Bridge GUI Guide: Introduction
5
Information Bases (MIBs) are included on the Bridge CD and
can be downloaded from the Fortress Technologies web site:
www.fortresstech.com/. Configuring SNMP through the Bridge
GUI is covered in this guide; configuring it through the Bridge
CLI is covered in
Secure Wireless Bridge and Security Controller
CLI Software Guide
.
Chassis Indicators and Controls
Fortress Bridges are variously equipped with LED indicators
and chassis controls. These are covered in each Bridge’s (or
Controller’s) respective Hardware Guide.
1.3.2
Fortress Secure Client Software
The Fortress Secure Client employs Fortress’s Multi-Factor
Authentication™ and MSP to authenticate third-party client
device connections and encrypt traffic between such devices
and the Bridge-secured network. The Secure Client can be
installed on a variety of mobile and hand-held devices.
1.4 Network Deployment Options
NOTE:
Refer to Ta-
3.2 for a quick compari-
son of FastPath Mesh
and STP networks.
You can expand Fortress Bridge functionality and associated
configuration options by licensing advanced features. Among
these, Fortress's FastPath Mesh link management function
supports optimal path selection and independent IPv6 mesh
addressing and DNS (Domain Name System) distribution.
FastPath Mesh networks provide higher efficiency and greater
mobility than networks using STP link management, which
does not require a license.
Although FastPath Mesh and STP networks serve the same
essential functions, the details of deploying them are not
identical. Each type of network is covered separately below,
with a selection of representative deployment options.
1.4.1
FastPath Mesh Network Deployments
When FastPath Mesh is licensed and selected for
Bridging
Mode
, FastPath Mesh networks are automatically formed
among compatibly configured Fortress Bridges. These bridging
nodes are known as
Mesh Points
(MPs).
NOTE:
Refer to
more on FastPath Mesh
bridging and to sec-
tions 3.3.4 and 3.7 for
per-port
FastPath Mesh
Mode
settings for radio
BSSs and Ethernet ports,
respectively.
MPs connect to one another over wired or wireless interfaces
that have been configured as
Core
interfaces.
All MPs on a given FP Mesh network are
peers
. Directly
connected MPs are
neighbors
.
On separate interfaces, configured as
Access
interfaces,
FastPath Mesh Points can connect other devices, or
Non-Mesh
Points
(NMPs), to the network and connect the mesh to a
conventional hierarchical network.
Once FastPath Mesh connections are established, the FP
Mesh network acts as a flat, OSI layer-2 network for the