CCIE Enterprise Wireless (v1.0) – 3.7 Mesh – Part 1

Basic Mesh config – part 2 will contain the theory of mesh

Convert AP to bridge mode


Error message stating that backhaul channel and tx power must be in custom settings.






AP will reboot


The RAP will FAIL to join the WLC. When APs are converted to bridge mode they must be authorized using their MAC address.



Authorize the RAP

Add the MAC address of each access point to the AP policy under the security tab. This will allow the mesh access points to join the controller. This can be done under the MAC filtering section or AP policies:

MAC filter section:


AP Policies section: gather MAC addresses

Add MAC addresses


Once the APs are authorized they will join the controller if the configuration is correct.

Change AP role to RAP and set bridge group name (BGN)

Membership to the wireless LAN mesh network for mesh access points is controlled by the bridge group names (BGNs). Mesh access points can be placed in similar bridge groups to manage membership or provide
network segmentation.



Change MAP mode to bridge mode on MAP0001. AP rebooted and joined the controller via its 5GHz radio. The GigabitEthernet interface is NOT in use.

Once the above task is completed all mesh access points that joined the controller over the backhaul radio link will show “UPDOWNLINK” with an operational status of UP:


Partial WLC CLI mesh check – details will be covered in another blog post




RAP/Mesh high level connectivity view from Cisco Prime Infrastructure


Notice in the first image that MAP0004 did not directly communicate with the root access point (RAP) but instead decided to connect back to the RAP via MAP0003.

In the second image MAP0004 started communicating directly to the RAP.

Mesh Neighbors, Parents, and Children

Relationships among mesh access points are as a parent, child, or neighbor.

  • A parent access point offers the best route back to the RAP based on its ease values. A parent can be either the RAP itself or another MAP.
    • Ease is calculated using the SNR and link hop value of each neighbor. Given multiple choices, generally an access point with a higher ease value is selected.
  • A child access point selects the parent access point as its best route back to the RAP.
  • A neighbor access point is within RF range of another access point but is not selected as its parent or a child because its ease values are lower than that of the parent.


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