Mesh Profile

Context

Common Mesh Network Application

On a traditional WLAN, APs exchange data with STAs using wireless channels and connect to a wired network through uplinks. If no wired network is available for WLAN construction, a wired network must be constructed first, which is both time- and money- consuming. If the positions of some APs on a WLAN need to be adjusted, the wired network must be adjusted accordingly, increasing the difficulty in network adjustment. With Mesh technology, APs can connect each other wirelessly, which allows flexible networking and quick network deployment and facilitates dynamic expansion of network coverage.

As shown in Figure 2, APs on a Mesh network can be sorted into the following types based on functions:

Mesh Point (MP): a Mesh-capable node that uses IEEE 802.11 MAC and physical layer protocols for wireless communication. This node supports automatic topology discovery, automatic route discovery, and data packet forwarding. MPs can provide both Mesh service and user access service.
Mesh Portal Point (MPP): a Mesh point that connects the Mesh network to other types of networks. This node provides the portal function to allow Mesh nodes to communicate with external networks.

Figure 1 Mesh networking

As shown in Figure 2, an access terminal (AT) connects to the remote AP through a Mesh link to provide Internet access services for downstream devices connected to the AT. The Mesh service needs to be configured on the remote AP connected to the AT and the Fix-Wireless-Access (FWA) mode needs to be enabled in the Mesh profile so that the AT can connect to the AP.

Figure 2 AT application

Procedure

Create a Mesh profile.

Choose Configuration > Wireless Services > Profile > Mesh > Mesh Profile. The Mesh Profile List page is displayed.
Click Create. The Create Mesh Profile page is displayed.
Enter the name of the new Mesh profile in Profile name.
To copy all parameters from another profile to the new profile, select the name of the profile in Copy parameters from other profiles. If None is selected, parameters are not copied from another profile.
Click OK. The parameter setting page of the new Mesh profile is displayed.

Set parameters for creating a Mesh profile. Table 1 describes the parameters for creating a Mesh profile.

**Table 1** Parameters for creating a Mesh profile
Parameter	Description
Mesh Profile	Name of the Mesh profile, which cannot be modified.
Mesh ID	Mesh ID of a Mesh profile.
FWA mode	Whether the FWA mode is used. An access terminal (AT) connects to the remote AP through a Mesh link to provide Internet access services for downstream devices connected to the AT. The Mesh service needs to be configured on the remote AP connected to the AT and the FWA mode needs to be enabled in the Mesh profile so that the AT can connect to the AP.
FWA EDCA mode	The Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) mode is Auto or Manual. When Auto is specified, the remote AP adjusts EDCA parameters based on the number of ATs.
Link information report interval	Interval at which an MP reports mesh link information to the AC.
Maximum number of links	Maximum number of Mesh links allowed on an AP.
RSSI threshold	RSSI threshold of a Mesh link. The RSSI threshold of a Mesh link depends on the distance between two MPs that establish the Mesh link. If the two MPs are far from each other, a smaller RSSI threshold is recommended. If the two MPs are close to each other, a larger RSSI threshold is recommended.
Link aging timeout	Aging time of a Mesh link. If a Mesh node cannot receive keepalive packets from a neighboring node for a period of time greater than or equal to the aging time of a Mesh link, the Mesh node considers the Mesh link disconnected and will reselect a link.
DHCP trusted interface	Whether to enable the DHCP trusted interface in the Mesh profile. After the DHCP trusted interface is configured on an AP, the AP receives the DHCP OFFER, ACK, and NAK packets sent by authorized DHCP servers and forwards the packets to STAs so that the STAs can obtain valid IP addresses and go online.
Area	Preset EDCA parameters for different scenarios. Users can select the corresponding scenarios or adjust the preset EDCA parameters. Default: EDCA parameters use default settings. Voice: Voice packets preferentially use a channel. Voice and video: Voice and video packets preferentially use a channel.
Packet Type	Packet type. AC_VO: Voice AC_VI: Video AC_BE: Best Effort AC_BK: Background
AIFSN	Arbitration inter frame spacing number (AIFSN), which determines the channel idle time. A larger AIFSN value indicates that the STA must wait for a longer time and has a lower priority.
ECWmin	Exponent form of the minimum contention window (ECWmin) and exponent form of the maximum contention window (ECWmax) together determine the average backoff time. Larger ECWmin and ECWmax values indicate that the average backoff time for the STA is longer and the STA priority is lower.
ECWmax
TXOPLimit	Transmission opportunity limit (TXOPLimit), which determines the maximum duration in which an STA can occupy the channel. A larger TXOPLimit value indicates that the STA can occupy the channel for a longer time.

Click Apply. In the Info dialog box that is displayed, click OK.

Modify a Mesh profile.
1. Choose Configuration > Wireless Services > Profile > Mesh > Mesh Profile. The Mesh Profile List page is displayed.
2. Click the name of the Mesh profile that you want to modify. The Mesh profile configuration page is displayed.
3. Modify parameters in the Mesh profile. Table 1 describes the parameters for modifying a Mesh profile.
4. Click Apply. In the Info dialog box that is displayed, click OK.
Delete a Mesh profile.
1. Choose Configuration > Wireless Services > Profile > Mesh > Mesh Profile. The Mesh Profile List page is displayed.
2. Select the profile that you want to delete and click Delete. In the Confirm dialog box that is displayed, click OK.
Display the profile reference relationship.
1. Choose Configuration > Wireless Services > Profile > Mesh > Mesh Profile. The Mesh Profile List page is displayed.
2. Select the profile of which you want to display the reference relationship and click Display Reference Relationship. The system displays the types and names of the objects that reference the profile.
  NOTE:
  Click Hide Reference Relationship. The system hides the displayed results.
Configure the profiles that are referenced by the Mesh profile.
A Mesh profile can reference the security profile, Mesh whitelist profile, and Mesh handover profile.
1. Choose Configuration > Wireless Services > Profile > Mesh > Mesh Profile. The Mesh Profile List page is displayed. Click next to Mesh Profile. The Mesh profile name is displayed. Click next to the specified Mesh profile to view the profiles that are referenced by the Mesh profile.
2. Click any profile referenced by the Mesh profile. The configuration page of the referenced profile is displayed on the right. You can select another profile from the drop-down list and set the profile parameters. For descriptions of the profile parameters, see its configuration page.
3. Click Apply. In the Info dialog box that is displayed, click OK.