Wireless SSID Configuration

You can manage multiple WLANs on one security device. To distinguish one WLAN from another, you create a service set identifier (SSID), which identifies the WLAN. The settings for authentication and encryption are specific to each SSID. This flexibility allows you to apply differing levels of security as appropriate to the resources in each WLAN.

 Configuring an SSID for a Security Device with One Radio

  1. Enter a name for the SSID.

SSID: Enter a unique name up to 32 characters long to be used as the WLAN identifier. For security purposes, use a mix of upper- and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Also, do not give the SSID a meaningful name that an attacker might use, such as the department or location of the security device.

  1. Select one of the following WEP Based Authentication and Encryption Methods:

Open: Specifies that no authentication is performed. The wireless client supplies the correct SSID to be connected to the wireless network. You can specify the following encryption options:

No Encryption: Specifies that no encryption is performed.

WEP Encryption: Specifies that WEP encryption is used. If you select this option, you must choose where to store the WEP key.

Local: Indicates the WEP key is stored on the security device. This is the default. If you select this option, you must configure a WEP key. For more information, see WEP Key.

Server: Indicates the WEP key is dynamically generated by the specified RADIUS server.

Both: Key is stored locally and on the RADIUS server. If you select this option, you must configure a default WEP key. For more information, see WEP Key.

WEP Shared Key: Enables shared key authentication. This option requires a locally stored WEP key. For more information, see WEP Key.

Auto: Specifies that the security device accepts both open encryption with Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) or shared-key authentication.

  1. Select one of the following WPA Based Authentication and Encryption Methods from each of the dropdown menus:

After selecting a key location, configure key information with the following information:

After selecting an authentication method, enter authentication server information with the following:

  1. Set other options:

  2. Click OK to save your configuration.

 Configuring an SSID for a Security Device with Two Radios

  1. Enter a name for the SSID.

SSID: Enter a unique name up to 32 characters long to be used as the WLAN identifier. For security purposes, use a mix of upper- and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Also, do not give the SSID a meaningful name that an attacker might use, such as the department or location of the security device.

  1. Select one of the following WEP Based Authentication and Encryption Methods:

Open: Specifies that no authentication is performed. The wireless client supplies the correct SSID to be connected to the wireless network. You can specify the following encryption options:

No Encryption: Specifies that no encryption is performed.

WEP Encryption: Specifies that WEP encryption is used.

If you select this option, you can specify that the WEP key is stored locally on the device by creating a WEP key. For more information, see WEP Key.

If you want WEP keys to be generated by a RADIUS server, go to step 4.

WEP Shared Key: Enables shared key authentication. This option requires a locally stored WEP key. For more information, see WEP Key.

Auto: Specifies that the security device accepts both open encryption with Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) or shared-key authentication.

  1. Select one of the following WPA Based Authentication and Encryption Methods from each of the dropdown menus:

After selecting an authentication method, configure key information with the following information:

After selecting an authentication method, enter authentication server information with the following:

  1. 802.1X Based Authentication and Encryption Methods: To use 802.1X-based authentication and encryption, select 802.1X, select an existing authentication server from the dropdown list. To define a new authentication server, click Create new Auth Server.

    Note:
    If you enable 802.1X authentication, you must also configure the authentication server.

  2. Set other options:

  1. Click OK to save your configuration.