Dell PowerConnect W-Series Instant Access Point 6.1.3.1-3.0.0.0 | User Guide Mesh Network | 67Chapter 4Mesh NetworkThe Dell PowerConnect W-Instant secure enterprise mesh solution is an effective way to expand networkcoverage for outdoor and indoor enterprise environments without any wires. As traffic traverses across mesh IAPs,the mesh network automatically reconfigures around broken or blocked paths. This self-healing feature providesincreased reliability and redundancy— the network continues to operate if an IAP stops functioning or aconnection fails.This chapter describes the Dell Instant secure enterprise mesh architecture.Mesh Instant Access PointsA Dell Instant mesh network requires at least one wired connection. The wired IAP is the mesh portal and alsoacts as a virtual controller. The un-wired IAPs are mesh points.If two IAPs are wired, there will be redundancy, and most mesh points will try to mesh directly with one of thetwo portals. However, depending on actual deployment and RF environment some mesh points may meshthrough other intermediate mesh points.In an Instant mesh network, the maximum hop count is two nodes (point >point >portal) and the maximumnumber of mesh points per mesh portal is eight.Mesh IAPs learn about their environment when they boot up. Mesh IAPs can act as a mesh portal (MPP), an IAPthat uses its wired interface to reach the controller, a mesh point (MP), or an IAP that establishes an all wirelesspath to the mesh portal. Mesh IAPs locate and associate with their nearest neighbor, which provides the best pathto the mesh portal. Mesh portals and mesh points are also known as mesh nodes, a generic term used to describeIAPs configured for mesh.Instant mesh functionality is supported only on dual radio IAPs and not on single radio IAPs. On dual-radio IAPs,the 5Ghz radio is always used for both mesh-backhaul and client traffic, while the 2.4G radio is always used forclient traffic only.The only limitation is that it has to be provisioned for the first time by plugging into the wired network. Afterthat, mesh works on ROW IAP like any other regulatory domain.Mesh PortalsThe mesh portal (MPP) is the gateway between the wireless mesh network and the enterprise wired LAN. Youconfigure an IAP to perform the mesh portal role, which uses its wired interface to establish a link to the wiredLAN. You can deploy multiple mesh portals to support redundant mesh paths (mesh links between neighboringmesh points that establish the best path to the mesh portal) from the wireless mesh network to the wired LAN.The mesh portal broadcasts a mesh services set identifier (MSSID/ mesh cluster name) to advertise the meshnetwork service to other IAP mesh points in that instant network. This is not configurable and is transparent toNOTE: Instant Mesh does not support LAN bridging or secure wired pass-through.NOTE: Mesh service is automatically enabled on 802.11a band for dual-radio IAP only, and this is not configurable.
