Networking —

Mesh Network Errors

A mesh topology offers high redundancy by providing several paths for data to reach its destination. In a true mesh network, each device on the network is connected to every other device, and if one cable fails, there is another to provide an alternative data path. Although a mesh topology is resilient to failure, the number of connections involved can make a mesh network somewhat tricky to troubleshoot.

When troubleshooting a mesh network, consider the following points:

  • A mesh topology interconnects all devices on the network, offering the highest level of redundancy of all the topologies. In a pure mesh environment, all devices are directly connected to all other devices. In a hybrid mesh environment, some devices are connected only to certain others in the topology.

  • Although a mesh topology can accommodate failed links, mechanisms should still be in place so that failed links are detected and reported.

  • Design and implementation of a true mesh network can be complex and often requires specialized hardware devices.

Infrastructure Troubleshooting

No doubt, you will find yourself troubleshooting wiring and infrastructure problems less frequently than you'll troubleshoot client connectivity problemsand thankfully so. Wiring- and infrastructure-related problems can be very difficult to trace, and sometimes a very costly solution is needed to remedy the situation. When troubleshooting these problems, a methodical approach is likely to pay off.

A network infrastructure refers to the physical components that are used to create the network. This includes the media used, switches, routers, bridges, patch panels, hubs and so on.

When troubleshooting the infrastructure it is important to know where these devices are on the network and what they are designed to do. In this section we explore two essential infrastructure components, media and hardware components.