Grandstream GWN76 User Manual

Grandstream Networks, Inc.

GWN76XX Series

Mesh Network Guide

Table of Content
SUPPORTED DEVICES .................................................................................................	4
INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................	5
MESH NETWORK ARCHITECTURE .............................................................................	6
Terminology ...............................................................................................................................................	6
Mesh Network Architecture Models ...........................................................................................................	7
Chain Mode............................................................................................................................................	7
Star Mode ..............................................................................................................................................	7
Hierarchical Star Mode ..........................................................................................................................	8
MESH NETWORK PLANING .........................................................................................	9
CAP and RE Locating................................................................................................................................	9
Topology Considerations ...........................................................................................................................	9
Maximum Hops ......................................................................................................................................	9
Maximum number of directly connected REs for each CAP................................................................	10
Mesh Service Performance .....................................................................................................................	10
Mesh Service Degradation ......................................................................................................................	10
MESH DEPLOYMENT AND HANDLING PRECAUTIONS...........................................	13
MESH NETWORK SAMPLE CASE..............................................................................	14
Overview and Network Architecture ........................................................................................................	14
Mesh Configuration Steps .......................................................................................................................	14
Maintenance and Verification ..................................................................................................................	15

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GWN76XX Series Mesh Network Guide

Table of Figures
Figure 1: Mesh Network Typical Design .......................................................................................................	6
Figure 2: Mesh Network - Chain Mode .........................................................................................................	7
Figure 3: Mesh Network - Star Mode ............................................................................................................	7
Figure 4: Mesh Network - Hierarchical Mode................................................................................................	8
Figure 5: Sample Topology .........................................................................................................................	11
Figure 6: Mesh Network Use Case .............................................................................................................	14
Figure 7: Access Points Status ...................................................................................................................	15
Figure 8: GWN Mesh Settings ....................................................................................................................	16
Figure 9: Access Points Mesh Topology .....................................................................................................	16
Figure 10: Access Point Configuration Items ..............................................................................................	17
Figure 11: Mesh Links Signal Strength .......................................................................................................	18

Table of Tables
Table 1: Supported Devices ..........................................................................................................................	4
Table 2: Acronyms Table ...............................................................................................................................	6
Table 3: GWN76XX Max. Coverage Range..................................................................................................	9
Table 4: Number of Clients per AP Model ...................................................................................................	10

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GWN76XX Series Mesh Network Guide

SUPPORTED DEVICES

Following table shows Grandstream networking products supporting Mesh network feature:

					Table 1: Supported Devices
	Model				Supported				Firmware
	GWN7610				Yes				1.0.7.12 or higher
	GWN7600				Yes				1.0.5.13 or higher
	GWN7600LR				Yes				1.0.5.13 or higher
	GWN7630				Yes				1.0.9.12 or higher
	GWN7630LR				Yes				1.0.15.6 or higher
	GWN7602				Yes (Only As RE)				1.0.3.4 or higher
	GWN7605				Yes				1.0.15.20 or higher
	GWN7605LR				Yes				1.0.15.20 or higher
	GWN7615				Yes				1.0.15.20 or higher

Note

GWN7602 mesh feature only support RE (Repeater) role and cannot be cascading downward.

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GWN76XX Series Mesh Network Guide

INTRODUCTION

Wireless Mesh Network is a wireless extension of the traditional wired network using multiple access points connected through wireless links to areas where wired access is not an option while also expanding the coverage of the WLAN network.

In the traditional WLAN network, the uplink of the AP is a wired network (usually an Ethernet Link):

The advantages of a wired network are security, anti-interference and stable bandwidth.

The disadvantages are high construction cost, long period of planning and deployment, and difficulty of change in case a modification is needed.

However, these are precisely the advantages of wireless networks. As a result, Wireless Mesh Network is an effective complement of wired network.

In addition, Mesh networking provides a mechanism for network redundancy. When an abnormality occurs in a wired network, an AP suffering the uplink failure can keep the data service continuity through its Mesh network.

The following list summarizes the advantages of using Mesh Wireless Network technology in conjunction with wired LANs:

Rapid Deployment: Mesh network equipment is easy to set up and can be set up in a few hours, while the traditional wired + wireless network needs more time.

Network Redundancy: Improve network reliability.

Increasing network coverage dynamically: By continuously adding Mesh nodes, the coverage of Mesh networks can rapidly increase

Flexible networking: APs can join or leave the network at any time as needed, which makes the network more flexible.

More application scenarios: Mesh networks can be widely used in different scenarios such as warehouses, port terminals and emergency communications, in addition to the common scenarios of traditional WLAN networks such as corporate networks and office networks.

Cost-effective: In Mesh network, only CAP nodes need access of wired network, so that the dependence on the wired network can be reduced to the minimum, and this could save a lot cost on purchasing wired devices and installing cables.

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GWN76XX Series Mesh Network Guide

MESH NETWORK ARCHITECTURE

Terminology

A typical Mesh network architecture is as below:

Figure 1: Mesh Network Typical Design

The following acronyms table explain the different components and words associated to this kind of architecture:

						Table 2: Acronyms Table
		Acronym				Description
		AP				A generic wireless access point which can be either a CAP or a
						RE.
						Central AP, an AP using a wired uplink. Master AP must be a
		CAP				wired CAP.
		RE				Range Extender, an AP using a wireless uplink.
						A regular wireless station/client (Smartphone, Tablet, Laptop.
		STA				Etc).
						A wireless uplink that is connecting two REs or one RE to a
		Mesh Link				CAP, it uses one of existing WiFi bands (2.4GHz or 5GHz).
						A wireless link between an AP and a STA, used for transferring
		Service Link				actual user data.
						These terms refer to High Throughput 40MHz or 80MHz, which is
		HT40, HT80				a technique used by 802.11n/ac device to combine multiple
						20MHz channels to have more data throughput.
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						GWN76XX Series Mesh Network Guide