[MLB-WIRELESS] not-a-working-group to build prototype nodes

[Alfred Shippen]

Yes I would have some interest in this...

Cheers
Alfred
----- Original Message -----
From: <jimmy at deefa.com>
To: <melbwireless at wireless.org.au>
Sent: Friday, March 21, 2003 1:10 PM
Subject: [MLB-WIRELESS] not-a-working-group to build prototype nodes


> Ok...
>
> so here's what I'm thinking...
>
> I'd like to get together with a few people (some of the Innernorth folks
> have already expressed an interest in something similar) to mock up a few
> prototype nodes.
>
> The job would be divided into 2 main areas i spose, hardware and software.
> With this group the size that it is these, we really should be able to
> field a few 'experts' for each area.
>
> The prototypes will be models for what people can use to easily get a node
> up. The hardware will present some of the options open to people, and the
> software will be used to overcome one of the biggest hurdles we're
> currently facing - routing.
>
> ::Hardware::
>
> There are 2 things I'd like to try in this area (hence the 2-3 prototypes
> idea). The first is using a mini-itx or embedded board of some kind, maybe
> in an external enclosure, maybe not. And the second is with more
'consumer'
> hardware, maybe an old pentium of some description.
>
> At this stage, I'm thinking both should be as compact as possible, and
> probably using CF as its storage medium.
>
> Both options should be able to hold 2-3 wireless cards to allow for a
> combination of p2p and p2mp interfaces. Possibly prism2 based to allow
> hostap for the p2mp
>
> We'd be aiming for the most functionality, for the least cost ;) (sounds
> like something my maths lecturer would ask me to model with a quadratic
;-)
>
> We'll scrounge the parts from wherever we can - all parts will remain the
> property of their owner. We just need to borrow them for a play ;)
>
> ::Software::
>
> To go with the hardware prototypes, we'd need a small distro that can fit
> on a cf card (16/32meg?)
>
> Andrew Giffiths has been working on one for a while, so we wouldn't need
to
> start from scratch. On first boot it should display a series of simple
> questions to the user (ip address, area, dhcpd settings, which interfaces
> are p2p, root password, etc) so that configuration is semi-automatic,
> making it a painless process.
>
> At this stage it will implement OSPF (invisibly to the user - the initial
> setup questions should provide Zebra with the info it needs), but down the
> track, we should be able to change to a more suitable system if something
> becomes available.
>
> It should also support most of the major cards (where possible) and auto
> load the appropriate drivers.
>
> The distro should be version numbered, so that if things work out and it
> gets taken up by many node operators, there can be some upgrade process
> (scp, bring their cf card to a meet, whatever) to make sure they have
> access to new network features, etc.
>
> I'd have nfi where to start with the software stuff, so hopefully some
> others might be more cluey on it than i am :)
>
> ----
>
> This isn't a working group (cos if it was, we'd be doomed from the
start) -
> it'd just be a group of people trying out some ideas ;)
>
> Anyone interested? If so, i'll setup a temporary mailing list and we can
> get started. I'm thinking we could work towards giving a presentation at a
> meeting on what we find - maybe the may meeting?
>
> James
>
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