Configuring Multiple Basic Ssids; Requirements For Configuring Multiple Bssids; Guidelines For Using Multiple Bssids - Cisco ISR Configuration Manual

Configuring Multiple Basic SSIDs

The allowed list of SSIDs from the RADIUS server are in the form of Cisco VSAs. The Internet
Engineering Task Force (IETF) draft standard specifies a method for communicating vendor-specific
information between the access point and the RADIUS server by using the vendor-specific attribute
(attribute 26). Vendor-specific attributes (VSAs) allow vendors to support their own extended attributes
not suitable for general use. The Cisco RADIUS implementation supports one vendor-specific option by
using the format recommended in the specification. Cisco's vendor-ID is 9, and the supported option has
vendor-type 1, which is named cisco-avpair. The Radius server is allowed to have zero or more SSID
VSAs per client.
In this example, the following AV pair adds the SSID batman to the list of allowed SSIDs for a user:
cisco-avpair= "ssid=batman"
For instructions on configuring the access point to recognize and use VSAs, see the
Access Point to Use Vendor-Specific RADIUS Attributes" section on page
Configuring Multiple Basic SSIDs
Access point 802.11a and 802.11g radios now support up to 8 basic SSIDs (BSSIDs), which are similar
to MAC addresses. You use multiple BSSIDs to assign a unique DTIM setting for each SSID and to
broadcast more than one SSID in beacons. A large DTIM value increases battery life for power-save
client devices that use an SSID, and broadcasting multiple SSIDs makes your wireless LAN more
accessible to guests.
Devices on your wireless LAN that are configured to associate to a specific access point based on the
Note
access point MAC address (for example, client devices, repeaters, hot standby units, or workgroup
bridges) might lose their association when you add or delete a multiple BSSID. When you add or delete
a multiple BSSID, check the association status of devices configured to associate to a specific access
point. If necessary, reconfigure the disassociated device to use the BSSID's new MAC address.

Requirements for Configuring Multiple BSSIDs

To configure multiple BSSIDs, your access points must meet these minimum requirements:
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Guidelines for Using Multiple BSSIDs

Keep these guidelines in mind when configuring multiple BSSIDs:
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Cisco Wireless ISR and HWIC Access Point Configuration Guide
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VLANs must be configured
Access points must run Cisco IOS Release 12.4(15)T or later
Access points must contain an 802.11a or 802.11g radio that supports multiple BSSIDs. To
determine whether a radio supports multiple basic SSIDs, enter the show controllers
radio_interface command. The radio supports multiple basic SSIDs if the results include this line:
Number of supported simultaneous BSSID on radio_interface: 8
RADIUS-assigned VLANs are not supported when you enable multiple BSSIDs.
When you enable BSSIDs, the access point automatically maps a BSSID to each SSID. You cannot
manually map a BSSID to a specific SSID.
Chapter 3 Configuring Multiple SSIDs
"Configuring the
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