Cisco Mesh Access Points Quick reference guide

Cisco Mesh Access Points, Design and Deployment Guide, Release
7.3
First Published: August 28, 2012
Americas Headquarters
Cisco Systems, Inc.
170 West Tasman Drive
San Jose, CA 95134-1706
USA
http://www.cisco.com
Tel: [phone]
800 553-NETS (6387)
Fax: [phone]
Text Part Number: OL-27593-01

THE SPECIFICATIONS AND INFORMATION REGARDING THE PRODUCTS IN THIS MANUAL ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. ALL STATEMENTS,
INFORMATION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS IN THIS MANUAL ARE BELIEVED TO BE ACCURATE BUT ARE PRESENTED WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND,
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. USERS MUST TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR APPLICATION OF ANY PRODUCTS.
THE SOFTWARE LICENSE AND LIMITED WARRANTY FOR THE ACCOMPANYING PRODUCT ARE SET FORTH IN THE INFORMATION PACKET THAT SHIPPED WITH
THE PRODUCT AND ARE INCORPORATED HEREIN BY THIS REFERENCE. IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE SOFTWARE LICENSE OR LIMITED WARRANTY,
CONTACT YOUR CISCO REPRESENTATIVE FOR A COPY.
The Cisco implementation of TCP header compression is an adaptation of a program developed by the University of California, Berkeley (UCB) as part of UCB's public domain version
of the UNIX operating system. All rights reserved. Copyright ©1981, Regents of the University of California.
NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER WARRANTY HEREIN, ALL DOCUMENT FILES AND SOFTWARE OF THESE SUPPLIERS ARE PROVIDED “AS IS" WITH ALL FAULTS.
CISCO AND THE ABOVE-NAMED SUPPLIERS DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THOSE OF
MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT OR ARISING FROM A COURSE OF DEALING, USAGE, OR TRADE PRACTICE.
IN NO EVENT SHALL CISCO OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT
LIMITATION, LOST PROFITS OR LOSS OR DAMAGE TO DATA ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THIS MANUAL, EVEN IF CISCO OR ITS SUPPLIERS
HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. To view a list of Cisco trademarks, go to this URL: http://
www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership
relationship between Cisco and any other company. (1110R)
Any Internet Protocol (IP) addresses used in this document are not intended to be actual addresses. Any examples, command display output, and figures included in the document are shown
for illustrative purposes only. Any use of actual IP addresses in illustrative content is unintentional and coincidental.
©2012 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

CONTENTS
Preface Preface xi
Audience xii
Organization xii
Conventions xii
Related Documentation xv
Obtaining Documentation and Submitting a Service Request xv
CHAPTER 1 Mesh Network Components 1
Mesh Access Points 1
Licensing for Mesh Access Points on a 5500 Series Controller 1
Access Point Roles 2
Network Access 3
Network Segmentation 4
Cisco Indoor Mesh Access Points 4
Cisco Outdoor Mesh Access Points 5
Cisco Aironet 1552 Mesh Access Point 6
Cisco 1522 Mesh Access Point 11
Cisco 1524PS Mesh Access Point 11
Cisco 1524SB Mesh Access Point 12
Ethernet Ports 14
Multiple Power Options 14
Battery Backup Module (Optional) 16
Reset Button 17
Resetting Access Point 18
Monitoring the LED Status 18
Serial Backhaul Access Point Guidelines for the Rest of the World (ROW) 21
Discontinuation of the 116 and 132 Channels from the UNII-2 Extended Band 23
Cisco Mesh Access Points, Design and Deployment Guide, Release 7.3
OL-27593-01 iii

