Configuring only one LAP to filter clients

[skdudoit]

Is it possible to configure a separate LAP on the WiSM and have it filter clients either by MAC address or limiting the number of clients that are allowed to join it? We don't want the entire network to be filtered this way, just this single AP.

[john.preves]

I'm not sure if you are trying to keep certain people off and only allow a few special clients???

The easiest way would be to create an ssid for only those special clients and have it be the only ssid on the AP.

For example - you have a board room or something where only the CEO people have access to this AP and no one else.

Remove all ssid's from your current infrastructure from this AP and insert a new one that no one else has.

If you are trying to do something else please explain exactly what...

[skdudoit]

Your assumption is correct. The situation is that we have one location that is connected to our LAN via 802.11g wireless bridge link. This location is a small office and the users here require wireless (AP) access locally as well. There are also other people (non-office users) nearby who require wireless access, and we want to somehow filter them from accessing the AP in the small office because with many users they could easliy saturate the wireless bridge link which we're trying to avoid. If we can filter them from the AP in the office they will instead associate to other nearby APs that are directly connected to the LAN.

Aside from using a separate SSID on the AP in the small office, is there any other method by which we can have the people in the office only to use their local AP?

[john.preves]

Use two AP's. Leave the current set up as it is so every one who has to be on the first network connected directly to the LAN.

Use a new AP with a different ssid for the small office for the people going across the bridge link. You will have to do some testing as to how low you can turn the power, where / what kind of antenna and physical location will give you a cell that is functional and not interfering with your existing network.

The only other thing I can think of is on Cisco clients there is a setiing to pick which AP you want to associate to first by typing in the MAC address.

But nothing will be as clean, easy, with no additional overhead, then the separate ssid.

[skdudoit]

In doing other research I agree that this is the only method by which to accomplish this.

Thanks for the information.