Mesh topology examples in real life

A mesh network is a network in which devices -- or nodes -- are linked together, branching off other devices or nodes. These networks are set up to efficiently route data between devices and clients. They help organizations provide a consistent connection throughout a physical space.

Mesh network topologies create multiple routes for information to travel among connected nodes. This approach increases the resilience of the network in case of a node or connection failure. Larger mesh networks may include multiple routers, switches and other devices, which operate as nodes. A mesh network can include hundreds of wireless mesh nodes, which allows it to span a large area.

Full mesh vs. partial mesh topology

In a full mesh network topology, each node is connected directly to all the other nodes. In a partial mesh topology, only some nodes connect directly to one another. In some cases, a node must go through another node to reach a third node.

The connections in either a full or partial network can be wired or wireless mesh networks. The decision to use a full or partial mesh depends on factors like the overall traffic pattern of the network and the extent to which nodes or connections are at risk of failure.

Nearly all networks appear to be full mesh networks because everyone on the network can connect with everyone else. This full connectivity is a property of the network protocols, not the topology; any network can appear fully meshed at the logical level if data can be routed between each of its users. Mesh networks are where the difference between logical and physical topologies are most important.

The most common full mesh network is the data center fabric, a local area network (LAN) designed to provide full bandwidth connectivity to each connected device. Wide area networks (WANs) are typically partial mesh networks or tree topologies.

How do mesh networks work?

Nodes in a network are programmed with software that tells the node 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 get to its destination. The mesh network must have continuous connections and reconfigure itself if a path is broken, using self-healing algorithms. There will often be more than one path between a source and a destination.

Flooding techniques rely on distributing data from one node to the rest in a network. Data is sent by a subset of the nodes because all nodes may not be available at one time. Each node possesses a subset of the data. A protocol chooses the senders for every data transmission to maximize throughput.

What are the use cases for mesh networks?

Mesh networks can be used in small home networks or large organizations. They are best for larger spaces, however.

Mesh networks enable many devices to share internet connectivity, and for devices to communicate directly without first going through the internet. The utility of a mesh network over other network types, such as a hub and spoke network, is that if a node is too far away from the hub, it can still communicate via a closer node until it reaches a router.

Mesh networks can be used for:

• home monitoring;
• industrial monitoring and control;
• medical monitoring;
• security systems; and
• public service communication.

For example, a monitoring system can have multiple sensor nodes set up in a mesh configuration and spanning a broad area.

What are the benefits of a mesh network?

Mesh networks include the following benefits:

• Increased stability. Single points of failure don't harm the whole network.
• Increased range. Mesh networks can transmit signals over a greater distance. They have fewer dead spots where Wi-Fi signals don't reach.
• Direct communication. Nodes can message each other directly. There is no need for intervention from a central access point.
• Less power is needed for each node. Each device in the network doesn't need to put out a signal strong enough to reach a central access point.
• Better security. If attacked, single nodes are easily replaced.
• Simpler topology. Mesh networks require less infrastructure than other types of networks configurations.

What are the drawbacks of a mesh network?

Mesh networks come with some drawbacks. For example, these include:

• Cost. A single router and Wi-Fi range extenders can make for a more cost-efficient network. Individual nodes also won't cover the same range that a wireless router and range extender would. This means more nodes are needed in a mesh network.
• Scalability. Scaling the size of the network may be more difficult depending on the number of nodes needed.
• Complexity. Each node must send messages and act as a router. The more intricate a mesh network becomes, the more difficult it can be to manage or troubleshoot all the nodes.
• Latency. With lower-power WANs, latency can be an issue because there may not be enough processing capability to handle messaging.
• Power consumption. With a lower-powered node, mesh networks are difficult to deploy.

What is the difference between a mesh network and traditional Wi-Fi?

The biggest difference between Wi-Fi and mesh networks is that with Wi-Fi, a traditional router acts as a centralized access point, while mesh networks are decentralized. Traditional Wi-Fi has single network connections where requests from devices are granted permission to connect to a central router.

All the traffic is funneled through the one access point. Rather than relying on a single access point, mesh networks allow devices to link together to route data between clients.

Traditional Wi-Fi is recommended for users on a smaller budget and in smaller spaces. However, if a larger area needs to be covered, and cost is not a factor, then a mesh network is worth considering.

Mesh network vendors and products

Three examples of other mesh network products include the Asus ZenWiFi AX, Google Nest Wifi and the Netgear Orbi AC3000 Tri-Band Mesh WiFi System.

• Asus ZenWiFi AX. A home Wi-Fi 6 mesh router that uses 802.11ax hardware. The system offers a multigig LAN port, USB connectivity and antimalware software.
• Google Nest Wifi. Another home Wi-Fi mesh system that uses 11ac hardware. It features a built-in Google Assistant; however, it does not include antimalware tools or USB ports.
• Netgear Orbi AC3000 Tri-Band Mesh WiFi System. A mesh network option for larger homes and office spaces that has good signal coverage and throughput performance, according to Colocation America, a colocation hosting provider. However, it does not have antimalware tools, USB connectivity or support for WPA3.