Frequency Bands 24
Dynamic Frequency Selection 25
Antennas 26
Antenna Configurations for 1552 31
Client Access Certified Antennas (Third-Party Antennas) 34
Maximum Ratio Combining 34
Cisco 1500 Hazardous Location Certification 37
Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers 40
Cisco Prime Infrastructure 40
Architecture 40
Control and Provisioning of Wireless Access Points 40
CAPWAP Discovery on a Mesh Network 40
Dynamic MTU Detection 41
XML Configuration File 41
Adaptive Wireless Path Protocol 42
Traffic Flow 43
Mesh Neighbors, Parents, and Children 44
Criteria to Choose the Best Parent 45
Ease Calculation 45
Parent Decision 45
SNR Smoothing 46
Loop Prevention 46
CHAPTER 2 Mesh Deployment Modes 47
Wireless Mesh Network 47
Wireless Backhaul 47
Universal Access 48
Point-to-Multipoint Wireless Bridging 48
Point-to-Point Wireless Bridging 48
Configuring Mesh Range (CLI) 49
Assumptions for the AP1522 Range Calculator 50
Assumptions for the AP1552 Range Calculator 50
CHAPTER 3 Design Considerations 51
Wireless Mesh Constraints 51
Cisco Mesh Access Points, Design and Deployment Guide, Release 7.3
iv OL-27593-01
Contents

Wireless Backhaul Data Rate 51
ClientLink Technology 55
Configuring ClientLink (CLI) 56
Commands Related to ClientLink 58
Controller Planning 58
CHAPTER 4 Site Preparation and Planning 61
Site Survey 61
Pre-Survey Checklist 61
Outdoor Site Survey 62
Determining a Line of Sight 62
Weather 63
Fresnel Zone 63
Fresnel Zone Size in Wireless Mesh Deployments 64
Hidden Nodes Interference 65
Functional Routing of Three Radio MAPs 66
Slot Bias Options 66
Disabling Slot Bias 67
Commands Related to Slot Bias 67
Preferred Parent Selection 68
Preferred Parent Selection Criteria 68
Configuring a Preferred Parent 69
Related Commands 69
Co-Channel Interference 70
Wireless Mesh Network Coverage Considerations 71
Cell Planning and Distance 71
Assumptions for the AP1522 Range Calculator 83
Assumptions for the AP1552 Range Calculator 84
Collocating Mesh Access Points 86
Special Considerations for Indoor Mesh Networks 87
Wireless Propagation Characteristics 89
CleanAir 89
CleanAir AP Modes of Operation 90
Pseudo MAC (PMAC) and Merging 91
Event Driven Radio Resource Management and Persistence Device Avoidance 92
Cisco Mesh Access Points, Design and Deployment Guide, Release 7.3
OL-27593-01 v
Contents

CleanAir Access Point Deployment Recommendations 92
CleanAir Advisor 93
Enabling CleanAir 94
Licensing 94
Wireless Mesh Mobility Groups 94
Multiple Controllers 95
Increasing Mesh Availability 95
Multiple RAPs 96
Indoor Mesh Interoperability with Outdoor Mesh 97
CHAPTER 5 Connecting the Cisco 1500 Series Mesh Access Points to the Network 99
Adding Mesh Access Points to the Mesh Network 100
Adding MAC Addresses of Mesh Access Points to MAC Filter 101
Adding the MAC Address of the Mesh Access Point to the Controller Filter List
(GUI) 101
Adding the MAC Address of the Mesh Access Point to the Controller Filter List
(CLI) 102
Defining Mesh Access Point Role 102
General Notes about MAP and RAP Association With The Controller 102
Configuring the AP Role (GUI) 103
Configuring the AP Role (CLI) 104
Configuring Multiple Controllers Using DHCP 43 and DHCP 60 104
Backup Controllers 105
Configuring Backup Controllers (GUI) 106
Configuring Backup Controllers (CLI) 107
Configuring External Authentication and Authorization Using a RADIUS Server 109
Configuring RADIUS Servers 110
Adding a Username to a RADIUS Server 111
Enabling External Authentication of Mesh Access Points (GUI) 112
Enable External Authentication of Mesh Access Points (CLI) 112
View Security Statistics (CLI) 113
Configuring Global Mesh Parameters 113
Configuring Global Mesh Parameters (GUI) 113
Configuring Global Mesh Parameters (CLI) 116
Viewing Global Mesh Parameter Settings (CLI) 117
Cisco Mesh Access Points, Design and Deployment Guide, Release 7.3
vi OL-27593-01
Contents

