Analysis on the improvement of the integrated network cabling system

The integrated network cabling system has developed rapidly. However, with the continuous technological innovation, the wireless mesh network structure of the integrated network cabling system is constantly improved, this article mainly explains the mesh network technology and hopes to help you.

A wlan mesh network without the need for a comprehensive network cabling system allows the deployment of a large-scale wireless network, without requiring each access point to be physically connected to the wired network.

Wireless Networks cannot be disconnected from wired networks. All wireless network access points are connected to the Ethernet LAN through cables. The problem of the integrated network cabling system may not be a major issue in a general building or in a lively cafe, but in some impractical environments of the integrated network cabling system, what will happen? Or what if you need to quickly redeploy the existing wireless network, or if you need to create a new network to complete an upcoming activity? Or what if I want to provide Wi-Fi for a university, enterprise Park, or commercial district? In these circumstances, the wireless mesh network technology may be the solution.

DARPA, an International Institute of Advanced Research, began researching network technology for battlefield communications in the middle of 1990s. Shortly after, some research and development companies like SRI International began to study wireless mesh networks, and many emerging companies now say this technology will help them change the prospects of the wireless field.

In short, a wireless mesh network uses a topology consisting of redundant connections between nodes to create a self-configured, self-healing network. Because many nodes do not need to be connected to the network, the mesh network reduces the need for expensive return lines and provides additional benefits, such as dynamic route optimization and automatic load balancing.

Mesh Network

Not all network topologies are equivalent in the beginning. Some networks contain customer devices, but most do not.

In a pure customer network, every device in the network, including laptops, PDAs, and smart phones, can deliver services to other devices, in this way, users can "jump" over neighboring devices or wireless routers to communicate with each other and establish contact with the wired network. This "multi-hop" capability creates a mesh network that automatically bypasses the congestion path.

In an infrastructure mesh network, access points and wireless routers transmit services back to the wired network. In the field of infrastructure, Tropos, Firetide, and BelAir are the main representatives. "In our system, clients are not involved in the mesh network," said Bert Williams, vice president of marketing at Tropos. They are connected to the mesh network, but the mesh network is composed of infrastructure devices ."

MeshNetworks and PacketHop allow clients to actively participate in the mesh network, but it is inaccurate to call them pure customer mesh networks. On the contrary, both companies rely on infrastructure nodes as the core of the mesh network. Then, once a network infrastructure consisting of an access point or router is established, the client can expand the coverage area, fill the coverage gap, and directly communicate with neighboring devices.

Michael Howse, CEO of PacketHop, said: "I am actually willing to separate the networked world. Instead of comparing the customer network with the infrastructure network, the fixed network and the mobile network. A fixed mesh network concatenates access points. There is only one wired node that provides a detour, and there are other wireless nodes on the same subnet ." Howse said, "This is very beneficial. The wireless mesh network node provides a wider coverage and information allocation. The problem with this model is that it will compete with Cisco, Proxim, Symbol and some other access point service providers ."

Fixed mesh networks are a cable replacement strategy. Strix systems companies said they are primarily competing with cable installation companies. Bob Jordan, vice president of marketing at Strix, said: "Our mesh network technology allows you to deploy WLAN in areas where Ethernet is difficult, expensive, or impossible ."

"Strix has recently achieved wireless connectivity in a prison," said Jordan. The prison worried that it would be difficult to install Ethernet throughout the prison. Using The Strix solution, several loose messaging nodes can support a large network composed of nodes similar to wireless access points, which can be located in any place with a power outlet ."

Similarly, Bert Williams, vice president of marketing at Tropos, said the cable replacement strategy provided opportunities in the near future. "If you look at the traditional WLAN deployment, you will find that 90% of the installation cost is directly related to the integrated network cabling system," he said ." According to Howse of PackHops, the fixed mesh network lacks flexibility. In a fixed mesh network, when a client moves from an access point to another access point, communication is lost and a new connection is required. Peter Stanforth, Technical Director of MeshNetwork, said the main problem with fixed mesh networks is that they follow outdated ideas in the Wired mesh network world.

There are two problems: first, the wireless media is not reliable compared with the wired network. For example, if you look at the Internet routing protocol, the main physical layer is very stable, not for wireless. Second, mobile devices are constrained.

Perter Stanforth indicates that devices with limited power always try to solve problems related to power, distance and data transmission rate, but only two of them can be solved. "For specific power, either a long distance or high traffic can be obtained. This is a typical compromise-a compromise that uses the 802.11 standard. 802.11g has a better distance, while 802.11a has a higher traffic ).

The mesh network relieves this problem. Mobile network companies believe that terminal devices are the key to balancing distance and coverage. Vendors are also adopting different methods in terms of products designed for indoor use or outdoor use. For example, BelAir and Tropos determine "cellular Wi-Fi" as outdoor applications, while Strix focuses on indoor deployment.
Network companies seem to be in conflict with WLAN vendors. For example, a city in Oregon recently chose a wireless mesh network to replace WLAN and provide access to voice, video, data, and location services for public security and municipal engineering institutions. Doug Townsend, city Director of Technical Services, said: "When using a coverage area, most 802.11 Wireless Networks require customers to separate from access points and then reconnect. With a wireless mesh network, there will be no frequent disconnection or delay in the integrated network cabling system that requires re-connection, it also avoids common bandwidth reduction in most 802.11 wireless systems when you are away from access points."

"If you look at the WLAN switch space, there will be two ways, companies like Trapeze and Airspace will pursue thin access points and centralized intelligence, while Cisco believes in smart fat access points. Mesh networks provide a third method that can coexist with any of the selected architectures ."

The mesh network provides a single point for network management, while pushing intelligence to the network for optimal routing and automatic load balancing. Therefore, if the network has a third-party access point and a small amount of intelligence, the mesh network can increase intelligence for wireless nodes. If you have a fat access point, the mesh network provides a centralized control point. Therefore, the real difference between a mesh network and a WLAN is a cable.

Ike Nassi, Technical Director of Firetide networks, added: "Our mesh network solution simplifies installation and just needs to be connected to the AC power supply. The mesh network software is self-configured and self-adjusted. In addition to limiting expensive cables, it also saves site surveys ."

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