Configuring Multiple ESS/VLAN  


What is Multiple ESS?
The ZyAIR's Multiple ESS(Multi-ESS) function allows multiple ESSs to be configured on just one access point (ZyAIR). Different wireless stations can use to communicate with each other that is within the same ESS. This allow the AP to logically group wireless stations in a manner similar to VLAN. 

What is VLAN?

A VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) allows a physical network to be partitioned into multiple logical networks. Only stations within the same group can talk to each other. Stations on a logical network can belong to one or more groups. The ZyAIR support 802.1QVLAN tagging. Tagged VLAN uses an explicit tag(VLAN ID) in the MAC header of a frame to idendify VLAN membership. The ZyAIR can identify VLAN tags for incoming Ethernet frames and add VLAN tags to outgoing Ethernet frames.

Configure VLAN with multi-ESS to extend the wireless logical logical grouping to the wired network. Each ESS is assigned a unique VLAN ID.

 


To configure Multiple-ESS mode on  your ZyAIR B-3000 wireless device please follow the following step.

1. Click Advanced and Wireless.

2. Select Multiple ESS in the Operation Mode drop-down list box to display the screen as shown below.

3. Select the index number(#) of ESS you want to configure.

4. Click Edit on the Wireless screen.

5. Type the name of ESSID. For example: ZyXEL

6. Check the Active option.

7. Select ASCII or Hex.

8. Type one Unicast WEP key as an active key to encrypt wireless data transmission. When you enable Multi-ESS on ZyAIR B-3000 you need to configure separate Unicast and Multicast/Broadcast keys for each ESS. A Unicast  transmission is from one sender to one recipient.

9. Type one Broadcast/Multicasat WEP key as an active key to encrypt wireless data transmission. A Broadcast transmission means from one sender to everybody on the network. A Multicast transmission is from one sender to a group of hosts on network.

10. Click Apply to save your change back to the ZyAIR.

11. Click Apply to finish.

Note:

1.  A maximum of eight ESSs are allowed on one AP.

2. Each ESS has its own MAC filter set.

3. We must use different WEP keys for different ESSs. If two stations have different ESSIDs (they are in different ESSs), but have the same WEP keys, they may hear each other's communications (but not communicate with each other).

4. When you enable Multi-ESS, ESSIDs are automatically hidden (so site survey tools can not find other station ESSIDs).

5. Multi-ESS should not replace but rather be used in conjunction with 802.1x security.


To configure VLAN on  your ZyAIR B3000 wireless device please follow the following step.

1. Click Advanced and then VLAN.

2. Check the Enable VLAN Tagging box to turn on VLAN Tagging.

3. Enter a Management VLAN ID number from 1 to 255 to define this VLAN group. At least one device in your network must belong to this VLAN group in order to manage the ZyAIR.

4. Click Apply to save your change back to the ZyAIR.