Does higher WLAN security / encryption slow down that same WLAN traffic?

[Jacob_Airov]

We're using Extreme AP7532's with a VX9000 controller in a great big 800,000 sq ft warehouse setting. This building has various types of conveyors, racking filled with boxes & product and we're using a voice controlled pick & pack system.

The vendor of this voice system is complaining that their system is running slow and having delays receiving data from the server because we're using WPA2-Enterprise security. They've recommended that we downgrade it to WPA2-personal, saying that higher security slows down a network.

I've tried researching and google searching this, but all I find is articles relating to home wifi and which is the best wifi security to use. Nothing ever mentions anything about 'higher security slows down wifi traffic'.

Has anyone heard of such a thing?

Thanks!

[Timo1]

The speed of WPA 2 PSK and 802.1x is the same.

For the encryption we need a MSK. For PSK this is the PSK converted to a 64 HEX value. For 802.11x the MSK is delivered from the AAA, also 64 HEX value.

From the encryption view, AES need more power than TKIP. But if you compare PSK and 802.11x, no different.

Only the initial connection needs more time, because you need to authenticate again the AAA. After this you have 802.11r (Fast Transition) that supports very fast roaming.

For a easy test, you can check the performance at one AP. If you don't roam and it won't work, it's not a problems from WPA2 802.1x.

[Bin]

Hi Jacob, also agree it .
Even, there is no significant traffic between non-encrypted and encrypted traffic.

http://www.aterm.jp/product/atermstation/technical/2008/tech0728.html

[Ondrej_Lepa]

Hi Jacob,

As Timo already mentioned - encrypted traffic has no significant difference.

However, we are most probably talking about hand-off which might be an issue for device not supporting 802.11r. While using 802.1x / EAP you may end up with up to 700 ms and certain VoWiFi defices require less than 150 ms - case of WPA/2-PSK

Taken from CWSP-204 study book - "Roaming and Dynamic keys"

Regards,
Ondrej