[MLB-WIRELESS] meshing

[Jason Hecker]

The thing with meshing is you need each node to be able to be aware of who 
it can talk to and best route packets on the behalf of others.  From 
reading stuff on the net OSPF (open shortest path first) protocol can do 
this with not much fuss.  Unfortunately, it's generally available 
implementation is in GNU Zebra and it's built into Windows 2000 Server.  If 
most/all people use xBSD or Linux for their access points then running 
Zebra isn't an issue.  I'm not so sure others not so familiar with *NIX 
would want to use Win2K Server.  I don't think it's available on the lesser 
Windows.

OSPF seems to be able to automatically make discoveries about what other 
OSPF enabled routers (in our case wireless access points) are within reach 
and dynamically modifies it's hosts routing tables to deal with it.  They 
all talk to each other such that one router knows who the other routers can 
see, so the hidden transmitter/node problem is dealt with 
automatically.  The configuration isn't that tricky, you might just need to 
set up what it calls areas (geographical zones for us) to help things along 
a bit.  If everyone used OSPF on their access points then getting access to 
Melbwireless would be almost as simple as installing your access point, 
putting up and aerial then you should be on (so long as you can see another 
AP)!

This mesh alleviates the need for everyone to be able to see a central 
backbone access point (which are far and few between at the moment) and 
allow people to have a better chance of success at connecting.

We really do need to think about making a standard mini Linux distribution 
that even your grandmother could install with the minimum of fuss that has 
OSPF and all the necessary linux drivers and whatnot on it.  Smoothwall is 
really nice from that point of view so if we could make some OSPF and 
wireless packages for it then that would be the simplest and easiest solution.

How many time did I say OSPF above?


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