Embedded Linux Wi-Fi Mesh Router On Sale

juxter writes "Following the announcement earlier this month, LocustWorld are now selling pre-built hardware MeshAPs for use as instant turn-key nodes in community mesh networks. (pictures here) - Featuring auto-updating and auto-configuration via a centralized management site, these are designed with 'Joe PC' in mind."

Comments

Will find cache for karma

[Greedo]

LocustWorld seems to be down, so here's the Google cache.

I'm such a whore.

Alternative Solution

[PhotonSphere]

The wireless group in Houston is building even smaller boxes that are capable of doing everything that this box does. A HOWTO is being assembled here. They are using the Soekris Net4501 in combination with the DWL-520 802.11b PCI card to run Linux and push HostAP and NoCatAuth. The Soekris comes with 3 NICs and no moving parts!

Re:Mesh topology? How about cell topo?

[swillden]

There's a difference, and it's an important one: Most cells are essentially standalone. That is, each cell handles communications within its boundaries and really only communicates with other cells to manage handoff, if they even talk that much.

In this case, the "cells" communicate with each other intensively, because most of them have no Internet connection at all. They pass packets from AP to AP until they arrive at one that can actually forward them onto the Net.

Thus, these access points do merge together into a seamless communications transport that seems worthy of the name "mesh".

Re: commodity hardware

[ColaMan]

CompactFlash already has an IDE interface - the adaptor is merely to convert teeny-CompactFlash-pins to your normal 40 pin IDE

The reason that CF-based IDE drives are so expensive is that Flash memory is expensive to manufacture.

Re:you pay a premium for size

[g4dget]

I noted that VIA's suggested power supplies either had fans, except for that TK fanless ATX supply (which costs $150). I'm using a wall brick for my net4501.

There are cheap, wall-brick power supplies for these boards; the CaseOutlet cases come with one.

Mini-ITX system *must* include the net-booting eth card and other "accessories", the power supply that probably has moving parts, and the additional heat output

The onboard Ethernet net-boots; there isn't much else that you need, except maybe a $20 CF-to-IDE adapter.

Re:Mesh topology? How about cell topo?

[Dialithis]

The answer depends on the antenna you hook up to it. With a good omnidirectional antenna on a mast on the roof you could well get a mile or so out of it.

A directional antenna pointed at the park across the street from a 5th story window would work great.

Re:What's in it for me?

[Anonymous Coward]

This distro *does* interface with the 'old' internet.

It will seek a net connection via DHCP on a wired interface and setup ad-hoc routing over wireless to other locust nodes, with a default route via the regular net connection.

Is it a true AP?

[roybadami]

Given that they used the linux-wlan drivers, I suspect that this isn't a true AP (running in BSS mode), unless support for this is now in linux-wlan (they do say they use bleeding edge drivers).

Given they use Prism II hardware, I don't understand why they don't use the hostap drivers.

BSS mode has scalability advantages, because it solves the 'hidden sender' problem. ie even though 802.11 nodes always listen to check that the channel is clear before sending, there is a danger that two nodes at opposite extremes won't be able to hear each other, and will try to send at the same time, resulting in collisions. A true AP, running in BSS mode, helps aleviate this problem.)