Welcome to Cisco Business Wireless Mesh Networking

Objective

This article gives an overview of Cisco Business wireless mesh networking including vocabulary, benefits, and components.

If you are unfamiliar with terms in this document, check out Cisco Business: Glossary of New Terms.

Applicable Devices | Software Version

• CBW 140AC (Data Sheet) | (Download latest)
• CBW 141ACM Mesh Extender (Data Sheet) | (Download latest)
• CBW 142ACM Mesh Extender (Data Sheet) | (Download latest)
• CBW 143ACM Mesh Extender (Data Sheet) | (Download latest)
• CBW 240AC (Data Sheet) | (Download latest)
• CBW 150AX (Data Sheet) | (Download latest)
• CBW 151AXM Mesh Extender (Data Sheet) | (Download latest)
Although this information is relevant for all Cisco Business Wireless APs, CBW 15x series devices are not compatible with CBW 14x/240 series devices and coexistence on the same LAN is not supported.

Table of Contents

• Let’s Increase your Mesh Vocabulary!
• What Role can a Mesh Device Play on a Network?
• What Makes a Wireless Mesh Network Awesome?
  • Flexibility
  • Dynamic Wireless Routing
  • Wider Wireless Coverage
  • Less Strain on the Wired Network
  • Device to Device Optimization
• What goes into a Wireless Mesh Network?
• No Use for these in Wireless Mesh Networks

Introduction

Have you ever watched a great soccer team? If you have, you probably noticed everyone working well together; each player passing the ball, performing quick substitutions, communicating often, and helping each other out as needed. Great teamwork leads to a positive outcome.

You can think about a wireless mesh network in that same way. Just like a great team, the access points work together to create a strong and successful network. A wireless mesh infrastructure uses the same resources as a traditional wireless network, however, it is configured differently, using equipment that is mesh capable.

What does a wireless mesh bring as a solution that other wireless technologies do not provide? Great question!

Wireless mesh networks provide superior performance compared to traditional wireless. Mesh ensures a level of resiliency, a layer of network management control, and a mechanism for dynamic resource allocation. Not only that, but unlike other technologies, it optimizes wireless client connectivity and performance. Sounds complicated, right?

Don’t worry, a significant amount of engineering and technology is put to work to make wireless mesh simple to use and deploy. Cisco Business is proud to offer this equipment as an option for your network.

Let’s Increase your Mesh Vocabulary!

• Access Point (AP): A device in a network that is used to allow users to connect to the Network wirelessly. Specific labels may be added to this depending on its function: Primary, Remote, Root, Subordinate, etc.
• Wireless Mesh Network: A type of topology where the wireless access points connect to each other to relay information. These networks work dynamically to adjust the needs and maintain connectivity for all users.
• Primary AP: The Primary AP provides management and control of the wireless network and topology. It is the bridge to the rest of the external network, (usually the Internet) using an Internet Service Provider (ISP). The Primary AP directly links to the premise router which in turn routes traffic to the WAN ISP interface. The Primary AP is the orchestrator of all the nodes providing wireless services within the mesh network. It manages information from the nodes on the network, each client connection quality and neighbor information in order to make the best decision on the best route for optimized wireless services out to the mobile client.
• Preferred Primary: A setting in which a specific Primary-capable AP is listed as preferred. If the Primary AP fails, the Preferred Primary AP will take over. Once the Preferred AP is back up, it does not automatically switch back over. You do not have designate a Preferred Primary.
• Primary Capable or Secondary AP: An AP that has a physical wired connection back to the network. This AP needs to be connected to Ethernet and can become the Primary AP if the Primary AP fails.
• Mesh Extender: A remote subordinate AP in the network that is not connected to the wired network.
• Subordinate AP: A general term that can be applied to any mesh AP that is not configured as a Primary.
• Parent AP: A parent AP is an AP that provides the best route back to the Primary AP.
• Child AP: A child AP is a mesh extender that selects the parent AP as its best route back to the Primary AP.
• Upstream AP: An upstream AP is a general term referring to the direction data flows through APs when going from the client to the server.
• Downstream AP: A downstream AP carries data from the Internet down to the client.
• Co-located APs: Mesh Extenders that are within broadcast range of the backhaul channel.
• Nodes: In this article, APs are referred to as nodes. In general, nodes describe any device that makes a connection or interaction within a network, or has the ability to send, receive, and store information, communicate with the internet, and has an IP address. In a mesh network, optimized radio parameters across all nodes assures maximum wireless coverage while reducing radio interference among nodes to provide superior data speeds and throughput.
• Backhaul: In a wireless mesh network, information in the Local Area Network (LAN) needs to get to a wired access point in order to reach the Internet. Backhaul is the process of getting that information back to the wired access point.

