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IRIS : developing a new node concept

In the IRIS project we have developed a new node concept based on a separation of the 'radio interfaces' and the 'base node'.

The NanoBSD page is the place to be for up2date information on how to build/configure/create a ​WL node image. As always this project could use your help, by Contributing to various parts of the project.

The ConfigureBridge page shows you which bridges we use and how-to configure them. The WLCaptivePortal shows you how-to configure the captive portal software. The RB260GSP shows you how-to configure Router-On-a-Stick. devices.

Concept

A node, type IRIS, is built using NanoBSD with some extensions a.o. to make package management a bit easier. Also the internet gateway (providing internet connectivity to the local wireless network) is based on NanoBSD.

The nodes are FreeBSD routers with DNS (bind), lvrouted as a dynamic internal routing daemon, thttpd webserver and a python based captive portal based on pf and tcpserver for the plain HTTP-redirects. Moreover there are some additions which are essential for large scale network monitoring such a nagios plugins and bandwith measurment tools (iperf).

A proxy gateway is a http-proxy based on tinyproxy and an authorative DNS server (bind). Included is also reverse ssh-tunneling (for remote management behind NAT firewalls). Nodes use pen with a home-build pen-wrapper to select the 'best' proxy (i.e. the highest bandwith). An alternative is a packet filtering firewall using pf to allow only port 80, 443 rate limited traffic. Packet filtering gateways use lvrouted to advertise a default route.

Pilot

Tim Baas, student at ​Hogeschool Leiden prototyped the software as his afstudeerwerk. His documentation is available in the ​svn projects iris-directory (in Dutch). See also the youtube video's for the initial pilot description:

Roll out

Since 2009 we have revamped our nodes (a couple still left to be modified in 2015) and also built a lot of new ones. As of December 2015 the total number of iris nodes amounts to 132. We have chosen the following hardware configuration:

  • nodemachine based on a ALIX2D3 board with 1 - 2 GB compact flash card containing the software.
  • 802.11a interlinks based on Ubiquity NanoStation5, NanoStationM5, BulletM5, NanobridgeM5.
  • Local accesspoint with 8 dB omni antenna and Atheros CM9 MiniPCI wireless card, or NanostationM2, NanostationM2-Loco.
  • Optional: NanostationM2 or NanostationM2-Loco in repeater mode of local accesspoints to extend range of accesspoint network.
  • Optional: unmanaged switch to allow connections of multiple vNanostationM2 or NanostationM2-Loco local accesspoints.
  • PowerSupply gives you a hint on which power supply to use.
  • AlixAPU Development started to use the Alix APU System board in the future.
  • DCtoDCconverter gives you details about various DC conversions we apply.

Some youtube video's about building iris-type nodes:

A 'howto' guide for building nodes is available in Dutch: ​Kookboek_Nodebouw.

Open Tickets

Ticket Summary Status Owner Reporter Keywords
#251 net/pen package 'fatal error' new nobody huub
#248 captive portal forwarding naar sponsor new nobody huub
#247 Checking for packages with security vulnerabilities: cron mail output warnings new nobody rick
#246 ssh stopt / moeizaam new nobody huub
#244 index.cgi: geen python meer new nobody huub
#243 9MB /var space used by /var/db/pkg/ new nobody rick

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Last modified 7 years ago Last modified on Feb 1, 2018, 1:33:26 AM

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