Effective Key Management in Wireless Mesh Network

Abstract

This project report talks about wireless mesh network functions, characteristics, security issues and a security key management scheme. Wireless Mesh Networks are replacing the Wireless Infrastructure networks in many areas due to their lower cost and higher flexibility. The wireless mesh networks provide network access for mesh as well as conventional clients with the help of mesh routers and mesh clients. Communication across these networks is formed via the bridge functions. Mesh routers also provide the minimal possible mobility and forms the backbone of WMNs. Wireless mesh network is a rapidly deployed, self organisable and multi-hop network. The wireless and distributed natures of these networks make them prone to various different kinds of attacks, due to which great challenges are raised in securing these networks. Most existing security mechanisms use cryptographic keys where higher degree key management services are in demand. In this report, I present an effective key management scheme such that the induced network is very well connected and protected against possible attacks. This is done by introducing the ant colonization optimization technique to one of the existing algorithms available.