To Configure a New Hotspot

Configure hotspots under the WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) Services workbench.

To configure a hotspot:

  1. From the top menu, click VNS. Then, in the left pane, select WLAN Services. The WLAN Services window displays.
  2. Click New to configure a new WLAN service.
  3. Provide the service Name, Service Type, and SSID.
  4. Select the Hotspot option. Valid values are:
    • Disabled. Hotspot functionality is not enabled.
    • Enabled. Hotspots are enabled for this WLAN and the Hotspot tab appears on the WLAN page.

      Privacy is set by default to WPA and Mandatory Frame Protection (MFP) is enable.

      The authentication method is set to AAA with External Radius Server;. You can configure MBA, if required .

    • OSU. Allows the definition of Online Sign Up or OSEN WLAN.
      Note

      Note

      Configure the policy and topology assigned to the OSU WLAN to allow access only to the OSU server. No access to the internet.
    Note

    Note

    Once you have defined a WLAN service with a hotspot, you cannot disable the hotspot. You can only delete the WLAN service and recreate it.
  5. Select the Hotspot tab.
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    Hotspot Configuration
    Graphics/Hotspot_Identification.png
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    WLAN Services Hotspot Tab - Fields and Buttons

    Field/Button Description
    HESSID One SSID can be used across multiple WLANs (BSS), so the HESSID helps a client identify when the BSSID belongs to a homogenous BSS with identical configuration. Beacon with same {HESSID, SSID} pair belong to same WLAN. The {HESSID, SSID} pair must be unique for each WLAN.
    By default, the HESSID is set to the MAC address of the controller Ethernet port. Hotspots can have the same HESSID as long as the SSID is unique. If opting to configure the HESSID manually, we recommend using an AP BSSID as the HESSID.
    Note: In a mobility domain, manually configure the HESSID to a unique value, differentiating it from the value used in the controller's WLAN.
    Access Network Identifies the type of network. Valid values are:
    • Private network. An enterprise network with user accounts.
    • Private network with guest access. An enterprise network providing guest access.
    • Chargeable public network. (Default) Open to anyone but access requires payment.
    • Free public network. Open network, free of charge but may still require acceptance of terms of use (and may involve OSU servers with captive portal).
    DGAF Disabled Downstream Group-Address Forwarding Disabled. By default this option is checked. This option is checked when the AP is not forwarding downstream group-addressed frames.
  6. From the Hotspot Identification tab, configure the following parameters:

    Domain. FQDN specified by the user. Default value is empty string.

    This is a list of one or more domain names of the entity operating the hotspot network. Domain names in the domain name list may contain sub-domains. If the service provider's FQDN is not in the domain name list but is in the realm list, then a mobile device that chooses that service provider is considered to be roaming.

    Venue Info. Describes the venue. Select from a list of predefined values:
    1. Select a description of the venue group in the first field.
    2. Select a value from the second field.
      Note

      Note

      The second field is not populated with values until after you select a value from the first field.

      Default value is Unspecified.

  7. You can configure up to four languages for each venue. Click the plus sign.
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    Hotspot Identification Tab
    Graphics/Hotspot_delete_language_venue.png

    A configuration dialog displays.

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    Configuring Operator and Venue
    Graphics/Operater_Venue_Lang_Config.png

    Select a language preference, specifying the venue name and operator name, and click OK.

    Describe the venue where the hotspot is located. If there are multiple hotspot APs in one venue, use the same venue name. However, when one hotspot covers multiple venues, you can list multiple venues here even though they may share a single service set identifier (SSID).

    List venue names in multiple languages. The mobile device selects the language that is used to display information to the user. The mobile device can obtain venue name information through an ANQP query, which can help the user when they are manually selecting a hotspot. The mobile device implementation determines if the venue name information is displayed.

  8. To remove a language row from the Venue list, select the checkbox in the list row and click the minus sign.
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    Removing a Venue
    Graphics/Hotspot_delete_language_venue.png
  9. To edit a list row, click the list row. In the resulting dialog, modify the values and click OK.
  10. Click Save to save the configuration.