Affiliations: Department of Computer Engineering, Universitat
Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
Note: [] Corresponding author: Carlos T. Calafate, Department of Computer
Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera S/N, 46022
Valencia, Spain. Tel.: +34 963877007; Fax: +34 963877579; E-mail:
calafate@disca.upv.es
Abstract: The deployment of mobile ad-hoc networks involves several
configuration steps, which complicate research efforts and hinder user
interest. This problem prompts for new approaches offering full
autoconfiguration of terminals at the different network layers involved. In
this paper we propose a novel solution for the autoconfiguration of IEEE 802.11
based MANETs that relies on SSID parameter embedding. Our solution allows users
to join an existing MANET without resorting to any additional technology, and
even in the presence of encrypted communications. Experimental testbed results
using a real implementation of the proposed solution show that it introduces
significant improvements compared to other existing solutions, allowing nearby
stations to be configured in about two seconds, and also enabling multi-hop
dissemination of configuration data to take place quickly and efficiently.
Keywords: IEEE 802.11, MANET autoconfiguration, SSID, bootstrap problem
