User's Manual

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The wireless bridge is defined as “transparent” because its activity is transparent to the network hosts.
In other words, the wireless bridge forwards packets from one network segment to the other
according to a “forwarding table” which is built by learning the network topology from the analysis of
the incoming traffic. In this configuration, no explicit interaction between the wireless bridge and
the network hosts takes place. The two network segments, connected to both sides of the wireless
bridge, will share the same IP addressing class. Thus, each network host must use a unique IP
address, i.e., it is not allowed to have two devices sharing the same IP address.
4.2 Mesh Network Architecture
This section describes the Fluidmesh mesh networking architecture and the basic functionalities of
the FM3200 series. For the sake of clarity, we will refer to a generic FM unit whenever the
discussion applies to the FM3200 series.
Fluidmesh Networks develops wireless networking solutions based on the innovative mesh
networking architecture which presents unmatched advantages in terms of reliability and flexibility
compared to any traditional wireless solution. Using Fluidmesh technology for your network
allows you to take advantage of this powerful architecture. An example of wireless mesh
network is shown in Figure 4.3. In a wireless mesh network, every FM unit transmits the data packets
coming from the devices directly attached to it and also acts as an “intelligent router” able to
forward packets coming from other FM units through the optimal path.
In a redundant and reliable mesh network, every stream of data packets has multiple available paths
to reach the base station, and the network forwards the packets through the optimal path at any
point in time. The absence of any single point of failure increases its reliability compared to any
other transmission technology, either wireless or wired.
Figure 4.3: Fluidmesh Mesh Networking Architecture
4.3 Point-to-Multipoint Architecture: FluidMAX™
Developing FluidMAX
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, Fluidmesh embraced the Point-to-Multipoint architecture (see Figure
4.4) improving its features and capabilities to meet the needs of system integrators in the security
and industrial automation industry. The FluidMAX technology is based on a centralized Medium
Access Control (MAC) protocol and allows Fluidmesh customers to create point-to-multipoint
networks using the FM units.
With the FluidMAX technology, an FM unit can thus be used at the center of the star topology in a
point-to-multipoint fashion using sector antennas or antenna splitters with multiple directional
antennas. The unit operating at the center of the star topology plays the role of Master and is in
charge of coordinating communications to and from the other units that thus act as Slaves. As a