Network/Reboot

Taking notes for creating a new network as part of the Sudo Room Reboot, including upgrading to a bigger space!

Plan

In order to focus on good service and user experience, will plan to first deploy a "bootstrapped" wireless network, then plan and coordinate a proper wired network.

Phase 1: Bootstrapped Wireless Network

In this phase, the focus will be on wireless network service with one powerful wireless router, set up wherever the internet connection is. We'll extend the network by using wireless repeaters that have ethernet interfaces. We'll be able to take the broadcast network from the primary router, repeat it to other parts of the building with these repeaters, and ultimately connect switches to the repeaters' ethernet interfaces to extend the network throughout the building.

Wishlist

• 1 - Really powerful wireless router
• ~10 - Wireless Access Points (APs)
• ~5 - Low-power Switches

Plan

Turns out there are a few wireless devices available from Sudo Mesh that aren't very helpful for the Mesh/Firmware, so we can use them with OpenWRT for this purpose. Especially helpful are the Ubiquiti Bullet 2HP routers, which simply have just barely enough memory to be operational, but are ultimately not practical for Sudo Mesh's purposes.

Ubiquiti Bullet 2HP

1. Reset router, following the instructions here: Mesh/WalkThrough#Bullet
2. Install OpenWRT firmware, using this image: http://downloads.openwrt.org/attitude_adjustment/12.09/atheros/generic/openwrt-atheros-ubnt2-jffs2-64k.bin
   1. Unfortunately need to use an old version of OpenWRT ("Attitude Adjustment" 12.09) since the community has stopped supporting this device (too low memory).
3. Configure as repeater
   1. Simplest option is to use the LuCI interface to add the existing wireless network as a "Client" and additionally add the Bullet router's own network as "Master", as shown in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rbsh2zxPnk
   2. (Optional) consider alternative methods for repeating a network listed below:
      1. Wireless Distribution System (WDS) http://wiki.openwrt.org/doc/howto/clientmode#wds.-.wireless.distribution.system
         1. WDS is possible with atheros chipset devices, but the internet-providing Access Point needs to be running OpenWRT as well.
         2. In case wired devices don't work with the current configuration (based on video above), will need to use this option in order to get desired result:
            1. "Any wired devices connected via Ethernet to the LAN ports on the remote client bridge device should now be transparently bridged into the main network over the wireless link."
      2. Routed Client Mode http://wiki.openwrt.org/doc/howto/clientmode#routed.client.mode
      3. Bridged Client Mode (brcm-2.4 only) http://wiki.openwrt.org/doc/howto/clientmode#bridged.client.mode.brcm-2.4.only
         1. Not compatible with Bullet router.
      4. Bridged Client Mode (with relayd) http://wiki.openwrt.org/doc/howto/clientmode#bridged.client.mode.with.relayd
         1. Compatible with Bullet router, but requires installing new dependencies, for limited memory device. May need to remove unused packages to make room for this—seems like it could provide better performance than the client/master solution.

Phase 2: Proper Wired Network

As soon as a basically functioning and stable bootstrapped wireless network is deployed, we will begin the next phase, deploying a proper wired network for the whole building. The emphasis will be on modularity, reliability, maintainability, quality materials, and forward-thinking design of the network that will definitively meet the practical needs of the building by providing ubiquitous network connectivity.

Once this network is functional, we'll simply add wireless access points to replace the bootstrapped wireless network.

Wishlist

• 1 - Telecom rack https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/23-inch_rack#23-inch_rack
• 1 - Server rack https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Server_rack
• 1-2 - 48-port patch panel (or equivalent) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patch_panel
• 1 - Switch cabinet / Enclosure https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enclosure_(electrical)
• Cables
  • 5,000 ft - Ethernet cable https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethernet_cable
    • Seeking CAT6 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAT6
    • Avoiding, but will accept CAT5 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAT5
  • 100 - Patch cables for users (min. 6 ft) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patch_cable
  • 100 - Patch cables for patch panel (min 3 ft) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patch_cable
• Connectors
  • Consider sourcing from Panduit Products http://www.panduitproducts.com/
  • Any RJ45 Connectors https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RJ45_(telecommunications)#RJ45
    • Good for good quality and standardization
  • Any RJ45 Jacks
• Cable trays
  • Can we find someone to bend chickenwire into the tracks we need to hang from the ceiling?