Override MeshPoint Device Settings

About this task

An access point can be configured to be a part of a meshed network. A mesh network is one where nodes in the network can communicate with each where each node can maintain more than one path to its peers. Mesh networking enables users to access broadband applications anywhere, including moving vehicles, by providing robust, reliable, and redundant connectivity to all the members of the network. When one of the nodes in a mesh network becomes unavailable, the other nodes in the network can still communicate with each other directly or through intermediate nodes.

Mesh point is the name given to a device that is a part of a meshed network.

Use the Mesh Point screen to configure or override the parameters that determine how this device behaves as a part of a mesh network.

Note

WiNG 7.X.X does not support MeshPoint configuration on AP3xx, AP4xx, and AP5xx model access points. This feature will be supported in future release.

To set or override a mesh point configuration:

Procedure

Select Configuration → Devices from the web UI.
The Device Configuration screen displays a list of managed devices or peer controllers, service platforms, or access points.
Select a device from those listed on the screen.
The selected device's configuration menu displays.
Select Mesh Point.

Note
A blue override icon (to the left of a parameter) defines the parameter as having an override applied. To remove an override go to the Basic Configuration section of the device and click Clear Overrides. This removes all overrides from the device.

Profile Overrides - MeshPoint Main Screen
Review existing MeshPoint configurations to determine if a new configuration needs to be created or an existing configuration warrants modification.
Click Add to create a new mesh point configuration, if an existing configuration does not meet your requirements.
Click Edit to modify or override the attributes of a existing mesh point configuration. If necessary, existing configurations can be selected and permanently removed by clicking Delete.
Mesh Point Settings Screen
Apply Mesh Connex Policy to the AP.
If an appropriate policy is unavailable, click the Create icon to create a new Mesh Connex Policy or click the Edit icon to edit an existing policy. For more information on creating or editing a Mesh Connex Policy, see MeshConnex Policies.
Until a viable name is provided, the Settings tab remains disabled.

Define the following General mesh point settings:


Is Root	Select the root behavior of this access point. True means that this access point is a root node for this mesh network, and False means that it is not a root node. A root mesh point is defined as a mesh point that is connected to the WAN and provides a wired backhaul to the network.
Root Selection Method	Use the drop-down menu to determine whether this meshpoint is the root or non-root meshpoint. Select either None, auto-mint or auto-proximity. In case of auto-mint , root selection is based on the total cost to the root. Cost to the root is measured as total cost through hops to the root node. Root selection occurs for the root with the least path cost. In auto-proximity , root selection is based on signal strength of candidate roots. The option None, which is the default setting, indicates no preference in root selection.
Set as Cost Root	Select this option to set the mesh point as the cost root for mesh point root selection. This setting is disabled by default.
Monitor Critical Resources	Enable this feature to allow dynamic conversion of a mesh point from root to non-root when there is a critical resource failure. This option is disabled by default.
Monitor Primary Port Link	Select to enable monitoring of primary port link for this mesh connex policy. If the primary port link is not present and if the device is a mesh root, it is automatically changed to a non-root device. When the primary port link becomes available again, the non-root device is changed back to a root device. This feature allows dynamic conversion of a mesh point from root to non-root during a link down event. This option is disabled by default.
Wired Peer Excluded	Select this option to exclude a mesh from forming a link with another mesh device that's a wired peer. This option is disabled by default.
Path Method	Select the root path selection method used in the mesh network. Available options include: None – No criteria are used in root path selection. uniform – The path selection method is uniform (two paths are considered equivalent if the average value is the same for these paths). mobile-snr-leaf – The access point is mounted on a vehicle or a mobile platform. The path to the route is selected based on the Signal To Noise Ratio (SNR) with the neighbor device. snr-leaf – The path with the best signal to noise ratio is always selected. bound-pair – This option binds one mesh point connection at a time. Once established, other mesh point connection requests are denied.

Set the following Root Path Preference values:


Preferred Neighbor	Specify the MAC address of a preferred neighbor to override mesh point settings.
Preferred Root	Specify the MAC address of a preferred root device to override mesh point settings.
Preferred Interface	Use the drop-down menu to override the preferred mesh point interface to 2.4GHz, 4.9 GHz or 5.0GHz. None defines the interface as open to any radio band.

Set the following Path Method Hysteresis:


Minimum Threshold	Enter the minimum value for SNR above which a candidate for the next hop in a dynamic mesh network is considered for selection. This field along with Signal Strength Delta and Sustained Time Period are used to dynamically select the next hop in a dynamic mesh network. The default setting is 0 dB.
Signal Strength Delta	Enter a delta value in dB. A candidate for selection as a next hop in a dynamic mesh network must have a SNR value that is higher than the value configured here. This field along with the Minimum Threshold and Sustained Time Period are used to dynamically select the next hop in a dynamic mesh network. The default setting is 1 dB.
Sustained Time Period	Enter the duration (in seconds or minutes) for the duration a signal must sustain the constraints specified in the Minimum Threshold and Signal Strength Delta path hysteresis values. These values are used to dynamically select the next hop in a dynamic mesh network. The default setting is 1 second.
SNR Delta Range	Select the root selection method hysteresis (from 1 - 100dB) SNR delta range a candidate must sustain. The default setting is 1 dB.

Click the OK to save your changes..
Click Reset to revert to the last saved configuration and exit the screen.