Brocade Mobility 5181 Access Point Product Reference Guide (Supporting software release 4.4.0.0) - Manual (Page 381)

Brocade Mobility 5181 Access Point Product Reference Guide 367
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Configuring mesh networking support
9
Configuring the access point radio for mesh support
An access point radio intended for use within a mesh network requires configuration attributes
unique from a radio intended for non-mesh support.This section describes how to configure an
access point radio for mesh network support.
To configure the access point radio for mesh networking support:
NOTE
The dual-radio model access point affords users better optimization of the mesh network feature by
allowing the access point to transmit to other access points (in base or client bridge mode) using
one independent radio and transmit with its associated devices using the second independent
radio. A single-radio access point has its channel utilization and throughput degraded in a mesh
network, as the AP’s single radio must process both mesh network traffic with other access points
and Client traffic with its associated devices.
1. Select Network Configuration -> Wireless -> Radio Configuration from the Mobility 5181
Access Point menu tree.
2. Enable the radio(s) using the Enable checkbox(es) for both Radio 1 and Radio 2.
Refer to RF Band of Operation parameter to ensure you are enabling the correct 802.11a or
802.11b/g radio. After the settings are applied within this Radio Configuration screen, the
Radio Status and Clients connected values update. If this is an existing radio within a mesh
network, these values update in real-time.
CAUTION
If a radio is disabled, be careful not to accidentally configure a new WLAN, expecting the radio to
be operating when you have forgotten it was disabled.
3. Select the Base Bridge checkbox to allow the access point radio to accept client bridge
connections from other access points in client bridge mode. The base bridge is the acceptor of
mesh network data from those client bridges within the mesh network and never the initiator.
CAUTION
A problem could arise if a Base Bridge’s Indoor channel is not available on an Outdoor Client
Bridge's list of available channels. As long as an Outdoor Client Bridge has the Indoor Base
Bridge channel in its available list of channels, it can associate to the Base Bridge.
4. If the Base Bridge checkbox has been selected, use the Max# Client Bridges parameter to
define the client bridge load on a particular base bridge.
The maximum number of client bridge connections per access point radio is 12, with 24
representing the maximum for dual-radio models.
CAUTION
An access point in Base Bridge mode logs out whenever a Client Bridge associates to the Base
Bridge over the LAN connection. This problem is not experienced over the access point’s WAN
connection. If this situation is experienced, log-in to the access point again.