Mesh/Flashing extender nodes - Revision history

Gcg at 06:57, 3 March 2018

2018-03-03T06:57:47Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:57, 2 March 2018
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	After following the [[Mesh/WalkThrough]], you are probably just an isolated node on the virtual People's Open Network. If you want to become part of the physical mesh, you are going to need to extend the signal from home node using what we call an extender node. An extender node is just a roof-mounted, directional antenna used to make point-to-point connections between two locations that have line-of-sight (LOS) to one another. Preparing an extender node generally consists to two stages, downgrading the proprietary AirOS firmware and flashing it with our custom build of OpenWrt.		After following the [[Mesh/WalkThrough]], you are probably just an isolated node on the virtual People's Open Network. If you want to become part of the physical mesh, you are going to need to extend the signal from home node using what we call an extender node. An extender node is just a roof-mounted, directional antenna used to make point-to-point connections between two locations that have line-of-sight (LOS) to one another. Preparing an extender node generally consists to two stages, downgrading the proprietary AirOS firmware and flashing it with our custom build of OpenWrt.

	== Downgrading to ~~earlier~~ AirOS ==		== Downgrading to older AirOS ==

	Typically, we use Ubiquiti equipment for our extender nodes. These come with a proprietary firmware called AirOS. Any extender node with version 5.6 of AirOS and above needs to be downgraded to a 5.5.XX version of AirOS version before you can flash it with OpenWRT.		Typically, we use Ubiquiti equipment for our extender nodes. These come with a proprietary firmware called AirOS. Any extender node with version 5.6 of AirOS and above needs to be downgraded to a 5.5.XX version of AirOS version before you can flash it with OpenWRT.

Gcg at 06:57, 3 March 2018

2018-03-03T06:57:22Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:57, 2 March 2018
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	Once configured with our firmware, an extender node will not start broadcasting an SSID until it is plugged into a home node because it must first get a mesh IP address.		Once configured with our firmware, an extender node will not start broadcasting an SSID until it is plugged into a home node because it must first get a mesh IP address.
			If you have a mynet n600 or n750, you can get a mesh IP for your extender node by plugging the LAN cable that was plugged into your computer into to port one or two on the back of the home node.
			The mesh IP that the extender node receives is the IP of the home node plus one or two. For example, if your home node broadcasts the SSID "peoplesopen.net 65.21.65" corresponding to the IP 100.65.21.65, then your extender node will receive either an IP or either 100.65.21.66 or 100.65.21.67. Once plugged into this home node, the extender node should broadcast the SSID "peoplesopen.net 65.21.66" or ".67" as well as the ad-hoc network, "pplsopen.net-node2-node" (you may not see these if your computer's WiFi antenna is only 2.4 GHz)

	== Testing and Network Detection ==		== Testing and Network Detection ==

Gcg at 06:43, 3 March 2018

2018-03-03T06:43:58Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:43, 2 March 2018
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	* Network Manager Method: Manual		* Network Manager Method: Manual
	* IP Address: 192.168.1.10 (some devices will only accept from this IP)		** IP Address: 192.168.1.10 (some devices will only accept from this IP)
	* Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0		** Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
	* Gateway: 0.0.0.0 (Or leave blank)		** Gateway: 0.0.0.0 (Or leave blank)

	You can also use the commands:		You can also use the commands:

Gcg at 06:43, 3 March 2018

2018-03-03T06:43:34Z

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	* Reconfigure your machine with the following static network configuration.		* Reconfigure your machine with the following static network configuration.

	** IP address: 172.22.0.10		** IP address: 172.22.0.10
	** Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0		** Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0

Gcg at 06:42, 3 March 2018

2018-03-03T06:42:52Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:42, 2 March 2018
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	* Reconfigure your machine with the following static network configuration.		* Reconfigure your machine with the following static network configuration.

	* IP address: 172.22.0.10		** IP address: 172.22.0.10
	* Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0		** Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
	* Gateway: 0.0.0.0		** Gateway: 0.0.0.0

	Or use the commands		Or use the commands

Gcg at 06:41, 3 March 2018

2018-03-03T06:41:44Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:41, 2 March 2018
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	root@sudomesh-node:/#		root@sudomesh-node:/#

	~~== Extender Node Installation ==~~
	~~=== Installation Order ===~~
	~~#Flash home nodes and extender nodes~~
	~~#Get on roof and determine which direction to face the extender nodes~~
	~~#Install J-Pole~~
	~~#Crimp end onto Ethernet cable~~
	~~#Run Ethernet cable from j-pole down to location of home node (either through a soffit indoors or to an outdoor enclosure)~~
	~~#Crimp other end of Ethernet cable and connect to home node via a POE adaptor~~
	~~#Install extender node on J-Pole using zip-ties - check lights to make sure unit is powered up~~
	~~#Walk around the neighborhood to check the signal~~

