Privacy bit explained
Last Post: October 5, 2006:
-
Hi Swaggy:
The capability information field is used only in certain management frames, such as beacon frames and association request frames, to convey information about a station or a BSS. Privacy is one such capability.
IEEE 802.11REVma/D8.0 section 7.3.1.4 Capability Information field
"The Capability Information field contains a number of subfields that are used to indicate requested or advertised optional capabilities.
"APs set the Privacy subfield to 1 within transmitted Beacon, Probe Response, Association Response, and Reassociation Response management frames if data confidentiality is required for all data frames exchanged within the BSS. If data confidentiality is not required, the Privacy subfield is set to 0.
"In an RSNA, non-AP STAs in an ESS set the Privacy subfield to 0 within transmitted Association and Reassociation Request management frames. APs ignore the Privacy subfield within received Association and Reassociation Request management frames.
"STAs within an ESS set the Privacy subfield to 1 in DLS Request and DLS Response frames if encryption is required for all data frames exchanged. If encryption is not required, the Privacy subfield is set to 0.
"STAs within an IBSS set the Privacy subfield to 1 in transmitted Beacon or Probe Response management frames if data confidentiality is required for all data frames exchanged within the IBSS. If data confidentiality is not required, STAs in an IBSS set the Privacy subfield to 0 within these management frames.
"STAs that include the RSN information element in Beacon and Probe Response frames shall set the Privacy subfield to 1 in any frame that includes the RSN information element."
I hope this helps. Thanks. /criss
- 1