Configuring Multiple Basic Service Set Identifiers and Microsoft WPS IE SSIDL

This module describes how to configure multiple basic service set identifiers (BSSID) on a Cisco 800, 1800, 2800, or 3800 series integrated services router, hereafter referred to as an access point (AP).

Access point 802.11a and 802.11g radios support up to 16 BSSIDs which are similar to MAC addresses. You use multiple BSSIDs to broadcast more than one SSID in beacons.

Devices on your wireless LAN that are configured to associate to a specific access point based on the 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.

This module also describes how to configure the Microsoft WPS IE SSIDL feature. This feature allows an access point to broadcast a list of configured SSIDs such as SSID Lists (SSIDL) in the Microsoft Wireless Provisioning Services information element (WPS IE). A client with the ability to read the SSIDL can alert the user to the availability of the SSIDs.

Finding Feature Information

Your software release may not support all the features documented in this module. For the latest caveats and feature information, see Bug Search Tool and the release notes for your platform and software release. To find information about the features documented in this module, and to see a list of the releases in which each feature is supported, see the feature information table at the end of this module.

Use Cisco Feature Navigator to find information about platform support and Cisco software image support. To access Cisco Feature Navigator, go to www.cisco.com/​go/​cfn. An account on Cisco.com is not required.

Prerequisites for Configuring Multiple Basic Service Set Identifiers and Microsoft WPS IE SSIDL

The following prerequisites apply to configuring multiple BSSIDs and Microsoft WPS IE SSIDL:

  • VLANs must be configured.

  • Access points must run Cisco IOS Release 12.4(15)T or a later release.

  • 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

Information About Configuring Multiple Basic Service Set Identifiers and Microsoft WPS IE SSIDL

Guidelines for Using Multiple BSSIDs

Remember these guidelines when configuring multiple BSSIDs:

  • 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.

  • When multiple BSSIDs are enabled on the access point, the SSIDL IE does not contain a list of SSIDs; it contains only extended capabilities.

  • Any Wi-Fi certified client device can associate to an access point using multiple BSSIDs.

  • You can enable multiple BSSIDs on access points that participate in WDS.

How to Configure Multiple BSSIDs and Include an SSID in an SSIDL IE

Configuring Multiple BSSIDs on an Access Point

Perform this task to configure multiple BSSIDs on an access point.

SUMMARY STEPS

    1.    enable

    2.    configure terminal

    3.    dot11 mbssid

    4.    dot11 ssid name

    5.    exit

    6.    interface dot11Radio interface

    7.    ssid name

    8.    end

    9.    copy running-config startup-config


DETAILED STEPS
     Command or ActionPurpose
    Step 1 enable


    Example:
    Router> enable
     

    Enables privileged EXEC mode.

    • Enter your password if prompted.

     
    Step 2 configure terminal


    Example:
    Router# configure terminal
     

    Enters global configuration mode.

     
    Step 3 dot11 mbssid


    Example:
    Router(config)# dot11 mbssid
     

    Enables multiple basic SSIDs on all access point radio interfaces.

     
    Step 4 dot11 ssid name


    Example:
    Router(config)# dot11 ssid guest
     

    Creates a global SSID.

    • The SSID is inactive until you use the ssid interface configuration command to assign the SSID to a specific radio interface.

     
    Step 5 exit


    Example:
    Router(config-ssid)# exit
     

    Exits SSID configuration mode.

     
    Step 6 interface dot11Radio interface


    Example:
    Router(config)# interface dot11Radio 0/3/0
     

    Enters interface configuration mode for the radio interface.

    • For the Cisco 800 and 1800 series fixed-configuration routers, the interface argument can be either 0, for the 2.4-GHz, 802.11b/g radio port, or 1, for the 5-GHz, 802.11a radio port.

    • For the Cisco 1800 series modular router and the Cisco 2800 and 3800 series routers, the interface argument is in module/slot/port format, for example, 0/3/0.

     
    Step 7 ssid name


    Example:
    Router(config-if)# ssid guest
     

    Creates an SSID for a radio interface.

     
    Step 8 end


    Example:
    Router(config-if-ssid)# end
     

    Returns to privileged EXEC mode.

     
    Step 9 copy running-config startup-config


    Example:
    Router# copy running-config startup-config
     

    (Optional) Saves your entries in the configuration file.

     

    Including an SSID in an SSIDL IE

    The access point or bridge beacon can advertise only one broadcast SSID. However, you can use SSIDL information elements (SSIDL IEs) in the access point or bridge beacon to alert client devices of additional SSIDs on the access point or bridge. When you designate an SSID to be included in an SSIDL IE, client devices detect that the SSID is available, and they also detect the security settings required to associate using that SSID.

