Abolish the Microsoft Tax!
I’ve been approached by an individual wondering why the heck this site seems useless? Well I’m wondering that too! In my day-to-day work I’m certainly doing my duty to spread the *nix word, so I know there would be a big user base in Southeast Alaska. I hope to see some more action on here soon!
I love the WRT54G. Who couldn’t, I guess.So here’s the lovely little mesh network package I put together. It uses the experimental build of OpenWRT as of around 4/18/2005, and the nifty little olsrd routing daemon from olsr.org. Some ash glue to stick it all together.
So….
I only used OpenWRT experimental 'cause my first WRT54Gs were version 2.2. Update: I’ve got a G v1.1 going with experimental OpenWRT, and have created a separate script to set up the v1.1. I’m pretty sure that the G v2.2 script is for G v2.x, and the G v1.1 script is for G v1.x, but remember the dieffenbachia (below)
The br0 needs to be broken. The wifi_ variables need populated with good ad-hoc stuff. my glue does this, but you might want to read through it first to make sure you agree with what I’ve chosen to do. By downloading and using my glue you hereby indemnify me for any bricking that may happen to your router, dog, goldfish, dieffenbachia, or what-have-you. It’s fairly strait forward and forces -you- to do the ‘nvram commit’ so I’m not the one whodunnit!
here’s the nvram settings I modify for the purpose (Version 2.2 script shown):
nvram unset lan_ifnames
nvram set lan_ifname=vlan0 # MUST BE vlan2 for G v1.1 router!!
nvram set wifi_ifname=eth1 # MUST BE eth2 for G V1.1 router!
nvram set wifi_proto=static
nvram set wifi_ipaddr=$1
nvram set wifi_netmask=$2
nvram set wl0_mode=sta
nvram set wl0_infra=0
nvram set wl0_ssid=$3
nvram set wl0_channel=$4
nvram set security_mode=wep
nvram set wl0_wep_bit=$5
nvram set wl0_key1=$6
nvram set wl0_key=1
nvram set wl0_closed=1
nvram set router_name=`nvram get wifi_ipaddr | sed ’s/[^0-9]/-/g’`
nvram set wan_hostname=`nvram get router_name`
nvram set mm_map=$7
nvram set mm_x=$8
nvram set mm_y=$9
$1 is the IP of this box on the mesh net, ex. 10.43.24.19
$2 is the mask of this box on the mesh net, ex. 255.255.0.0
$3 is the ssid of the mesh network to join, ex. big_mesh
$4 is the channel of the mesh network to join, ex. 11
$5 is the number of bits in the wep key the mesh uses, ex. 64 or 128
$6 is the WEP key to use for the mesh network in HEX form.
Omit the ‘0x’ from the beginning: 1234AB5678
Of course, all ips different, all other settings congruent.
I need to confirm that this package works on a router with a factory-fresh nvram. I have _NOT_ confirmed that it does this yet. Apparently,the nvram in these routers can be blanked with the command “mtd erase nvram;reboot” — Will update with the results of this when I can test it.
Install OpenWRT experimental. Dunno if stable works. I used the one mirrored here. Install olsrd. I used the one mirrored here. Install wl if you want better control over the wifi. I used the one mirrored here. Install my glue. I’d do the following:
cd / wget http://sitkalug.org/mm/mojomesh.tgz tar xvzf mojomesh.tgz rm mojomesh.tgz
Run /bin/mm_init_v[VERSION].x where [VERSION] is 1 or 2, depending on your router revision, to set up the node's configuration files properly. Something like the following would work:
mm_init_v2.x 10.11.UVW.XYZ 255.255.0.0 big_mesh 11 64 42DEADBEEF
for a v2.2 router, or
mm_init_v1.x 10.11.UVW.XYZ 255.255.0.0 big_mesh 11 64 42DEADBEEF
for a v1.1 router.
where UVW and XYZ are random, unique numbers ranging from 1-254, inclusive.
This would join a network with a maximum of around 65 thousand hosts. Alter the IP and the netmask accordingly.
An example setup for three nodes (two on v2.2 routers and one on a v1.1 router) would entail the following commands, each run on a different router:
mm_init_v2.x 10.11.12.1 255.255.255.0 small_mesh 11 64 1234AB5678; nvram commit; rebootmm_init_v2.x 10.11.12.2 255.255.255.0 small_mesh 11 64 1234AB5678; nvram commit; rebootmm_init_v1.x 10.11.12.3 255.255.255.0 small_mesh 11 64 1234AB5678; nvram commit; reboot
When OpenWRT boots, the /etc/init.d/S53olsrd script checks to see if there is a default route (gateway to the net). If there is, olsrd is configured to announce it. olsrd only runs on the wifi interface.
My firewall script isn’t finished yet. And it allows access on the WAN interface ports 22 and 80 for configuratory purposes.
After installing my ‘glue’, a script is installed at /bin/mm_update - when run, this script will get the latest version of my mojomesh.tgz package from sitkalug.org, un-tar-gz it to the root directory. Beware, this will revert the following files, removing any changes you may have added:
www/index.html /bin/mm_init_v2.x /bin/mm_update /bin/mm_status_update /bin/mm_neighbors_and_gateways /bin/mm_olsrd_protect /bin/mm_init_v1.x /etc/olsrd.conf.gateway.v1.x /etc/resolv.conf /etc/olsrd.conf.node.v2.x /etc/init.d/S43rdate /etc/init.d/S98status /etc/init.d/S50telnet /etc/init.d/S45firewall /etc/init.d/S45firewall2 /etc/init.d/S53olsrd /etc/olsrd.conf.node.v1.x /etc/olsrd.conf.gateway.v2.x /etc/banner /etc/profile /etc/dnsmasq.conf
Also, I have instructed each router to resolve using granitecanyon’s public name servers. Information can be found here.
If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to contact me or comment on this post.
Here’s the last .dot file I requested from my mesh:
