= IRIS : developing a new node concept =

[[Image(node-iris-connector-specs.png,right,400px)]]

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

The [wiki:NanoBSD] page is the place to be for up2date information on how to build/configure/create a [http://www.wirelessleiden.nl WL] node image. As always this project could use your help, by [wiki:Contributing] to various parts of the project. [wiki:PowerSupply] gives you a hint on which powersupply to use.

The [wiki:ConfigureBridge] page shows you which bridges we use and how-to configure them. The [wiki:WLCaptivePortal] shows you how-to configure the captive portal software.

== 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 slave DNS ({{{dnsmasq}}}), {{{lvrouted}}} as a dynamic internal routing daemon, {{{thttpd}}} webserver and a {{{python}}} based [wiki:WLCaptivePortal captive portal] based on {{{ipfw}}} 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 ({{{MaraDNS}}}). 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 ipfw to allow only port 80, 443 rate limited traffic. Packet filtering gateways use lvrouted to advertise a default route.

== Pilot == 
Tim Baas, student at [http://hsleiden.nl Hogeschool Leiden] has prototyped  the software as his ''afstudeerwerk''. His documentation is available in the [http://svn.wirelessleiden.nl/svn/projects/iris svn projects iris-directory] (in Dutch). See also the youtube video's for the initial pilot description:
 - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQcRfH_sXmw Presenatie Tim Baas, deel 1]
 - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7_EvNzJj1U Presentatie Tim Baas, deel 2]

== Roll out ==
In the course of 2009/2010/2011/2012 we have revamped most of our nodes (some still left to be modified in 2012) and also built some new ones. We have chosen the following hardware configuration:
 * nodemachine based on a {{{ALIX2D3}}} board with {{{1 GB}}} compact flash card containing the software. 
 * {{{802.11a}}} interlinks based on Ubiquity NanoStation5, NanoStation5M, Bullet5.
 * Local accesspoint with 8 dB omni antenna and Atheros CM9 MiniPCI wireless card.

= Open Tickets =

[[TicketQuery(status!=closed,order=id,desc=1,format=table,col=summary|status|owner|reporter|keywords)]]

== Starting Points for Trac ==

 * TracGuide --  Built-in Documentation
 * [http://trac.edgewall.org/ The Trac project] -- Trac Open Source Project
 * [http://trac.edgewall.org/wiki/TracFaq Trac FAQ] -- Frequently Asked Questions
 * TracSupport --  Trac Support

For a complete list of local wiki pages, see TitleIndex.