Authentication delay

[erkkula78]

Hi,

does anyone know what are typical authentication delays for open system and shared key authentications in case there are no load in the network? Or any good references?

[impartial]

There should be no discernable delays for either authentication type. You should be quickly, almost instantly authenticated, since the action is between the client and the AP.

If you want to split hairs, Open would be faster. With WEP the AP has to verify the key matches.

If your looking for performance hit info, any AP that does WEP in software will be 5 to 15% slower than an AP that does WEP in hardware, but that won't effect authentication times to any noticable degree.

Perhaps someone else has some links they could provide for reference, but I don't. Try the 802.11 handbook for starters.