Jun 25, 2013

This is the first of a series of blogs which will address the best practices and skills needed to deliver successful mesh deployment. This first article lays down the context on which future posts will build. Each blog will touch upon a specific aspect of deployment while providing real world examples of success and failure.

Successful Mesh Deployments

To clarify, this series focuses specifically on successful mesh deployments, which is where the strategy for field delivery has to demonstrate a different approach tailored specifically for mesh. Readers may question whether mesh is indeed all that different from the traditional networking technologies. The answer is yes and no:  A genuine mesh is a hybrid of concepts, features, technologies and innovation creating a best of breed, elegant-yet-tough solution. The mesh as a networking whole is far more potent than the sum of its parts.

If we agree that mesh networks are different in specific ways, it stands to reason that the field approach for mesh networking has be different in specific ways. However, this rarely occurs in practice.

It Starts with Solid Design

At the heart of all successful deployment, we find good mesh design. At the heart of all problem deployments we generally find the opposite. At least 80% of problem deployments can be traced back to design inconsistencies or inadequacies. The remaining 20% can be attributed to a variety of factors including (but not limited to) physical install issues, congestion in the license free spectrum, compatibility issues between equipment from different vendors and the occasional product issue.

The solution starts with the product:  spec the requirements of your network and select your supporting technology appropriately.  The right product will simplify design to a black box approach. Give the product a set of easy-to-accomplish design inputs and the product will give you performance to spec. This determinism is the foundation of all successful design. It lends structure and enables planning. It’s a win-win for all the stakeholders.

The next blog will delve deeper into the set of design elements. Remember, not every vendor will afford the product maturity which enables this approach. However that is not your problem, dear reader – you are already at the right place!

“Venkat Rangarajan is Vice President, Customer and System Engineering at Firetide”