User's Manual

BreadCrumb
®
LX User Guide Rajant Corporation
June 25, 2008 Version 1.06
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2.1 WHAT IS A BREADCRUMB? (continued)
2.1.4 WIRED NETWORK EXTENSION
Networks in which two or more wired networks at different locations must be connected wirelessly
(e.g., to securely connect combat service support computers with logistics bases)
2.1.5 ANY COMBINATION OF THE PREVIOUS SECTIONS 2.1.1 to 2.1.4
Most BreadCrumb deployments include elements from more than one of the above scenarios.
In many cases, BreadCrumbs will perform all of the tasks as shipped with no configuration necessary at
all, providing an instant TAN -a Tactical Area Network. Moreover, because BreadCrumbs use industry-
standard 802.11a/b/g communications, client devices such as laptops or handheld computers require no
special hardware, software, or configuration to access a BCWN.
2.2 MOBILITY THROUGH MESHING
The key component to a BCWN is a technique known as Meshing. While this is generally handled
automatically by BreadCrumbs, complex deployment scenarios require a basic understanding of how
BreadCrumbs establish and maintain a mesh.
2.2.1 MESH – A DEFINITION
A mesh is a collection of network devices (in our case, BreadCrumbs), each of which is connected to
one or more other BreadCrumbs. Data can move between BreadCrumbs via these links, possibly
passing through several intermediate BreadCrumbs before arriving at its final destination.
The intelligence of a BCWN is in how it adapts rapidly to the creation or destruction of the links in the
mesh as devices are moved, switched OFF or ON, blocked by obstructions, interfered with by other
devices, or otherwise affected. This adaptation takes place automatically and immediately as needed.
Note: Although all BreadCrumbs can be Access Points, most Access Points do not provide
any meshing capabilities. Traditional Access Points simply allow wireless devices within range
to connect to a wired network; they do not extend range through other Access Points.
2.2.2 BREADCRUMBS MESH BY CHANNEL AND ESSID
Two BreadCrumbs establish a mesh link to one another when they share both a radio channel and an
ESSID. The 802.11b/g radios used by BreadCrumbs support 11 different channels for communication,
numbered 1 to 11. The 80211a radios used by BreadCrumbs support 18 different channels: 36, 40, 42,
44, 48, 50, 52, 56, 58, 60, 64, 149, 152, 153, 157, 160, 161 and 165. By default, each 802.11b/g
BreadCrumb radio is on channel 1 or 11, while each 802.11a radio is on channel 152.
An ESSID is essentially a name for a wireless network. By default, LX BreadCrumbs use the ESSID
"breadcrumb54".