Mesh settings - how is an AP configured as ROOT ?

Hi,

All APs participating in mesh detect their roles automatically. An access point that can access cloud.sophos.com automatically becomes a root AP. The others become repeater APs. This network is afterwards only used for mesh purposes. Clients shouldn't and can't connect to it. That's also why the password is generated.

You need to define an extra network which you then can use for your clients.

We will improve documentation to cover that better. Finally we want to make mesh much more simple, but this is a longer-lasting task.

Kind regards,

Dirk Bolte

Yes, I think a little doc/how to could be a good idea. Technically today I am not sure I am doing well my test.

When I create the mesh network, as long as the AP are all plugged on the network => No problem. When I decide to unplug one of them and make it work as a relay/repeater, the AP is seen offline after some minutes in the console. The LED on the AP remains ORANGE.

Hi,

have you tried to reboot the access point after unplugging it?

Yes, I have unplugged it (electrically) to put it on other place.

How long have you waited for the access-point to come online? Because the access point first tries to act as a root access point and after some time it switches. And did you select fixed channels on the band of the access points that broadcast your mesh network? If so can you please set all the channels to auto or at least to the same channel on these access point?

Ok, I think I got the good configuration now :)

1. I have created a SSID broacasted by my 2 AP55C (that are in auto-channel mode for both bands).
2. After I was sure all was running well, I have added a MESH SSID to my 2 AP.
3. Than I have unplugged the network cable for one AP but the "repeater" was remaining as offline for long, so I have decided to reboot it as you mentioned. After maybe 5 minutes finally the LED became green. The mesh seemed OK.
4. To be sure to be attached to the repeater AP, I have moved (and so rebooted) the AP in a more far room and after 5 minutes waiting for the AP to become operational - the wireless console confirmed me my phone was attached to the repeater AP.

The screenshot indicates 3 clients that are attached to the AP I have moved. The forth client is the Repeating AP (the MAC address listed is the same than the AP +1) attached to the ROOT one. Good job!

I have seen that during the time the repeating AP is booting, the XG-Leipniz is no more broadcasted. I don't know if I will be able to test with a third AP but does it mean the ROOT AP cannot give access to the clients ?

Ekky said:

I have seen that during the time the repeating AP is booting, the XG-Leipniz is no more broadcasted. I don't know if I will be able to test with a third AP but does it mean the ROOT AP cannot give access to the clients ?

The mesh repeater starts broadcasting wireless networks after it connected to the root AP, as otherwise connecting clients would have no connectivity and would disconnect again immediately.

The root AP can still broadcast normal wireless networks in addition to the mesh network.

Ekky said:

I have seen that during the time the repeating AP is booting, the XG-Leipniz is no more broadcasted. I don't know if I will be able to test with a third AP but does it mean the ROOT AP cannot give access to the clients ?

The mesh repeater starts broadcasting wireless networks after it connected to the root AP, as otherwise connecting clients would have no connectivity and would disconnect again immediately.

The root AP can still broadcast normal wireless networks in addition to the mesh network.

The mine doesn't broadcast anything :x

The SSID XG-Leipniz is no more visible for my clients now that I have switched off the repeater (10 minutes ago).

There seems to be something wrong. Can you please check, that the 'XG-Leipniz' ssid is added to the root AP? Each of your networks should ideally be added to all of your APs. Is mine the name of the AP?

My 2 SSID (mesh and XG-Leipniz) are installed on both AP. I will rename them to clarify "who does what".

Edited with the screen :

As soon as I remove the REPEAT AP - the XG-Leipniz is no more broadcast even if it is installed on both AP.

I have forced the 2 SSID on the same band (5 GHz) but the problem is still there.

I was able to reproduce it, its internally tracked in CWIFI-3006.