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General Information
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February 3, 2006
• Vol.28 Issue 5
Page(s) 30 in print issue
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New Frontiers In Mesh Networking
Use This Technology To Meet Tricky Wireless Networking Requirements
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Wireless connectivity requirements are growing more complex as organizations face challenges in terms of facility physical obstructions, security, and expensive cabling. Enter mesh networking, sometimes called wireless mesh networking, which enables continuous wireless connections between the nodes on the mesh network. PSTNs (Publicly Switched Telephone Networks) and the Internet are two examples of the mesh networking you use every day. When signals on a mesh network encounter an obstruction, the signal “hops” from mesh network node to node until it can establish a wireless connection.
Mesh nodes such as Firetide’s HotPort 3100 Indoor Mesh Node are plug and play and are an extension of your existing wired/wireless network.
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Mesh networking is a hardware solution using a hardware node or nodes to create a mesh network. Mesh networks are decentralized, and the mesh node or nodes composing a facility’s mesh network can secure the best routes for the wireless signal while connecting to multiple nodes on the mesh network. Typically, three to five signal routes remain open full-time to carry wireless networking signals.
 Mesh Networking’s Allure
Mesh networks thrive in environments where the coverage area is extensive, such as outdoors, and in interiors with line of sight obstructions that can’t be traversed with one or two network hops. Another case for mesh networking is temporary wireless networks such as those for a conference or other special event.
Mesh networking has many advantages over traditional wireless networking, especially in a small to midsized enterprise environment. As a networking technology, mesh networking also thrives in atypical scenarios where traditional wireless networking stumbles, such as warehouse environments or structures that contain lots of steel and wiring that interfere with signals broadcast from traditional wireless routers. Additionally, the cost of adding mesh network nodes to extend your existing network is oftentimes more economical than running Ethernet cable.
While mesh networks are gaining ground in such applications as hospitality networks, public and private Wi-Fi hotzones, and healthcare and campus environments, SMEs can look to mesh networking solutions for secure, redundant, and flexible wireless networking.
Magnus Gunnarsson, vice president of product management for Firetide, a mesh networking hardware manufacturer, says, “Mesh technology has been around since the ’70s and is now being packaged for more commercial uses. Wi-Fi is the driver behind mesh networking, but ultimately there is a paradox to building wireless networks. Running wires to access points is expensive. With mesh networking, there is no need for running new Ethernet.”
According to Gunnarsson, “Mesh networking adds security and redundancy to your network.” Unlike traditional Wi-Fi networks, mesh is self-healing and resilient. Because of the nature of mesh networking, it eliminates single points of failure. Mesh networking hardware can accommodate three layers of security, including basic WEP (Wireless Encryption Protocol) and up to 256-bit AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) encryption.
Mesh Networks can support multiple VLANs (virtual local-area networks) on one physical trunk of your network or across your enterprise network.
While mesh nodes as a hardware device may share some kinship with wired or wireless access points, it’s important to see mesh networking via mesh nodes as a way to extend your existing wired and wireless network. A mesh network is fully compatible and interoperable with all the major networking protocols, including VPN tunnels, IPv6, and other major standards. Additionally, a mesh network as a VPN switch can support non-IP protocols including NetBIOS, SNA, and AppleTalk.
Mesh Networking As A Wireless Networking Alternative
The startup costs for implementing a mesh node or nodes in your SME are for a complete hardware/software solution. There is no requirement for specialized services engagements to install the hardware. However, some situations, such as dealing with facilities that include a lot of steel or other heavy obstructions, may require a site survey. Firetide’s Gunnarsson, speaking from experience, ranks buildings with a lot of steel infrastructure as a tricky situation requiring a site survey, so the radio signals from mesh nodes can traverse the obstructions.
Mesh nodes are plug and play. Take, for example, the HotPort 3100 Indoor Mesh Node from Firetide (www.firetide.com). You can plug the mesh node directly into an open network port using an Ethernet cable. The mesh node includes its own management and configuration software to get your mesh network up and running in under an hour, according to Gunnarsson.
After plugging the mesh node into an existing network, the attached mesh node becomes an Internet gateway, and if you are deploying multiple mesh nodes, the nodes will find each other to form the mesh network.
Another appeal of mesh networks is their integrated management software. When developing requirements for a mesh network, consider mesh networking solutions with intuitive centralized management tools that can manage single or multiple mesh networks from a single LAN or WAN. The management software should also include live monitoring over individual mesh nodes and the entire mesh network. 
by Will Kelly
Mesh Networking As A Physical Security Option
As post-9/11 security concerns and physical security requirements for compliancy programs such as Sarbox tax organizational security dollars, mesh networking is an attractive physical security option offering organizations an economic method of deploying video surveillance equipment. In fact, Firetide’s Magnus Gunnarsson says that 35% to 40% of the interest in Firetide’s mesh node hardware is from customers seeking to extend their physical security measures by deploying IP-based cameras from mesh nodes.
Much as you can deploy mesh nodes to extend your wireless network, you can do the same by implementing mesh networking nodes across a facility such as a warehouse and connecting IP-based cameras to a central management console via the mesh network connected to your existing wireless/Ethernet network. Think of the cost savings of not having to run wiring for security cameras throughout your facility. |
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