	~~=== Gear Checklist ===~~

	~~Protective and personal gear~~
	*Wear clothes you can get dirty and sturdy boots for roof walking
	*Sunscreen
	*Sunglasses
	*Pocketknife (for cutting zip ties etc)
	*Ladder
	*Safety harness & rope in a bucket
	*Smart phone (to check signal and take pictures)
	~~Home node gear~~
	*2 flashed Western Digital Mynet N600 Home Nodes
	*paperclip (to reset equipment)
	*Laptop (to configure equipment)
	*Plastic outdoor enclosure for router (optional)
	*Power Strip
	~~J-Pole gear~~
	*J-Pole
	*Latex gloves (for dealing with roofing sealant)
	*Roofing sealant
	*Ratchet set - 10mm for small bolts, 13mm for large bolts
	*Corldless Drill
	*3/16" drill bit for J-pole bolts
	*Steel One-Hole Conduit Straps (for holding Ethernet cable along eves)
	*Screws for the Steel one-hole straps
	~~Ethernet cable gear~~
	*Ethernet Spool
	*Ethernet Ends
	*Ethernet Crimper
	*Laminated card showing the Ethernet cable order
	*Label Maker - so you can know which cable is which
	~~Extender node gear~~
	*Flashed Ubiquiti Nanostation M2 or M5 extender Node(s)
	*Power over Ethernet (POE) adapters
	*Zip Ties

Gcg at 06:34, 3 March 2018

2018-03-03T06:34:56Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:34, 2 March 2018
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	== Testing and Network Detection ==		== Testing and Network Detection ==

	If you flashed		If you flashed your extender node with a dev-build of the firmware, you should now be able to ssh into to it.
	change root password		It is probably easiest to first ssh in to your home node over the private interface and then into the extender node with its mesh IP.

			First, you should immediately change or disable the root password and instead add your ssh key to `/etc/dropbear/authorized_key` (this method of login will not work when sshing through a home node)
	passwd		passwd

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	There should be a debug message in the log from notdhcpserver concerning the extender node.		There should be a debug message in the log from notdhcpserver concerning the extender node.


	== Troubleshooting ==		== Troubleshooting ==

	=== USB to Serial Connection ===		=== USB to Serial Connection ===


	If you experience trouble flashing your device via the web interface, or via the TFTP image upload method, you'll want to establish a serial connection to troubleshoot further. Methods for flashing your device involving a serial connection may become more common as devices adopt configurations to lock down [http://www.networkworld.com/article/3038722/mobile-wireless/manufacturers-start-to-lock-down-wi-fi-router-firmware-thanks-fcc.html wi-fi router firmware] to prevent flashing.		If you experience trouble flashing your device via the web interface, or via the TFTP image upload method, you'll want to establish a serial connection to troubleshoot further. Methods for flashing your device involving a serial connection may become more common as devices adopt configurations to lock down [http://www.networkworld.com/article/3038722/mobile-wireless/manufacturers-start-to-lock-down-wi-fi-router-firmware-thanks-fcc.html wi-fi router firmware] to prevent flashing.

Gcg at 06:29, 3 March 2018

2018-03-03T06:29:51Z

@@ Line 144: / Line 144: @@
 Once configured with our firmware, an extender node will not start broadcasting an SSID until it is plugged into a home node because it must first get a mesh IP address.
-== Extender Detection ==
+== Testing and Network Detection ==
 Log into your home node via SSH, and tail <tt>/var/log/messages</tt>

Gcg at 03:38, 3 March 2018

2018-03-03T03:38:12Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:38, 2 March 2018
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	* Log in using the credentials		* Log in using the credentials
	username: ubnt		** username: ubnt
	password: ubnt		** password: ubnt

	* Look at the Firmware information, it may say something like XM.v5.6.6.bin or XW.v5.6.6, based on this download the correct version of AirOS v5.5.10		* Look at the Firmware information, it may say something like XM.v5.6.6.bin or XW.v5.6.6, based on this download the correct version of AirOS v5.5.10

Gcg at 03:36, 3 March 2018

2018-03-03T03:36:50Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:36, 2 March 2018
Line 1:		Line 1:
	After following the [Mesh/WalkThrough], you are probably just an isolated node on the virtual People's Open Network. If you want to become part of the physical mesh, you are going to need to extend the signal from home node using what we call an extender node. An extender node is just a roof-mounted, directional antenna used to make point-to-point connections between two locations that have line-of-sight (LOS) to one another. Preparing an extender node generally consists to two stages, downgrading the proprietary AirOS firmware and flashing it with our custom build of OpenWrt.		After following the [[Mesh/WalkThrough]], you are probably just an isolated node on the virtual People's Open Network. If you want to become part of the physical mesh, you are going to need to extend the signal from home node using what we call an extender node. An extender node is just a roof-mounted, directional antenna used to make point-to-point connections between two locations that have line-of-sight (LOS) to one another. Preparing an extender node generally consists to two stages, downgrading the proprietary AirOS firmware and flashing it with our custom build of OpenWrt.

	== Downgrading to earlier AirOS ==		== Downgrading to earlier AirOS ==