In this week’s blog we are going to show you one of the novelties in the connectivity sector that we brought back from our visit to Codipro in Seville.
What is a mesh net?
A mesh network is a network in which devices – or nodes – are connected to each other, branching off from other devices or nodes. These networks are configured to efficiently route data between devices and clients. They help organisations to provide a consistent connection throughout a physical space.
Mesh network structures create multiple paths for information to travel between connected nodes. This approach increases the resilience of the network in the event of a node or connection failure. Larger mesh networks may include multiple routers, switches and other devices, which function as nodes. A mesh network can include hundreds of wireless mesh nodes, allowing it to cover a large area.
Full versus partial mesh structure
In a full mesh network, each node is directly connected to all other nodes. In a partial mesh, only some nodes are directly connected to each other. In some cases, a node must pass through another node to reach a third node.
Full or partial network connections can be wired or wireless mesh networks. The decision to use a full or partial mesh depends on factors such as the overall traffic pattern of the network and the degree of risk of failure of nodes or connections.
Almost all networks appear to be full mesh networks because all members of the network can connect to all others. This full connectivity is a property of the network protocols, not of the structure; any network can appear to be fully meshed at the logical level if data can be routed between each of its users. It is in meshed networks that the difference between logical and physical facilities is most important.
How do mesh nets work?
Nodes in a network are programmed with software that tells them how to handle information and interact with the network.
Mesh networks use routing or flooding techniques to send messages. In routing, a message hops from node to node to reach its destination. The mesh network must have continuous connections and reconfigure itself if a path is broken, using self-healing algorithms. Often there will be more than one path between an origin and a destination.
Flooding techniques are based on the distribution of data from one node to the rest of the network. Data is sent by a subset of nodes because all nodes may not be available at the same time. Each node has a subset of data. A protocol chooses the senders of each data transmission to maximise throughput.
What are the use cases for mesh networks?
Mesh networks can be used in small home networks or in large organisations. However, they are better for larger spaces.
Mesh networks allow many devices to share Internet connectivity and allow devices to communicate directly without first going through the Internet. The utility of a mesh network versus other types of networks, such as a hub-and-spoke network, is that if a node is too far away from the hub, it can still communicate through a closer node until it reaches a router.
Mesh nets can be used for:
– home monitoring
– industrial monitoring and control
– medical monitoring
– security systems utility communication.
For example, a monitoring system may have multiple sensor nodes installed in a mesh configuration and covering a wide area.
What are the advantages of a mesh net?
Mesh nets have the following advantages:
– Greater stability. Single points of failure do not harm the entire network.
– Greater reach. Mesh networks can transmit signals over longer distances. They have fewer dead spots where Wi-Fi signals do not reach.
– Direct communication. Nodes can send messages to each other directly. The intervention of a central access point is not necessary.
– Less energy is needed for each node. Each device in the network does not need to emit a signal strong enough to reach a central access point.
– Increased security. In case of attack, individual nodes. It is simpler. Mesh networks require less infrastructure than other types of network configurations.
At Axarfusion we are installers of this type of connections. It is certainly a breakthrough in connectivity.
If you want to know more about the future of our telecommunications, do not hesitate to stay connected to our blog and social networks.
