Wireless Mesh Networking

Marc Seignette mseignet@cisco.com Consulting System Engineer TMO Wireless - Europe & Emerging Markets

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Agenda
Ciscos Wireless Mesh Networking (WMN)
Ciscos WMN Solution Overview WMN Design and Deployment Summary

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The Industrys 1st Intelligent Wireless Mesh Solution

Engineered with Ease of Deployment & Management as Top-of-Mind
Identical Indoor/Outdoor Management Based on LWAPP

Self-Configuring, Self-Healing Mesh

Controller

Zero-Touch Configuration Ciscos new Adaptive Wireless Path (AWP) Protocol

Robust Embedded Security Provides Seamless L3 Mobility

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Wireless Mesh Networking Architecture

Scalable Architecture Client Innovation

Adaptive Wireless Path Protocol

Best-in-Class Management Secure Control Dynamic Foundation Reliable Hardware

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Outdoor Wireless Mesh Solution Components

Cisco Wireless Control Systems

Wireless Mesh Management System Enables networkwide policy configuration and device management Supports SNMP and Syslog

Cisco Wireless LAN Controller

Links the Wireless Mesh APs to the wired network Handles RF algorithms and optimization Seamless L3 Mobility Provides Security and Mobility Mgt

Roof-top Access Point

Serves as Root or Gateway AP to the wired network Typically located on roof-tops or towers Connects up to 32 Pole-top APs using 802.11a

Mesh Access Point

Provides 802.11b/g client access Connects to Root AP via 802.11a Takes AC or DC power; PoE capable Ethernet port for connecting peripheral devices

Reliable Hardware
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Industry Proven Devices at Every Layer

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Aironet 1500 Lightweight Mesh AP

Fixed Configuration, Dual Radio Outdoor AP
802.11b/g - access; 802.11a - backhaul S/W Upgradeable to 4.9GHz in Beringer (Mar 06)

NEMA-4/IP66 Enclosure
Dimensions 13 x 6 x 8 Weight < 12 lbs Horizontal/Vertical swivel mounting brackets

Industrial Grade Power Supply

Local AC Power (95 260 VAC, 47 to 63 Hz) Street Light Power Tap DC Power over CAT5 (48 VDC)

Wind Loads
Sustaining: 100 Mph Gusts: 160 Mph

Temperature ranges -40C to +55C

Reliable Hardware
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Ciscos Intensive MDVT and EDVT Standards

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Aironet 1500 Lightweight Mesh AP, Cont.

Bi-directional Amplifier for increased Transmit/Receive Power
2.4 GHz - 24dBm 5GHz - 28dBm

Embedded 4.9 GHz Band

Firmware Upgrade required (Beringer) 20 MHz channel, 17 dBm Power

Two SKUs
AIR-LAP 1510 AG-A-K9 FCC Conf. AIR-LAP 1510 AG-N-K9 Non FCC

48 V DC/Ethernet 110AC/48Vdc Room for Power expansion 5312 Brd 2.4 / 5.7 GHz Bi-directional Amplifiers

AC Power

AC Power 48 VDCEthernet-

Europe SKU with Amberhill+EMEA-Capt

DFS/TPC support 2.4 GHz channels 12,13 & 14

Weather Proof Outdoor Enclosure

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2.4 GHz N Connector

5GHz N Connector

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Current State of 5 GHz Bridging Spectrum

5.825 4.94 4.99 5.15 5.25 5.35 5.470
11 Channels 5 Channels 20 dBm

5.725

5.850

2 Channels

4 Channels 4 Channels

US (FCC)
Conducted Power Tx Output Power

UNII-1
17 dBm

UNII-2
24 dBm

1500 AP
TBD

ISM 30 dBm 4 Channels

UNII-3, 30 dBm

Spectral Mask Designators (20 MHz)

Europe
Radiated Power EIRP (with Antenna)

23 dBm

23 dBm

30 dBm

Japan

DFS + TPC
Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) Target Power Control (TPC)

Hub Radios Licensed

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Dynamic, Intelligent Path Selection

Controller

Adaptive Wireless Path (AWP) Protocol

Cisco AWP is part of the IEEE 802.11s committee (SEE Mesh)

AWP establishes an optimal path to Root Each AP carries feasible successor(s) if topology or link health changes
Note: AWP uses a parent sticky value to mitigate route flaps

Dynamic Foundation
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Self-configuring, Self-healing, Dynamic Path Optimization

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How is the network formed?

