Slashdot Mirror
Turn-key Mesh Routing Access Point
IPSection writes "LocustWorld announces the release of MeshAP-05. This is a test release of a bootable CD which turns a single board computer or laptop into a mesh node and access point. Clients can sign on to the network, cells communicate to form a robust, dynamic, compressed and encrypted mesh network. This is a prototype release intended for the widest possible test. Feedback is encouraged." There are several interesting things on this site, actually -- check out the Swarm Chip.
too many words, i'll make it simple
BORG!
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Can you just imagine 300 Dorm students with their own ad-hoc p2p network? It's too bad that the site's /.-ed, but I think a working application for this would be p2p networking within close proximity like a large University where the majority of the 'web' would be located around dorms, but several 'access points' on the outside of the larger hubs could connect local residents. Possible extending the network across town.
I'd hate to be the only sap between two large dorms - you'd be the gateway and could say good-bye to any bandwidth for yourself.
Damnit! Get that site back on-line. I'd love to test ths sucker out.
HURD - Hurd's Under Research & Development
The reason this is useful is that it allows a group of (perhaps constantly changing) network nodes to form a big cohesive network. It sounds like it creates isolated layer 2 cells and builds a single layer 3 network out of the cells, which I believe is what the Linksys WET11 does.
Compare this to the coherent layer 2 network which can be created with Spanning Tree Protocol by using OpenAP like these guys do.
Most WiFi access points do not support a mesh topology, but only support hub and spoke. With hub and spoke, you can only connect to the network if you have line of sight to a hub, but with a mesh network, you can connect via any other network node. Mmmmmmm. . .
Perhaps someone who actually got through the slashdotting can comment on the other features (compression, encryption, proxying, etc.)
Why is this useful? The current state of affairs in the 802.11 world is that there are dozens of devices that have vague analogs in the wired networking world, but none of those analogies are perfect. Basically, you have the following classes of device:
- WLAN cards. Oronoco cards and the like. You one in a desktop box and it gets wireless ethernet capability. Can either talk to other WLAN cards (in what's called an ad-hoc network) or to a wireless access point. Basically like a NIC, except NICs don't try to plug themselves into hubs or other NICs. And the situation of connecting directly to another box using a crossover cable is usually viewed as a degenerate case; ad-hoc networks are completely legit and workable.
- Wireless Access Points are devices designed to allow WLAN cards to talk to a wired network. If there's an AP available, WLAN cards will break out of ad-hoc mode (where everyone talks to everyone) and switch to an associated mode, where they only talk to their AP. Ideally this is the AP with the best signal strength - but not always.
- Wireless Bridges are designed to allow a wired network participate in a wireless network.
Anyone who need this explaination probably just went "What!? But there's already a device to connect wireless networks to wired networks!" Ah, would that it were so. As much as AP's resemble wired switches, they're not.Wired networks are true undirected graphs. Wireless networks are heirarchal and difficult. Repeaters exist, but they're usually a bad idea, because you take huge hits to throughput.
Now, mesh wireless takes care of all that. Got a spot that's a little dim? Plop down a mesh point, it integrates into the network and you're nice and bright there now. Couldn't be easier, and is a whole lot more like a wired ethernet with the wires taken away, as opposed to the completely different animal that non-mesh wireless is.
Short form: wireless is obnoxious even if the results are cool. Mesh wireless is gorgeous, and the results are cooler.
IP is just rude.
Is there any torture so subl
There are a number of other interesting wireless projects which provide some cool / usefull features to 802.11 wifi networks:
NoCat Networks which implement QoS controls on user traffic giving priority to authenticated users.
Janus Wireless is working to improve mobile IP connectivity and integrated peer network services
IRIS which was mentioned recently and is perfectly suited for integration itno wireless networks for large amounts of reliable, distributed data storage.
MIT's GRID routing project which is probably the most similar.
The really cool uses will come when the integrated peer network / wireless network applications become popular an tandem with pervasive 802.11 deployment in homes and offices.