Mesh Profile

The HPE Aruba Networking Central secure mesh solution is an effective way to expand and configure network coverage for outdoor and indoor enterprise environments in a wireless environment. Using mesh, you can bridge multiple Ethernet LANs or extend your wireless coverage. The mesh network automatically reconfigures broken or blocked paths when traffic traverses across mesh AP. This self-healing feature provides increased reliability and redundancy by allowing the network to continue operating even when an AP is non-functional or if the device fails to connect to the network.

Mesh APs detect the environment when they boot up, and they locate and associate with their nearest neighbor to determine the best path to the mesh portal. The mesh functionality is supported only in dual-radio APs. On dual-radio APs, the 2.4 GHz radio is always used for client traffic, while both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radios are used for both mesh-backhaul and client traffic.

The mesh network must be provisioned for the first time by plugging into the wired network. After that, the mesh service works on APs like it does on any other regulatory domain.

Creating a Mesh Profile

To create a Mesh profile, complete the following steps:

  1. In the HPE Aruba Networking Central landing page, click the configurationicon.
    The Profiles tab is displayed.

  2. In the left navigation menu, select one of the following options:

    • Library—This is the default selection. If you create profiles in the Library, then you must assign scope and device functions to the profiles. For more information, see Assigning Scope to a Mesh Profile.

    • Global—If you create profiles at the Global level, then the profiles have Global scope assigned by default.

    • Site Collections—If you create profiles at the Site Collections level, then the profiles have site collection scope assigned by default.

    • Sites—If you create profiles at the Site level, then the profiles have site scope assigned by default.

    • Devices—If you create profiles at the Device level, then the profiles have device scope assigned by default.

    • Device Groups—If you create profiles at the Device Group level, then the profiles have device group scope assigned by default.

    Note:

    • To create profiles at the Global level, select the device type from the Device Function drop-down list before step 4.
    • To create profiles at the Sites, Devices, and Device Group level, complete the following steps before step 4:
      1. Select Site Collection, Site, Device, or Device Group in the left navigation menu.
      2. Select a Site Collection, Site, Device, or Device Group from the list view depending on the level where you are creating the profile.
      3. Select the device type from the Device Function drop-down list.

  3. On the Wireless card, click Mesh..
    Alternatively, you can complete the following steps:

    1. On the Wireless card, click Manage.

    2. On the Mesh card, click Manage.

    The Mesh list is displayed.

  4. Click Create Profile.
    The Create Profile side panel is displayed.

    Figure 1: Create Mesh Profile

  5. Enter the following mesh profile parameters:

    • Create as a local profile—Select this option if you want to configure this profile as local.

      Note:

      The Create as a local profile option is available at the Global, Site Collections, Sites, Devices, and Device Groups levels; it is not available at the Library level.

    • Name—Enter the name of the mesh profile.

    • Description—Enter the description for the mesh profile.

    • Mesh Role—Select one of the following from the drop-down list:

      • Auto—AP that automatically detects the mesh role and configures mesh portal or mesh point.

      • Point—AP that establishes a path to the wired LAN using the mesh portal.

      • Portal—AP that uses its wired interface to reach the enterprise wired LAN.

    • Mesh Mobility—Select the checkbox to perform large mesh deployments. This field is displayed only if the Mesh Role is selected as Auto or Point.

    • Mesh Mobility SNR Threshold—Select the threshold value from the drop-down list. Range: 10—50 in numbers, HIGH, or LOW. This field is displayed only if the Mesh Mobility checkbox is selected.

    • Mesh Metric Mode—Select one of the following from the Mesh Metric Mode drop-down list:

      • Central—Enables the centralized mesh service. In this mode, all Mesh APs within the AP group disable their local algorithms. The centralized mesh service manages and maintains the entire mesh topology.

      • Local—Disables the centralized mesh service. In this mode, all Mesh APs within the AP group select their mesh parent based on their local algorithms.

    • Mesh Band—Select one of the following from the Mesh Band drop-down list:

      • 2.4 GHz

      • 5 GHz

      • 6 GHz

      • All

  6. Click the Add icon on the Mesh Clusters table.

    The Create Mesh Cluster panel is displayed.

    Note:

    Only one Mesh Cluster profile can be added to the table if the Mesh Role is selected as Portal. Multiple mesh cluster profiles can be added to the table if the Mesh Role is selected as Auto or Point.

  7. Enter the following mesh cluster parameters:

    • Mesh Clusters—Select mesh cluster profile from the drop-down list. For more information, see Mesh Cluster Profile.

    • Priority—Select the priority of the mesh cluster profile from the drop-down. If more than two mesh cluster profiles are configured, mesh points use this number to identify primary and backup profiles. The lower the number, the higher the priority. Range: 1—15.

      To create a new mesh cluster profile, click New Mesh Cluster and configure the following parameters and click Create:

      • Name—Enter the name for the mesh cluster profile. Range: 8–32 characters

      • Description—Enter description for the mesh cluster profile.

      • Key—Enter a WPA2 PSK or passphrase as the cluster key. Range: 8–64 characters

      • Retype Key-Re-enter the WPA2 PSK or passphrase key.

      • Opmode—Select WPA2 PSK or WPA3 SAE from the drop-down list to configure the operation mode.

  8. Click Add to add the mesh cluster.

  9. Click Create to create the mesh profile.

Mesh Profile List View Actions

  • To edit a mesh profile, complete the following steps:

    1. Click anywhere on the row of the profile in the list view.
      The profile edit view is displayed in the side panel.

    2. Edit the required parameters.

    3. Click Update.

  • To delete a mesh profile, hover on the profile name, and click the delete icon.

  • To search for a profile, type the profile name in the search bar. The search bar displays dynamic results as soon as you start typing.

Assigning Scope to a Mesh Profile

For profiles created under Library, you must assign a scope and device function to be able to use its features and functionality.

To assign scope to a profile, complete the following steps:

  1. In the HPE Aruba Networking Central landing page, click the configurationicon.
    The Profiles tab is displayed.

  2. Ensure that the default option Library is selected in the left navigation menu.

  3. On the Wireless card, click Mesh.

    Alternatively, you can complete the following steps:

    1. On the Wireless card, click Manage.

    2. On the Mesh card, click Manage.

    The Mesh list is displayed.

  4. Hover on the profile to which you want to assign a scope and click the ellipsis icon.

  5. Select Assign.

    The Assign Profile side panel is displayed.

  6. Select the device types from Device Function list.

  7. To add a scope, click the Addicon on the Scopes table.

  8. Select a scope from the following Scope Level options in the drop-down list.

    • Global—Selecting this option assigns the scope at the Global level by default.

    • Site Collections—Selecting this option enables you to select the desired site collections from the Assign to Scope drop-down list..

    • Sites—Selecting this option enables you to select the desired sites from the Assign to Scope drop-down list.

    • Devices—Selecting this option enables you to select the desired devices from the Assign to Scope drop-down list.

    • Device Groups—Selecting this option enables you to select the desired device groups from the Assign to Scope drop-down list.

  9. Click Add.

    The Scopes table displays the newly added scopes.

  10. Click Assign.

    The Mesh list displays the device functions and number of scopes assigned to the profile.

  11. To unassign a scope from a profile, complete the following steps:

    1. Hover on the profile name and click the ellipsis icon.

    2. Select Unassign.

    3. Select the required scope and click Unassign.

  12. To customize the Mesh profile list, click the Customize Columns icon . For more information, see Customizing List.