Software-defined mesh: Enhancing the reliability and flexibility with comparison of MAC protocols of mesh Wi-Fi networks

Software-defined networking (SDN) has been envisioned as the next generation network paradigm in order to enable network administration and optimization to be carried out centrally while utilizing global network data. This study reviews how to apply the SDN idea to a wireless mesh network that is widely used by many applications. It also focusses on the Media Access Control (MAC) protocols used in Mesh Wi-Fi networks, and how they affect the performance of the network. which are Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA)/MAC protocol and Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CA) MAC protocol, A comparison between the two protocols is made in terms of throughput, latency, and energy consumption. Then some of the challenges that face both protocols are discussed. We begin by outlining the Software-Defined Wireless Mesh Network (SD-WMN) architecture. Then, stating related works at the same approach showing differences between them. And addressing many pressing difficulties. routing problems. Topology discovery services, testbed environment and Load balancing are some of the routing challenges that WMNs have deal with. To overcome these difficulties, it is possible to utilize a distributed wireless mesh protocol to control how the interfaces are physically connected. WMNs must be made programmable, enabling alterations of conventional methods to be specified and carried out using computer programs. This problem may be handled by including Software Defined Networking (SDN) architecture.