802.11s Packet Formats 
==========================


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        **What are packet formats in 802.11s?**

        Packet formats define the structure of frames used for communication within the mesh network, including data, management, and control frames.

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        **How does 802.11s extend standard 802.11 frame formats?**

        It adds mesh-specific headers and elements to support mesh routing and forwarding functions.

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        **What is the Mesh Control field?**

        A header field in mesh data frames that contains routing information used by mesh points for forwarding.

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        **Which frame types are extended in 802.11s?**

        Data frames are extended with mesh headers; management frames include mesh peering and path selection elements.

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        **What is the purpose of the Mesh Header?**

        It enables multi-hop routing by carrying source, destination, and forwarding information within the mesh.

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        **How large is the Mesh Control field?**

        Typically 6 to 24 bytes, depending on the routing protocol and frame type.

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        **Do 802.11s packets support fragmentation?**

        Yes, standard 802.11 fragmentation mechanisms apply to mesh packets.

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        **What management frames are unique to 802.11s?**

        Mesh Peering Open/Confirm frames and Mesh Path Request/Reply frames for routing.

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        **How is security information included in 802.11s packets?**

        Security elements like Integrity Group Temporal Key (IGTK) and pairwise keys can be included within the mesh frame fields.

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        **Are QoS features supported in 802.11s packets?**

        Yes, QoS Control fields are present as in standard 802.11 frames to prioritize traffic.

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        **What is the format of Mesh Path Selection frames?**

        They use specific management frames with path request and path reply elements embedded.

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        **Can 802.11s packets carry both mesh and non-mesh traffic?**

        Mesh points can handle both, but mesh packets have additional headers for routing.

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        **How are packet formats optimized for multi-hop routing?**

        By including routing and forwarding information directly within the packet headers.

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        **Do mesh packets support broadcast and multicast?**

        Yes, special addressing and forwarding rules apply for broadcast/multicast mesh packets.

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        **What fields help prevent routing loops in packet formats?**

        Sequence numbers and Time-to-Live (TTL) fields in mesh headers assist in loop prevention.

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        **Are mesh packets backward compatible with legacy 802.11 devices?**

        Mesh packets are generally not understood by legacy devices but mesh networks interoperate at the MAC level.

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        **How does packet format affect mesh network scalability?**

        Efficient header design reduces overhead, supporting larger mesh networks with many hops.

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        **What role do control frames play in 802.11s packet formats?**

        They manage mesh link establishment, routing discovery, and error reporting within the mesh.


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        Topics in this section,

                * :ref:`Reference links <packet_formats_s_step17>`


.. _packet_formats_s_step17:

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    .. tab-item:: Reference links

       * Reference links