA and WPA2 clients on a common
>> SSID. WPA2 Mixed Mode is a Wi-Fi Certified feature. During WPA2 Mixed
>> Mode, the access point 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 access point once it is
>> selected by the client. The access point must support WPA2 Mixed Mode
>> to use this option.

Well, I can't answer that because I don't know the exact WRT54G
mutation that you're using. There are 7 different hardware version
numbers and a myriad of firmware versions. Some support WPA and WPA2.
I don't recall if mixed mode is supported by the WRT54G and I'm too
lazy to check every single version of firmware. I checked the later
version for WRT54G v5 and mixed mode is apparently *NOT* supported. I
say apparently because it's not in the setup or online docs. My
WRT54GS with DD-WRT v23 sp2 does support mixed mode where it is listed
as a seperate encryption mode.

>Do you agree? If so, is the client my laptop and the router the access
>point?

Your laptop is the "client". The wireless router is a conglomeration
of ethernet router, wireless access point, and ethernet switch. In
the quote from the Cisco web site, they are referring only to the
wireless access point section. Your WRT54G would qualify.

>Which would mean my laptop is using WPA/TKIP not WPA2/AES? <sigh>

I can't tell what it's using. Having the setting change by itself
indicates that something isn't working correctly. I would investigate
that problem (i.e. firmware update).


--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

Jeff Liebermann wrote:
> chicagofan <me7@privacy.net> hath wroth:
>
>>> Good move. However, HP and Compaq both have automatic driver updates
>>> that will pop up at the most inconvenient times and not offer much
>>> of a clue that it's a real update. Dunno about bcmwltry.com, but
>>> that doesn't sound familiar.
>
>> It's the Broadcom Wireless Lan tray bar application.
>
> Ah... bcmwltry.com is Broadcom Wireless Tray. Did the update thing
> offer you just that tray application for an update? That seems a bit
> odd but possible because the tray application is usually nothing more
> than a glorified connection manager, which is usually seperate from
> the wireless driver. It might be for real.

It was bcmwltry.exe file only, I was asked to update, and checking
Gateway's site I see they have had 2 Broadcom driver updates since I
purchased my laptop [the last one in Nov. 2006], but they don't update
them automatically.

I've got to find my laptop serial no. to make sure I need to download
any of those updates.


>> Under "Wireless Networks"
>> in the same "Properties" boxes... I have since found, it says "WPA-PSK".
>> The complete info on my WRT54-G router is WPA2-Personal, TKIP+AES.
>
> Ah. It's a WRT54G. Progress, I guess. (Hint: In the future, kindly
> disclose what hardware you're using).

Gotcha, will do. Since I was not having any problems and just looking
for educational info, I didn't think that level of detail was needed.
Sorry... :)


>>> <http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/wireless/ps430/products_qanda_item0900aecd801e3e59.shtml>
>> Thanks for the link! This [below] *seems* to describe my setup:
>>
>>> WPA2 MIXED MODE - Q. What is WPA2 Mixed Mode?
>>>
>>> A. WPA2 Mixed Mode
>>> operation permits the coexistence of WPA and WPA2 clients on a common
>>> SSID. WPA2 Mixed Mode is a Wi-Fi Certified feature. During WPA2 Mixed
>>> Mode, the access point 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 access point once it is
>>> selected by the client. The access point must support WPA2 Mixed Mode
>>> to use this option.
>
> Well, I can't answer that because I don't know the exact WRT54G
> mutation that you're using. There are 7 different hardware version
> numbers and a myriad of firmware versions. Some support WPA and WPA2.
> I don't recall if mixed mode is supported by the WRT54G and I'm too
> lazy to check every single version of firmware. I checked the later
> version for WRT54G v5 and mixed mode is apparently *NOT* supported. I
> say apparently because it's not in the setup or online docs. My
> WRT54GS with DD-WRT v23 sp2 does support mixed mode where it is listed
> as a seperate encryption mode.


My version is v6, and I believe it has the latest firmware upgrade, I'll
check the Linksys site though to be sure.


>> Do you agree? If so, is the client my laptop and the router the access
>> point?
>
> Your laptop is the "client". The wireless router is a conglomeration
> of ethernet router, wireless access point, and ethernet switch. In
> the quote from the Cisco web site, they are referring only to the
> wireless access point section. Your WRT54G would qualify.

Thanks for reducing my ignorance [i.e. client vs access point], and
other advice.
bj