mesh architecture diagrams

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Bob Mottram 2017-10-27 13:11:10 +01:00
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@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ The Freedombone Mesh is a wireless solution for autonomous or internet connected
* [[./mesh_usage.html][How to use it]]
#+BEGIN_CENTER
[[file:images/mesh_screenshot.jpg]]
[[file:images/mesh_architecture1.jpg]]
#+END_CENTER
Mesh networks are useful as a quick way to make a fully decentralised communications system which is not connected to or reliant upon the internet. Think festivals, hacker conferences, onboard ships at sea, disaster/war zones, small businesses who don't want the overhead of server maintenance, protests, remote areas of the world, temporary "digital blackouts", scientific expeditions and off-world space colonies.

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@ -50,7 +50,12 @@ Select the wifi icon on the desktop and enter the password '/freedombone/'. The
When you are finished close the window and then select the /Network Restart/ desktop icon, which will restart the B.A.T.M.A.N. network. You can also use the restart icon if you are within range of the mesh network but the /Chat/ and /Other Users/ icons do not automatically appear after a few minutes.
* Connecting to the internet
If you need to be able to access the internet from the mesh then connect one of the peers to an internet router using an ethernet cable, then reboot it. Other peers in the mesh, including any attached mobile devices, will then be able to access the internet using the ethernet attached peer as a gateway. [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freifunk][Freifunk]] works in a similar way.
#+BEGIN_CENTER
[[file:images/mesh_architecture2.jpg]]
#+END_CENTER
If you need to be able to access the internet from the mesh then connect one of the peers to an internet router using an ethernet cable (shown as yellow above), then reboot it. Other peers in the mesh, including any attached mobile devices, will then be able to access the internet using the ethernet attached peer as a gateway. [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freifunk][Freifunk]] works in a similar way.
After connecting one peer to the internet you may need to reboot other peers in order to update their network configurations.
@ -75,7 +80,12 @@ You should create a new *vpn.tar.gz* file for every other mesh which wants to be
From a deep packet inspection point of view the traffic going over the internet between mesh gateways will just look like any other TLS connection to a server.
* Mobile devices (phones, etc)
To allow mobile devices to connect to the mesh you will need a second wifi adapter connected to your laptop/netbook/SBC. Plug in a second wifi adapter then reboot the system. The second adaptor will then create a wifi hotspot which mobile devices can connect to. The hotspot name also contains its local IP address (eg. "/mesh-192.168.1.83/").
#+BEGIN_CENTER
[[file:images/mesh_architecture3.jpg]]
#+END_CENTER
To allow mobile devices to connect to the mesh you will need a second wifi adapter connected to your laptop/netbook/SBC. Plug in a second wifi adapter then reboot the system. The second adaptor will then create a wifi hotspot (the connection shown in green above) which mobile devices can connect to. The hotspot name also contains its local IP address (eg. "/mesh-192.168.1.83/").
On a typical Android device go to *Settings* then *Security* and ensure that *Unknown sources* is enabled. Also within *Wifi* from the *Settings* screen select the mesh hotspot. The password is "/freedombone/". Open a non-Tor browser and navigate to the IP address showing in the hotspot name. You can then download and install mesh apps.

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@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en" xml:lang="en">
<head>
<!-- 2017-10-27 Fri 12:00 -->
<!-- 2017-10-27 Fri 13:10 -->
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" />
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" />
<title>&lrm;</title>
@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ The Freedombone Mesh is a wireless solution for autonomous or internet connected
<div class="org-center">
<div class="figure">
<p><img src="images/mesh_screenshot.jpg" alt="mesh_screenshot.jpg" />
<p><img src="images/mesh_architecture1.jpg" alt="mesh_architecture1.jpg" />
</p>
</div>
</div>

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@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en" xml:lang="en">
<head>
<!-- 2017-10-27 Fri 11:56 -->
<!-- 2017-10-27 Fri 13:10 -->
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" />
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" />
<title>&lrm;</title>
@ -247,17 +247,17 @@ for the JavaScript code in this tag.
