MME (Mesh Made Easy) is a routing protocol designed by MikroTik to facilitate IP-level routing in wireless mesh networks.

Inspired by the BATMAN (Better Approach To Mobile Ad-hoc Networking) protocol, MME focuses on efficiency and simplicity to adapt to the changing dynamics of mesh networks, especially in mobile contexts or high variability in network topology.

Key Features and Operation

• Transmission of Originator Messages: MME uses periodic messages called originator messages, which contain essential routing information, such as the originator's IP address and an optional list of network prefixes. These messages are rebroadcast by the nodes that receive them if it is the first time they see that message, thus improving the dissemination of routing information.
• Selection of the Best Gateway: Unlike traditional proactive protocols that maintain a complete table of the network topology, MME relies on message loss statistics to determine the best gateway to a specific destination. This minimizes the need for complex calculations and maintenance of network information, optimizing resource use.
• Operational Simplicity: MME focuses on identifying the best single-hop neighbor on the path to a particular destination, avoiding the need for routing table calculations. This is particularly advantageous in embedded systems where CPU overhead can be a critical consideration.
• Secondary Functions: Additionally, MME supports the announcement of gateways to the Internet and the dynamic configuration of default routes through what is known as “the gateway protocol”, using ports UDP 1966 for originator messages and TCP 1968 for the gateway protocol.

Technical Principles and Configuration

• Automatic Discovery: MME facilitates automatic discovery of neighboring routers and selection of the best gateway based on the last 64 communications, allowing dynamic adjustments to packet loss.
• Gateway Protocol: Clients' selection of the gateway server is based on packet statistics, advertised gateway class, and specific configurations, establishing a TCP connection for exchange of keepalive messages, and configuring IPIP dynamic interfaces for routing.

Practical Implications

The implementation of MME in mesh network environments reflects a pragmatic approach to routing, prioritizing operational efficiency and adaptability.

By minimizing computational overhead and simplifying network management, MME is positioned as an effective solution for dynamic mesh networks, offering a robust and scalable alternative to wireless connectivity.

The integration of this knowledge highlights the engineering and philosophy behind MikroTik's MME protocol, revealing its potential to improve the connectivity and resilience of wireless mesh networks with an approach that balances technical complexity and operational efficiency.