Cisco Mesh Access Points User Manual

With the 7.0.116.0 release, 3500 series access points can mesh with each other and can also provide CleanAir
functionality.
CleanAir in mesh (1552, 3500 and 3600) can be implemented on the 2.4-GHz radio and provides clients
complete 802.11n data rates while detecting, locating, classifying, and mitigating radio frequency (RF)
interference. This provides a carrier class management and customer experience and ensures that you have
control over the spectrum in the deployed location. CleanAir enabled RRM technology on the outdoor 11n
platform detects, quantifies, and mitigates Wi-Fi and non-Wi-Fi interference on 2.4-GHz radios. AP1552
supports CleanAir in 2.4 GHz client access mode. AP3500/AP3600 in bridge (mesh) mode also supports
CleanAir in 2.4 GHz client access only and not on the backhaul.
CleanAir AP Modes of Operation
Bridge (Mesh) Mode AP (recommended)—AP1552 in bridge mode (mesh) offers complete CleanAir
functionality in the 2.4-GHz band. Bridge (mesh) mode is equivalent of Local Mode (LMAP) for nonmesh
CleanAir access points as far as CleanAir functionality is concerned. AP1552 comes only in the Bridge mode
and the mode cannot be changed. A mesh access point performs CleanAir function and also serves clients on
the assigned channel similar to the way the Cisco Indoor CleanAir AP3500 (nonmesh mode) operating in
LMAP mode serving clients on its assigned channel. The mesh AP also monitors the spectrum only on that
channel.
Similar CleanAir functionality is applicable to AP3500 in mesh mode. When AP3500 is in nonmesh mode,
the AP can perform CleanAir function in LMAP or Monitor Mode. When AP3500 is in mesh mode, the AP
can perform CleanAir function in bridge (mesh) mode on 2.4 GHz, serving clients at the same time on the
assigned channel.
Tight silicon integration with the Wi-Fi radio allows the CleanAir hardware to listen between traffic on the
channel that is currently being served with no penalty to throughput of attached clients. That is, line rate
detection without interrupting client traffic.
AP1552 in 2.4 GHz client access offers Radio Resource Management (RRM) which helps to mitigate the
interference from WiFi interferers. RRM is not available for the 5 GHz backhaul. There are no CleanAir
dwells processed during normal off channel scans. Normally, a CUWN Local Mode AP executes an off
channel passive scan of the alternate available channels in 2.4 GHz. Off-channel scans are used for system
maintenance such as RRM metrics and rogue detection. The frequency of these scans is not sufficient to collect
back-to-back dwells required for positive device classification. Thus, information collected during this scan
is suppressed by the system. Increasing the frequency of off-channel scans is also not desirable because it
takes away the time that the radio services traffic.
A CleanAir Mesh AP only scans one channel of each band continuously. In a normal deployment density,
there should be many access points on the same channel, and at least one on each channel, assuming RRM is
handling channel selection. In 2.4 GHz, access points have sufficient density to ensure at least three points of
classification. An interference source that uses narrow band modulation (operates on or around a single
frequency) is only detected by access points that share the frequency space. If the interference is a frequency
hopping type (uses multiple frequencies—generally covering the whole band), it is detected by every access
point that can hear it operating in the band.
Monitor Mode AP (optional) (MMAP)—A CleanAir monitor mode AP is dedicated and does not serve client
traffic. The monitor mode ensures that all bands-channels are routinely scanned. The monitor mode is not
available for AP1552, 3500 and 3600 in bridge (mesh) mode because in a mesh environment, access points
also talk to each other on the backhaul. If a mesh AP (MAP) is in the monitor mode, then it cannot perform
mesh operation. Also, it is not possible for AP1552 or AP3500 (bridge mode) to be in a dedicated monitor
mode.
Cisco Mesh Access Points, Design and Deployment Guide, Release 7.3
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Site Preparation and Planning
CleanAir

Cisco Mesh Access Points Specifications

General

Brand	Cisco
Model	Mesh Access Points
Category	Wireless Access Point
Language	English

Summary

Preface

Audience

Describes the target audience for this guide, focusing on network administrators.

Organization

Outlines the chapter structure of the guide for easy navigation.

Conventions

Explains the document's formatting and typographical conventions.

Related Documentation

Lists supplementary Cisco documentation for further information.

Obtaining Documentation and Submitting a Service Request

Provides instructions on how to get Cisco documentation and request support.

CHAPTER 1 Mesh Network Components

Mesh Network Components

Details the core components of a Cisco wireless mesh network.

