Seeing the same SSID twice

wave

Hi guys,

I'm completely new to wireless deployments but am currently stepping sideways to deploy a small wifi network with a Cisco 2500 WLAN Controller and 4x 1041 APs. Currently I have two APs up and running through the controller and I'm seeing the same SSID twice when using some wireless software on laptops e.g. DW WLAN. Using the windows wifi manager and on Apple devices I am only seeing the network's SSID once.

Have I got something configured incorrectly or is this completely normal i.e. some software can tell there are two separate APs. I'm wanting to achieve seamless client roaming.

Thanks!

FloOz

This is just from my CCENT studies but don't the SSID's on AP's have to be the same to allow for roaming?

wave

They are the same in this case

ptilsen

Shot in the dark here, but if those are dual-band (2.4GHz and 5GHz) APs the SSID will show up twice in scanning software. OS wireless interfaces compatible with dual-band SSIDs, which are targeted at end-users, will display the SSID as one network, as intended. The scanning software is going to show SSIDs available on all bands it detects, since that is the intent of the software.

kalebksp

The 1041 is a 2.4Ghz AP.

Scanning software will be able to see the SSID coming from each AP, this is normal.

SteveO86

Check the MAC address broadcasting those SSID's most likely they are all different. From different AP's

emerald_octane

Yes scanning software will show up with different SSIDs.

Make sure to turn on dynamic channel assignment on the controller (i believe it's off by default) so that the controller auto selects the channels for proper roaming.

wave

Appreciate the comments everyone. This is a fun little project!