Meshdynamics
Wireless Mesh Networks That Scale Like Switch Stacks
 

Left: The wired switch stack "splits" up the wired network into manageable sections Click to Enlarge
Right: The MeshDynamics uplink and down link backhaul radios perform the same function for wireless. Click to Enlarge

Wired Switch Stacks are Scalable and Stable (Left).
An accepted technique for building scalable and stable wired networks is to split up a wired network into smaller, more manageable sub-networks (domains), each of which operate independently. Switches manage the domains and also pass data to and from other domains. Each switch has an Uplink and Downlink port. Switches form a tree structure, also called a network switch stack (left). Separate up link and down link ensure there is no significant degradation with each hop. The system is both scalable and stable. All wired networks, at some level, are switch stacks. Its predecessor, the wired hub networks, used a single link - they are not scalable. Second generation mesh, also called dual-radio mesh, resemble the hub architecture.  

Wired Network Switch Stacks with uplink and downlink provide consistent scalable performance. [Performance Validation]
 
MeshDynamics Wireless Equivalent of Switch Stacks.  On the right, backhaul downlink radios communicate on different channels, depicted by the different colors of the dashed lines. Different colors signifies that the downlinks of different radios do not interfere or contend with each other. The network is "split up" into distinct sub domains (Basic Service Sets or BSS) which are not in contention with each other. In effect, each node is responsible for a sub network, just like the wired version shown in Figure 1.   

Note that this approach of using separate uplink and downlink radios differs from the more conventional dual radio mesh.  We split up the wireless network into smaller groups or Basic Service Sets (BSS), each of which is operating on a non-interfering channel with other groups. Note that bridging across sub networks, requires at least two radios operating on non-interfering channels You have to use multiple backhaul radios if you wish to emulate the scalability of network switch stacks. The conventional two radio dual radio architectures use one radio for the mesh ("backhaul") and another for clients. It resembles a hub. Hubs are not scalable.
 
MeshDynamics Wireless Equivalent of "Switch Stacks" provides proven scalable performance.
  
Switch Stacks have faster routing updates for mobility. Enterprise class network switches use an efficient tree structure for routing. The switch stack tree like structure uses simpler routing mechanisms - trees have no loops and complications of looping are thus eliminated. Recall that the routing table is O(n) in size. Routing updates are much faster, even with many nodes in the network.  
In contrast, competing dual radio mesh products use a hub like structure which can involve looping.  Routing table are O(n2) - they grow exponentially. Updates are slower since graphs have loops and loops have to be checked for by the mesh network software. 
  
MeshDynamics faster routing updates ensures faster mobile node hand over - even at high speeds. [Mobility Field Test]
  
MD4000 Product Brochure. Includes technical specifications and standard product configurations.
MD4000 Installation Guide. Antenna mounting and placement, model configuration, trouble shooting.
MD40000 Network Configuration Guide. Detailed instructions on setting SSID, Encryption, QoS, VLANs etc.