Chapter 9. Configuring Mesh Networking; Mesh Networking Overview - Motorola AP-51 Series Product Reference Manual

Configuring Mesh Networking

9.1 Mesh Networking Overview

An AP-51xx can be configured in two modes to support the new mesh networking functionality. The
access point can be set to a client bridge mode and/or a base bridge mode (which accepts
connections from client bridges). Base bridge and client bridge mode can be used at the same time
by an individual access point to optimally bridge traffic to other members of the mesh network and
service associated MUs.
An access point in client bridge mode scans to locate other access points using the WLAP client's
ESSID. Then it is required to go through the association and authentication process to establish
wireless connections with the located devices. This association process is identical to the access
point's current MU association process. Once the association and authentication process is complete,
the wireless client adds the connection as a port on its bridge module. This causes the client bridge
to begin forwarding packets to the base bridge node. The base bridge realizes it is talking to a
wireless client bridge. It then adds that connection as a port on its own bridge module. The two
bridges at that point are communicating using the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP).