Mesh Networks

A mesh network is a local network topology in which the infrastructure nodes, such as bridges, switches, and gateways, connect directly, dynamically and non-hierarchically to many other nodes and cooperate with one another to efficiently route data to and from clients. The lack of dependency on a central node allows for every node to participate in the relay of information. Mesh networks dynamically self-organize and self-configure, which can reduce installation overhead. The ability to self-configure enables dynamic distribution of workloads, particularly in the event that nodes fail. This in turn contributes to fault-tolerance and reduced maintenance costs. Mesh networks facilitate IoT adoption by extending the network in a reliable manner so that other devices can join local networks. They allow devices that are not powerful enough to join Wi-Fi or cellular networks to join the IoT network. The self-healing and self-configuring features of mesh networks also help to make networking more efficient by reducing energy consumption, downtime, and administration requirements.