ESP WIFI-MESH ip-Internal-network max number of nodes

[shantha]

Hi,

We have built a Wifi mesh network with 50 nodes around ip-internal-network example on IDF version 4.3 and currently working fine with OTA and MQTT. We need to expand it to 200 nodes. We have seen in menuconfig (Component config -> LWIP ->DHCP Server -> Max number of stations) there is a limitation of DHCP max number of station is 64.
1. Does this mean ESP WIFI MESH ip network can have maximum of 64 nodes ?
2. If we use more than 64 nodes, other Nodes after 64 will not get an IP ?
3. Is there a way that we can use OTA and MQTT without assigning an IP to the nodes?

We need to clarify above before we purchase the hardware.

Thanks.