Hi,
does anybody could explain how to be with CAP interface MAC address in case of multiple SSID’s (virtual AP’s)?
In CAPsMAN I have master interface for SSID-Lan and two slave interfaces for SSID-Guest and SSID-Mng.
So, SSID-Guest and SSID-Mng are virtual AP’s, both interfaces has no Radio MAC.
Wiki states: https://wiki.mikrotik.com/wiki/Manual:CAPsMAN_tips When copying slave interfaces in the interface menu, interface is copied exactly. This means that all properties are the same. You must change the MAC address manually. Make sure that there are no identical MAC addresses among your access points.
Note: in Winbox, when adding slave interface (not copying, but creating new one) first added slave interface by default takes MAC of master interface, when adding subsequent slave interfaces - new MAC is generated.
Question: does slave interface of virtual AP must have unique MAC, or does salve interface should have same MAC as master interface (because of no radio exist for slave interface)?
Just tested: I’ve a RB951G set up as cAP and I usually run single SSID off its wireless interface. In that case it takes HW MAC address.
For testing I just enabled a virtual interface via CAPsMAN and MAC used for that virtual interface is generated pseudo-randomly:
device’s wireless MAC address: E4:8D:8C:xx:yy:zz
primary SSID MAC address: E4:8D:8C:xx:yy:zz
virtual SSID MAC address: E6:8D:8C:xx:yy:zz
The only difference in MAC addresses used is the highlighted octet. I guess (won’t test) that if one adds another virtual SSID, provisioning will create yet another MAC address for it.
Virtual interfaces for slaves are created dynamically during provisioning. I think it’s best practice not changing any virtual wireless interfaces other then through the caps manager.
Have made the test with dynamic interfaces. First virtual interface contains same MAC from master interface, subsequent virtual interfaces got different MAC addresses (actually +1).
Why first virtual interface contains same MAC...this is contradiction with the wiki: "Make sure that there are no identical MAC addresses among your access points".
I am confused unfortunately.
Nothing special, virtual interfaces are bound to the same radio.
Note: I have deleted/created interface several times, that's why here is cap16 in this screen-shot.
Update:
made CAPsMAN in warehouse. Customer are using temperature loggers (portable devices with WiFi interface). Loggers are connected to SSID3.
And…if I use provisioning rules which creates dynamic interfaces in CAPsMAN - first virtual AP always getting same MAC like master interface, example:
29-7D-13-93-2E-4C - SSID1, master
29-7D-13-93-2E-4C - SSID2, slave
29-7D-13-93-2E-4D - SSID3, slave
29-7D-13-93-2E-4E - SSID4, slave
In this case loggers refuses to operate normally. Loggers constantly lost WiFi connection.
I have manually re-created all of interfaces in CAPsMAN with unique MAC.
29-7D-13-93-2E-4C - SSID1, master
29-7D-13-93-2E-4D - SSID2, slave
29-7D-13-93-2E-4E - SSID3, slave
29-7D-13-93-2E-4F - SSID4, slave
Now loggers started operating normally.
For Windows-PC/Android there are no problems with dynamic interfaces (duplicate MAC’s).
Does anybody could explain - is it valid situation when virtual AP contains same MAC address?
If this situation is not valid - then CAPsMAN has a bug: first dynamic interface of virtual AP creates duplicate MAC.
I have the same results as mkx. I have provisioning rules for all caps though. I set the identity on each cap to let capsman set the correct channel and config for each radio/cap instead of any manual creation or configuration on each cap.
Seems to be CAPsMAN correctly generates MAC, my prev. post is faulty, sorry for that.
But head pain still exists - still do not understand why loggers refuses to work in case of dynamic interfaces…
