Proxim AP-4000 manual Mesh Network Configuration

Introduction	AP-4000 Series User Guide
Mesh Networking (AP-4000M/4900M Only)

from MAP4 to MP1 fails, MAP4 can still reach the backbone via MAP3 and MAP2. The same goes for other MAPs that discover each other.

After a short while, the network in this example will look like Figure 1-4, where solid lines indicate active Mesh links and dotted lines indicate established but inactive Mesh links.

Figure 1-4 Mesh Startup Topology Example – Step 3

In this example, if MAP8 loses the Mesh link to MP1, MAP8 will immediately activate the Mesh link to MAP7. If the link to MAP7 has a higher path cost than a possible link to MAP4, which has the same Mesh SSID and security mode but is on a different channel, then MAP7 may decide to switch channels and establish and activate a link to MAP4.

Mesh Network Configuration

In the AP-4000M/4900M, either of the wireless interfaces may be configured for Mesh functionality, with the following considerations in mind:

•To form or join a Mesh network, Mesh APs must have identical Mesh SSIDs and security modes (None or AES).

•All Mesh APs within a network must be on the same channel. The channel used by the Mesh portal will determine the channel used by the entire mesh network.

•Mesh APs must have static IP addresses, as the DHCP client will not function on wireless interfaces.

•On Mesh APs, Mesh and WDS functionality cannot co-exist on the same wireless interface. Mesh and WDS can co-exist on Mesh Portals.

•The maximum number of links in the mesh network is 6. Proxim recommends that administrators configure their Mesh network to allow between 20-30 access points per portal for an average per-client throughput of 300-500 Kbps. This recommendation is based on the following assumptions:

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