Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controller Software Configuration Guide, Cisco IOS XE 26.1.x

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Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controller Software Configuration Guide, Cisco IOS XE 26.1.x

Mesh AP Roles and Topology

Updated: April 10, 2026

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Describes AP roles, preferred-parent selection, leaf nodes, channel synchronization, and battery-state settings.

Select a preferred parent (GUI)

Direct a mesh-capable AP to use a designated parent for uplink within the wireless topology.

Procedure

1.

Choose Configuration > Wireless > Access Points.

2.

Click the AP.
3.

In the Mesh tab, enter the Preferred Parent MAC.

4.

Click Update & Apply to Device.

The AP uses the specified preferred parent MAC address for uplink, optimizing connectivity in the mesh network.

Select a preferred parent (CLI)

To configure a preferred parent for a MAP, complete these steps.

You can override the AWPP-defined parent selection and assign a specific preferred parent to a mesh AP using this mechanism.

Procedure

1.

Enter privileged EXEC mode.

Example:

Device> enable
2.

Configure mesh parameters for the AP and set the mesh-preferred parent MAC address.

Example:

Device# ap name ap-name mesh parent preferred mac-address
Note

Ensure that you use the radio MAC address of the preferred parent.

For Cisco Wave 1 APs, specify the MAC address of the actual mesh neighbor as the preferred parent. Use the base radio MAC address that ends with the letter "f". For example, if the base radio MAC address is 00:24:13:0f:92:00, then you must specify 00:24:13:0f:92:0f as the preferred parent.

Device# ap name ap1 mesh parent preferred 00:24:13:0f:92:0f

For Cisco Wave 2 APs, specify the MAC address for the preferred parent by adding "0x11" to the last two characters of the base radio MAC address. For example, if the base radio MAC address is 00:24:13:0f:92:00, then you must specify 00:24:13:0f:92:11 as the preferred parent.

Device# ap name ap1 mesh parent preferred 00:24:13:0f:92:11

The mesh AP is configured to use the specified MAC address as its preferred parent. 

Device> enable
Device# ap name ap1 mesh parent preferred 00:0d:ed:dd:25:8F

Change the role of an AP (GUI)

Change the operational role of an AP to support different network topologies.

Procedure

1.

Choose Configuration > Wireless > Access Points.

2.

Click the Access Point.

3.

In the Mesh tab, choose Root or Mesh from the Role drop-down list.

4.

Click Update & Apply to Device.

The AP automatically restarts to apply the new role configuration.

Change the role of an AP (CLI)

Change your Cisco access point (AP) role between mesh AP (MAP) and root AP (RAP) using command-line interface (CLI) commands.

To change the AP from MAP to RAP or the reverse, follow this procedure. By default, your AP joins the controller in the mesh AP role.

Procedure

1.

Enter privileged EXEC mode.

Example:

Device> enable
2.

Change the role of the Cisco bridge mode AP. The AP reboots after the role change.

Example:

Device# ap name ap-name role {mesh-ap | root-ap}

The specified AP reboots and operates in its new role. After rebooting, it connects and functions in your wireless mesh network.

Device> enable
Device# ap name ap1 role root-ap

Mesh leaf node

A mesh leaf node is a type of mesh access point (MAP) that

  • operates only as a child node within a wireless mesh network

  • is typically assigned to MAPs with lower performance, and

  • cannot serve as a parent MAP, ensuring wireless backhaul performance is not degraded.

Leaf nodes maintain stable network throughput by preventing low-performance devices from acting as wireless backhaul links for other MAPs.

Configure mesh leaf node (CLI)

Set an AP as a mesh leaf node. Other mesh APs cannot select this AP as a parent MAP.

Procedure

1.

Enter privileged EXEC mode.

Example:

Device> enable
2.

Configure the AP to operate only as a leaf node. Other MAPs cannot select this AP as a parent MAP.

Example:

Device# ap name ap-name mesh block-child

Use the no form of this command to change it to a regular AP.

The AP operates solely as a mesh leaf node and cannot be selected as a parent MAP. 

Device> enable
Device# ap name ap1 mesh block-child

Configure the mesh leaf node (GUI)

Configure a mesh leaf node so that it blocks child connections to enforce network segmentation.

Procedure

1.

Choose Configuration > Wireless > Access Points.

2.

Click the AP.
3.

In the Mesh tab, check the Block Child check box.

4.

Click Update & Apply to Device.

Your mesh leaf node now blocks child connections.

Configure subset channel synchronization

Enable synchronization of mesh subset channels to ensure efficient convergence of RAPs and MAPs.

The controller sends all channels used by RAPs to MAPs for future seeking and convergence. The controller keeps a list of subset channels for each Bridge Group Name (BGN) and shares this list across all controllers in a mobility group.

The subset channel list includes channels where RAPs within a Bridge Group Name (BGN) operate. This list is distributed to all mesh access points (MAPs) within controllers and across controllers. Maintaining a subset channel list helps Mesh APs converge faster. You can select the convergence method in the mesh profile. The system sends the subset channel list to MAPs if the convergence method is non-standard.

Follow these steps to configure subset channel synchronization for a mobility group.

Procedure

1.

Enter global configuration mode.

Example:

Device# configure terminal
2.

Configure subset channel synchronization for a mobility group.

Example:

Device(config)# wireless mesh subset-channel-sync mac

The mobility group synchronizes subset channels, which enables mesh APs to converge faster.

Device# configure terminal
Device(config)# wireless mesh subset-channel-sync mac

Configure battery state for mesh AP (GUI)

Configure the battery state on a mesh AP using the web interface.

Procedure

1.

Choose Configuration > Wireless > Mesh > Profiles.

2.

Select a profile.
3.

On the General tab, check the Battery State for an AP check box.

4.

Click Update & Apply to Device.

After you configure the profile, the profile displays the battery state for the selected mesh AP.

Configure battery state for mesh AP (CLI)

Some outdoor APs come with the option of battery backup. The AP also includes a POE-out port that powers a video surveillance camera. The integrated battery provides temporary backup power during external power interruptions.

Procedure

1.

Enter global configuration mode.

Example:

Device# configure terminal
2.

Configure a mesh profile, and enter mesh profile configuration mode.

Example:

Device(config)# wireless profile mesh profile-name
3.

Configure the battery state for an AP.

Example:

Device(config-wireless-mesh-profile)# battery-state

You have configured the battery state for the mesh AP, so backup power is now available when required.

Device# configure terminal
Device(config)# wireless profile mesh mesh-profile-name
Device(config-wireless-mesh-profile)# battery-state