Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS)

Simple Setup

Despite the enormous success of Wi-Fi, wireless devices have been plagued by difficult procedures for setting up wireless networks, leading to costly product returns, expensive support calls, and deeply dissatisfied customers. In order to make the configuration of personal networks as simple as pushing a button, The Devicescape Supplicant supports Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) as an option.

Based on a Wi-Fi Alliance specification, WPS makes the configuration of secure personal wireless networks as simple as pushing a button or entering a PIN code. Device manufacturers can now leverage the Devicescape Supplicant's support of WPS to offer wireless devices that are supremely simple to get on a home or small business network.

How it Works

WPS can be enabled using two setup methods. The push button configuration (PBC) method allows users to simply push a button, either an actual or a virtual one, on both WPS devices to connect. The PIN (Personal Identification Number) method allows users to use a PIN (taken either from a sticker label or from a web interface) and enter it in the AP or client WPS device to connect.

Key Benefits to Wireless Device Companies

  • Reduces product returns and end-user support costs.
  • Greatly increase consumer satisfaction.
  • Ensures home Wi-Fi devices use secure communications, now a legal requirement in certain jurisdictions.
  • Can be integrated into new or existing device designs as a value-added upgrade.
  • Can work with supplicants that have been designed into existing products.
  • Adds minimal memory and processing overhead to a device design.

Key Technical Features

  • Compliant with the Wi-Fi Simple Config Specification, version 1.0h, published December, 2006.
  • Small memory footprint – adds only 70KB to the Devicescape Supplicant.
  • Enrollee mode for wireless client configuration by an access point.
  • Registrar mode for setting up an un-configured AP without a connecting cable.
  • EAP-WSC 802.1X method plug-in.
  • PIN method and Pushbutton (PBC) method support.
  • Detection of WPS-enabled APs via WPS information elements, and back-up detection via trial (for situations in which APs cannot generate WPS IEs).
    Discovery mode supported for PBC session overlap.
  • LED API for user visual confirmation.
    Pushbutton and LED events can be simulated via a command line interface to facilitate testing on hardware lacking pushbutton and LED hardware.
  • Supplied with reference integration to open source wpa_supplicant.
  • Comprehensive WPS simulator and debug / logging support.
  • Frame analysis tool to observe protocol interactions.
  • Sample Graphical User Interface.
  • Validated on Linux 2.4/2.6, Windows CE 5.0, Windows Mobile 5.0/6.0, and Windows XP.
  • Integrated Diffie-Hellman library – no requirement for external SSL library.
  • AP/Registrar firmware update available upon request for Linksys WRT54GL Wi-Fi Router. Based on OpenWRT Project. For testing purposes only – not supported for production.