Is the SSID for wireless routers part of the link layer in the internet protocol suite?

Question

Ethernet, DSL and other cable connections for computers using them are links in the Internet Protocl Suite, but I do not see the link layers referring explicitly to wireless communication. What are the protocols for wireless routers and are they part of the Link Layer? Does the identifier for SSID fall under the link layer?

Answer 1

From Microsoft Technet:

a Service Set Identifier (SSID), also known as the wireless network name, identifies the wireless network. The SSID is a name configured on the wireless AP (for infrastructure mode) or an initial wireless client (for ad hoc mode) that identifies the wireless network. The SSID is periodically advertised by the wireless AP or the initial wireless client using a special 802.11 MAC management frame known as a beacon frame

Looks like the SSID falls under Layer 2 (of the OSI model) which is the Data Link Layer.

EDIT: Layer 2 of the OSI falls under the Link Layer for the IP suite.

So the answer to your question is: Yes, the SSID for wireless routers are part of the link layer in the internet protocol suite.

Answer 2

Wikipedia offers most of your answers; read these links for details:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_802.11#Frames

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_802.11#Security