Universal Client Access 118
Configuring Universal Client Access (GUI) 119
Configuring Universal Client Access (CLI) 119
Universal Client Access on Serial Backhaul Access Points 119
Configuring Extended Universal Access (GUI) 120
Configuring Extended Universal Access (CLI) 122
Configuring Extended Universal Access from Cisco Prime Infrastructure 123
Configuring Local Mesh Parameters 124
Configuring Wireless Backhaul Data Rate 124
Configuring Ethernet Bridging 131
Enabling Ethernet Bridging (GUI) 133
Configuring Bridge Group Names 133
Configuring Bridge Group Names (CLI) 134
Verifying Bridge Group Names (GUI) 134
Configuring Public Safety Band Settings 134
Configuring Interoperability with Cisco 3200 136
Enabling AP1522 to Associate with Cisco 3200 (GUI) 138
Enabling 1522 and 1524PS Association with Cisco 3200 (CLI) 138
Configuring Power and Channel Settings 139
Configuring Power and Channel Settings (GUI) 139
Configuring the Channels on the Serial Backhaul (CLI) 140
Configuring Antenna Gain 141
Configuring Antenna Gain (GUI) 141
Configuring Antenna Gain (CLI) 141
Backhaul Channel Deselection on Serial Backhaul Access Point 141
Configuring Backhaul Channel Deselection (GUI) 142
Configuring Backhaul Channel Deselection (CLI) 143
Backhaul Channel Deselection Guidelines 146
Configuring Dynamic Channel Assignment 147
Configuring Advanced Features 149
Using the 2.4-GHz Radio for Backhaul 150
Configuring Ethernet VLAN Tagging 151
Ethernet Port Notes 152
Ethernet VLAN Tagging Guidelines 153
VLAN Registration 154
Cisco Mesh Access Points, Design and Deployment Guide, Release 7.3
OL-27593-01 vii
Contents

Enabling Ethernet VLAN Tagging (GUI) 155
Configuring Ethernet VLAN Tagging (CLI) 156
Viewing Ethernet VLAN Tagging Configuration Details (CLI) 156
Workgroup Bridge Interoperability with Mesh Infrastructure 157
Configuring Workgroup Bridges 158
Guidelines for Configuration 161
Configuration Example 162
WGB Association Check 164
Link Test Result 166
WGB Wired/Wireless Client 167
Client Roaming 168
WGB Roaming Guidelines 168
Configuration Example 169
Troubleshooting Tips 170
Configuring Voice Parameters in Indoor Mesh Networks 170
Call Admission Control 171
Quality of Service and Differentiated Services Code Point Marking 171
Guidelines For Using Voice on the Mesh Network 176
Voice Call Support in a Mesh Network 178
Viewing the Voice Details for Mesh Networks (CLI) 179
Enabling Mesh Multicast Containment for Video 182
Enabling Multicast on the Mesh Network (CLI) 183
IGMP Snooping 183
Locally Significant Certificates for Mesh APs 184
Guidelines for Configuration 184
Differences Between LSCs for Mesh APs and Normal APs 185
Certificate Verification Process in LSC AP 185
Getting Certificates for LSC Feature 185
Configuring a Locally Significant Certificate (CLI) 187
LSC-Related Commands 189
Controller GUI Security Settings 191
Deployment Guidelines 192
CHAPTER 6 Checking the Health of the Network 193
Show Mesh Commands 193
Cisco Mesh Access Points, Design and Deployment Guide, Release 7.3
viii OL-27593-01
Contents

Viewing General Mesh Network Details 194
Viewing Mesh Access Point Details 195
Viewing Global Mesh Parameter Settings 196
Viewing Bridge Group Settings 197
Viewing VLAN Tagging Settings 197
Viewing DFS Details 197
Viewing Public Safety Setting 198
Viewing Security Settings and Statistics 198
Viewing Mesh Statistics for a Mesh Access Point 199
Viewing Mesh Statistics for a Mesh Access Point (GUI) 199
Viewing Mesh Statistics for an Mesh Access Point (CLI) 202
Viewing Neighbor Statistics for a Mesh Access Point 203
Viewing Neighbor Statistics for a Mesh Access Point (GUI) 203
Viewing the Neighbor Statistics for a Mesh Access Point (CLI) 204
CHAPTER 7 Troubleshooting 207
Installation and Connections 207
Debug Commands 208
Remote Debug Commands 209
AP Console Access 209
Cable Modem Serial Port Access From an AP 210
Configuration 210
Mesh Access Point CLI Commands 212
Mesh Access Point Debug Commands 213
Defining Mesh Access Point Roles 213
Backhaul Algorithm 214
Passive Beaconing (Anti-Stranding) 215
Dynamic Frequency Selection 216
DFS in RAP 216
DFS in MAP 217
Preparation in a DFS Environment 218
Monitoring DFS 219
Frequency Planning 219
Good Signal-to-Noise Ratios 220
Access Point Placement 220
Cisco Mesh Access Points, Design and Deployment Guide, Release 7.3
OL-27593-01 ix
Contents

