Wireless Access

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  • 1.  IAP automatic switch to mesh point - how?

    Posted Jan 23, 2026 07:38 PM

    Hi All,

    We have a single SSID WLAN consisting of 10 IAP310's connected to an HP POE+ switch, 

    The IAP FW version is 8.13.1.1 LSR.

    This instalaltion has been working properly for many years.

    I disconnect the ethernet cable of a  single IAP and connect a 12Volt 2Amp power supply, hoping to see this IAP switching to mesh-point mode.

    This does not happen, 

    The virtual controller no longer sees the IAP.

    Both led's on the IAP are solid green.

    What am I doing wrong?

    Thanks



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  • 2.  RE: IAP automatic switch to mesh point - how?

    Posted Jan 26, 2026 12:04 PM

    Have you configured a mesh profile or any of the other mesh configuration requirements?



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    Carson Hulcher, ACEX#110
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  • 3.  RE: IAP automatic switch to mesh point - how?

    Posted Jan 26, 2026 01:38 PM

    Hi Carson,

    Thank you for your reply.

    The "Simple_Mesh_Deployment_Guide_-_Instant_OS.pdf" document does not talk about a "Mesh Configuration", but lists a few simple requirements in the begining of this document.

    My only suspicion is about "disabling the Extended SSID" setting. I think this setting was enabled before I disconnected the mesh-point AP.

    The deployment is in a remote location, I've already disabled the Extended SSID setting on the Instant network remotely, but it obviously did not propagate to the mesh-point AP which at the moment is not part of the instant network..

    Tomorrow I'll reconnect the AP to the switch, set the required setting and try again.

    I'll report the result tomorrow...

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  • 4.  RE: IAP automatic switch to mesh point - how?

    Posted Jan 26, 2026 02:08 PM

    Have a link to whatever that document is?

    Depending on how you configure mesh, you may be using the automatic mesh cluster, a manually set mesh cluster, or the standalone/clusterless mesh cluster.  Instant requires that the Extended SSID be explicitly disabled to enable mesh and can then attempt to determine point vs. portal operation, but the base discovery is fairly unreliable and you'd want to enable the advanced detection.



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    Carson Hulcher, ACEX#110
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  • 5.  RE: IAP automatic switch to mesh point - how?
    Best Answer

    Posted Jan 26, 2026 04:51 PM

    Hi Carson,

    Thank you for the hints...

    I gave in to my curiosity and went to the site, connected the (to be) mesh-point AP to the switch, changed "Configuration/Access Points/<AP>/Uplink/Eth0 Mode" from "uplink" to "downlink".

    Disconnected the AP from switch, connnected to power injector and after a long boot process it became a mesh-point. Pity this wasn't mentioned early in the doc. 
    IMHO, if the Eth0 mode setting were determined using real time discovery, the resulting network would have a nice fault tolerance against cable breaks, and would switch automatically to mesh-point and continue to serve the clients seamlessly ( assuming the existence of a "nearby" portal/point AP...

    Sorry I can't find the page where this document was listed but if it won't pose a problem, can I upload it here?

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  • 6.  RE: IAP automatic switch to mesh point - how?

    Posted Jan 26, 2026 05:01 PM

    The default discovery senses for Ethernet connectivity on the uplink port and determines portal/point on that, the advanced discovery will look for IP connectivity.  Either option has a slow initial boot.



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    Carson Hulcher, ACEX#110
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  • 7.  RE: IAP automatic switch to mesh point - how?

    Posted Jan 26, 2026 05:34 PM
      |   view attached

    Hi Carson,

    Unfortunately the default discovery didn't work in my case. The AP never became a point when it had no connectivity on eth0. I wish I had a console terminal to see what was going wrong.

    Anyway the problem is solved thanks for all the help. I don't know much about Kudos? How should I go about it.
    I'm uploading the mesh doument, will take it down if someone objects.

    Thanks again...

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    Attachment(s)



  • 8.  RE: IAP automatic switch to mesh point - how?

    Posted Jan 27, 2026 12:49 PM

    Honestly, I never count on the automatic discovery to function.  Great feature for potentially getting things operational initially but explicitly setting the AP to run in point or portal has always been the better option to me.



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    Carson Hulcher, ACEX#110
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  • 9.  RE: IAP automatic switch to mesh point - how?

    Posted Jan 28, 2026 10:12 PM
    Edited by SemihBATTAL Jan 28, 2026 10:15 PM

    Hi Carson,
    I agree entirely...
    Meanwhile, I've found the link to the mesh documents.
    Switch Traffic over mesh point to controller | Wireless Access
    Thanks,
    Semih BATTAL

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