What Role can a Mesh Device Play on a Network?

Cisco Business Wireless access points are 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (Wave 2) based, with internal antennas. These access points support the latest 802.11ac Wave 2 standard for higher performance, greater access, and higher-density networks.

Cisco Business models include the 140AC, 145AC, and the 240AC Access Point (AP) that can act as a Primary AP or a Primary Capable AP. The 141AC, 142AC, and the 143AC can only be configured as mesh extenders. All of the models listed above work with each other.

The CBW 150AX access points and 151AXM mesh extenders are the next generation of the Cisco Business Wireless Product line.

The major new feature is the implementation of 802.11ax, Wi-Fi 6. These new access points provide improved performance by increasing the efficacy of the network and its ability to manage higher numbers of devices.

What Makes a Wireless Mesh Network Awesome?

Flexibility

Wi-Fi mesh finds an appropriate route to maintain connectivity to all mobile clients and applications that may be delivered where it’s needed most. This is an advantage over a traditional Wi-Fi extender, that creates a separate network and reduces bandwidth.

Redundancy and Reliability

When one node can no longer operate, the rest of the nodes can still communicate with each other, directly or through one or more intermediate nodes.

Dynamic Wireless Routing

Mesh networks, by design, create multiple routes between its nodes. This means that if one network node fails, data moving across a network will have another path it can use. This also applies to wireless networks, as a wireless signal can take multiple routes to reach its destination. Various protocols exist to explicitly support mesh networks that include the logic for best path and continued wireless service availability. Advanced features vary by design, but all provide a method to join, transmit and advertise topology changes for best path transmission. The Primary AP may also optimize radio characteristics to compensate for environmental conditions.

Wider Wireless Coverage

Traditional wireless networks try to avoid cross-coverage of access points to avoid unnecessary installations. However, wireless mesh networks benefit from having multiple nodes for a device to use. A wireless mesh deployment allows for a device to have multiple points of access should one fail.

In addition, mesh networks have the ability to carry data over large distances by splitting the distance into a series of short hops. Intermediate nodes not only boost the signal, but cooperatively pass data from point A to point B by making forwarding decisions based on their knowledge of the network. This includes routing based on the topology of the network.

Less Strain on the Wired Network

Traditional wireless network access relies on plugging access points and routers into a wired network. In some networks, a notable amount of wired network resources get taken quickly. A wireless mesh deployment can extend your networking beyond the wired network simply by connecting wireless nodes to each other.

It is important to note that in mesh solutions available there is no implied interoperability for a mix of nodes from different vendors or protocols.

Device to Device Optimization

Mesh networks operate from the central Primary AP which provides an awareness to the WLAN.

What goes into a Wireless Mesh Network?

Shown below is a visual example of a wireless mesh network. Of course, even though it isn’t shown, the switch needs to be connected to a router with Internet connectivity.

Is this how all mesh networks look? Heck no! The components in a mesh may be identified by other, more specific, functional devices, may play different roles depending on their relationship within the mesh network, or may combine different roles into a single operational device depending on your business needs.

In general, mesh networks consist of these four basic components.

1. Primary AP
2. An Internet connection
3. Access Point(s) - One or more access points, nodes, provide connectivity out to wireless clients in the network.
4. A direct or wireless link - Each node has either a direct or wireless link to either another node or directly to the Primary AP.

The link or backhaul connection can be a physical, direct connection (to the Primary AP) or a wireless connection between nodes.

The backhaul connection (regardless of type) is the link to the Primary AP and serves management functions across the network.

In addition, the backhaul connection provides routable, alternate paths for data between adjacent and remote nodes. With each node providing additional wireless service to designated areas.

No Use for these in Wireless Mesh Networks

Yes, you read that correctly. These are not needed. We told you it was simpler than it seemed, and we meant it.

1. Wireless Range Extenders (also known as Wireless Repeaters)
2. Wireless Bridging Technologies such as Cisco Business Wireless Distribution System (WDS) and Cisco Business Work Group Bridge (WGB)
3. Single Point Setup (also known as Cisco Business Clustering)

Conclusion

There you have it, the basics of Cisco Business Wireless Mesh Networks. Are you ready to go for it? There is nothing stopping you now!

If you want to learn more, check out these Mesh Wireless articles: