* IEEE mulls 802.11s tech-spec proposals
Speaking of 802.11 mesh networks, which I did at length while describing International Speedway’s deployment of Strix Networks equipment in my last newsletter, it’s been awhile since I mentioned the emerging 802.11s mesh standard.
Last week, about 15 proposals for the standard were plunked in front of the 802.11 Task Group S at the IEEE meeting in San Francisco. The working group formed about a year ago seeking a way to enable interoperability among mesh vendors’ gear.
In an 802.11 mesh network, backbone access points (AP) autoconfigure themselves over the air, autodiscover one another and make dynamic best-path selections based on real-time RF conditions. Expanding a wireless mesh backbone network simply requires powering up another AP, which automatically joins the network and adds bandwidth and alternate transmission paths.
For now, these backbone APs are proprietary to each vendor in the information that they share with one another, the format in which they share it, and the algorithm that they use to calculate the best path that traffic should take over the wireless mesh backbone. So, as you might suspect, if you decide to switch vendors or find yourself merged, bought out, or otherwise in possession of a mixed bag of infrastructure equipment, you currently can’t cobble together a working mesh backbone out of the disparate gear.
Basically, 802.11s’ initial charter proposal called for an extension to the IEEE 802.11 MAC to solve the interoperability problem by defining an architecture and protocol that support both broadcast/multicast and unicast delivery using “radio-aware metrics over self-configuring multi-hop topologies.” The wireless system was also to extend 802.11i security mechanisms to fit the mesh topology.
Among last week’s proposals was one submitted by a Nortel-spearheaded gang called the Wi-Mesh Alliance, which includes Accton Technology, InterDigital Communications, NextHop Technologies and others.
Mesh start-ups such as BelAir Networks, FireTide Networks, Strix and Tropos Networks haven’t been too keen on the industry standardizing the “secret sauce” for 802.11 autodiscovery, autoconfiguration and best-path calculation that has made them special.
Still, depending on what the final specification looks like, there could be hope. Nortel’s Bilel Jamoussi, director of strategic protocols and standards at Nortel, said that “how you compute the best route could remain the implementation of the various vendors.” Cyrus Irani, Strix VP of marketing and strategy, perked up at this comment, which indicated that some of his and other companies’ crown jewels stand a chance of being left intact.
Irani said that Strix would implement a ratified standard for its indoor enterprise gear, but will likely not do so for its outdoor service provider-centric equipment. He said Strix sees service provider networks as built in tiers with less necessity of interoperability among the tiers.
