3Com WX1200 3CRWX120695A, WXR100 3CRWXR10095A, WX4400 3CRWX440095A Configuring Wlan, Mesh Services

274CHAPTER 12: CONFIGURING WLAN MESH SERVICES

In the illustration, a client is associated with a Mesh AP, which is a MAP without a wired interface to the network. The Mesh AP is configured to communicate with a Mesh Portal AP, a MAP with wired connectivity to a WX switch.

Communication between the Mesh AP and the Mesh Portal AP takes place using over a secure radio link (a Mesh Link). When associated with the Mesh AP, the client has the same connectivity to the network as it has over a Mesh AP with a wired link.

The Mesh AP and Mesh Portal AP are dual-radio MAPs. One radio (for example, the 802.11a radio) can be used for Mesh Link communications, using an SSID reserved for this purpose, while the Mesh AP can use its other radio for client associations in the same manner as a non-Mesh AP.

The Mesh Portal AP beacons a mesh services SSID on the radio used for the Mesh Link. When the Mesh AP is booted, it searches for a MAP beaconing the mesh services SSID. It selects the Mesh Portal AP with the greatest signal strength, then establishes a secure connection to the Mesh Portal SSID. Once this connection is established, clients can associate with the Mesh AP.

WLAN mesh services is supported on MAP models MP-620 and MP-422 only.

Configuring WLAN	The basic configuration process for WLAN mesh services consists of the
Mesh Services	following tasks:
	„ Attaching the Mesh AP to the network and configuring mesh services.
	„ Configuring a service profile for mesh services.
	„ Setting security parameters to allow the Mesh AP to authenticate
	on the network.
	„ Optionally configuring the Mesh Portal AP to emit link calibration
	packets to aid in positioning the Mesh AP.
	„ Detaching the Mesh AP from the network and deploying it in its final
	location.
	After the Mesh AP is installed in its final location, and it has established a
	connection to the Mesh Portal AP, it can be configured as any other MAP
	on the WX switch.