Configuring Virtual Access Points

You can partition the wireless network into wireless VLANs called virtual access points (VAPs). You can use VAPs to grant different permissions to groups of wireless users, by configuring each VAP with the desired security policy and network settings, and then assigning each group of wireless users to the relevant VAP. For more information on VAPs, see Overview.

Note: While virtual access points (VAPs) can have different security settings and network names, all VAPs inherit the following wireless settings from the primary WLAN:

Country
Operation Mode
Channel
Transmission Rate
Transmitter Power
Antenna Selection
For information on configuring these settings in the primary WLAN, see Manually Configuring a Wireless Network.

Note: To enable VAPs, you must first enable the primary WLAN network. If you disable the primary WLAN network, all VAPs are automatically disabled.

The procedure below explains how to add or edit a VAP. For information on deleting a VAP, see Deleting VLANs.

To add or edit a VAP

Configure and enable the primary WLAN.
For information on configuring the primary WLAN manually, see Manually Configuring a Wireless Network.

For information on using a wizard to configure the primary WLAN, see Using the Wireless Wizard.
If you intend to use the 802.1x or WPA-Enterprise security mode for the VAP, do one of the following:
- To use the UTM-1 EAP authenticator for authenticating wireless clients, follow the workflow Using the UTM-1 EAP Authenticator for Authentication of Wireless Clients.
  You will be referred back to this procedure at the appropriate stage in the workflow, at which point you can continue from the next step.
- To use a RADIUS server for authenticating wireless clients, configure a RADIUS server.
  See Using RADIUS Authentication.
Click Network in the main menu, and click the My Network tab.
The My Network page appears.
Click Add Network.
The Edit Network Settings page appears.
In the Network Name field, type a name for the VAP.
In the Type drop-down list, select Virtual Access Point.
New fields appear.

The fields that appear depend on the hardware type.
In the Mode drop-down list, select Enabled.
The fields are enabled.
In the IP Address field, type the IP address of the VAP network's default gateway.
The VAP network must not overlap other networks.
In the Subnet Mask field, type the VAP's internal network range.
If desired, enable or disable Hide NAT.
See Enabling/Disabling Hide NAT.
If desired, configure a DHCP server.
See Configuring a DHCP Server.
Complete the fields using the information in Basic Wireless Settings Fields.
To configure advanced settings, click Show Advanced Settings and complete the fields using the information in Advanced Wireless Settings Fields.
New fields appear.

The fields that appear depend on the hardware type.
Click Apply.

Note: Some wireless cards have "Infrastructure" and "Ad-hoc" modes. These modes are also called "Access Point" and "Peer to Peer". On the wireless client, choose the "Infrastructure" or "Access Point" mode.
You can set the wireless cards to either "Long Preamble" or "Short Preamble".