Title: Performance Optimisation of the AIT Campus Wireless Mesh Network Deployment
Abstract: The deployment of an 802.11x wireless mesh network in urban areas is a complex task and is traditionally based on an exhaustive site survey, rules-of-thumb or past experiences. In this research we propose exploring the spatial distribution of the clients, the topology and the clutter using software tools from Motorola in a VoWiFi mesh network before deployment. The objective is to obtain the optimal position for the wireless access points that allows an increase in the overall capacity and performance. The cost savings inherent in running real-time applications over IP based wireless mesh networks will be of interest to industry, especially as AIT is the first in Ireland to utilize the Motorola Mesh Planner software. Initial results are presented from the recently installed mesh network on the AIT campus. Introduction The 802.11 technology has become an ubiquitous solution for wireless LAN’s in the home and offices. Using the two-tier mesh network technology the WLANs have been considered as a practical solution to wide area coverage. A two-tier mesh network has an access tier that integrates the clients, and a backhaul tier which forwards the clients packages in a multi-hop architecture to a wired gateway. A two-tier mesh network compared with wired access points network has a lower deployment cost, is easily scalable, better coverage and is robust to general individual node failure [1]. The deployment of an 802.11x wireless mesh network in urban areas is a complex task and traditionally based on exhaustive site survey, rules-of-thumb or past experiences. The topology, foliage and architectural characteristics of the buildings are all sources of uncertainty in terms of the range and capacity of these mesh networks. With ever increasing constraints on network infrastructure budgets efficient methods of planning and performance evaluation in advance of deployment are now required. The utilization of software tools such as the Motorola Mesh planner can reduce the deployment time, and enable network optimization through pre deployment evaluations of performance. For example in [4] by properly exploring the client’s spatial distribution information in allocating the access points, an increase in the overall voice capacity is achieved. Initial results are presented from the deployed wireless mesh network at the AIT campus. The main wireless network will be integrated with a secondary 802.11n wireless network for use with a Real Time Location System (RTLS) from Ekahau. An evaluation of the capacity and resilience of the deployed network will be of interest for health and safety applications, emergency services support and routine campus communication. Architecture The main wireless network is designed to use industry grade equipment from Motorola and was deployed based on predictions using the mesh planer software. Real attached to the network and a main server connect to the wired backbone will be performed. One AP is fixed on the main building and connected to the wired network, the other two are mounted on mobile mast’s and powered by a UPS (Figure1) Mesh Manager Performance Server -time performance monitoring using client . The Figure 2 shows the Wireless Mesh Network Architecture. Figure 1 : Mobile Mast deploying AP’s
Publication Year: 2009
Publication Date: 2009-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 1
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