Check Packet Error Rate 220
Bridge Group Name Misconfiguration 220
Misconfiguration of the Mesh Access Point IP Address 222
Misconfiguration of DHCP 223
Identifying the Node Exclusion Algorithm 223
Throughput Analysis 225
CHAPTER 8 Managing Mesh Access Points with Cisco Prime Infrastructure 227
Adding Campus Maps, Outdoor Areas, and Buildings with Cisco Prime Infrastructure 227
Adding Campus Maps 228
Adding Outdoor Areas 228
Adding a Building to a Campus Map 229
Adding Mesh Access Points to Maps with Cisco Prime Infrastructure 230
Monitoring Mesh Access Points Using Google Earth 232
Launching Google Earth in Cisco Prime Infrastructure 232
Viewing Google Earth Maps 233
Adding Indoor Mesh Access Points to Cisco Prime Infrastructure 236
Managing Mesh Access Points with Cisco Prime Infrastructure 237
Monitoring Mesh Networks Using Maps 237
Monitoring Mesh Link Statistics Using Maps 237
Monitoring Mesh Access Points Using Maps 238
Monitoring Mesh Access Point Neighbors Using Maps 239
Monitoring Mesh Health 240
Viewing Mesh Statistics for a Mesh Access Point 242
Viewing the Mesh Network Hierarchy 247
Using Mesh Filters to Modify Map Display of Maps and Mesh Links 248
Monitoring Workgroup Bridges 250
Multiple VLAN and QoS Support for WGB Wired Clients 251
Workgroup Bridge Guidelines 252
Configuring VLAN and QoS Support (CLI) 252
Workgroup Bridge Output 253
WGB Detail on Controller 255
Troubleshooting Tips 256
Viewing AP Last Reboot Reason 257
Cisco Mesh Access Points, Design and Deployment Guide, Release 7.3
xOL-27593-01
Contents

Preface
This document provides design and deployment guidelines for the deployment of secure enterprise, campus,
and metropolitan Wi-Fi networks within the Cisco wireless mesh networking solution, a component of the
Cisco Unified Wireless Network (CUWN).
Mesh networking employs Cisco Aironet 1500 Series outdoor mesh access points and indoor mesh access
points (Cisco Aironet 1040, 1130, 1140, 1240, 1250, 1260, 3500e, 3500i, 3600e, and 3600i series access
points) along with the Cisco Wireless LAN Controller, and Cisco Prime Infrastructure to provide scalable,
central management, and mobility between indoor and outdoor deployments. Control and Provisioning of
Wireless Access Points (CAPWAP) protocol manages the connection of mesh access points to the network.
End-to-end security within the mesh network is supported by employing Advanced Encryption Standard
(AES) encryption between the wireless mesh access points and Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) clients.
This document also outlines radio frequency (RF) components to consider when designing an outdoor
network.
The features described in this document are for the following products:
• Cisco Aironet 1550 (1552) series outdoor 802.11n mesh access points
• Cisco Aironet 1520 (1522, 1524) series outdoor mesh access points
• Cisco Aironet 1040, 1130, 1140, 1240, 1250, 1260, 3500e, 3500i, 3600e, and 3600i series indoor mesh
access points
• Mesh features in Cisco Wireless LAN Controller
• Mesh features in Cisco Prime Infrastructure
This chapter contains the following sections:
•Audience, page xii
•Organization, page xii
•Conventions, page xii
•Related Documentation, page xv
•Obtaining Documentation and Submitting a Service Request, page xv
Cisco Mesh Access Points, Design and Deployment Guide, Release 7.3
OL-27593-01 xi

