A network device (10-N) comprising: a processor configured to: determine whether a high-priority wired uplink of the network device (10-N) in a mesh network is operational, wherein the high-priority wired uplink is a backhaul link that has a higher priority than a mesh link in the mesh network; determine whether a host is reachable through the high-priority wired uplink in response to the high-priority wired uplink being operational; periodically determine a mesh network role of the network device (10-N) based on the determination of whether the host is reachable through the high-priority wired uplink; in response to the high-priority wired uplink of the network device (10-N) being operational, and the host being reachable through the high-priority wired uplink, assign the network device (10-N) to the role of a portal in the mesh network, wherein a portal is an access point that uses an Ethernet port to access an enterprise network through a wired access switch to provide the entrance to the enterprise network; and assign the network device (10-N) to the role of a point in the mesh network in response to the high-priority wired uplink of the network device (10-N) being non-operational through the high-priority wired uplink or the host not being reachable through the high-priority wired uplink, wherein a point is an access point that can only access the enterprise network by a direct or indirect wireless mesh link to another access point, wherein the processor is further configured to: when the network device (10-N) has been assigned to the role of a point: periodically send a plurality of reachability check frames to the host through a mesh link of the mesh network; periodically send a plurality of frames to the high-priority wired uplink to determine if a gateway is reachable through the high-priority wired uplink; and in response to a determination that the host is reachable through the mesh link and a determination that the gateway is reachable through the high-priority wired uplink, assign the network device (10-N) to the role of a portal in the mesh network. determine whether a high-priority wired uplink of the network device (10-N) in a mesh network is operational, wherein the high-priority wired uplink is a backhaul link that has a higher priority than a mesh link in the mesh network; determine whether a host is reachable through the high-priority wired uplink in response to the high-priority wired uplink being operational; periodically determine a mesh network role of the network device (10-N) based on the determination of whether the host is reachable through the high-priority wired uplink; in response to the high-priority wired uplink of the network device (10-N) being operational, and the host being reachable through the high-priority wired uplink, assign the network device (10-N) to the role of a portal in the mesh network, wherein a portal is an access point that uses an Ethernet port to access an enterprise network through a wired access switch to provide the entrance to the enterprise network; and assign the network device (10-N) to the role of a point in the mesh network in response to the high-priority wired uplink of the network device (10-N) being non-operational through the high-priority wired uplink or the host not being reachable through the high-priority wired uplink, wherein a point is an access point that can only access the enterprise network by a direct or indirect wireless mesh link to another access point, wherein the processor is further configured to: when the network device (10-N) has been assigned to the role of a point: periodically send a plurality of reachability check frames to the host through a mesh link of the mesh network; periodically send a plurality of frames to the high-priority wired uplink to determine if a gateway is reachable through the high-priority wired uplink; and in response to a determination that the host is reachable through the mesh link and a determination that the gateway is reachable through the high-priority wired uplink, assign the network device (10-N) to the role of a portal in the mesh network. periodically send a plurality of reachability check frames to the host through a mesh link of the mesh network; periodically send a plurality of frames to the high-priority wired uplink to determine if a gateway is reachable through the high-priority wired uplink; and in response to a determination that the host is reachable through the mesh link and a determination that the gateway is reachable through the high-priority wired uplink, assign the network device (10-N) to the role of a portal in the mesh network.