SSIDs

SSIDs

A Service Set Identifier (SSID) is a wireless network identifier that

  • enables users to connect their devices to a specific wireless network

  • allows businesses to distinguish and manage multiple networks at various locations, and

  • serves as the basis for assigning different captive portals within Cisco Spaces.

The SSID refers to the wireless network ID that your customers use to access the internet. You may have multiple SSIDs for your business locations. Cisco Spaces allows you to display different captive portals for the same SSID or for various SSIDs in your business locations, based on your requirements.

The SSIDs are defined in the Wireless Network System, such as the Cisco Wireless Controller for Cisco Unified Wireless Network. To display captive portals for an SSID, you must import the SSID to Cisco Spaces.

The imported SSIDs appear in grid view. Each Meraki SSID have a Detail link, which you can use to configure the SSID in Meraki. If necessary, you can delete an imported SSID for a wireless network from the grid.

The Configure Manually link for an SSID takes you to the manual configuration instructions for the corresponding wireless network. For example, the Configure Manually link for Meraki SSIDs leads to the configuration instructions for Cisco Meraki.

Cisco Spaces enables you to delete the SSIDs even if they are not removed from the wireless network, such as Cisco Meraki. This feature allows you to delete unwanted SSIDs when there is a delay in network synchronization.

Prerequisites for importing or configuring the SSIDs

To import or configure SSIDs to Cisco Spaces, complete these steps:

Import the SSIDs from a wireless network

Before importing an SSID, ensure that the prerequisites are met. For more information on the prerequisites to import an SSID, refer to the Prerequisites for importing or configuring the SSIDs.


Note
To create a captive portal rule for an SSID, you must import that SSID from the CUWN or Meraki.

Import the SSIDs for Cisco wireless controller or Cisco Catalyst 9800 series wireless controller (GUI)


Note

  • For the Cisco AireOS series wireless controller or the Cisco Catalyst 9800 series wireless controller, manually add SSIDs to Cisco Spaces.

  • For the Cisco AireOS series wireless controller or the Cisco Catalyst 9800 series wireless controller with CMX, SSIDs are configured in the Cisco wireless controller, not in Cisco CMX.

  • The SSID name specified in Cisco Spaces must match the SSID name configured in the controller. View the SSID name in the controller dashboard.

  • The Cisco Spaces cloud RADIUS server supports only PAP for web RADIUS authentication. CHAP is not supported. Configure PAP as the web RADIUS authentication method on the Cisco wireless controller to prevent client authentication failure.

To manually import the SSIDs to Cisco Cisco Spaces, perform these steps:

Procedure

Step 1

In the Cisco Spaces dashboard, choose Home.

Step 2

In the Visitor Onboarding & Experiences area under the Spaces App tab, click Captive Portal.

Step 3

In the Captive Portal window that appears, choose SSIDs in the left pane.

Step 4

Click Import/Configure SSID.

Step 5

In the Import/Configure SSID window that appears, select CUWN (CMX/WLC) from the Wireless Network drop-down list.

Step 6

In the SSID field, enter the name of the SSID you want to import, and click Add.

The imported SSID appears in the SSIDs window.

What to do next


Note
As Cisco Spaces needs to synchronize with the controller to load the imported SSIDs, you may need to refresh the window to view the imported SSIDs.

Import the SSIDs for Cisco Meraki (GUI)

Import SSIDs from a Cisco Meraki network into Cisco Spaces to enable Captive Portal functionality and allow further configuration.

To create the Captive Portal rules for an SSID of Meraki, you must import that SSID from the Meraki network. After importing the SSIDs, in the Meraki dashboard, you must configure the SSID for working with Cisco Spaces.


Note
You can import SSIDs only for locations that are imported to the location hierarchy.

To import the SSIDs, perform these steps:

Procedure

Step 1

In the Cisco Spaces dashboard, choose Home.

Step 2

In the Visitor Onboarding & Experiences area under the Spaces App tab, click Captive Portal.

Step 3

In the Captive Portal window that appears, choose SSIDs in the left pane. Click Import/Configure SSID.

Step 4

In the Import/Configure window that appears, select Meraki from the Wireless Network drop-down list.

Step 5

From the Organization drop-down list, select the organization of which you want to import the SSID.

The SSIDs enabled in Meraki for the selected organization are available for selection.

Step 6

Check the check box for the SSID that you want to import, and click Import.

The imported SSID appears on the SSIDs window.

Step 7

In the grid for that SSID, click the Detail link.

Step 8

In the window that appears, click Activate to update the Cisco Spaces configuration for the SSID in Meraki.

The SSID Configuration Sync window appears with the SSID updates that need to be configured in Meraki.

Step 9

Click Update.

Note

 
You can also manually configure the SSIDs in Meraki. For instructions on manually configuring the SSIDs in Meraki, refer to the Manually Configuring SSIDs for Cisco Meraki section.

What to do next


Note
As Cisco Spaces needs to synchronize with the Meraki network to load the imported SSIDs, you may have to refresh the window to view the imported SSIDs.