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Chapter 6 Wireless LAN
NWA1000 Series User’s Guide
53
Channel
A channel is the radio frequency(ies) used by wireless devices. Channels available depend on your
geographical area. You may have a choice of channels (for your region) so you should use a
different channel than an adjacent AP (access point) to reduce interference.
Wireless Mode
The IEEE 802.1x standard was designed to extend the features of IEEE 802.11 to support extended
authentication as well as providing additional accounting and control features.
MBSSID
Traditionally, you needed to use different APs to configure different Basic Service Sets (BSSs). As
well as the cost of buying extra APs, there was also the possibility of channel interference. The
NWA’s MBSSID (Multiple Basic Service Set IDentifier) function allows you to use one access point to
provide several BSSs simultaneously. You can then assign varying levels of privilege to different
SSIDs.
Wireless stations can use different BSSIDs to associate with the same AP.
The following are some notes on multiple BSS.
• A maximum of four BSSs are allowed on one AP simultaneously.
• You must use different WEP keys for different BSSs. If two stations have different BSSIDs (they
are in different BSSs), but have the same WEP keys, they may hear each other’s communications
(but not communicate with each other).
• MBSSID should not replace but rather be used in conjunction with 802.1x security.
Wireless Security
Wireless security is vital to your network. It protects communications between wireless stations,
access points and the wired network.
Figure 20 Securing the Wireless Network
In the figure above, the NWA checks the identity of devices before giving them access to the
network. In this scenario, Computer A is denied access to the network, while Computer B is
granted connectivity.