A switched mesh is a wireless mesh network that uses multiple radios to communicate via dedicated mesh backhaul

Backhaul (telecommunications)

In a hierarchical telecommunications network the backhaul portion of the network comprises the intermediate links between the core network, or backbone, of the network and the small subnetworks at the "edge" of the entire hierarchical network...

 links to each neighboring node in the mesh. Here all of the available bandwidth

Bandwidth (computing)

In computer networking and computer science, bandwidth, network bandwidth, data bandwidth, or digital bandwidth is a measure of available or consumed data communication resources expressed in bits/second or multiples of it .Note that in textbooks on wireless communications, modem data transmission,...

 of each separate radio channel is dedicated to the link to the neighboring node. The total available bandwidth is the sum of the bandwidth of each of the links. Each dedicated mesh link is on a separate channel, ensuring that forwarded traffic does not use any bandwidth from any other link in the mesh. As a result, a switched mesh is capable of much higher capacities and transmission rates than a shared mesh

Shared mesh

A shared mesh is a wireless mesh network that uses a single radio to communicate via mesh backhaul links to all the neighboring nodes in the mesh. This is a first generation mesh where the total available bandwidth of the radio channel is ‘shared’ between all the neighboring nodes in the mesh...

 and grows in capacity as nodes are added to the mesh.

A switched mesh node uses separate access and multiple mesh backhaul radios.

There are three distinct types of configuration of wireless mesh networking products in the market today. In the first type is a one radio provides both backhaul (packet relaying) and client services (access to a laptop). In the second is a one radio relayed packets over multiple hops while another provided client access. This significantly improved backhaul bandwidth and latency

Lag

Lag is a common word meaning to fail to keep up or to fall behind. In real-time applications, the term is used when the application fails to respond in a timely fashion to inputs...

. Third is a wireless mesh products use two or more radios for the backhaul for higher bandwidth and low latency. Third generation mesh products

History of wireless mesh networking

The core advantage of wireless mesh networks is their inherent ability to form a network on power up. Watch what happens in Fig 1, when the mesh nodes power up . The nodes hear each other's broadcast and form a network. Also watch what happens when a node fails and how the nodes discover an...

 are replacing previous generation products as more demanding applications like voice and video need to be relayed wirelessly over many hops of the mesh network.

See also

• Aruba Networks
• Shared mesh
  Shared mesh
  A shared mesh is a wireless mesh network that uses a single radio to communicate via mesh backhaul links to all the neighboring nodes in the mesh. This is a first generation mesh where the total available bandwidth of the radio channel is ‘shared’ between all the neighboring nodes in the mesh...
  
  
• Mesh networking
  Mesh networking
  Mesh networking is a type of networking where each node must not only capture and disseminate its own data, but also serve as a relay for other nodes, that is, it must collaborate to propagate the data in the network....
  
  
• Generations of mesh networks
  History of wireless mesh networking
  The core advantage of wireless mesh networks is their inherent ability to form a network on power up. Watch what happens in Fig 1, when the mesh nodes power up . The nodes hear each other's broadcast and form a network. Also watch what happens when a node fails and how the nodes discover an...
  
  
• IEEE 802.11
  IEEE 802.11
  IEEE 802.11 is a set of standards for implementing wireless local area network computer communication in the 2.4, 3.6 and 5 GHz frequency bands. They are created and maintained by the IEEE LAN/MAN Standards Committee . The base version of the standard IEEE 802.11-2007 has had subsequent...
  
  
• 802.16
• Wireless LAN
  Wireless LAN
  A wireless local area network links two or more devices using some wireless distribution method , and usually providing a connection through an access point to the wider internet. This gives users the mobility to move around within a local coverage area and still be connected to the network...
  
  
• Wi-Fi
  Wi-Fi
  Wi-Fi or Wifi, is a mechanism for wirelessly connecting electronic devices. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player, can connect to the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point has a range of about 20...