Configuring WLAN Accounting Settings

Accounting is the method of collecting and sending security server information for billing, auditing, and reporting user data; such as start and stop times, executed commands (such as PPP), number of packets and number of bytes. Accounting enables wireless network administrators to track the services users are accessing and the network resources they are consuming. When accounting is enabled, the network access server reports and logs user activity to a RADIUS security server in the form of accounting records. Each accounting record is stored on a local access control server. The data can be analyzed for network management, client billing, and/or auditing. Accounting methods must be defined through AAA.

Accounting can be enabled and applied to WLANs, to uniquely log accounting events specific to the WLAN. Accounting logs contain information about the use of remote access services by users. This information is of great assistance in partitioning local versus remote users and how to best accommodate each. Remote user information can be archived to an external location for periodic network and user permission administration.

To configure WLAN accounting settings:

  1. Select Configuration → Wireless → Wireless LANs to display available WLANs.
  2. Click Add to create an additional WLAN, or select and existing WLAN and click Edit to modify its properties.
  3. Select Accounting.
    Click to expand in new window
    WLAN Accounting Screen
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  4. Set the following Syslog Accounting information:
    Enable Syslog Accounting Use this option to generate accounting records in standard syslog format (RFC 3164). The feature is disabled by default.
    Syslog Host
    Use the drop-down menu to select either Hostname or IP Address. Based on th eoption you have selected, specify the IP address or hostname of the external syslog host where accounting records are routed.
    Note:

    Hostnames cannot include an underscore character.
    Syslog Port Use the spinner control to set the destination UDP port number of the external syslog host where the accounting records are routed.
    Proxy Mode If a proxy is needed to connect to the syslog server, choose a proxy mode of Through RF Domain Manager or Through Wireless Controller. If no proxy is needed, select None.
    Format Specify the delimiter format for the MAC address to be packed in the syslog request. Available formats are No Delimiter (aabbccddeeff), Colon Delimiter (aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:ff), Dash Delimiter (aa-bb-cc-dd-ee-ff), Dot Delimiter (aabb.ccdd.eeff) and Middle Dash Delimiter (aabbcc-ddeeff).
    Case Specify to send the MAC addresses in either Uppercase or Lowercase for syslog requests.
  5. Select the Enable RADIUS Accounting check box to use an external RADIUS resource for AAA accounting. When the check box is selected, an AAA Policy field displays. Either use the default AAA policy with the WLAN, or select Create to define a new AAA configuration that can be applied to the WLAN. This setting is disabled by default.
  6. Click OK when completed to update the WLAN's accounting settings. Click Reset to revert the screen to the last saved configuration.
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