Authentication in a mesh network controlled by a central controller, including using standard IEEE 802.11i mechanisms between a potential child mesh access point (AP) as supplicant and the controller as authenticator. Each mesh AP in the mesh network has a secure tunnel to a controller using a protocol for controlling the mesh AP, including AP capabilities, and a fast roaming method for re-establishing a secure layer-2 link with a new parent mesh AP including, while the mesh AP is a child mesh AP to the first parent mesh AP and has a secure layer-2 link to the first parent mesh AP, caching key information and wireless mesh network identity information in the controller.