I'm designing a mesh network for our county and i wish to thank the developers for the updates including the 5ghz to the mesh topology I'm wanting to use the 5ghz as a back haul for the mesh and have 2.4ghz for mobile and portable access some say use switch non configure and some say use configure witch is the best way to go and can you manage the switch on the mesh if you have the user configure the switch.

This will depend on what your network layout is.

If you are just linking between bands (a 2.4 and a 5.8) a jumper cable between the two will work.

If you are just combining multiple nodes at once (3 or more nodes) without internet at the site than you can just use a standard non vlan aware switch.

If you intend the nodes to act as MeshGW's  than you will need a VLAN capable switch for pulling out the "WAN" port of the Ubiquiti device.

Hello Michael,

I'm not sure you correctly understand how the devices already function for your plans.

The processes described in Michaels post is more likely if you were to use the WAN uplink (meshgw) and not dtdlink traffic.

DTDLINK is intended for when you want to combine multiple mesh devices together (you would generaly not filter here for internet as this is a mesh to mesh connection) such as using a 5.8 backbone throughout an area  and feeding to local 2.4ghz access layer, or multiple devices at a site like when you having 3 120degree sector units at the same site on the same band and need to combine them (creating a digital omni)

No managed switch is needed for DTDLINK

In all cases:  Local PC generated Broadcasts are already filtered at the mesh node because of how the nodes work. In addition  RF broadcasts are not propagated past the first node either.  The only broadcast you would have (by default) on the dtdlink interface is the OLSR packets which you do want to go across untouched for the network to expand across multiple devices.

A mesh network is different than a traditional WIFI network in many ways.

In the case of BBHN when we speak of a backbone its a link from one area to another area. This could be on any band.

In the case of the mesh packets take the best route to get where they are going (lowest cost.) Packets that are local will stay local, packets that need to get to another area will take the least cost path to get here. In some cases this could actually mean staying on Band A the entire time (because areas can fuse together)  and in other cases this may mean that the primary path is to go from band A to band B back to band A through some nodes (Example: a mountain top hilltop that acts as a backbone feeder)  In this case you want all the areas to be able to reach each other (the mesh protocol handles this).

So yes you would use an unmanaged switch to combine the setup as described.

I'm planning on designing my network like this and need help configuring my routers.  I plan on using DD-WRT for the Router and Access Point at my house (EOC simulation) and my truck (Mobile Command simulation) to allow for switching and firewall connection to the internet while bridging my 2.4 and 5.8 gHz networks to the wireless router.

I'm not sure what should be a node, gateway, DHCP server, or how to configure the VLAN for the internet.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated as I move forward.

Thank you,

Gino
K6GRP 

What hardware will the DD-WRT APs be? Recommend expanding your diagram to include the switches--this is key to configuring how everything works. You'll need a Vlan capable switch for the gateway mesh node.

If it were me, I'd put in a GS108E switch at EOC. This can be configured to plug all devices in with no special configuration on the mesh nodes other than the IP address reservations and service advertisement.

At the Mobile and Field locations, I'd do a GS105E. If you put in a dumb switch at the Mobile or Field locations (save a few $$s on the cost), then you'd need to turn off DHCP for LAN ports on one of the mesh nodes.

Thanks Joe.  I have an old WRT54GSv7 which isn't supported for BBHN, so I flashed with dd-wrt.  It has VLAN capabilities and can function as a 4-port switch.  I'm planning on using it to switch everything at the EOC as well as function as my gateway to the internet and wireless access point if it will work.

I like the price of the GS108E.  I may have to spend the money if this doesn't work.  Has anyone tried bridging two nodes (5gHz point-to-point and 2gHz omni) and the internet with dd-wrt?