Upon boot, an AP checks its state, if it is a RAP it enters the Maintain state Otherwise, it actively solicits neighboring APs (Seek state) AP selects the best parent from the available list of parents AP Authenticates to the Mesh The AP then enters Maintain state; responds to solicitations
Solicitation makes convergence faster, leaving more time for data transfer
maintain authenticate

Adaptive Wireless Path Protocol

start

seek

sync

Dynamic Foundation
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Extensible Hybrid Distance-Vector Protocol

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Understanding Path Selection

Routing uses a concept of Ease (inverse of Cost) Route with the highest Adjusted Ease is taken Unadjusted ease is the minimum of all unadjusted links in the path to the RAP Adjusted ease is a hop count adjusted ease
Minimize latency Minimize errors Minimize use of the shared channel
To prevent flopping of the link, a premium of 20% is given to the selected parent
Ease 873812 PAP Ease 873812 20 dB Ease 262144 PAP 20 dB 18 dB RAP

Preferred Path, Adjusted Ease= 436906 > 262144

Dynamic Foundation
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Adaptive Wireless Path Protocol Creates the Best Path

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Providing Security at Each Step

Secure Mobile Client Components VPN client Mobile Client

AP X.509 Certificate Authentication

Secure Mobile Infrastructure Mobile IP Home Agent VPN Gateway

802.1x + WPA2/AES VLAN-1

Controller

H/W AES for Backhaul Links

IPSec VPN

Dynamic WLAN VLAN Assignment + 802.11i WPA/WPA2 Security

Identity-based Networking for VLAN Assignment 16 MBSSIDs for various authentication types

HW-based AES encrypted Backhaul Links AP Authentication protects against imitation APs Encrypted Control Traffic between AP and Controller IPSec VPNs for confidential mesh client traffic
Ciscos new Mobile VPN Client provides IPSec roaming between mobile infrastructures

Secure Control
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Delivering Mission-Critical WiFi Access

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Adding Controller Intelligence to Outdoor Networks

Automatic Service loadbalancing across Wireless LAN Controllers

LWAPP communicates controller load to APs

Dynamic RF Optimization
Adaptive Channel Assignment Intelligent TX_Pwr Levels

Integrated Wireless IDS Per User/VLAN Traffic Rate Limiting

Rogue AP

Secure Control
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Delivering Mission-Critical WiFi Access

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Ciscos Award Winning Management Solution

Identical Management Software and RM Features as Indoor Solution SOAP/XML interfaces for NMS integration Detailed AP, Radio information including
Noise and Interference by Channel Neighbors lists and RSSI detail Link Metrics, PER, Tx/Rx detail

Link Tests Tools for RAP-to-PAP troubleshooting SNR and Noise Floor Histograms

Best-in-Class Management Easy to Deploy, Easy to Manage

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Mesh Enhancements in WCS

NEW

Mesh Topology Map

Coverage Areas/Maps, Mesh Link Detail, Mesh AP Detail,
NEW

Mesh Statistics
Parent, Child, Neighbor Relationships
NEW

Mesh Network SNR Graphs

Link Details, SNR Uplink, SNR Downlink

NEW

Mesh Network Link Graphs

Link SNR, Unadjusted Link, Adjusted Link, Parent Link Metric

Mesh Client Link Test

Packets, Error Rates, Signal Strengths, Noise, etc

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Outdoor Coverage Area

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Outdoor Mesh and Bridging Maps

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Cisco Compatible Extensions

NAC Posture Svrs

Unified User and Policy Configuration

AAA
WCS Mgmt

VPN Controller

Identical AAA Services for VPN, Internet, Indoor WLAN, etc Same IPSec Clients and Concentrators

Self-Defending Network
Healthy WLAN Healthy WLAN

Common Management Station

New Indoor WLAN features are Inherited by the Mesh Solution

Cisco Compatible eXtensions
90% of all client WiFi silicon is CCXenabled Wireless NAC, Fast-secure Roaming, Neighbor List, etc

VoWLAN/Dual-mode Phones (Future!)

http://www.cisco.com/go/ciscocompatible/wireless

Client Innovation
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Making the Client Connected Easy

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Easily Adding Capacity and Services

VLANs
Police City Public Traffic
24 Cntrls per cluster 32 MAPs per RAP

Increase AP Density Add Root/Gateway APs

Pole-top APs will join new RAPs with better path metrics

Easily add Controllers

Up to 24 controllers can be part of an N+1 cluster

16 MBSSIDs

802.11e QoS Capable + Traffic Ratelimiting for hog mitigation

802.11e QoS in Beringer (Mar 06)

Architecture is ready for additional radios when extra capacity is required

8 Hops deep

Scalable Architecture
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Reliable, Secure, Manageable, Service-Ready Architecture

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WIRELESS MESH NETWORKING DESIGN AND DEPLOYMENT

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Recommended Values
VLANs
Police City Public Traffic
24 Cntrls per cluster 20 MAPs per RAP

20 Pole-Top Access Points for 1 Roof-Top Access Point (failover planning) 3 to 4 hops to cross before reaching the RAP (backhaul capacity planning) Up to 3600 APs with Seamless Roaming capability (12 WiSM type controllers). Up to 16 MBSSIDs

