Table Of Contents

Configuring SSIDs

Understanding SSIDs

Configuring the SSID

Default SSID Configuration

Creating an SSID

Configuring SSIDs

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This chapter describes how to configure a service set identifier (SSID) on the bridge. This chapter contains these sections:

•Understanding SSIDs

•Configuring the SSID

Understanding SSIDs

The SSID is a unique identifier that wireless networking devices use to establish and maintain wireless connectivity. Multiple bridges on a network or sub-network can use the same SSID. SSIDs are case sensitive and can contain up to 32 alphanumeric characters. Do not include spaces in your SSID. Unlike Cisco Aironet Access Points, 1400 series bridges do not support multiple SSIDs. The bridge can only associate to another bridge, so you do not need to configure multiple SSIDs.

When you configure an SSID you assign these configuration settings to the SSID:

•VLAN

•RADIUS accounting for traffic using the SSID

•Bridge authentication method

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Note For detailed information on client authentication types, see "Configuring Authentication Types."

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If you want the bridge to allow associations from bridges that do not specify an SSID in their configurations, you can include the SSID in the bridge's beacon. The bridge's default SSID, autoinstall, is included in the beacon. However, to keep your network secure, you should remove the SSID from the beacon.

You can assign an authentication username and password to the SSID to allow the bridge to authenticate to your network using LEAP authentication.

If your network uses VLANs, you should assign the bridge SSID to your network's native VLAN.

Configuring the SSID

These sections contain configuration information for the SSID:

•Default SSID Configuration

•Creating an SSID

Default SSID Configuration

Table 7-1 shows the default SSID configuration:

Table 7-1 Default SSID Configuration

Feature	Default Setting
SSID	autoinstall
Guest Mode SSID	autoinstall (The bridge broadcasts this SSID in its beacon and allows bridges with no SSID to associate.)

Creating an SSID

Beginning in privileged EXEC mode, follow these steps to create an SSID:

	Command	Purpose
Step 1	configure terminal	Enter global configuration mode.
Step 2	interface dot11radio 0	Enter interface configuration mode for the radio interface.
Step 3	ssid ssid-string	Create an SSID and enter SSID configuration mode for the new SSID. The SSID can consist of up to 32 alphanumeric characters. SSIDs are case sensitive. Note You can include spaces in an SSID, but be careful not to add spaces to an SSID accidentally, especially at the end of an SSID.
Step 4	authentication client username username password password	(Optional) Set an authentication username and password that the bridge uses to authenticate to the network.
Step 5	accounting list-name	(Optional) Enable RADIUS accounting for this SSID. For list-name, specify the accounting method list. Click this link for more information on method lists: /en/US/docs/ios/12_2/security/configuration/guide/scfacct.html#xtocid2
Step 6	vlan vlan-id	(Optional) Assign the SSID to a VLAN on your network. On your bridge, you should assign the SSID to the native VLAN.
Step 7	infrastructure-ssid	Designate the SSID as your bridge's infrastructure SSID. The root bridge allows associations only from bridges that use this SSID. You must enter this command for the SSID on each non-root bridge.
Step 8	end	Return to privileged EXEC mode.
Step 9	copy running-config startup-config	(Optional) Save your entries in the configuration file.

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Note You use the ssid command's authentication options to configure an authentication type for the SSID. See "Configuring Authentication Types," for instructions on configuring authentication types.

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Use the no form of the command to disable the SSID or to disable SSID features.

This example shows how to:

•Name an SSID

•Configure the SSID for RADIUS accounting

•Assign the SSID to the native VLAN

•Designate the SSID as the infrastructure SSID

bridge# configure terminal

bridge(config)# interface dot11radio 0

bridge(config-if)# ssid bridgeman

bridge(config-ssid)# accounting accounting-method-list

bridge(config-ssid)# vlan 1

bridge(config-ssid)# infrastructure-ssid

bridge(config-ssid)# end