Mbssid - ZyXEL Communications 802.11 a/g User Manual

Chapter 1 Introducing the NWA
In the figure below, A and B use X as an AP to access the wired network, while X
and Y communicate in bridge mode.
When the NWA is in AP + Bridge mode, security between APs (the Wireless
Distribution System or WDS) is independent of the security between the wireless
stations and the AP. If you do not enable WDS security, traffic between APs is not
encrypted. When WDS security is enabled, both APs must use the same pre-
shared key. See
Unless specified, the term "security settings" refers to the traffic between the
wireless stations and the NWA.
Figure 4 AP+Bridge Application

1.2.4 MBSSID

A BSS (Basic Service Set) is the set of devices forming a single wireless network
(usually an access point and one or more wireless clients). An SSID (Service Set
IDentifier) is the name of a BSS. In MBSSID (Multiple BSS) mode, the NWA
provides multiple virtual APs, each forming its own BSS and using its own
individual SSID profile.
You can configure up to sixteen SSID profiles, and have up to eight active at any
one time.
You can assign different wireless and security settings to each SSID profile. This
allows you to compartmentalize groups of users, set varying access privileges, and
prioritize network traffic to and from certain BSSs.
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Section 8.4.3 on page 129
Ethernet
X
A
B
for more details.
Y
NWA-3500/NWA-3550 User's Guide