Using and Configuring Virtual Access Points

A Virtual Access Point (VAP) is a multiplexed instantiation of a single physical Access Point (AP) so that it presents itself as multiple discrete Access Points. To wireless LAN clients, each Virtual AP appears to be an independent physical AP, when there is actually only a single physical AP. Before Virtual AP feature support, wireless networks were relegated to a one-to-one relationship between physical Access Points and wireless network security characteristics, such as authentication and encryption.

For example, an Access Point providing WPA-PSK security could not simultaneously offer Open or WPA-EAP connectivity to clients. If Open or WPA-EAP were required, they would need to have been provided by a separate, distinctly configured APs. This forced WLAN network administrators to find a solution to scale their existing wireless LAN infrastructure to provide differentiated levels of service. With the Virtual APs (VAP) feature, multiple VAPs can exist within a single physical AP in compliance with the IEEE 802.11 standard for the media access control (MAC) protocol layer that includes a unique Basic Service Set Identifier (BSSID) and Service Set Identifier (SSID). This allows segmenting wireless network services within a single radio frequency footprint of a single physical access point device.

In SonicOS Enhanced 3.5, VAPs allow the network administrator to control wireless user access and security settings by setting up multiple custom configurations on a single physical interface.

Each of these custom configurations acts as a separate (virtual) access point, and can be grouped and enforced on single or multiple physical SonicPoint access points simultaneously.

In GMS, you can configure VAPs on the Policies panel, SonicPoint > Virtual Access Point screen.