Chapter 5 Mesh Network; Mesh Instant Access Points; Mesh Portals; Mesh Points - Dell PowerConnect W-IAP175P User Manual

The Dell Instant secure enterprise mesh solution is an effective way to expand network coverage for outdoor and
indoor enterprise environments without any wires. Using mesh, you can bridge multiple Ethernet LANs or you
can extend your wireless coverage. 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.
NOTE: A mesh network can be configured only on IAP-105. By default, the 5Ghz radio is always enabled on the mesh.
This chapter describes the Dell Instant secure enterprise mesh architecture, in the following topics:

Mesh Instant Access Points

Mesh IAPs learn about their environment when they boot up. Mesh IAPs are either configured as a mesh portal
(MPP), an IAP that uses its wired interface to reach the controller, or a mesh point (MP), 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.
A mesh radio's bandwidth can be shared between mesh-backhaul traffic and client traffic. You can, however,
configure a radio for mesh services only. If you have a dual-radio IAP, a mesh node can be configured to deliver
client services on one radio and both mesh and WLAN services to clients on the other. If you configure a single-
radio IAP to deliver mesh services only (by disabling the mesh radio in its 802.11a or 802.11g radio profile) that
mesh node will not deliver WLAN services to its clients.
By default, IAPs operate as thin IAPs, which means their primary function is to receive and transmit
electromagnetic signals; other WLAN processing is left to the controller. When planning a mesh network, you
manually configure IAPs to operate in mesh portal or mesh point roles. Unlike a traditional WLAN environment,
local mesh nodes provide encryption and traffic forwarding for mesh links in a mesh environment. Virtual IAPs
are still applied to non-mesh radios.

Mesh Portals

The mesh portal (MPP) is the gateway between the wireless mesh network and the enterprise wired LAN. You
configure an IAP to perform the mesh portal role, which uses its wired interface to establish a link to the wired
LAN. You can deploy 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 the configured mesh service set identifier(MSSID/mesh cluster name), and
advertises the mesh network service to available mesh points. Neighboring mesh points that have been
provisioned with the same MSSID authenticate to the portal and establish a secure mesh link over which traffic is
forwarded. The authentication process requires secure key negotiation, common to all IAPs, and the mesh link is
established and secured using Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) encryption. Mesh portals also propagate
channel information, including CSAs.

Mesh Points

The mesh point (MP) is an IAP configured for mesh and assigned the mesh point role. Depending on the IAP
model, configuration parameters, and how it was provisioned, the mesh point can perform multiple tasks. The
Dell PowerConnect W-Instant Access Point 5.0.3.0-1.1.0.0 | User Guide
Chapter 5
Mesh Network
Mesh Network | 49