User Manual

Table Of Contents
Chapter 6 Wireless LAN
NBG-418N v2 User’s Guide
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6.3 What You Should Know
Every wireless network must follow these basic guidelines.
Every wireless client in the same wireless network must use the same SSID.
The SSID is the name of the wireless network. It stands for Service Set IDentity.
If two wireless networks overlap, they should use different channels.
Like radio stations or television channels, each wireless network uses a specific channel, or frequency,
to send and receive information.
Every wireless client in the same wireless network must use security compatible with the AP.
Security stops unauthorized devices from using the wireless network. It can also protect the
information that is sent in the wireless network.
6.3.1 Wire le ss Se c urity Ove rvie w
The following sections introduce different types of wireless security you can set up in the wireless
network.
6.3.2 MBSSID
Traditionally, you need to use different APs to configure different Basic Service Sets (BSSs). As well as the
cost of buying extra APs, there is also the possibility of channel interference. The NBG-418N v2’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 security modes to different SSIDs.
Wireless devices can use different BSSIDs to associate with the same AP.
6.3.2.1 Note s on Multiple BSSs
A maximum of eight BSSs are allowed on one AP simultaneously.
You must use different keys for different BSSs. If two wireless devices have different BSSIDs (they are in
different BSSs), but have the same 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.
6.3.3 MAC Addre ss Filte r
Every wireless client has a unique identification number, called a MAC address.
1
A MAC address is
usually written using twelve hexadecimal characters
2
; for example, 00A0C5000002 or 00:A0:C5:00:00:02.
To get the MAC address for each wireless client, see the appropriate User’s Guide or other
documentation.
You can use the MAC address filter to tell the AP which wireless clients are allowed or not allowed to use
the wireless network. If a wireless client is allowed to use the wireless network, it still has to have the
correct settings (SSID, channel, and security). If a wireless client is not allowed to use the wireless
network, it does not matter if it has the correct settings.
1. Some wireless devices, such as scanners, can detect wireless networks but cannot use wireless networks. These
kinds of wireless devices might not have MAC addresses.
2. Hexadecimal characters are 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E, and F.