What are the best practices for wireless mesh network?

03/26/2020 31 8957

DESCRIPTION:

With the new wireless launch in May 2019, SonicWall SonicWave access points can now be configured for mesh in order to allow rapid deployment of wireless infrastructure in where the LAN connectivity is limited 

System Requirements 

1) SonicWall SonicWave access points with active subscription license

• SonicWave 200 series: SonicWave 231c, 224w, 231o 
• SonicWave 400 series: SonicWave 432e, 432i, 432o

2) Mobile device (Apple/Android) with SonicWiFi mobile app version 1.0.8 or newer.

Follow mesh set up please see: https://www.sonicwall.com/support/knowledge-base/190727124420032

Mesh Terms

• AP: Access Point
• Mesh-Point-Portal (or Mesh-GateWay): Access point connected to network via wire. Acts as gateway for other APs which are connected to it via wireless.
• Mesh-Point (or Mesh-Node): Access point(s) which are not connected to wired network, but rather connected to a Mesh Gateway.

CAUSE:

Ethernet connectivity is not available in all areas of the wireless network

RESOLUTION:

For best results try to follow below guidelines:

1) Register access point. Use SonicWiFi mobile app to register the access point.

2) Update the firmware. Upon registration success go to wifi cloud manager and update the firmware for all access points.

3) For ease of deployment leave the radio channel to "auto", or make sure all access points are configured on the same channel.

4) If possible, place the access points within line of site (LOS) of one another. That ensures best connectivity performance between the two access points.

5) When available, use Mesh Gateways for better performance

6) Place the access points in a way such an alternate route is available in case of an access point failure. Note the failure could happen to both Mesh Gateway or Mesh Nodes.

7) Use maximum of 3 hops. With each hop there is about 50% performance drop