ZyXEL Communications ZyXEL ZyAIR NWA-3500 - Manual (Page 119)

ZyXEL NWA-3500 User’s Guide
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H A P T E R
8
MBSSID and SSID
This chapter describes how to configure and use your ZyXEL Device’s MBSSID mode and
configure SSID profiles.
8.1 Wireless LAN Infrastructures
See the Wireless LAN chapter for some basic WLAN scenarios and terminology.
8.1.1 MBSSID
Traditionally, you needed to use different APs to configure different Basic Service Sets
(BSSs). As well as the cost of buying extra APs, there was also the possibility of channel
interference. The ZyXEL Device’s MBSSID (Multiple Basic Service Set IDentifier) function
allows you to use one access point to provide several BSSs simultaneously. You can then
assign varying levels of privilege to different SSIDs.
Wireless stations can use different BSSIDs to associate with the same AP.
8.1.2 Notes on Multiple BSS
• A maximum of eight BSSs are allowed on one AP simultaneously.
• You must use different WEP keys for different BSSs. If two stations have different
BSSIDs (they are in different BSSs), but have the same WEP keys, they may hear each
other’s communications (but not communicate with each other).
• MBSSID should not replace but rather be used in conjunction with 802.1x security.
8.1.3 Multiple BSS Example
Refer to the applications section for more information.
8.1.4 Multiple BSS with VLAN Example
In this example, VLAN 1 includes the computers in BSS1 and LAN 1. Computers in BSS2
and LAN 2 belong to VLAN 2. Users in BSS1 are limited to accessing the resources on LAN
1 and similarly users in BSS2 may only access resources on LAN 2. VLAN 2 is the
management VLAN.
The switch adds PVID (Port VLAN IDentity) tags to incoming frames that don’t already have
tags (on switch ports where PVID is enabled).