<center><h1>Mesh Network: How to use it</h1></center>
<ul class="org-ul">
<li><a href="#org22cb5fa">Boot trouble</a></li>
<li><a href="#orgde523e6">Set the Date</a></li>
<li><a href="#org21130c0">Check network status</a></li>
<li><a href="#org94c3154">Connecting to the internet</a></li>
<li><a href="#orgc8757e7">Connecting two meshes over the internet via a VPN tunnel</a></li>
<li><a href="#orgd23560d">Mobile devices (phones, etc)</a></li>
<li><a href="#orgaefaab7">Chat System</a></li>
<li><a href="#orgb60a85c">Collaborative document editing</a></li>
<li><a href="#org3987366">Social Network</a></li>
<li><a href="#org2d93c9b">Sharing Files</a></li>
<li><a href="#org0ef8d45">Blogging</a></li>
<li><a href="#org5965bc8">Boot trouble</a></li>
<li><a href="#org6fc4c27">Set the Date</a></li>
<li><a href="#org9452f90">Check network status</a></li>
<li><a href="#org1e9178e">Connecting to the internet</a></li>
<li><a href="#org7235347">Connecting two meshes over the internet via a VPN tunnel</a></li>
<li><a href="#org78b4990">Mobile devices (phones, etc)</a></li>
<li><a href="#org5e54363">Chat System</a></li>
<li><a href="#orgf66d5cf">Collaborative document editing</a></li>
<li><a href="#org9df5e68">Social Network</a></li>
<li><a href="#orgf9d3758">Sharing Files</a></li>
<li><a href="#org04f400a">Blogging</a></li>
</ul>
<p>
@ -268,9 +268,9 @@ When you first boot from the USB drive the system will create some encryption ke
After a minute or two if you are within wifi range and there is at least one other user on the network then you should see additional icons appear on the desktop, such as <i>Other Users</i> and <i>Chat</i>.
</p>
<div id="outline-container-org22cb5fa" class="outline-2">
<h2 id="org22cb5fa">Boot trouble</h2>
<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-org22cb5fa">
<div id="outline-container-org5965bc8" class="outline-2">
<h2 id="org5965bc8">Boot trouble</h2>
<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-org5965bc8">
<p>
If the system doesn't boot and reports an error which includes <b>/dev/mapper/loop0p1</b> then reboot with <b>Ctrl-Alt-Del</b> and when you see the grub menu press <b>e</b> and manually change <b>/dev/mapper/loop0p1</b> to <b>/dev/sdb1</b>, then press <b>Ctrl-x</b>. If that doesn't work then reboot and try <b>/dev/sdc1</b> instead.
</p>
@ -280,9 +280,9 @@ After the system has booted successfully the problem should resolve itself on su
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="outline-container-orgde523e6" class="outline-2">
<h2 id="orgde523e6">Set the Date</h2>
<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-orgde523e6">
<div id="outline-container-org6fc4c27" class="outline-2">
<h2 id="org6fc4c27">Set the Date</h2>
<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-org6fc4c27">
<p>
On the ordinary internet the date and time of your system would be set automatically via NTP. But this is not the internet and so you will need to manually ensure that your date and time settings are correct. You might need to periodically do this if your clock drifts. It's not essential that the time on your system be highly accurate, but if it drifts too far or goes back to epoch then things could become a little confusing in regard to the order of blog posts.
</p>
@ -292,9 +292,9 @@ On the ordinary internet the date and time of your system would be set automatic
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="outline-container-org21130c0" class="outline-2">
<h2 id="org21130c0">Check network status</h2>
<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-org21130c0">
<div id="outline-container-org9452f90" class="outline-2">
<h2 id="org9452f90">Check network status</h2>
<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-org9452f90">
<p>
Unlike with ordinary wifi, on the mesh you don't get a signal strength icon and so it's not simple to see if you have a good connection.
</p>
@ -317,11 +317,19 @@ When you are finished close the window and then select the <i>Network Restart</i
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="outline-container-org94c3154" class="outline-2">
<h2 id="org94c3154">Connecting to the internet</h2>
<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-org94c3154">
<div id="outline-container-org1e9178e" class="outline-2">
<h2 id="org1e9178e">Connecting to the internet</h2>
<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-org1e9178e">
<div class="org-center">
<div class="figure">
<p><img src="images/mesh_architecture2.jpg" alt="mesh_architecture2.jpg" />
</p>
</div>
</div>
<p>
If you need to be able to access the internet from the mesh then connect one of the peers to an internet router using an ethernet cable, then reboot it. Other peers in the mesh, including any attached mobile devices, will then be able to access the internet using the ethernet attached peer as a gateway. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freifunk">Freifunk</a> works in a similar way.
If you need to be able to access the internet from the mesh then connect one of the peers to an internet router using an ethernet cable (shown as yellow above), then reboot it. Other peers in the mesh, including any attached mobile devices, will then be able to access the internet using the ethernet attached peer as a gateway. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freifunk">Freifunk</a> works in a similar way.
</p>
<p>
@ -342,9 +350,9 @@ Where <i>myclient.ovpn</i> comes from your VPN provider and with the password "<
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="outline-container-orgc8757e7" class="outline-2">
<h2 id="orgc8757e7">Connecting two meshes over the internet via a VPN tunnel</h2>
<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-orgc8757e7">
<div id="outline-container-org7235347" class="outline-2">
<h2 id="org7235347">Connecting two meshes over the internet via a VPN tunnel</h2>
<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-org7235347">
<p>
Maybe the internet exists, but you don't care about getting any content from it and just want to use it as a way to connect mesh networks from different geographical locations together.
