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Only project uses by many people is worth doing
Libre-Mesh is another project in Wireless Network Area which is an example how great initiative leads to a huge, common development. This is also a good example how to run project successfully and gain a lot of contributors. As a CommonsNet team we also believe that project which is not used by anyone is not worth doing, so we want to pay a special attention to it in order to learn something interesting.
Libre-Mesh.org
To describe Libre-Mesh we have to say that it is an initiative undertaken by community networks members of several continents that collaborate towards a common goal: to develop a set of tools that facilitate the deployment of Free Networks on any community in the world. It started in 2013 r. Main tool is Libre-Mesh firmware: based on OpenWrt, eases the creation of WiFi communities, and enables existing communities to add roaming clouds to their networks.This project was born as an effort to merge some pre-existent firmware projects like AlterMesh (from AlterMundi, Argentina), qMp (from guifi.net, Catalunya and eigenNet (from eigenLab, Ninux, Italia)
Libre-Mesh is also supported by some existent organizations like Free Network Foundation and Guifi.net Foundation
Mesh networks are also, as you can read in our latest post about Freifunk is a key aspect of Freifunk.
Mesh Networks
In a nutshell mesh networks are such networks where all participants are able to route traffic from other participants. So there are not central points and the physical topology can be completely random. Usually mesh networks are decentralized, bottom-up organized, deployed and maintained by the people using them. As free wireless network community Libre-Mesh believes it is also the only way for achieving a real free network out of control for the governments or big organizations.
Creating mesh network is nothing really complicated thanks to Libre-Mesh working. The firmware allow simple deployment of auto-configurable, yet versatile, multi-radio mesh networks. Their way of deploying free mesh networks is by installing own firmware to the devices (usually WiFi routers). The system is based on the OpenWRT/LEDE project, which at the same time is based on Linux operating system.
Technology
Provide clear details about your tool, brand, technical aspects to avoid discouraging stakeholders to join community
Technical details
The network architecture designed for libre-mesh is based in two layers. The cloud layer 2 uses the dynamic routing protocol BATMAN-ADV. The whole network layer 3 uses by default the routing protocol,BMX. Don’t worry if you are not familiar with these concepts, Libre-Mesh community takes care of you. On the webiste you can find an easy description to gain more knowledge.
Then, you can find an in-depth explanation how mesh-network and Libre-Mesh works. By default, all nodes are running both routing protocols (BMX and BAT-ADV), but on different VLAN. So the routing is isolated by the MAC layer. The BMX VLAN is always the same, so all link-layer connected nodes will see each other. The BATADV VLAN depends on the cloud identifier which is calculated (by default) using the AP SSID. So the BMX network will be a single one for all the mesh but the BAT-ADV network might be splited in several clouds.
This configuration allows to isolate the layer 2 clouds. For instance a neighborhood, a company complex or a street level Hotsposts network can choose to isolate their LAN from the rest of the network. However at the same time, they will be able to reach the rest of nodes using the layer 3 routed network.
Roaming is available inside the cloud, so any TCP session, a Video streaming or even a SIP call can be done while moving around. In the other hand, thanks to the layer 3 segmentation, the common problems found in a layer 2 bridged network (such as Broadcast storms or DHCP nightmares) will not disturb the correct operation of the network. And everything automatic, auto-magic and transparent for the end user.
The WiFi Access Points of the same cloud share some parameters like SSID, the WiFi AP identification name, a special anycast, IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, a special anycast MAC address, DHCP/RA server to provide valid IPs from the cloud to the clients.
So a client attach to an AP can move around the mesh without the need to renew their IP configuration. Even the MAC layer is the same under their point of view.
The DHCP leases file is shared among the cloud to prevent collisions using A.L.F.R.E.D
As long as all nodes share the same anycast MAC/IP, from the client point of view it is fully transparent. Thus the gateway is always the same nonetheless the mesh node where they are attached to is different.
When a client wants to go out from the LAN (cloud) to reach the Internet or any other network. It will send the packets to the special anycast gateway address. So the node where the client is physically attached will take care of it.
An ebtables rule in the LAN/AP bridge prevents the layer 2 packets propagation in the cloud sent to the anycast address. So the mesh node where the client is associated gets the packet but not the others.
