The www.locustworld.com meshrouting protocol is finally being implemented into a custom AP: The Linksys wrt54g routers by
www.sveasoft.com. Mesh networking theoretically allows one to string AP from Tzaneen to Cape Town. This is impossible to do with Dlink, Belkin, Netgear, Planetwireless ect. Get these wrt54g routers from
http://www.westcon.co.za/
The mathematics of mesh routing and the protocol is found here:
http://w3.antd.nist.gov/wctg/aodv_kernel/
===============
Here is post on this issue from Locustworld:
I spent some time yesterday looking at alternative meshing
implementations. There aren't many. I have discounted the "smart
antenna" systems (SkyPilot, Nokia RoofTop), as smart antennas cost big
bucks...
MeshCube (www.meshcube.org). Their meshbox is 240 Euros, but I don't
know if you can actully buy one yet. Supports up to 8(!) miniPCI cards.
Software is under GPL. Support (forums, docs) seems sparse, but then
they are just starting up.
SOWN (http://www.sown.org.uk/) (also see
http://www.nycwireless.net/pebble/). Uses a custom linux distro, with a
"collection of apps/scripts to make pebbles mesh together automatically
to form a fully routed network". Can route public IPs over the mesh (no
NAT). Uses OSPF and WDS. Node requires a wired connection (does not act
as an AP). You would need to build your own meshbox, using standard X86
hardware. They have a mesh up and running in Southampton.
RoofNet - uses meshboxes that have hard drives in them (They are
working
on a compact flash version). You would need to build the meshbox using
standard X86 hardware. Requires Intersil Prism 2.5 or Atheros AR521X
chipset. They have a 40 node mesh up and running, so it presumably
works
fine. The roofnet node offers only a wired connection to clients (does
not act as an AP), so a separate AP is required. Software is partly
MIT/BSD and partly GPL. There doesn't seem to be a roofnet "community".
They have a sourceforge project, which had 0% activity last week.
Sveasoft - is working on a mesh implementation for the WRT54G, using
AODV for routing and IP6 as the internal transport, presumably both for
security and the address space. Until then, WDS is working. The
hardware
is very cheap (under £50). The forums are very active. I am ordering a
pair of WRT54G's today to test it out.
MeshNetworks (meshnetworks.com) - design their own hardware, not sure
if
it is standards-based or proprietary. I assume it is very expensive,
because you have to contact them to get the prices.
MEA (Now Wireless, now.co.uk) - "advanced and patented" technology, but
they also claim "low cost". No prices listed. Interesting "geo-location
feature" that sounds too good to be true. Geared towards the
high-paying
industrial customers.
Hope that helps.
Aled.
Bob Williams wrote:
http://sawireless.tripod.com
www.sveasoft.com. Mesh networking theoretically allows one to string AP from Tzaneen to Cape Town. This is impossible to do with Dlink, Belkin, Netgear, Planetwireless ect. Get these wrt54g routers from
http://www.westcon.co.za/
The mathematics of mesh routing and the protocol is found here:
http://w3.antd.nist.gov/wctg/aodv_kernel/
===============
Here is post on this issue from Locustworld:
I spent some time yesterday looking at alternative meshing
implementations. There aren't many. I have discounted the "smart
antenna" systems (SkyPilot, Nokia RoofTop), as smart antennas cost big
bucks...
MeshCube (www.meshcube.org). Their meshbox is 240 Euros, but I don't
know if you can actully buy one yet. Supports up to 8(!) miniPCI cards.
Software is under GPL. Support (forums, docs) seems sparse, but then
they are just starting up.
SOWN (http://www.sown.org.uk/) (also see
http://www.nycwireless.net/pebble/). Uses a custom linux distro, with a
"collection of apps/scripts to make pebbles mesh together automatically
to form a fully routed network". Can route public IPs over the mesh (no
NAT). Uses OSPF and WDS. Node requires a wired connection (does not act
as an AP). You would need to build your own meshbox, using standard X86
hardware. They have a mesh up and running in Southampton.
RoofNet - uses meshboxes that have hard drives in them (They are
working
on a compact flash version). You would need to build the meshbox using
standard X86 hardware. Requires Intersil Prism 2.5 or Atheros AR521X
chipset. They have a 40 node mesh up and running, so it presumably
works
fine. The roofnet node offers only a wired connection to clients (does
not act as an AP), so a separate AP is required. Software is partly
MIT/BSD and partly GPL. There doesn't seem to be a roofnet "community".
They have a sourceforge project, which had 0% activity last week.
Sveasoft - is working on a mesh implementation for the WRT54G, using
AODV for routing and IP6 as the internal transport, presumably both for
security and the address space. Until then, WDS is working. The
hardware
is very cheap (under £50). The forums are very active. I am ordering a
pair of WRT54G's today to test it out.
MeshNetworks (meshnetworks.com) - design their own hardware, not sure
if
it is standards-based or proprietary. I assume it is very expensive,
because you have to contact them to get the prices.
MEA (Now Wireless, now.co.uk) - "advanced and patented" technology, but
they also claim "low cost". No prices listed. Interesting "geo-location
feature" that sounds too good to be true. Geared towards the
high-paying
industrial customers.
Hope that helps.
Aled.
Bob Williams wrote:
http://sawireless.tripod.com