</p>
@ -371,11 +379,19 @@ From a deep packet inspection point of view the traffic going over the internet
</div>
</div>
<div id="outline-container-orgd23560d" class="outline-2">
<h2 id="orgd23560d">Mobile devices (phones, etc)</h2>
<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-orgd23560d">
<div id="outline-container-org78b4990" class="outline-2">
<h2 id="org78b4990">Mobile devices (phones, etc)</h2>
<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-org78b4990">
<div class="org-center">
<div class="figure">
<p><img src="images/mesh_architecture3.jpg" alt="mesh_architecture3.jpg" />
</p>
</div>
</div>
<p>
To allow mobile devices to connect to the mesh you will need a second wifi adapter connected to your laptop/netbook/SBC. Plug in a second wifi adapter then reboot the system. The second adaptor will then create a wifi hotspot which mobile devices can connect to. The hotspot name also contains its local IP address (eg. "<i>mesh-192.168.1.83</i>").
To allow mobile devices to connect to the mesh you will need a second wifi adapter connected to your laptop/netbook/SBC. Plug in a second wifi adapter then reboot the system. The second adaptor will then create a wifi hotspot (the connection shown in green above) which mobile devices can connect to. The hotspot name also contains its local IP address (eg. "<i>mesh-192.168.1.83</i>").
</p>
<p>
@ -395,9 +411,9 @@ On some android devices you may need to move the downloaded APK file from the <b
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="outline-container-orgaefaab7" class="outline-2">
<h2 id="orgaefaab7">Chat System</h2>
<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-orgaefaab7">
<div id="outline-container-org5e54363" class="outline-2">
<h2 id="org5e54363">Chat System</h2>
<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-org5e54363">
<p>
Ensure that you're within wifi range of at least one other mesh peer (could be a router or client) and then you should see that the <i>Chat</i> and <i>Other Users</i> icons appear. Select the users icon and you should see a list of users on the mesh. Select the <i>Chat</i> icon and once you are connected you should see the status light turn green. If after a few minutes you don't get the green status light then try closing and re-opening the Tox chat application. Select the plus button to add a friend and then copy and paste in a Tox ID from the users list.
</p>
@ -456,9 +472,9 @@ At present video doesn't work reliably, but text and voice chat do work well.
</div>
</div>
<div id="outline-container-orgb60a85c" class="outline-2">
<h2 id="orgb60a85c">Collaborative document editing</h2>
<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-orgb60a85c">
<div id="outline-container-orgf66d5cf" class="outline-2">
<h2 id="orgf66d5cf">Collaborative document editing</h2>
<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-orgf66d5cf">
<p>
The mesh system includes the ability to collaboratively edit various sorts of documents using CryptPad. CryptPad is an almost peer-to-peer system in that it is designed for a client/server environment but that the server aspect of it is very minimal and limited to orchestrating the connected clients. With CryptPad installed on each mesh peer it effectively enables peer-to-peer collaborative editing. Documents are ephemeral and forgotten unless they're exported or copy-pasted to permanent storage.
</p>
@ -489,9 +505,9 @@ If you have the chat system running you can then copy and paste the URL for your
</div>
</div>
<div id="outline-container-org3987366" class="outline-2">
<h2 id="org3987366">Social Network</h2>
<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-org3987366">
<div id="outline-container-org9df5e68" class="outline-2">
<h2 id="org9df5e68">Social Network</h2>
<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-org9df5e68">
<p>
Patchwork is available as a social networking system for the mesh. Like all social network systems it has a stream of posts and you can follow or unfollow other users. You can also send private messages to other users with end-to-end encryption.
</p>
@ -526,9 +542,9 @@ The Secure Scuttlebutt protocol which Patchwork is based upon is intended to be
</div>
</div>
<div id="outline-container-org2d93c9b" class="outline-2">
<h2 id="org2d93c9b">Sharing Files</h2>
<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-org2d93c9b">
<div id="outline-container-orgf9d3758" class="outline-2">
<h2 id="orgf9d3758">Sharing Files</h2>
<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-orgf9d3758">
<p>
You can make files publicly available on the network simply by dragging and dropping them into the <i>Public</i> folder on the desktop. To view the files belonging to another user select the desktop icon called <i>Visit a site</i> and enter the username or Tox ID of the other user.
</p>
@ -543,9 +559,9 @@ You can make files publicly available on the network simply by dragging and drop
</div>
</div>
<div id="outline-container-org0ef8d45" class="outline-2">
<h2 id="org0ef8d45">Blogging</h2>
<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-org0ef8d45">
<div id="outline-container-org04f400a" class="outline-2">
<h2 id="org04f400a">Blogging</h2>
<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-org04f400a">
<p>
To create a blog post select the <i>Blog</i> icon on the desktop and then use the up and down cursor keys, space bar and enter key to add a new entry. Edit the title of the entry and add your text. You can also include photos if you wish - just copy them to the <b>CreateBlog/content/images</b> directory and then link to them as shown.
</p>