Audience
This document is for experienced network administrators who design and deploy mesh networks and configure
and maintain Cisco mesh access points and Cisco wireless LAN controllers.
Organization
This guide is organized into these chapters:
DescriptionChapter Title
This chapter describes the components of a mesh network.Mesh Network Components,
on page 1
This chapter describes the various deployment modes of mesh access points.Mesh Deployment Modes, on
page 47
This chapter describes the design considerations involved in a mesh network.Design Considerations, on
page 51
This chapter describes the implementation details and configuration
examples.
Site Preparation and Planning,
on page 61
This chapter describes the procedures involved in connecting mesh access
points to a network and configuring the mesh access points.
Connecting the Cisco 1500
Series Mesh Access Points to
the Network, on page 99
This chapter describes the commands to enter to check the health of a mesh
network.
Checking the Health of the
Network, on page 193
This chapter describes the troubleshooting information.Troubleshooting, on page 207
This chapter describes information about managing access points with Cisco
Prime Infrastructure.
Managing Mesh Access Points
with Cisco Prime
Infrastructure, on page 237
Conventions
This document uses the following conventions:
Table 1: Conventions
IndicationConvention
Commands and keywords and user-entered text appear in bold font.bold font
Document titles, new or emphasized terms, and arguments for which you supply
values are in italic font.
italic font
Elements in square brackets are optional.[ ]
Cisco Mesh Access Points, Design and Deployment Guide, Release 7.3
xii OL-27593-01
Preface
Audience

IndicationConvention
Required alternative keywords are grouped in braces and separated by vertical
bars.
{x | y | z }
Optional alternative keywords are grouped in brackets and separated by vertical
bars.
[ x | y | z ]
A nonquoted set of characters. Do not use quotation marks around the string or
the string will include the quotation marks.
string
Terminal sessions and information the system displays appear in courier font.courier font
Nonprinting characters such as passwords are in angle brackets.<>
Default responses to system prompts are in square brackets.[]
An exclamation point (!) or a pound sign (#) at the beginning of a line of code
indicates a comment line.
!, #
Means reader take note.Note
Means the following information will help you solve a problem.Tip
Means reader be careful. In this situation, you might perform an action that could result in equipment
damage or loss of data.
Caution
This warning symbol means danger. You are in a situation that could cause bodily injury. Before you
work on any equipment, be aware of the hazards involved with electrical circuitry and be familiar with
standard practices for preventing accidents. (To see translations of the warnings that appear in this
publication, refer to the appendix "Translated Safety Warnings.")
Warning
DescriptionWarning Title
Dit waarschuwingssymbool betekent gevaar. U verkeert in een situatie die
lichamelijk letsel kan veroorzaken. Voordat u aan enige apparatuur gaat werken,
dient u zich bewust te zijn van de bij elektrische schakelingen betrokken risico's
en dient u op de hoogte te zijn van standaard maatregelen om ongelukken te
voorkomen. (Voor vertalingen van de waarschuwingen die in deze publicatie
verschijnen, kunt u het aanhangsel "Translated Safety Warnings" (Vertalingen
van veiligheidsvoorschriften) raadplegen.)
Waarschuwing
Cisco Mesh Access Points, Design and Deployment Guide, Release 7.3
OL-27593-01 xiii
Preface
Conventions

