Aruba Networks Version 3.3 Mesh Portal or Mesh Point, Aruba’s Secure Enterprise Mesh Network

Aruba recommends using dedicated Air Monitors for deployments of latency sensitive applications such as voice and video. Typically, one Air Monitor can provide security to the area served by up to four Access Points.

Mesh Portal or Mesh Point

In the Mesh Portal or Mesh Point role, the AP is taking part in Aruba’s secure enterprise mesh network. This network is based around a single AP (the Mesh Portal) with a wired network connection, and one or more Mesh Point APs performing wireless backhaul or bridging of network traffic.

When used with dual radio APs, the mesh devices can provide client access on one radio and backhaul on the second. User traffic is authenticated and protected by the same centralized encryption method as wired APs, while Control traffic is protected by WPA2 authentication and encryption.

Aruba’s Secure Enterprise Mesh Network

	WLAN RF		Mesh
			point
	coverage
			Mesh RF
Mesh			coverage
point				Mesh
				portal
		Mesh
		point

Mesh
point	Mesh
	portal
	Mesh
	point

12 Aruba’s User-Centric Network Architecture Campus Wireless Networks Validated Reference Design Version 3.3 Design Guide