Business networks can be set up with mesh networks or other types of networks. Learn more about how to set up a new business network, including how to choose the right architecture and build a network diagram.

Mesh networks are networks made up of devices and nodes (physical redistribution points which receive and transmit wireless signals).

These networks are already beginning to revolutionize the capabilities and scope of the internet of things (IoT), which needs reliable and strong network connections to gather, send and receive data.

Mesh networks enable IoT devices to function in remote areas where a traditional network may not be able to reach, and help ensure devices are continually connected to networks without downtime. According to a Research and Markets report, the wireless mesh network market is expected to grow to $8.9 billion by 2023, growing at a rate of 9.6 percent CAGR during the forecast period (2017 to 2023).

What is a traditional wireless network?

Traditional wireless networks transmit a signal from a central router, creating a radius in which devices can connect directly to the source and receive the signal. In the traditional network, devices which are farther away may experience attenuation in signal strength, and eventually at a certain distance the range of the signal is too weak for a device to connect.

The diagram above shows a traditional wireless network. The wireless signal is sent from the modem to a router, which then sends signals to each Wi-Fi-enabled device.

Alternatively to traditional networks, think of a mesh network like a woven fabric in which each device is interconnected. Rather than the wireless signal being distributed in a wide range, each device connected to the mesh network acts as a node, connecting to the signal and passing it on to the next device.

Nodes create network links with other nodes around them, letting signals pass from node to node in a number of paths throughout the mesh. Each device thinks that it is connected to the central router. Signal strength is not lost as it makes small jumps from device to device. Because of their decentralized nature, mesh networks can continue to scale almost endlessly, maintaining signal strength and the ability to send and receive data.

The diagram above shows how mesh networks function. Signals are passed to and from each individual node, or connected device, creating a web of connected devices. If one node is removed or has an outage, the mesh network is self-healing and wireless signals are sent to another device.

Mesh networks have been around for some time, but are growing in popularity as the prevalence of IoT is increasing on a consumer and industrial level. IHS forecasts that the IoT market will grow from an installed base of 15.4 billion connected devices in 2015, to 30.7 billion connected devices in 2020, to 75.4 billion connected devices in 2025. As the number of connected devices scales rapidly (a predicted growth of almost 5x in a 10-year span), mesh networks will enable consumers and businesses to connect all of their devices without the need for dedicated hubs. This allows for the proliferation of networks of connected things.

The impact of mesh networks on business modernization

The network should be a critical consideration for any company looking to transform digitally. Outdated infrastructure can extend the limitations of a company’s digital transformation, as it hinders the ability to be fast, flexible and reactive to the needs of the business (which should be continually evolving and developing based on analytics).

Networks are the foundation for gathering and sending business-critical data, which should be used to inform and evolve strategies and efficiencies. Companies lacking a fast, secure and reliable network put themselves at a severe disadvantage when it comes to the modernization of their organization, workforce, operations and processes.

Deploying a new network is admittedly no small feat, and it’s something organizations need to get an advance on. Failing to consider a plan to migrate toward mesh in the next two to three years is going to put companies behind the curve in comparison to forward-thinking competitors. Mesh networks enable companies to optimize/automate business processes, empower workforces and access more business-critical data than ever before thanks to the reliable and scalable interconnection of devices throughout.

The deployment of a mesh network brings IT teams into the fold and assigns them a crucial role in a company’s digital transformation initiatives. Once implemented, mesh networks are lower maintenance than a traditional network would be. Mesh networks are self-healing, meaning that if there is any disruption to the connectivity of a certain device, the network just connects to other devices and the network is not dropped. This, in addition to the speed and automation they provide, move IT teams away from being the support team, and provide them more time and opportunity to serve as a strategic partner to business strategies and development.

Here are a few real-work business applications of mesh networks in action.

Mesh networks are the network foundation powering many smart cities throughout the U.S. An example is Scottsdale, Arizona’s, intelligent transportation system (ITS). The ITS platform connects 90 strategically placed nodes and more than 80 video cameras via a mesh network. This allows the ITS to monitor traffic activity and provide motorists with important information. It also allows them to remotely monitor and manage traffic congestion or road closures. Through the ITS, video cameras along roadways, traffic signal controllers and message signs for motorists are all connected, so the city’s traffic management center can continuously monitor the roads and gather data about traffic. This information in turn enables the city to make more intelligent, data-based decisions on how to eliminate traffic gridlock and create safer road conditions for drivers.

Scottsdale has reported a number of benefits to adopting a mesh network, including reduced costs due to a decreased need for police details to direct traffic, less gridlock due to accidents as operators can detect issues and adjust signals immediately to eliminate delays, and increased traffic management, even as the city’s driver population grows.