Mesh Access Points

Overview of Cisco mesh access point hardware and models.

Access Point Roles

Defines the Root Access Point (RAP) and Mesh Access Point (MAP) roles.

Network Access

Explains how mesh access points connect to the network and authentication methods.

Cisco Indoor Mesh Access Points

Details supported Cisco indoor mesh access point models.

Cisco Outdoor Mesh Access Points

Details supported Cisco outdoor mesh access point models.

CHAPTER 2 Mesh Deployment Modes

Mesh Deployment Modes

Describes the different ways Cisco mesh networks can be deployed.

Wireless Mesh Network

Describes the basic architecture of a Cisco wireless outdoor mesh network.

Wireless Backhaul

Explains how traffic is bridged between mesh access points for backhaul.

Point-to-Multipoint Wireless Bridging

Details the scenario where a RAP connects multiple MAPs.

CHAPTER 3 Design Considerations

Design Considerations

Key factors and challenges for designing wireless mesh networks.

Wireless Mesh Constraints

Discusses system characteristics affecting mesh network design.

ClientLink Technology

Explains Cisco's ClientLink technology for optimizing 802.11a/g client performance.

Adaptive Wireless Path Protocol

Details the AWPP for determining optimal routes in mesh networks.

CHAPTER 4 Site Preparation and Planning

Site Preparation and Planning

Covers essential steps for preparing and planning mesh network deployments.

Site Survey

Recommends performing a radio site survey before installing mesh equipment.

Outdoor Site Survey

Covers considerations for outdoor wireless deployments like weather and security.

Determining a Line of Sight

Explains how to assess link suitability based on clear line of sight.

Fresnel Zone

Describes the Fresnel zone and its impact on signal propagation.

Hidden Nodes Interference

Discusses interference issues caused by hidden nodes in mesh backhaul.

Cell Planning and Distance

Offers recommendations for cell planning and distance in mesh networks.

CHAPTER 5 Connecting the Cisco 1500 Series Mesh Access Points to the Network

Connecting the Cisco 1500 Series Mesh Access Points to the Network

Guides on connecting Cisco mesh APs to the wired network.

Adding Mesh Access Points to the Mesh Network

Steps to add mesh APs to the network, assuming controller is active.

Defining Mesh Access Point Role

How to configure APs as RAP or MAP, with GUI and CLI methods.

Backup Controllers

Explains configuring primary, secondary, and tertiary backup controllers.

Configuring Global Mesh Parameters

Instructions for configuring global mesh parameters affecting AP connections.

Universal Client Access

Enables client association over the backhaul radio.

Configuring Ethernet VLAN Tagging

Details how to segment traffic using VLAN tags for Ethernet ports.

Workgroup Bridge Interoperability with Mesh Infrastructure

Covers WGB integration with mesh networks.

Configuring Voice Parameters in Indoor Mesh Networks

How to configure CAC and QoS for voice quality.

CHAPTER 6 Checking the Health of the Network

Show Mesh Commands

Lists commands to view mesh network health and status.

Viewing Mesh Statistics for a Mesh Access Point

Provides detailed statistics on mesh AP performance and health.

Viewing Neighbor Statistics for a Mesh Access Point

Shows statistics for mesh AP neighbors and link tests.

CHAPTER 7 Troubleshooting

Installation and Connections

Basic troubleshooting for initial setup and connectivity.

Debug Commands

Helpful commands to view messages between APs and controllers.

AP Console Access

How to access AP console for debugging and configuration.

Mesh Access Point CLI Commands

Lists direct CLI commands for mesh access points.

Dynamic Frequency Selection

Explains DFS functionality for RAPs and MAPs in radar environments.

Bridge Group Name Misconfiguration

Troubleshooting steps for incorrect BGN assignments leading to stranded APs.

CHAPTER 8 Managing Mesh Access Points with Cisco Prime Infrastructure

Managing Mesh Access Points with Cisco Prime Infrastructure

Overview of managing mesh APs using Cisco Prime Infrastructure.

Adding Campus Maps, Outdoor Areas, and Buildings with Cisco Prime Infrastructure

Steps to add geographical maps and buildings in Prime Infrastructure.

Monitoring Mesh Access Points Using Google Earth

How to launch and use Google Earth for mesh AP visualization.

Adding Indoor Mesh Access Points to Cisco Prime Infrastructure

Process for adding indoor APs to Prime Infrastructure after mesh configuration.

Monitoring Workgroup Bridges

How to monitor Workgroup Bridge (WGB) clients separately.

Viewing AP Last Reboot Reason

Explains how to check the cause of the last AP reboot.