When you create a blueprint, you specify the access points that devices use to connect to the internet. You can either allow the device to connect to only specific SSIDs (also known as the Wi-Fi network name or access point), or enable devices to connect to any network available. In most cases, you’ll want to restrict access to just a few trusted networks to ensure the integrity of your fleet.
In this article:
Adding Wi-Fi SSIDs
In a blueprint, go to Connectivity and ensure that Allow Wi-Fi is enabled.
Then, click on Add Wi-Fi Access Point to add the SSIDs and, if applicable, credentials. Previously added Wi-Fi Access Points are available in the list.
Understanding Wi-Fi Sources
In Esper, devices receive Wi-Fi sources from the SSIDs in their physical location, from users in Android Settings, or from their blueprint.
Note: SSIDs added by users manually through Android Settings are not removed from devices.
Blueprints affect Wi-Fi behavior in various ways. When a new SSID is added to the blueprint, the device will disconnect from its current Wi-Fi network, cache it, and then try to connect to the SSID present in the blueprint. Then, one of two things can happen:
- Success: Once the device connects to any of the blueprint’s SSIDs, it will remove all other SSIDs that are not part of its blueprint.
- Failure: If the device can't connect to any of the blueprint’s SSIDs, it will revert to the network it was previously on. The blueprint will show a failure message for that device in the Console.
Understanding Wi-Fi Sync Scenarios
In Blueprints 2.0, we introduced a new setting called Strict Wi-Fi Access Point Synchronization. With this setting, users can now:
- Decide whether or not devices carry over SSIDs from other Esper sources or strictly from the blueprint.
- Reduce the need to make multiple blueprints to solve Wi-Fi sync issues.
Strict mode
In the following table, we explain the scenarios that occur when devices converge to the Blueprint if Strict Wi-Fi Access Point Synchronization is enabled or if the device is on Esper Agent Version 7.13.0240 or below.
About the table:
- * denotes a Wi-Fi network the device is connected to before applying the new blueprint.
- Network A was added manually through Android Settings. All other networks are added through a blueprint unless otherwise specified.
Are you migrating from Templates to Blueprints? Learn how Wi-Fi access points are affected by migrations.
| Previous Blueprint SSIDs | New Attempted Blueprint SSIDs | SSIDs (or network) connected after applying the new blueprint | Status Message | Explanation |
| A, C*, D | E, F | E or F | Success | A, C, and D are removed from the device. E or F is now connected. |
| A, C*, D | C, E, F | C | Success | D is removed from the device. The device will stay connected to C. |
| A, C*, D | E, F | C | Failure | The device failed to connect to E and F. It reverts to C and the blueprint shows a failure message. |
| A*, C, D | E, F | A | Success | C and D are removed from the device. E and F are added to the device but are not connected. |
| A, C*, D, Mobile Data | E, F | Mobile Data | Success | C and D are removed from the device. E and F are added to the device but are not connected. The device will use Mobile Data after the new blueprint is applied. |
| A, C*, D, Ethernet | E, F | Ethernet | Success | C and D are removed from the device. E and F are added to the device but are not connected. The device will use Ethernet after the new blueprint is applied. |
| A, C*, D | C | C | Success | D is removed from the device. The device will stay connected to C. |
| A, C*, D | E | C | Failure | Since the device was not able to connect to E, the blueprint will fail. The device will stay connected to C. |
| A, C*, D | E | E | Success | C and D will be removed from the device. E is now connected. |
When strict mode is used with "Use only saved Wi-Fi Access Points"
When strict mode is enabled with "Use only saved Wi-Fi Access Points," devices will only be able to connect with the SSIDs specified in the blueprint. In addition:
- This restriction begins at the onboarding step.
- Device users will not be able to add Wi-Fi networks manually. However, if the user has access to Admin mode through the Esper Settings app, they will be able to add new Wi-Fi access points. Any Wi-Fi access points added this way will need to be added to the blueprint.
- If the device cannot connect to the specified network, it will disconnect from Esper.
Ensure you have a reliable backup network available when using these two options.