Tools
The Libre-Mesh project includes also the development of several tools – all supported main mesh network idea. The firmware (the main piece) will allow simple deployment of auto-configurable, yet versatile, multi-radio mesh networks. Other tools are: LibreNet6: mesh tunnel broker to supply global IPv6 to free community networks, Chef: custom-fitted firmware creator for communities, LibreMap (in collaboration with Freifunk): node plot in geographical location with automatic update of link quality in real-time.
Ech tool stands on its own, and can be used separately, but in the same time thay are integrated as much as possible, so that they work together the best.
Each developed tool is a free software so anyone can use it with no restrictions.
To build your brand develop your own services or tools if possible.
Vision
Libre-Mesh has their vision outlined. It’s a really good solution as you need to have it still on your mind. In the same time they share with stakeholders a clear idea what they want to achieve.
A free network is understood as telecommunications network which accomplish free points: open – so anyone can connect, neutral – there are not preferences for the kind, origin or destination of the data, and free – there are not restrictions.
Have a clear vision of what you want to achieve.
Community
Libre-Mesh seems to have smaller community than Guifi.net or Freifunk about which you can read in our previous posts, but it exists and works on solving poeple’s real problems.
If you want to become a member of Libre-Mesh team it is recommended to get to know details.It’s nothing very complicated since all of them you can find on their website.
Libre-Mesh is an open source project and it develops thanks to support of their contributors. Therefore anyone who want to join can find different repositories on GitHub and get involved in.
Volunteers are a main part of community
Main aims to achieve are scalability, network, segmentation, layer 2 roaming inside certain areas, smart gateway selection with redundancy and possibility of user-choice, compatibility of most of the existing scenario, and s single firmware for all the network (for ground level, for backbone, for companies, for quick deployments, etc.).
Organizing workshops is a great idea to gather participant and make them familiar with your tool. Like Libre-Mesh which let participants flash several routers with Libre-Mesh firmware, spread them around, and test the network with their own devices, using either p2p applications or with a local server (rPi). The main advantage of organizing such kind of meeting is that community observe how Libre-Mesh can be used by random people in a different use-case (i.e. an incidental network), and then identify technical or UX limitations of the current release. They want to see the most diverse people to come, because their idea is to make Libre-Mesh (and mesh networks in general) accessible to non-techies or marginalized groups (gender minorities in tech, etc). Participants (with or without prior technical knowledge) gain a first-hand experience of deploying a small mesh network, and understand how they can solve the lowest layers of Internet Freedom.
Test your tool on real users. Check how they use it, be open to their idea, learn how to improve your project
Finding all contact information should be easy preferably provided on main webiste. That’s it actually in Libre-Mesh example, because they are provided in a visible box. You can choose one of mailing lists depending on your needs or IRC channel.
When it comes to meetings, In comparision to Freifunk, they don’t have regular ones, but organize them ad-hoc.
Donation
Libre -Mesh has a little unusual way of financial support. They use Bitcoin donations Which are managed via Tip4Commit and then Forwarded to the developers . You send your donation to the Free Software Foundation , but each developer get a tip ( 1 % of the total amount of funds ) for an each commit.
You can also use non-traditional ways of financial support
Next, you can also share Libre-Mesh initiative using your social media profiles. You can simply click a share button to put a post on your Facebook or Google+ accounr to encourage your friends to support the project as well.
Let people share your idea on social media easy
This article was created thanks to Libre-Mesh resources. You can find them via following links.
Source:
- http://libremesh.org/index.html
- http://libremesh.org/communication.html
- http://libremesh.org/getit.html
- http://libremesh.org/howitworks.html
- http://libremesh.org/development.html
- http://libremesh.org/docs/index.html
- https://github.com/libre-mesh/
- https://blog.p2pfoundation.net/project-of-the-day-libre-mesh/2014/02/04
- http://wiki.ninux.org/Libre-Mesh
- https://internetfreedomfestival.org/wiki/index.php?title=Deploy_an_emergency_Libre-Mesh_network_with_local_services&mobileaction=toggle_view_mobile
This is only a part of Wireless Network projects series. Stay tuned for next articles!. This article is also up to updates. If you have any comments and suggestion, or want to add something important to this article please leave your comment below or contact us. We will appreciate it very much.
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