Guest network authentication methods

[alenlu]

Hi,

I am using the Merlin firmware (3.0.0.4.378.50_0) on an Asus RT-AC56U.

I am setting up an old laptop for a friend. It has no LAN but an old wifi card that can only connect to wifi with WEP or WPA.
As I use WPA2 throughout my house, I tried to set up a temporary guest network with WPA, just to get the old laptop online.

However, although I created a guest network 1 via the web gui and chose "WPA-Auto-Personal", it uses WPA2.

Is this a "feature" of the router and it can't have guest networks with other auth methods or am I doing something wrong?

I telnet into the router and tried to use iwconfig to change the configuration, but iwconfig doesn't seem to be available, only ifconfig. (Can I somehow install iwconfig?)

I ran

nvram show | grep "wl0.1"

and it gives me:

wl0.1_auth_mode_x=pskpsk2
wl0.1_akm=pskpsk2

So I tried (just to see what happens)

nvram set wl0.1_auth_mode_x=psk
nvram set wl0.1_akm=psk
service restart_wireless

but nothing happend, the guest network is still on WPA2.

So: is it possible to switch to WPA on a guest network while the main wifi is on WPA2?

 

[L&LD]

If this is a one time deal to setup or update the old laptop, change to WEP on the main wireless.

If this is something that will be used frequently, buy a very cheap G class router and use as an AP.

If this laptop is to be used on different networks, buy a cheap USB wifi or LAN adaptor.

A laptop without a LAN port and stuck on WEP should be taken behind the barn after supper and said goodbye to.

 

[alenlu]

It surely is an old boy, Pentium II with 333MHz. But I like the challenge

But the wifi card actually manages WPA. And I think - once online - I might be able to use wpa supplicant to bring it up to WPA2.

The problem is the Asus router - the guest network seems to be stuck at WPA2 and WEP doesn't even appear as an option, only WPA or WPA2.

 

[bbunge]

So, set it up open WIFI and restrict the guest to that MAC until you update it.

 

[Nullity]

It surely is an old boy, Pentium II with 333MHz. But I like the challenge

But the wifi card actually manages WPA. And I think - once online - I might be able to use wpa supplicant to bring it up to WPA2.

The problem is the Asus router - the guest network seems to be stuck at WPA2 and WEP doesn't even appear as an option, only WPA or WPA2.

Wow. That is old. Good luck!

Is there no other way to put files on the computer? Floppy disks?

 

[alenlu]

English is not my first language so maybe I didn't express myself well:

Of course I will be able to connect the laptop - for example by setting up an open wifi (and maybe MAC filtering).

My question is about the router and the Asus/Merlin firmware:

Why is the router using WPA2 and not WPA for the guest network although "WPA-Auto-Personal" is chosen?

 

[Nullity]

English is not my first language so maybe I didn't express myself well:

Of course I will be able to connect the laptop - for example by setting up an open wifi (and maybe MAC filtering).

My question is about the router and the Asus/Merlin firmware:

Why is the router using WPA2 and not WPA for the guest network although "WPA-Auto-Personal" is chosen?

I am assuming it chooses WPA2 to save us from our own stupidity and/or laziness, considering that WEP and WPA have proven security flaws.