Mesh Network

A Mesh Network is a network topology in which nodes can communicate through multiple interconnected paths. In a full mesh, every node is directly connected to every other node. In a partial mesh, direct connections exist only between selected devices. These additional paths can allow traffic to be redirected if a connection fails, provided that the network protocols and systems in use support alternative path selection. Mesh architectures are used in WANs, wireless mesh networks and highly available network infrastructures. Key advantages include path redundancy and flexible traffic forwarding. However, increasing the level of interconnection also increases requirements for cabling, network planning, routing and administration. The appropriate mesh design therefore depends on requirements for availability, scalability, performance and cost.