    SUMMARY STEPS

      1.    enable

      2.    configure terminal

      3.    dot11 ssid name

      4.    information-element ssidl [advertisement wps]

      5.    Repeat Steps 3 and 4 for each SSID you want included in the information element.

      6.    exit

      7.    interface dot11Radio interface

      8.    ssid name

      9.    end

      10.    copy running-config startup-config


    DETAILED STEPS
       Command or ActionPurpose
      Step 1 enable


      Example:
      Router> enable
       

      Enables privileged EXEC mode.

      • Enter your password if prompted.

       
      Step 2 configure terminal


      Example:
      Router# configure terminal
       

      Enters global configuration mode.

       
      Step 3 dot11 ssid name


      Example:
      Router(config)# dot11 ssid guest
       

      Creates a global SSID.

      • The SSID is inactive until you use the ssid interface configuration command to assign the SSID to a specific radio interface.

       
      Step 4 information-element ssidl [advertisement wps]


      Example:
      Router(config-ssid)# information-element ssidl advertisement
       

      Designates an SSID for inclusion in an SSIDL IE that the access point includes in its beacons.

       
      Step 5 Repeat Steps 3 and 4 for each SSID you want included in the information element. 

      --

       
      Step 6 exit


      Example:
      Router(config-ssid)# exit
       

      Exits SSID configuration mode.

       
      Step 7 interface dot11Radio interface


      Example:
      Router(config)# interface dot11Radio 0/3/0
       

      Enters interface configuration mode for the radio interface.

      • For the Cisco 800 and 1800 series fixed-configuration routers, the interface argument can be either 0, for the 2.4-GHz, 802.11b/g radio port, or 1, for the 5-GHz, 802.11a radio port.

      • For the Cisco 1800 series modular router and the Cisco 2800 and 3800 series routers, the interface argument is in module/slot/port format, for example, 0/3/0.

       
      Step 8 ssid name


      Example:
      Router(config-if)# ssid guest
       

      Assigns a globally configured SSID to a radio interface and enters SSID configuration mode.

      • If you created more than one global SSID in Step 3, you would repeat this command for each SSID name.

       
      Step 9 end


      Example:
      Router(config-if-ssid)# end
       

      Returns to privileged EXEC mode.

       
      Step 10 copy running-config startup-config


      Example:
      Router# copy running-config startup-config
       

      (Optional) Saves your entries in the configuration file.

       

      Configuration Examples for Configuring Multiple Basic Service Set Identifiers

      Configuring Multiple BSSIDs on an Access Point Example

      This example shows the CLI commands that you use to enable multiple BSSIDs on a radio interface, create an SSID named visitor, designate the SSID as a BSSID, specify that the BSSID is included in beacons, and assign the SSID visitor to the radio interface: 

      configure terminal
	dot11 mbssid
	dot11 ssid visitor
	exit
	interface dot11 0
	ssid visitor
	end

      Additional References

      The following sections provide references related to configuring Multiple BSSIDs:

      Related Documents

      Related Topic

      Document Title

      Cisco IOS wireless LAN commands: complete command syntax, command mode, command history, defaults, usage guidelines, and examples

      Cisco IOS Wireless LAN Command Reference

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      Feature Information for Configuring Multiple Basic Service Set Identifiers and Microsoft WPS IE SSIDL

      The following table provides release information about the feature or features described in this module. This table lists only the software release that introduced support for a given feature in a given software release train. Unless noted otherwise, subsequent releases of that software release train also support that feature.

      Use Cisco Feature Navigator to find information about platform support and Cisco software image support. To access Cisco Feature Navigator, go to www.cisco.com/​go/​cfn. An account on Cisco.com is not required.
      Table 1 Feature Information for Configuring Multiple Basic Service Set Identifiers (BSSIDs)

      Feature Name

      Releases

      Feature Information

      Microsoft WPS IE SSIDL

      12.4(15)T

      This feature allows an access point to broadcast a list of configured SSIDs such as SSID Lists (SSIDL) in the Microsoft Wireless Provisioning Services Information Element (WPS IE). A client with the ability to read the SSIDL can alert the user to the availability of the SSIDs.

      Multiple Basic Service Set ID (BSSID)

      12.4(15)T

      This feature permits a single access point (AP) to appear to the wireless LAN (WLAN) as multiple virtual APs.