CHAPTER 2
Mesh Deployment Modes
This chapter describes the mesh deployment modes and contains the following sections:
• Wireless Mesh Network, page 47
• Wireless Backhaul, page 47
• Point-to-Multipoint Wireless Bridging, page 48
• Point-to-Point Wireless Bridging, page 48
Wireless Mesh Network
In a Cisco wireless outdoor mesh network, multiple mesh access points comprise a network that provides
secure, scalable outdoor wireless LAN.
The three RAPs are connected to the wired network at each location and are located on the building roof. All
the downstream access points operate as MAPs and communicate using wireless links (not shown).
Both MAPs and RAPs can provide WLAN client access; however, the location of RAPs are often not suitable
for providing client access. All the three access points in are located on the building roofs and are functioning
as RAPs. These RAPs are connected to the network at each location.
Some of the buildings have onsite controllers to terminate CAPWAP sessions from the mesh access points
but it is not a mandatory requirement because CAPWAP sessions can be back hauled to a controller over a
wide-area network (WAN).
Wireless Backhaul
In a Cisco wireless backhaul network, traffic can be bridged between MAPs and RAPs. This traffic can be
from wired devices that are being bridged by the wireless mesh or CAPWAP traffic from the mesh access
points. This traffic is always AES encrypted when it crosses a wireless mesh link such as a wireless backhaul.
AES encryption is established as part of the mesh access point neighbor relationship with other mesh access
points. The encryption keys used between mesh access points are derived during the EAP authentication
process.
Only 5 GHz backhaul is possible on all mesh access points except 1522 in which either 2.4 or 5 GHz radio
can be configured as a backhaul radio (see Configuring Advanced Features).
Cisco Mesh Access Points, Design and Deployment Guide, Release 7.3
OL-27593-01 47
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