Multi-SSID Router: What it is, what it is for and how to configure it

Have you heard about routers with Multi-SSID but are not sure what they are for? These devices offer an advanced solution for the WiFi network management, allowing you to create multiple wireless networks with different configurations within the same router. This is especially useful in environments where you need to separate different types of users or devices without need to hardware additional.

In this article we explain in detail what a router with Multi-SSID is., how it works, its advantages and how to configure it correctly to optimize your performance y improve security of your network.

What is a router with Multi-SSID?

A router with Multi-SSID is a device capable of creating multiple wireless networks within the same infrastructure. Each SSID (Service Set Identifier) ​​acts as an independent WiFi network, allowing assign different settings security, bandwidths and access permissions to each of them.

For example, in a company or in a home with devices IoT, different networks can be created such as:

• Main network: For internal use, with full access to all network resources.
• Guest Network: Limited to the Internet only, no access to internal devices.
• Work network: For employees with specific traffic priorities.
• IoT network: Separate for home automation devices or security cameras.

Advantages of Multi-SSID

Using multiple SSIDs provides several key advantages in terms of to maximise security and your enjoyment. y network management:

• Greater security: Network segmentation prevents unauthorized devices from accessing data on the main network.
• Bandwidth optimization: Speed ​​limits can be assigned to each SSID, preventing excessive consumption by certain users.
• Efficient management: Facilitates network access control without the need for complicated firewall configurations.
• Different authentication options: Allows you to set custom passwords and encryption on each network.

How Multi-SSID with VLAN works

To ensure that each network created with Multi-SSID is completely independent, multiplexing configurations are used. VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network). A VLAN assigns a VLAN ID specific to each SSID, ensuring that devices connected to one network cannot communicate with devices on another.

Configuration example with VLAN

Suppose we configure a router with four SSIDs and assign them to specific VLANs:

• SSID 1 (Main Network) → VLAN 1
• SSID 2 (Guest Network) → VLAN 2
• SSID 3 (Work network) → VLAN 3
• SSID 4 (IoT Network) → VLAN 4

With this segmentation, Each user or device will only be able to interact with the specific resources of its VLAN.

How to configure a router with Multi-SSID

Setting up a router with Multi-SSID varies by manufacturer, but the general steps are as follows:

1. Access the router settings

To start, open a browser and enter the IP address of the router (usually 192.168.1.1 o 192.168.0.1). Then, log in with your administrator username and password.

2. Create the SSIDs

Most routers have a WiFi configuration section where you can activate the option of Multi-SSID. From there, add multiple network names and assigns different names (SSID) to each one.

3. Configure security for each network

It is advisable to use WPA2 or WPA3 as a security protocol to protect each SSID with a strong password.

4. Assign VLANs (if available)

If your router allows it, you can assign a VLAN ID to each SSID to ensure separation of network traffic.

5. Adjust advanced parameters

In this section you can configure:

• Bandwidths per SSID: To prevent a network from consuming too much traffic.
• Insulation options: To prevent devices on a network from communicating with each other.
• Programme schedules: To enable or disable certain networks depending on the time of day.

6. Save and test the configuration

Once the settings are made, save the changes and restart the router to check that the different SSIDs are working correctly.

How many SSIDs is recommended to use?

Although some routers allow you to configure More than 16 SSIDs, it is not advisable to abuse this function, since too many networks can affect the WiFi performance. In most cases, it is recommended to use a maximum of 3 or 4 SSIDs for different purposes without affecting network stability.

By keeping the number of SSIDs low, you reduce the channel conflicts y There air occupied by broadcast packets.

Routers with support for 6 WiFi They allow for better spectrum management and can handle multiple SSIDs more efficiently without degrading performance as much. Multi-SSID routers are a fundamental tool for managing networks in an orderly and secure manner, allowing connections to be segmented without the need for additional hardware. Proper SSID and VLAN configuration ensures efficient administration, optimizing the performance and security of the WiFi network.