16 MBSSIDs

3-4 Hops deep

Scalable Architecture
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Reliable, Secure, Manageable, Service-Ready Architecture

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802.11a 5GHz Backhaul Distances

RAP

PAP

1000 feet is the typical distance between the nodes

Path Loss exponent 2.3 to 2.7

PAP 1000 Feet

Link Budget Window 123 ~ 130 dB

One Square Mile, 9 cells

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2.4 GHz Local Access Distances

Path Loss exponent 2.5 to 3.0 600 feet (Typical distance)

Link Budget Window 109 ~115 dB PAP Higher PLE due to Ground-level Noise and Interference

One Square Mile, 25 cells

PAP

PAP

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Data Rates
802.11b 802.11g 802.11a 1,2,5.5,11 1,2,5.5,11,6,9,12,18,24,36,48,54 6,9,12,18,24,36,48,54

18 Mbps is the default fixed rate set for the backhaul

We recommend to use 18 Mbps as the data rate for the backhaul Data rates for all the APs in a bridge group must match

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Why is 18Mbps the Sweet Spot

36-54Mbps

12-24Mbps

6-9Mbps

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Typical Throughput and Latency

Avg 2-3 msec latency per hops

HOPS Throughput

One ~10Mbps

Two ~5Mbps

Three ~3Mbps

Four up to 1Mbps *

* more data to be collected

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Understanding RAP Coverage Areas

RF Shadow close to building; Poor SNR

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18Mbps Coverage Area; SNR >20 dB

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Beyond RF Coverage Area; Poor SNR

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Applying RAP Coverage Areas to Designs

1 hop to RAP

2 hops to RAP

2 hops to RAP

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Practical Mesh Coverage Models

Ch 149 Ch 153 Ch 157 Ch 161

A Wired POP Bldg might have 4 RAPs Each RAP has 20-25 Mesh APs (MAPs)
2 Miles

Each Path Tree on same 11a Channel Almost all MAPs within 1-2 hops of RAP

2 Miles
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How Designs Affect Mesh Convergence

Mesh is in Maintain State and passing traffic wiring closet switch port is disabled (True story)

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How Designs Affect Mesh Convergence, Cont.

RAP becomes disconnected from Wired Network

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How Designs Affect Mesh Convergence, Cont.

Mesh APs and old RAP, now a MAP, link to surrounding RAP Trees

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Mesh AP Re-convergence Sequence

1. Sense Disconnect 2. Scan Backhaul for Neighbors 3. Establish Optimal Path (Ease) to new RAP 4. Authenticate to Parent; establish Mesh Tree 5. Re-DHCP (if necessary) 6. Connect to Controller 7. Begin Passing Traffic
Static IP Address DHCP (Single VLAN) DHCP (Multiple VLANs)

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Simple Configuration; Fast Convergence

AP Using Static IP Addresses
Static IP Addresses on all APs If RAP Connection Fails, Mesh AP will converge to RAP on same IP Subnet No DHCP Release/Renew Required
Si

VLAN_Open VLAN_PS VLAN_Utility VLAN_Muni

Si

VLAN 100

VLAN_PS VLAN_Open
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VLAN_Muni VLAN_Utility

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Simple Configuration; Fast Convergence

AP Using Dynamic IP Addresses
DHCP Used on Mesh APs (Zero-touch Config Mode) If RAP Connection Fails, Mesh AP will converge to RAP on same IP Subnet Shared VLAN; No DHCP Release/Renew RequiredRequires Shared VLAN
Si Si

VLAN_Open VLAN_PS VLAN_Utility VLAN_Muni

VLAN 100

VLAN_PS VLAN_Open
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VLAN_Muni VLAN_Utility

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Simple Configuration; Fast Convergence

AP Using Dynamic IP Addresses
DHCP Used on Mesh APs (Zerotouch Config Mode) If RAP Connection Fails, Mesh AP may converge to RAP on different IP Subnet DHCP Release/Renew Required
VLAN_Open VLAN_PS VLAN_Utility VLAN_Muni

Si

Si

VLAN 100

VLAN 200

VLAN_PS VLAN_Open
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VLAN_Muni VLAN_Utility

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SUMMARY

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Wireless Mesh Networking

Summary
The explosion of standardsbased WiFi clients is redefining the network edge Ciscos Best-in-Class Indoor/Outdoor Wireless Solution changes the game Wired+Wireless Integration enables unified policy definition and management Ciscos Wireless Mesh Networking Architecture is secure, reliable, scalable and easy to deploy and manage !
Scalable Architecture
Client Innovation Best-in-Class Management Secure Control Dynamic Foundation Reliable Hardware
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Controller

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