DescriptionWarning Title
Tämä varoitusmerkki merkitsee vaaraa. Olet tilanteessa, joka voi johtaa
ruumiinvammaan. Ennen kuin työskentelet minkään laitteiston parissa, ota selvää
sähkökytkentöihin liittyvistä vaaroista ja tavanomaisista onnettomuuksien
ehkäisykeinoista. (Tässä julkaisussa esiintyvien varoitusten käännökset löydät
liitteestä "Translated Safety Warnings" (käännetyt turvallisuutta koskevat
varoitukset).)
Varoitus
Ce symbole d'avertissement indique un danger. Vous vous trouvez dans une
situation pouvant entraîner des blessures. Avant d'accéder à cet équipement,
soyez conscient des dangers posés par les circuits électriques et familiarisez-vous
avec les procédures courantes de prévention des accidents. Pour obtenir les
traductions des mises en garde figurant dans cette publication, veuillez consulter
l'annexe intitulée « Translated Safety Warnings » (Traduction des avis de sécurité).
Attention
Dieses Warnsymbol bedeutet Gefahr. Sie befinden sich in einer Situation, die
zu einer Körperverletzung führen könnte. Bevor Sie mit der Arbeit an irgendeinem
Gerät beginnen, seien Sie sich der mit elektrischen Stromkreisen verbundenen
Gefahren und der Standardpraktiken zur Vermeidung von Unfällen bewußt.
(Übersetzungen der in dieser Veröffentlichung enthaltenen Warnhinweise finden
Sie im Anhang mit dem Titel "Translated Safety Warnings" (Übersetzung der
Warnhinweise).)
Warnung
Questo simbolo di avvertenza indica un pericolo. Si è in una situazione che può
causare infortuni. Prima di lavorare su qualsiasi apparecchiatura, occorre
conoscere i pericoli relativi ai circuiti elettrici ed essere al corrente delle pratiche
standard per la prevenzione di incidenti. La traduzione delle avvertenze riportate
in questa pubblicazione si trova nell'appendice, "Translated Safety Warnings"
(Traduzione delle avvertenze di sicurezza).
Avvertenza
Dette varselsymbolet betyr fare. Du befinner deg i en situasjon som kan føre til
personskade. Før du utfører arbeid på utstyr, må du være oppmerksom på de
faremomentene som elektriske kretser innebærer, samt gjøre deg kjent med vanlig
praksis når det gjelder å unngå ulykker. (Hvis du vil se oversettelser av de
advarslene som finnes i denne publikasjonen, kan du se i vedlegget "Translated
Safety Warnings" [Oversatte sikkerhetsadvarsler].)
Advarsel
Este símbolo de aviso indica perigo. Encontra-se numa situação que lhe poderá
causar danos fisicos. Antes de começar a trabalhar com qualquer equipamento,
familiarize-se com os perigos relacionados com circuitos eléctricos, e com
quaisquer práticas comuns que possam prevenir possíveis acidentes. (Para ver
as traduções dos avisos que constam desta publicação, consulte o apêndice
"Translated Safety Warnings" - "Traduções dos Avisos de Segurança").
Aviso
Este símbolo de aviso significa peligro. Existe riesgo para su integridad física.
Antes de manipular cualquier equipo, considerar los riesgos que entraña la
corriente eléctrica y familiarizarse con los procedimientos estándar de prevención
de accidentes. (Para ver traducciones de las advertencias que aparecen en esta
publicación, consultar el apéndice titulado "Translated Safety Warnings.")
¡Advertencia!
Cisco Mesh Access Points, Design and Deployment Guide, Release 7.3
xiv OL-27593-01
Preface
Conventions

DescriptionWarning Title
Denna varningssymbol signalerar fara. Du befinner dig i en situation som kan
leda till personskada. Innan du utför arbete på någon utrustning måste du vara
medveten om farorna med elkretsar och känna till vanligt förfarande för att
förebygga skador. (Se förklaringar av de varningar som förekommer i denna
publikation i appendix "Translated Safety Warnings" [Översatta
säkerhetsvarningar].)
Varning
Related Documentation
These documents provide complete information about the Cisco Unified Wireless Network solution:
•Cisco Wireless LAN Controller Configuration Guide
•Cisco Wireless LAN Controller Command Reference
•Cisco Prime Infrastructure Configuration Guide
•Release Notes for Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers and Lightweight Access Points
Obtaining Documentation and Submitting a Service Request
For information on obtaining documentation, submitting a service request, and gathering additional information,
see the monthly What's New in Cisco Product Documentation, which also lists all new and revised Cisco
technical documentation, at:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/general/whatsnew/whatsnew.html
Subscribe to the What's New in Cisco Product Documentation as a Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feed
and set content to be delivered directly to your desktop using a reader application. The RSS feeds are a free
service and Cisco currently supports RSS version 2.0.
Cisco Mesh Access Points, Design and Deployment Guide, Release 7.3
OL-27593-01 xv
Preface
Related Documentation

Cisco Mesh Access Points, Design and Deployment Guide, Release 7.3
xvi OL-27593-01
Preface
Obtaining Documentation and Submitting a Service Request

