Dell PowerConnect W-Series Instant Access Point 6.1.3.4-3.1.0.0
| User Guide
Mesh Network |
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Chapter 4
Mesh Network
The Dell PowerConnect W-Instant secure enterprise mesh solution is an effective way to expand network
coverage for outdoor and indoor enterprise environments without any wires. As traffic traverses across mesh IAPs,
the mesh network automatically reconfigures around broken or blocked paths. This self-healing feature provides
increased reliability and redundancy— the network continues to operate if an IAP stops functioning or a
connection fails.
This chapter describes the Dell Instant secure enterprise mesh architecture.
Mesh Instant Access Points
A Dell Instant mesh network requires at least one valid uplink (wired or 3G) connection. The IAP with the valid
uplink connection is the mesh portal. The mesh portal may also act as a Virtual Controller. The unwired IAPs are
mesh points.
If two IAPs have valid uplink connections, there is redundancy in the mesh network, and most mesh points try to
mesh directly with one of the two portals. However, depending on actual deployment and RF environment some
mesh points may mesh through other intermediate mesh points.
In an Instant mesh network, the maximum hop count is two nodes (point >point >portal) and the maximum
number of mesh points per mesh portal is eight.
Mesh IAPs learn about their environment when they boot up. Mesh IAPs can act as a mesh portal (MPP), an IAP
that uses its uplink connection to reach the controller, a mesh point (MP), or an IAP that establishes an all
wireless path to the mesh portal. Mesh IAPs locate and associate with their nearest neighbor, which provides the
best path to the mesh portal. Mesh portals and mesh points are also known as mesh nodes, a generic term used to
describe IAPs configured for mesh.
Instant mesh functionality is supported only on dual radio IAPs and not on single radio IAPs. On dual-radio IAPs,
the 5 GHz radio is always used for both mesh-backhaul and client traffic, while the 2.4 GHz radio is always used
for client traffic only.
The only limitation is that it has to be provisioned for the first time by plugging into the wired network. After
that, mesh works on ROW IAP like any other regulatory domain.
Mesh Portals
The mesh portal (MPP) is the gateway between the wireless mesh network and the enterprise wired LAN. The
mesh roles are automatically assigned based on the IAP configuration. A mesh network could have multiple mesh
portals to support redundant mesh paths (mesh links between neighboring mesh points that establish the best
path to the mesh portal) from the wireless mesh network to the wired LAN.
The mesh portal broadcasts a mesh services set identifier (MSSID/ mesh cluster name) to advertise the mesh
network service to other IAP mesh points in that instant network. This is not configurable and is transparent to
NOTE:
Mesh service is automatically enabled on 802.11a band for dual-radio IAP only, and this is not configurable.
Summary of Contents for PowerConnect W-IAP3WN
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