Abstract: A wireless computer network includes components cooperating together to prevent access intrusions by detecting unauthorized devices connected to the network, disabling the network connections to the devices, and then physically locating the devices. The network can detect both unauthorized client stations and unauthorized edge devices such as wireless access points (APs). The network can detect intruders by monitoring information transferred over wireless channels, identifying protocol state machine violations, tracking roaming behavior of clients, and detecting network addresses being improperly used in multiple locations. Upon detecting an intruder, the network can automatically locate and shut off the physical/logical port to which the intruder is connected.

Abstract: A wireless computer network includes components cooperating together to prevent access intrusions by detecting unauthorized devices connected to the network, disabling the network connections to the devices, and then physically locating the devices. The network can detect both unauthorized client stations and unauthorized edge devices such as wireless access points (APs). The network can detect intruders by monitoring information transferred over wireless channels, identifying protocol state machine violations, tracking roaming behavior of clients, and detecting network addresses being improperly used in multiple locations. Upon detecting an intruder, the network can automatically locate and shut off the physical/logical port to which the intruder is connected.

Abstract: Devices, systems and related methods are disclosed for improving operational security of a network and/or network devices, such as wireless access points (APs). In the disclosed systems, a network device is not fully operational until it is attached to a network and downloads sensitive information. The information is stored in the network device so that when the device is disconnected from the network, the sensitive information is erased from the device, making the device inoperative and removing sensitive information, such as passwords, network security keys, or the like. Disabling the network device in this manner not only prevents the theft of sensitive network access information, by also discourages theft of the device itself because it cannot be used on another network without the configuration information. In addition to downloading configuration information, the network device can also download an executable image that is likewise not permanently resident on the device.

Abstract: A network switch having a unified, adaptive management paradigm for wireless network devices is disclosed. The switch includes configurable ports for connecting devices. A software application running on the switch allows a network administrator to selectively configure each port to support either a wired device or wireless device. Configuration information and software images that are needed for operation of the wireless device are associated with the port. When a wireless device is first plugged into the switch port, it downloads its configuration directly from the switch port. By storing the configuration information and images at the switch and automatically downloading them to the wireless devices, the task of configuring the devices is greatly simplified for the network administrator. This is particularly advantageous in heterogeneous network environments that support both wired and wireless devices, and where wireless device are readily moved to different ports.