Frequently Asked Questions about EAP Mesh Network

Q&A of functional explanation or specification parameters

Updated 11-26-2021 02:45:59 AM

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This Article Applies to:

Mesh is a new feature for Omada EAP Solution which will help a lot in Outdoor Wi-Fi deployment in complicated environment. Here are some
frequently asked questions for EAP Mesh Network you may encounter in Mesh configuration or deployment:

Q1: What is EAP Mesh Network? Is it a new hardware product?

No, EAP Mesh is NOT a new hardware product. It is a new feature based on EAP product that will allow you to deploy EAP wirelessly after
upgraded to specific firmware.

Q2: Which model of EAP can I use to build a Mesh network?

A: Please check the available firmware for your EAP model on TP-Link Official Website (https://www.tp-link.com). If you can see “Add support for
Mesh networking” in the firmware release note, it means this model of EAP supports Mesh network after upgraded to this or later firmware. For
example, only EAP225-Outdoor supports Mesh after upgraded to EAP225-Outdoor (EU) _V1_1.3.0 Build 180614 or later firmware.

Q3: Does Mesh network require Omada Controller to keep running?

Yes, all the Mesh related configuration should be done in the Omada Controller. And if you want to use Mesh network, please keep your Omada
Controller running. To build Mesh network, you’ll need Omada Controller 2.7.0 or higher version.

Note: If your Omada Controller is accidentally shut down, as long as the Mesh relationships among Mesh APs are not changed, the Mesh network
can maintain the basic Wi-Fi coverage, but it can’t be managed or changed, the Auto Failover/Fast Roaming and most of the advanced features
will not work.

Q4: What is Hop/Uplink/Mesh AP/Root AP/Uplink AP/Downlink AP?

Here are the explanation about these basic concepts in EAP Mesh network. These concepts will be mentioned in the following questions and
answers.

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Concepts Explanation
 Uplink Data link between AP and its direct front-end EAP device.

Root AP The wired AP in a Mesh network.

Mesh AP AP with wireless uplink.

The AP provide wireless uplink for Mesh AP will be called the Uplink
Uplink AP
AP for this Mesh AP.

The Mesh AP connect to other AP wirelessly will be called as

Downlink AP
Downlink AP for the other AP.

Hop The relative distance between Mesh AP and Root AP.

Here is a picture showing the relationships between these concepts:

Q5: How to configure my EAP work as a Mesh network?

Q6: What do I need to pay attention to when deploying a wireless Mesh AP?

Q7: What’s the recommend capacity/coverage of EAP Mesh network?

Q8: How to improve the wireless performance of EAP Mesh network?

(1) Use as less Hop as possible in Mesh network to improve the wireless performance.

Due to the half-duplex characteristics of wireless communication and the signal loss during transmission, the wireless performance will drop
inevitably alone with the hop increase in Mesh network.
So to reduce the hop number in a Mesh network, use star topology instead of chain topology. Star topology with less hops usually has a
better wireless performance compared with chain topology.

(2) Make sure that most of the wireless clients connect to Root AP or 1-Hop AP(s).

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AP and 1-Hop Mesh AP usually have better wireless performance than 2 or 3-Hop AP.
 So when choosing the site to deploy Root AP and 1-Hop AP, please choose the position that can cover most of the wireless clients.

Q9: What is “Auto Failover” and how does it work?

Q10: Can EAP Mesh products work with Deco Mesh products?

Looking for More

[General] Omada SDN
[General] Omada Compatibility List
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