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Introduction
APdesk along with MESHdesk is included in RADIUSdesk.
Both APdesk and MESHdesk depend on the MESHdesk firmware.
The MESHdesk firmware has various modes it can be set to by using the MESHdesk Node Config Utility.
To use the firmware in APdesk we simply set the firmware in AP mode.
To use the firmware in MESHdesk we set the firmware in Mesh mode.
MESHdesk is used to centrally manage various Batman-adv based mesh networks and APdesk is used to centrally manage single Access Points.
If you just signed up a restaurant chain and need to roll out country wide to their 75 locations a hotspot solution then APdesk is your friend.
These locations are not large enough to justify a mesh network, however we do have a need to centrally manage the Access Points deployed in each of these branches.
We are not restricted to exclusively use APdesk or MESHdesk and we can use a combination of mesh networks and single Access Points to deliver our solution.
Should there be locations which require a mesh network due to the need for larger coverage, we can roll out a mesh network in these locations.
Both single Access Points and mesh networks can use common elements like Realms, Dynamic Login Pages, Permanent Users and Vouchers.
This allow you to choose which type of solution to provide at a location with the minimum duplication.
It also allow for easy upgrade or downgrade between the two.