Mesh link between access points

Installing and Using OpenWrt Network and Wireless Configuration
1

Hi,
I have this network diagram:

mesh
mesh241×478 10.6 KB

The goal is to have a working network for all users if either of the SW1 or SW2 goes down. As I see it if SW1 goes down it won't have an impact but if SW2 goes down, users connected to AP2 will have no way of reaching the router. The problem is that AP2 has only a single eth port and thus is only connected to a single switch. So I was thinking of creating the 802.11s link between the access points. What problems do you see in such approach?

2

My two cents:

  • You have one router and one AP per location, that are (presumably) way more likely to fail than a switch.
  • You need devices that support the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) if you configure multiple paths between two nodes.
3

maybe you have USB so you could use USB->ETH ?

4

Switches and access points all support STP, my biggest concern is that loops will occur because of 802.11s and STP won't be able to prevent that, right?

5

That is a very good idea but unfortunately there is no USB on the access point

6

Have never mixed both wired and wireless together...

7

It would be a bit tricky to set up but at least you wouldn't need to worry about looping. For AP1 you should be able to use a bond to switch over on failure but for AP2 you would need some sort mesh like you said which will complicate things.

At the end of the day it may not be worth it.