Linux – Existing open source software for wireless mesh networking

linuxnetworkingwifi

My goal:

  • Build a wireless mesh network with some ALIX 2D2 (500 MHz AMD Geode LX800 x86 CPU, 256MB RAM, Atheros wireless card)

  • Aside from working like a normal wireless mesh network users should be able to read/write data from/to the ALIX Boxes and the ALIX boxes should be able to process data.

Questions:

  • Should I try to flash dd-wrt x86, voyage linux (linux.voyage.hk) or something else?

  • What (open source) software should I look into before I start?

  • Should I use a 'server' for data storage and processing instead of the ALIX boxes? Is it even possible to use the ALIX boxes for routing AND data storage and processing?

Final notes:

  • Data can be anything, for example, I want to setup a wireless mesh using the OLSRD protocol so my whole town gets wifi and can access songs on the network. It's not for that, but that's the idea.

  • I'm not afraid of programing, compiling or working with *nix. This is mostly 'for fun' rather than for practicality.

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

Best Answer

I found a company Meraki that is commercializing the open source MIT roofnet technology.

It uses a mesh routing technology, and is a true wireless mesh network technology, apparently widely deployed in university, and other large campus environments.

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