Cisco Fluidmesh

[carl_townshend]

Hi All

Someone has just mentioned fluidmesh to me.

Can someone give me a quick breakdown of what exactly this is, what is is used for and what equipment is used? it this based on Meraki ?

I believe it is now ultra reliable wireless backhaul.

[Rich R]

Cisco bought fluidmesh and renamed it to Cisco Ultra-Reliable Wireless Backhaul.
Best to look at the product pages: https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/products/networking/industrial-wireless/ultra-reliable-wireless-backhaul/index.html and https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/wireless/ultra-reliable-wireless-backhaul/ultra-wireless-backhaul-so.html

Briefly though, it's mainly designed for point to point and point to multipoint wireless connections, designed to be extremely reliable and robust. Nothing to do with Meraki, it's not for serving clients, it's for providing backhaul links, although some of the APs function as clients - effectively similar to workgroup bridges.

[carl_townshend]

Hi Rich

Are these configured locally or do they need a Cisco Wireless LAN controller? what makes them different from normal Cisco Mesh AP's ? I see they do duplication of traffic across multiple bands for resiliency etc ?

[marce1000]

     (edited) :                 Autonomous for some of these models refers to for instance :    
                         https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/outdoor_industrial/iw9167/release_notes/b-release-notes-for-cisco-ultra-reliable-wireless-backhaul-catalyst-iw9167e-iw9165e-and-iw9165dh-heavy-duty-access-point.html

     >...Are these configured locally or do they need a Cisco Wireless LAN controller?
    - Simple ways to find out is using the https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/compatibility/matrix/compatibility-matrix.html  and look these models up.
       Or go to https://software.cisco.com/download/home  and give the model as input , check if there are autonomous images or not (for instance)

 M.

[Rich R]

Nothing to do with WLCs - it's a complete separate product portfolio with its own management options (at the moment):
Cisco Industrial Wireless Service in IoT Operations Dashboard At-a-Glance - Cisco
Cisco Industrial Wireless Monitor Solution Overview - Cisco

I don't think it will ever be part of WLC but they might eventually add it to Catalyst Centre or Meraki dashboard.

[marce1000]

           >...I believe it is now ultra reliable wireless backhaul.
  - That is correct : https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/wireless/ultra-reliable-wireless-backhaul/series.html

 M.

[carl_townshend]

Hi

From what I have read, some of the AP models can run in 2 modes, capwap to a controller or URWB mode.

If running in URWB mode, how are these set up? in the cloud? or locally on individual access points ?

[marce1000]

        - FYI : https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/outdoor_industrial/iw9167/hardware/installation/m-cisco-ultra-reliable-wireless-backhaul-catalyst-iw9167e-heavy-duty-access-points-software-configuration-guide/m-configuring-curwb-operation-mode.html
           Since they are mentioned in the Wireless Compatibility Matrix ,  they can also do 'simple CAPWAP mode'

 M.

[ammahend]

URWB has its own cloud based portal

If you are a Cisco partner, use dCloud, they have some good labs on CURWB

here is a video with a brief demo