Industrial automation

Mesh networks are, and will continue to be, instrumental to advancements in industrial automation. Mesh networks allow machinery to be connected to networks without expensive, messy wiring. When connected to mesh networks, machines are able to share sensor data consistently and reliably, regardless of proximity to the network source or conditions. Industrial environments can be notoriously harsh, with dust, chemicals, unreachable high points, cracks and crevices. With mesh, diagnostics can be run remotely without having to string any wires through hazardous environments. Thanks to mesh, industrial systems can now access a wireless format that doesn’t face attenuation, provides flexibility and is self-repairing, therefore reliable.

In a case study from Sensors Online, a mesh network was deployed to a water treatment facility. Traditional networks would be almost impossible to deploy in this three-story setting, with wiring hindered by thick concrete walls and giant tanks of water connected by metal pipes. By implementing repeater nodes on each floor, the facility was able to send instrument data back to a central control room completely wirelessly via a radio frequency network. Aside from collecting and sending data much more efficiently, it’s estimated that the installation took one-tenth of the time it would take to hardwire each instrument back to the control room.

Emergency services

If we were to suffer an internet outage during an emergency or disaster situation, communication would become next to impossible. As mesh networks are self-repairing, they allow emergency services to remain connected to a network even if standard networks are overloaded or experiencing a complete outage.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in 2012, phone lines and critical communications were out for weeks in some neighborhoods, leaving residents unable to contact 911 or loved ones. A youth-development non-profit called Red Hook Initiative (RHI) established a mesh network in conjunction with the Open Technology Institute in the neighborhood of Red Hook, Brooklyn, which was disproportionately impacted by the storm due to the fact that it’s surrounded by water on three sides. The initiative made it possible for relief workers and those in need of assistance to regain internet access through a community Wi-Fi network. Following the disaster, RHI has worked to expand its Wi-Fi project to cover 80 percent of open spaces in the neighborhood.

Agriculture

Farmlands can be expansive, and laying cable for a traditional network is next to impossible. When you dig into a farm, there is an incredible amount of data that farmers could use to make smarter decisions, have better yields and make higher profits. But they need to be able to collect that data from disparate sources, compile it and analyze it to establish actionable outcomes. This is where IoT and mesh networks are impacting agriculture.

By connecting environmental sensors which can capture data — such as temperature, humidity and vibration, as well as cameras to “watch over” the farm — not only can farmers make smarter decisions about how to treat their crops or livestock, they can also create workforce efficiencies by knowing whether fields are workable before sending out farmhands, or enable proactive maintenance on machinery. Mesh-enabled farms can send real-time data back to a control center, or even to the cab of a tractor, giving the farmer access to make smarter decisions. Not only that, but there is also the potential for wireless remote machinery control. With a mesh network, someone in a control center could turn machines on or off, or make adjustments to their settings or outputs without having to physically be at the machine.

1. Increased in-home mesh offerings from ISPs: Mesh will begin to become a standard offering from internet service providers, providing mesh extenders to consumers to provide increased service and connection quality. Many consumers don’t understand the concept of mesh and don’t know how to set up their own mesh network. By providing the hardware and education directly, ISPs can capitalize on the growing prevalence of mesh, helping it become the new standard in 2018.
2. Bluetooth vs. Wi-Fi: Mesh networks are often Wi-Fi based, but there’s room for Bluetooth in 2018. Bluetooth mesh was introduced in 2017 and could turn out to be more efficient than Wi-Fi networks, with stronger signals and lower costs. Wi-Fi can lead to high energy usage, and Bluetooth mesh is a low-power solution. Bluetooth mesh is slower than its Wi-Fi counterpart, but edge computing could help to balance out any lag. “For us, Bluetooth mesh is the future,” Wireless Cables Inc. CEO Dr. Juergen Kienhoefer said in a statement on Bluetooth.com in July 2017. “Our customers are mostly industrial customers that work with sensors and controls, meaning they need long range, tight security, and reliable communication with a large number of devices, as well as more and more integrated web capabilities each year.”
3. Increased focus on mesh network security: As all computers and devices in a wireless mesh function as routers, each computer represents a possible point of attack. DDoS attacks have the potential to course through a mesh network — as one computer or device becomes infected, there can be a ripple effect throughout the network, taking it all down. At G2 Crowd, we see cybersecurity as a massive trend for 2018, and part of the focus is going to extend to making mesh networks more secure, especially as they become more widely implemented.

These are only a few examples of industries where mesh networks are helping with digital transformation, but the potential is wide reaching. Companies looking to digitally transform in 2018 should evaluate their networking needs and assess whether a scalable, reliable and self-repairing network would bring benefits to their business. Outdated infrastructure can extend the limitations of a company’s digital transformation, as it hinders the ability to be fast, flexible and reactive to the needs of the business.