Configuring SSID Settings
The SSID tab displays the virtual access point (VAP) settings associated with the default AP profile. Each VAP has an associated network, which is identified by its network number and Service Set Identifier (SSID). You can configure and enable up to 8 VAPs per radio on each physical access point.
Figure 37. VAP Settings
VAPs segment the wireless LAN into multiple broadcast domains that are the wireless equivalent of Ethernet VLANs. To a wireless client, each VAP appears to be a single physical access point. However, since the VAPs use the same channel, there is no risk of RF interference among the networks that are on a single AP.
VAPs can help you maintain better control over broadcast and multicast traffic, which affects network performance. You can also configure different security mechanisms for each VAP.
A VAP is a “physical” entity. Each VAP maps directly to a MAC address. A network is a logical entity that you apply to a VAP. Networks are identified by a network number and an associated SSID. The SSID does not need to be unique for each network. You can create and modify a network in one place and apply the network to one or more VAP as needed. This allows you to mix networks within different profiles without having to reconfigure everything. When you edit a network configuration that is applied to more than one VAP, you edit it for every VAP that uses the network.
Managing Virtual Access Point Configuration
The Default AP profile has one VAP enabled by default. The default VAP uses the Guest Network SSID, and there is no security to prevent wireless clients from associating with the VAP. To enable additional VAPs, select the check box next to the VAP. Once you enable a VAP, you can select the network (SSID) to use from the
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