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Ruckus Wireless SmartMesh is a unique,
new approach to building
high-performance wireless LANs (WLANs).
It reduces cumbersome RF planning and
costly cable backhaul by lowering the
need to run Ethernet wiring to
individual ZoneFlex Smart Wi-Fi access
points. SmartMesh dramatically
simplifies, speeds and reduces the cost
of WLAN deployment. With SmartMesh,
enterprises now simply plug ZoneFlex
access points into any convenient power
source, and walk away. No extensive RF
site surveys, cable runs, configuration,
or optimization adjustments are
required.
SmartMesh delivers three key
ingredients that have previously
hindered the use of indoor meshing:
- high performance by combining
802.11n with Smart Wi-Fi technology
- reliable connectivity between
mesh nodes, using best path
selection and interference avoidance
techniques
- ultra-simple deployment through
the automation of AP and mesh
provisioning
SmartMesh extends Ruckus-patented
Smart Wi- Fi technology to create a new
class of reliable and high-performance
wireless LANs that are selforganizing,
self-optimizing and self-healing. It is
the first Wi-Fi meshing approach that
combines high-gain smart antenna arrays,
sophisticated RF routing and centralized
management with a single WLAN system
How Ruckus
SmartMesh Works
With SmartMesh,
each ZoneFlex AP
functions as a
wireless node within
the mesh. SmartMesh
uses antenna-ranking
techniques to
determine the best
upstream path
through the RF to
the backhaul AP.
SmartMesh
topology is
automatically
determined based on
the potential
throughput of each
node. Potential
throughput is the
actual throughput of
its uplink (i.e.,
how fast the uplink
AP can get a packet
to the wired
network) as well as
the potential
throughput to the
uplink AP. This is
based on the actual
throughput to the
uplink AP, signal
strength, and other
considerations such
as AP load and hop
count.
Each AP in the
mesh determines the
best mesh node with
which to associate.
Each upstream
ZoneFlex AP
continually
advertises its Smart
Mesh characteristics
including its own
potential throughput
and the path through
which it is
connected to the
wired network. This
allows other APs to
make real-time
topology decisions,
reacting to any
changes in the
environment.
In the event of
an AP failure or if
an upstream path
drops below a set
performance
threshold due to
overloading or
interference, a new
path to the best
performing AP is
selected. This
efficient “tree”
topology minimizes
convergence risks
and latency while
maximizing
performance. |
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