Mesh Deployment Planning

Following considerations are recommended when planning and deploying a mesh solution:

Pre-Deployment Considerations

Stage the APs before deployment. Identify the location of the APs, configure them for mesh, provision them, and verify connectivity before physically deploying the mesh APs in a live network.

Ensure theMobility Masterhas Layer-2 or Layer-3 network connectivity to the network segment whereyou plan to installthe mesh portal.

Keep the AP packaging materials and reuse them to send the APs to the installation location.

Verify the layout of the physical location to determine the appropriate configuration and placement of the APs. Use this information to avoid problems that would necessitate a physical recovery.

Label the AP before sending it to the physical location for installation.

Outdoor-Specific Deployment Considerations

Provision the AP with the latitude and longitude coordinates of the installation location. This allows you to more easily identify the AP for inventory and troubleshooting purposes.

Identify a radio line of sight between the antennas for optimum performance. The radio line of sight involves the area along a link through which the bulk of the radio signal power travels.

Identify the minimum antenna height required to ensure a reliable mesh link.

Scan your proposed site to avoid radio interference caused by other radio transmissions using the same or an adjacent frequency.

Consider extreme weather conditions known to affect your location, including: temperature, wind velocity, lightning, rain, snow, and ice.

Allow for seasonal variations, such as growth of foliage.

For more detailed outdoor deployment information, refer to the installation guide that came with your outdoor AP.

Configuration Considerations

dual-radio APs,您可以配置只有一个the radio for mesh. If you want a dual-radio AP to carry mesh backhaul traffic and client services traffic on separate radios, it is recommended to use802.11a802.11a provides specifications for wireless systems. Networks using 802.11a operate at radio frequencies in the 5 GHz band. The specification uses a modulation scheme known as orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) that is especially well suited to use in office settings. The maximum data transfer rate is 54 Mbps.radios for mesh-backhaul traffic and802.11g802.11g offers transmission over relatively short distances at up to 54 Mbps, compared with the 11 Mbps theoretical maximum of 802.11b standard. 802.11g employs Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), the modulation scheme used in 802.11a, to obtain higher data speed. Computers or terminals set up for 802.11g can fall back to speed of 11 Mbps, so that 802.11b and 802.11g devices can be compatible within a single network.radios for traditionalWLANWireless Local Area Network. WLAN is a 802.11 standards-based LAN that the users access through a wireless connection.access.

If you configure more than one mesh node in the sameVLANVirtual Local Area Network. In computer networking, a single Layer 2 network may be partitioned to create multiple distinct broadcast domains, which are mutually isolated so that packets can only pass between them through one or more routers; such a domain is referred to as a Virtual Local Area Network, Virtual LAN, or VLAN., prevent network loops by enablingSTPSpanning Tree Protocol. STP is a network protocol that builds a logical loop-free topology for Ethernet networks.on the Layer-2 switch used to connect the mesh nodes.

Mesh nodes learn a maximum of 1024 sourceMACMedia Access Control. A MAC address is a unique identifier assigned to network interfaces for communications on a network.addresses; this cannot be changed.

Place all APs for a specific mesh cluster in the same AP group.

Create and keep separate mesh cluster profiles for specific mesh clusters. Do not overwrite or delete the cluster profiles.

Enable bridging on mesh pointEthernetEthernet is a network protocol for data transmission over LAN.ports when deployingLANLocal Area Network. A LAN is a network of connected devices within a distinct geographic area such as an office or a commercial establishment and share a common communications line or wireless link to a server.bridging solutions.

APs configured as mesh points support secure jack operation onEthernetEthernet is a network protocol for data transmission over LAN.0. APs with multipleEthernetEthernet is a network protocol for data transmission over LAN.ports configured as mesh portals support secure jack operation onEthernetEthernet is a network protocol for data transmission over LAN.1. If an AP with multipleEthernetEthernet is a network protocol for data transmission over LAN.ports is configured as a mesh point, it supports secure jack operation onEthernetEthernet is a network protocol for data transmission over LAN.1 andEthernetEthernet is a network protocol for data transmission over LAN.0.

Mesh networks forward tagged or untaggedVLANVirtual Local Area Network. In computer networking, a single Layer 2 network may be partitioned to create multiple distinct broadcast domains, which are mutually isolated so that packets can only pass between them through one or more routers; such a domain is referred to as a Virtual Local Area Network, Virtual LAN, or VLAN.traffic, but do not tag traffic. The allowedVLANSVirtual Local Area Network. In computer networking, a single Layer 2 network may be partitioned to create multiple distinct broadcast domains, which are mutually isolated so that packets can only pass between them through one or more routers; such a domain is referred to as a Virtual Local Area Network, Virtual LAN, or VLAN.are controlled by the wired ap profile.

Mesh APs provisioned on differentmanaged devicecan interoperate if those APs are configured with the same country code, cluster name and cluster key. However, the mesh recovery profile created on onemanaged deviceis not able to recover settings for mesh APs provisioned on anothermanaged device除非经济复苏profile is onMobility Masterand the other mesh nodes were provisioned by amanaged deviceconnected to that master.

Post-Deployment Considerations

Do not connect mesh pointEthernetEthernet is a network protocol for data transmission over LAN.ports in such a way that causes a network loop.

Have a trained professional install the AP. After installation, check to ensure the AP receives power and boots up, enablingRSSIReceived Signal Strength Indicator. RSSI is a mechanism by which RF energy is measured by the circuitry on a wireless NIC (0-255). The RSSI is not standard across vendors. Each vendor determines its own RSSI scale/values.outputs.

Although the AP is up and operational, it is not connected to the network.

Align the AP antenna for optimalRSSIReceived Signal Strength Indicator. RSSI is a mechanism by which RF energy is measured by the circuitry on a wireless NIC (0-255). The RSSI is not standard across vendors. Each vendor determines its own RSSI scale/values..

Do not delete or modify mesh cluster profiles once you use them to provision mesh nodes. You can recover the mesh point if the original cluster profile is still available. It is recommended to create a new mesh cluster profile if needed.

If you create a new mesh cluster profile for an existing deployment, you must re-provision the AP for the new profile to take effect. If you re-provision mesh nodes that are already operating, re-provision the most distant (highest hop count) mesh points first, followed by the mesh portals. If you re-provision the mesh portal first, the mesh points may be unable to form a mesh link. Note that re-provisioning the AP causes it to automatically reboot, which may cause a disruption of service to the network.

Dual-Port AP Considerations

A dual-port AP has two 10/100MbpsMegabits per secondEthernetEthernet is a network protocol for data transmission over LAN.ports (EthernetEthernet is a network protocol for data transmission over LAN.0 andEthernetEthernet is a network protocol for data transmission over LAN.1, respectively). When using these APs in a mesh environment, note the followingEthernetEthernet is a network protocol for data transmission over LAN.port requirements:

If configured as a mesh portal:

ConnectEthernetEthernet is a network protocol for data transmission over LAN.0 to themanaged deviceto obtain an IP address. The wired AP profile controlsEthernetEthernet is a network protocol for data transmission over LAN.1.

OnlyEthernetEthernet is a network protocol for data transmission over LAN.1 supports secure jack operation.

If configured as a mesh point,EthernetEthernet is a network protocol for data transmission over LAN.0 andEthernetEthernet is a network protocol for data transmission over LAN.1 can be configured using separate wired-port-profiles.