CHAPTER 1
Mesh Network Components
This chapter describes the mesh network components.
The Cisco wireless mesh network has four core components:
• Cisco Aironet 1500 series mesh access points
Cisco Aironet 1505 and 1510 mesh access points are not supported because of their
End-of-Life status.
Note
• Cisco Wireless LAN Controller (hereafter referred to as controller)
• Cisco Prime Infrastructure
• Mesh software architecture
This chapter contains the following sections:
•Mesh Access Points, page 1
•Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers, page 40
•Cisco Prime Infrastructure, page 40
•Architecture, page 40
Mesh Access Points
Licensing for Mesh Access Points on a 5500 Series Controller
To use both mesh and nonmesh access points with a Cisco 5500 Series Controller, only the base license
(LIC-CT5508-X) is required from the 7.0 release and later releases. For more information about obtaining
and installing licenses, see the Cisco Wireless LAN Controller Configuration Guide at http://www.cisco.com/
en/US/products/ps10315/products_installation_and_configuration_guides_list.html.
Cisco Mesh Access Points, Design and Deployment Guide, Release 7.3
OL-27593-01 1

Access Point Roles
Access points within a mesh network operate in one of the following two ways:
1Root access point (RAP)
2Mesh access point (MAP)
All access points are configured and shipped as mesh access points. To use an access point as a root access
point, you must reconfigure the mesh access point to a root access point. In all mesh networks, ensure that
there is at least one root access point.
Note
While the RAPs have wired connections to their controller, the MAPs have wireless connections to their
controller.
MAPs communicate among themselves and back to the RAP using wireless connections over the 802.11a/n
radio backhaul. MAPs use the Cisco Adaptive Wireless Path Protocol (AWPP) to determine the best path
through the other mesh access points to the controller.
Cisco Mesh Access Points, Design and Deployment Guide, Release 7.3
2OL-27593-01
Mesh Network Components
Access Point Roles

This figure shows the relationship between RAPs and MAPs in a mesh network.
Figure 1: Simple Mesh Network Hierarchy
Network Access
Wireless mesh networks can simultaneously carry two different traffic types. They are as follows:
• Wireless LAN client traffic
• MAP Ethernet port traffic
Wireless LAN client traffic terminates on the controller, and the Ethernet traffic terminates on the Ethernet
ports of the mesh access points.
Access to the wireless LAN mesh for mesh access points is managed by the following authentication methods:
• MAC authentication—Mesh access points are added to a database that can be referenced to ensure they
are provided access to a given controller and mesh network.
• External RADIUS Authentication—Mesh access points can be externally authorized using a RADIUS
server such as Cisco ACS (4.1 and later) that supports the client authentication type of Extensible
Authentication Protocol-FAST (EAP-FAST) with certificates.
Cisco Mesh Access Points, Design and Deployment Guide, Release 7.3
OL-27593-01 3
Mesh Network Components
Network Access

Network Segmentation
Membership to the wireless LAN mesh network for mesh access points is controlled by the bridge group
names (BGNs). Mesh access points can be placed in similar bridge groups to manage membership or provide
network segmentation.
Cisco Indoor Mesh Access Points
Indoor mesh is available on the following access points:
• 802.11a/b/g
• 1130
• 1240
• 802.11n
• 1040
• 1140
• 1250
• 1260
• 802.11n+CleanAir
• 2600
• 3500e
• 3500i
• 3600
For more information about controller software support for access points, see the Cisco Wireless Solutions
Software Compatibility Matrix at http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/wireless/controller/5500/tech_notes/
Wireless_Software_Compatibility_Matrix.html.
Note
Enterprise 11n mesh is an enhancement added to the CUWN feature to work with the 802.11n access points.
Enterprise 11n mesh features are compatible with non-802.11n mesh but adds higher backhaul and client
access speeds. The 802.11n indoor access points are two-radio Wi-Fi infrastructure devices for select indoor
deployments. One radio can be used for local (client) access for the access point and the other radio can be
configured for wireless backhaul. The backhaul is supported only on the 5-GHz radio. Enterprise 11n mesh
supports P2P, P2MP, and mesh types of architectures.
You have a choice of ordering indoor access points directly into the bridge mode, so that these access points
can be used directly as mesh access points. If you have these access points in a local mode (nonmesh), then
you have to connect these access points to the controller and change the AP mode to the bridge mode (mesh).
This scenario can become cumbersome particularly if the volume of the access points being deployed is large
and if the access points are already deployed in the local mode for a traditional nonmesh wireless coverage.
Cisco Mesh Access Points, Design and Deployment Guide, Release 7.3
4OL-27593-01
Mesh Network Components
Network Segmentation