Users Guide

Suppressing Client Probe Requests
The anyspot client probe suppression feature decreases network traffic by suppressing probe requests from
clients attempting to locate and connect to other known networks. By reducing the frequency at which these
messages are sent, this feature frees up network resources and improves network performance.
When an AP is configured to use this feature, the anyspot AP radio hides its configured ESSID in beacons, and
compiles a list of other ESSIDs from detected neighboring APs. If the client sends a probe request without a
specified ESSID, the anyspot AP will respond with a preconfigured ESSID.
When a client searches for a preferred network, that client sends the SSID of the preferred network in the
probe request. The anyspot AP checks to see if there is a neighboring AP using that ESSID that can respond the
client's request. If no matching network is found, the anyspot AP sends a response to the client using the SSID
from the client request. If the client is authorized to connect to the anyspot AP, that client associates to AP.
Once connected to the anyspot AP, the client recognizes the ESSID to which it is connected as one associated
with its preferred network, and does not send out any further probe requests.
An AP radio can only use this feature when encryption is disabled. (That is, when the operation mode parameter in
the AP radio's WLAN SSSID profile is set to opensystem.)
You can define a list of excluded ESSIDs to which the anyspot AP will not respond. If a client sends probe
request with an ESSID on the excluded ESSID list, the anyspot AP will not respond to the request, even if there
is no neighboring AP using that ESSID. Excluded ESSIDs can be identified by exact name or a matching string.
In the WebUI
Use the following procedure to suppress client probe requests by enabling the anyspot feature.
1. Navigate to the Configuration >Advanced Services > All Profiles page.
2. Expand the Wireless LAN menu
3. Select Anyspot.
4. In the Profile Details window, enter a name for the new anyspot profile then click Add, or select the name
of an existing anyspot profile.
5. Configure the anyspot parameters described inTable 118.
Parameter Description
Enable Anyspot Select this checkbox to enable the anyspot feature. Note that you must associate the any-
spot profile with a virtual AP profile for the settings to take effect.
Exclude ESSID(s)
(exact match)
An anyspot-enabled radio will not respond to client probe requests using an ESSID in the
Exclude ESSID lists. To add an ESSID to the list, enter the full name of the ESSID, then
click Add. To remove an ESSID from the list, select it and click Delete. ESSIDs from neigh-
boring APs will automatically appear in this list as long as the anyspot-enabled AP can
detect that ESSID.
Exclude ESSID(s) (con-
taining string(s)
An anyspot-enabled radio will not respond to client probe requests using an ESSID in the
Exclude ESSID list. To exclude ESSIDs that partially match a text string, enter that string
then click Add. To remove a matching string from the list, select it and click Delete.
Preset ESSID(s) The anyspot-enabled AP will not send an ESSID in beacons, but if a client sends a probe
Table 118: Anyspot Client Probe Suppression Configuration Parameters
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