Editing Mesh networking

{{Short description|Network with multiple links between nodes}}
{{multiple image
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| image1            = NetworkTopology-Mesh.svg
| caption1          = Illustration of a ''partially connected'' mesh network
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| caption2          = A ''fully connected'' mesh network, where each node is connected to every other node in the network
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A '''mesh network''' is a [[local area network]] [[network topology|topology]] in which the infrastructure [[Node (networking)|node]]s (i.e. bridges, switches, and other infrastructure devices) connect directly, dynamically and non-hierarchically to as many other nodes as possible and cooperate with one another to efficiently route data to and from clients. 

This lack of dependency on one node allows for every node to participate in the relay of information. Mesh networks dynamically self-organize and self-configure, which can reduce installation overhead. The ability to self-configure enables dynamic distribution of workloads, particularly in the event a few nodes should fail. This in turn contributes to fault-tolerance and reduced maintenance costs.<ref>{{Cite book |chapter-url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/7361345 |year=2015 |pages=177–182 |doi=10.1109/ICCACS.2015.7361345 |last1=Chawla |first1=Meenu |last2=Mundra |first2=Ankit |last3=Rakesh |first3=Nitin |last4=Agrawal |first4=Akash |last5=Ghrera |first5=S. P. |title=2015 International Conference on Computer and Computational Sciences (ICCCS) |chapter=Fault tolerance based routing approach for WMN |isbn=978-1-4799-1818-8 |s2cid=8664226 |archive-date=2022-03-01 |access-date=2022-03-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301152823/https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/7361345 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Mesh topology may be contrasted with conventional [[Star network|star]]/[[Fat tree|tree]] local network topologies in which the bridges/switches are directly linked to only a small subset of other bridges/switches, and the links between these infrastructure neighbours are hierarchical. While star-and-tree topologies are very well established, highly standardized and vendor-neutral, vendors of mesh network devices have not yet all agreed on common standards, and interoperability between devices from different vendors is not yet assured.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Cilfone|first1=Antonio|last2=Davoli|first2=Luca|last3=Belli|first3=Laura|last4=Ferrari|first4=Gianluigi|date=2019|title=Wireless Mesh Networking: An IoT-Oriented Perspective Survey on Relevant Technologies|journal=Future Internet|language=en|volume=11|issue=4|pages=99|doi=10.3390/fi11040099|doi-access=free}}</ref>

== Basic principles ==
Mesh networks can relay messages using either a [[Flooding (computer networking)|''flooding'']] or a ''[[routing]]'' technique, which makes them different from non-mesh networks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Introduction to Mesh |url=https://commotionwireless.net/docs/cck/networking/intro-to-mesh/ |access-date=2022-03-01 |website=commotionwireless.net}}</ref> A routed message is propagated along a path by ''hopping'' from node to node until it reaches its destination. To ensure that all its paths are available, the network must allow for continuous connections and must reconfigure itself around broken paths, using ''self-healing'' algorithms such as [[Shortest Path Bridging]] and [[TRILL]] (Transparent Interconnection of Lots of Links). Self-healing allows a routing-based network to operate when a node breaks down or when a connection becomes unreliable. The network is typically quite reliable, as there is often more than one path between a source and a destination in the network. Although mostly used in wireless situations, this concept can also apply to wired networks and to software interaction.

A mesh network whose nodes are all connected to each other is a [[fully connected network]]. Fully connected wired networks are more secure and reliable: problems in a cable affect only the two nodes attached to it. In such networks, however, the number of cables, and therefore the cost, goes up rapidly as the number of nodes increases.

==Types==

=== Wired mesh ===
[[Shortest path bridging]] and [[TRILL]] each allow [[Ethernet switch]]es to be connected in a mesh topology and allow for all paths to be active.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.avaya.com/usa/about-avaya/newsroom/news-releases/2014/pr-140401 | title=Avaya Extends the Automated Campus to End the Network Waiting Game | date=1 April 2014 | publisher=Avaya | access-date=18 April 2014 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419153624/http://www.avaya.com/usa/about-avaya/newsroom/news-releases/2014/pr-140401 | archive-date=19 April 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title = Shortest Path Bridging IEEE 802.1aq Overview|publisher = Huawei|author = Peter Ashwood-Smith|date = 24 February 2011|url = http://meetings.apnic.net/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/32007/APRICOT_SPB_Overview.pdf|access-date = 11 May 2012|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130515115628/http://meetings.apnic.net/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/32007/APRICOT_SPB_Overview.pdf|archive-date = 15 May 2013}}</ref> [[IP routing]] supports multiple paths from source to destination.

===Wireless mesh===
{{main|Wireless mesh network}}

A wireless mesh network (WMN) is a network made up of [[radio]] nodes organized in a mesh topology. It can also be a form of [[wireless ad hoc network]].<ref name="auto">{{cite book |author=Chai Keong Toh |author-link=Chai Keong Toh |title=Ad Hoc Mobile Wireless Networks |publisher=Prentice Hall Publishers |date=2002 |isbn=978-0-13-007817-9}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[:Category:Mesh networking|Category of mesh networking technologies]]
*[[Bluetooth mesh networking]]
*[[MENTOR routing algorithm]]
*[[Optical mesh network]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Mesh network}}
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* {{web archive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708100320/http://www.nyu.edu/its/pubs/architecture/kyriannis-tetrahedroncore.pdf |title=NYU-NET<sup>3</sup>}} Application of a tetrahedral structure to create a resilient partial-mesh 3-dimensional campus backbone data network
* [http://code.google.com/p/phantom/ Phantom] anonymous, decentralized network, isolated from the Internet
* [http://meshdynamics.com/documents/MeshDynamicsDisruptionTolerantNetworks.pdf Disruption Tolerant Mesh Networks] autonomous machine controller in mesh nodes operate despite loss of cloud connectivity.

{{Network topologies}}

[[Category:Mesh networking| ]]
[[Category:Network topology]]