After physically installing a wireless access point on the ceiling of your office, which configuration parameter must be set at a minimum so that wireless clients can associate and operate on that access point?

Introduction / Context:
Wireless access points provide connectivity to clients over the air, but before clients can associate with an access point, at least some basic configuration must be present. Modern deployments normally use security features such as WPA2 with AES and pre shared keys or enterprise authentication, but the absolute minimum requirement for any client to join a network is that there is a network name to identify the wireless service set.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The access point hardware has been installed and powered on.

You are asked for the minimum configuration needed to let a wireless client operate on it.

Security is desirable but not strictly required in the question.

Wireless clients need to know which network to join by name.

Concept / Approach:
Wireless networks are identified by a Service Set Identifier, or SSID. This is the name that clients see when they scan for available networks. An access point can broadcast one or more SSIDs. If an access point has no SSID configured, clients cannot associate because there is no defined network to join. Security parameters such as AES, PSK, WEP or RADIUS servers are important in practice but are not absolutely required for a basic open network; an open SSID without encryption can still operate in many configurations, although it is not secure.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Consider the absolute basics: a client must know which wireless network to join, and that network is identified by its SSID. Without an SSID, the access point has no defined logical wireless network for clients to see or attach to. AES, PSK and WEP are all related to encryption and authentication. They are important for security but an access point could theoretically run an open SSID with no encryption at all, in which case those settings would not be needed. A RADIUS server is required only for enterprise authentication methods such as WPA2 Enterprise, not for basic open or personal networks. Therefore, the one parameter that absolutely must be set is the SSID.

Verification / Alternative check:
In configuration interfaces for most wireless access points, the initial setup wizard asks you to choose an SSID, often with a default name provided by the vendor. Even if you skip security settings, the access point will start broadcasting that SSID and clients will be able to connect to it in open mode. This behaviour confirms that SSID is the minimum required configuration item for basic operation.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option a, AES encryption key, is part of WPA2 security but is not strictly required to bring up a basic open network.

Common Pitfalls:
Option b, PSK, is a pre shared key used with WPA or WPA2 Personal. An open network does not use a PSK, so this is optional from a pure connectivity perspective.
Option d, WEP static key, refers to an older and insecure encryption method that should not be used; again, encryption is not mandatory for basic association in this question.
Option e, a RADIUS server address, is used only for enterprise authentication methods and is not required in simple deployments.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes assume that security configuration is always mandatory, but many lab and small test setups use open SSIDs for simplicity. While security should always be considered in real environments, exam questions that ask for the minimum required parameter are usually looking for SSID as the answer. Always read carefully whether the question is about basic functionality or secure best practice.

Final Answer:
At a minimum, you must configure an SSID (wireless network name) on the access point so that clients can see and join the network.