How does multiple SSIDs affect performance?
Whenever new wireless cases arise, many users, especially enterprise users, add new collective identifiers to their wireless LAN infrastructure.
This approach may overload the network and reduce performance. Network administrators should use dynamic policy controllers to merge service set identifiers.
Network administrators assign unique ssids to different categories of users, services, and guests. When new cases occur, the number of ssids increases. This means that more beacons will be transmitted over the air to these ssids.
This is an unlicensed spectrum, which means it will consume shared call time on that channel and reduce the overall capacity of the network and any Wi Fi networks in range.
Today, each access point can even create up to 64 ssids. However, just because it is possible to do so, I do not recommend you to do so. Having more ssids can lead to low energy efficiency. As mentioned earlier, the ideal range is 3 to 4 ssids.
To simplify, the more ssids used, the more management frameworks needed, which will improve channel utilization. Two different management frameworks have improved channel utilization.
VAP uses beacon frames to display SSIDs, which are sent at a rate of one per 100ms, with a minimum data transmission rate of 1mbps on 802.11/bg/n or 6mbps on 802.11a/n.
The client device sends a probe request to the AP. Then the access point responds to the detection response at the lowest possible data transmission date.
Beacon frames and detection responses incur overhead. The more ssids each access point has, the more vaps it has, and the more beacon frames and detection responses it sends.
Excessive ssids can reduce performance due to channel utilization, so it is best not to use more than 3 to 4 ssids per access point.
If there are multiple SSIDs, there are some ways to improve performance. Firstly, you can disable traditional bit rates. You need to set the minimum data rate supported on SSID to 6Mbps. In this way, the beacon and detection response will occupy less call time.
You can also enable frequency band steering, and the dual band AP will only respond to detection requests on the highest supported frequency band. This limits the probe response to 5GHz.
How to use multiple SSIDs?
To use multiple ssids, you first need to configure them on your device. If you have many users in your home, company, or similar environment, it is best to separate the network.
Using multiple SSIDs can provide you with secure connections and policy execution, and does not allow guests to access sensitive network information across domains when using public SSIDs.
To configure SSID on your device, follow these steps:
1. Log in to the web utility of the switch and select 'VLAN Management - Create VLAN'.
2. Click 'New' to create a new VLAN.
3. Find the VLAN ID field and assign a value to your VLAN. The range is 2-4094.
4. Enter "Name" within 32 characters in "VLAN Name" and select "Apply".
5. Repeat steps 2-4 to create multiple ssids.
This can successfully create vlans for both private and guest networks.
Once this configuration is completed, the wireless client will receive an IP address based on the SSID it is connected to, and the AP will send traffic to the router marked with a VLAN ID.
Therefore, a physical LAN connection between the router and the AP can carry the traffic of all vlans.
Adding a virtual Wi Fi name will definitely protect your main Wi Fi network from unauthorized access and sharing. You can use two different routers and the same SSID to create the same virtual network name. In this way, you increase the range of Wi Fi networks.
Although most Wi Fi brands now include wireless controllers, Wi Fi controllers allow you to easily create multiple ssids without the need to configure each AP separately.
When configuring multiple SSIDs, please remember that the options may vary depending on the model of the router.
In summary, multiple ssids are very useful when you want to segment a network. This will allow customers to access your network without the need to know critical and sensitive information.
If you want to set up multiple ssids, please ensure that you follow our steps to successfully configure them and use them on your device.
