Difference between revisions of "Mesh/WalkThrough"

'''Congratulations''' on choosing to become part of the [https://peoplesopen.net/ People's Open Network]!

Continue reading to follow these do-it-yourself / do-it-together instructions, or read more about [[Mesh#How_To_Participate|how to participate and get help]].

This is a [[Mesh/WalkThrough#linkback|WalkThrough]] to install a custom operating system on a compatible network device for use as a '''node''' (e.g. your home router) on the network. You will learn how to flash Sudo Mesh's [https://github.com/sudomesh/sudowrt-firmware sudowrt-firmware] (a custom build of [https://openwrt.org/ OpenWRT]) and then configure it.

= Prerequisites =

This walkthrough assumes you're using linux or another unix-like operating system (such as Mac OS X, Ubuntu, FreeBSD, etc) and that you have [https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UsingTheTerminal basic knowledge of the command-line interface terminal] ('terminal' for short). [https://github.com/sudomesh/sudowrt-firmware/issues/new Contact us] if you can contribute instructions for other systems.

The general idea of building your own mesh node consists of three steps:

# [[#Flash/Upload|flashing that firmware]] to the node (i.e. copying firmware to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_memory '''flash''' memory])

# [[#Configure|configuring the node]] to function as part of a mesh.

= Download/Build =

Now that you have a node, you can flash it with the latest sudowrt-firmware. The first step is to download the firmware image file for your supported router. At the moment, we are supporting the following firmware builds:

|-

| Western Digital MyNet N600 || [https://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/wd/n600 OpenWRT Docs] || '''[https://builds.sudomesh.org/sudowrt-firmware/0.3.0/ar71xx/openwrt-ar71xx-generic-mynet-n600-squashfs-factory-0.3.0.bin 0.3.0]''' [https://zenodo.org/record/1205601/files/openwrt-ar71xx-generic-mynet-n600-squashfs-factory.bin 0.2.3] [https://builds.sudomesh.org/sudowrt-firmware/0.2.2/ar71xx/openwrt-ar71xx-generic-mynet-n600-squashfs-factory.bin 0.2.2][https://builds.sudomesh.org/sudowrt-firmware/0.2.0/ar71xx/openwrt-ar71xx-generic-mynet-n600-squashfs-factory.bin 0.2.0]

Builds for other routers can be found on our [http://builds.sudomesh.org/sudowrt-firmware/ builds server] or on [https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1205601 zenodo], though most builds for routers not listed above have not been tested. For release notes, please go to our [https://github.com/sudomesh/sudowrt-firmware/releases github release pages].

Alternatively, you can build your own copy of the firmware images by following the guide in the [https://github.com/sudomesh/sudowrt-firmware sudowrt-firmware source].

If you do not want to use Sudo Mesh's OpenWRT image, you can also install [https://downloads.openwrt.org/ a standard OpenWRT] release and configure it from scratch, ([https://github.com/sudomesh/sudowrt-firmware read more on github]).

Once you have a copy of the sudowrt-firmware intended for your router, you can proceed with flashing it to your router. There are different techniques for flashing each of the routers. Use the links above to the OpenWRT wiki and follow the instructions there to flash the router with the firmware you've downloaded.

For convenience, if you have a Western Digital MyNet N600 or N750, follow these instructions:

* Plug one end of the Ethernet cable into your laptop.

* Plug the other end of the Ethernet cable into one of the normal ports (LAN) on the router (not the Internet/WAN port).

* With the router plugged in and power turned off, push a pin / paperclip / tiny screwdriver into the reset hole and hold it for at least 15 seconds. Keep another hand free.  

* With the pin still held down, turn on the router power button.

* Watch the front blue light - they will flash on and off a few times.

* Once the front blue is flashing, you can let go of the pin.

== Configure your computer's network settings ==

On your laptop edit your network settings to reflect the following:

* Network Manager Method: Manual

You can also use the commands:

  sudo ip addr add 192.168.1.10/24 dev <eth_interface>

where <code><eth_interface></code> is the name of your ethernet interface found using the <code>ip addr</code> command (common names include <code>eth0</code>, <code>enp3s0</code>, ...)

See Network Configuration Guides: [[Mesh/Network%20Configuration%20for%20Linux | Linux]], [[Mesh/Network%20Configuration%20for%20MacOS%20X | Mac]]

* Go to [http://192.168.1.1 http://192.168.1.1], if the reset was successful, you should see the following page:

[[File:Screenshot from 2017-04-04 18-27-09.png|thumb|center|upright=2]]

* If your reset was not successful, try debugging your network configuration described in the previous step.

** If you are still unable to access this firmware upload page, turn off your router and try to reset it again as instructed above.

* Click 'Browse' and select the firmware file you downloaded

* Click Upload and you will be taken to an exciting countdown timer:

[[File:Screenshot from 2017-04-02 17-20-51.png|thumb|center|upright=2]]

'''Note:''' Sometimes the firmware upload will not complete correctly. After you click on 'Upload' You should get a page with a countdown of 120+ seconds. If this does not occur, reboot the router with the pin reset button depressed (as noted above), and try again.

'''''If you are configuring something other than a WD MyNet N600, or firmware version 0.2.3 or earlier, follow ([[#Makenode_.28v.0.2.3_and_earlier.29|these instructions]])'''''

Learn more about the [[Mesh/Network topology|network's topology here]].

While connected to the ''private'' network (default <code>pplsopen-admin</code>), try connecting to the home node's web dashboard by opening a web browser and navigating to [http://172.30.0.1 172.30.0.1]

If the flash was successful you should be brought to the following screen:

[[File:Peoplesopen-dash.jpg|frame|center|upright=2]]

The default password is <code>meshtheplanet</code>.

Here you can set the amount of downstream and upstream bandwidth you're willing to share on the public <code>peoplesopen.net</code> network (default is set to 4096kb, or roughly 4 megabits/second):

[[File:WifiSettings.jpg|frame|left|upright=2|Set your private SSID and password via the 'WIFi Settings' tab. NOTE: When you first set your private SSID name and hit 'Save', you will have to reconnect to the newly-named SSID using the original default password (<code>meshtheworld</code>) and then reconnect again with the new password after setting it in the dashboard]] [[File:newrouter.png|frame|right|upright=2|See all devices connected to your node via the 'Connections' tab]]

== Changing Admin and Root User Passwords ==

'''''Note: If you would like to be able to change the above wifi settings in the future, or ssh into your router, you will need to change the admin and root passwords within 12 hours.'''''

To do so, open a terminal while connected to the <code>pplsopen-admin</code> private network (or whatever new SSID you may have chosen):

    ssh root@172.30.0.1

Enter the following password: <code>meshtheplanet</code>

Set the root password.

Now set the admin password for logging into the web dashboard:

 

A fourth interface named <code>pplsopen.net-node2node</code> will be detectable as well. This is the interface used for the nodes to mesh with each other.

 

 

'''''Note: If you installed autoconfiguring [https://github.com/sudomesh/sudowrt-firmware/releases/tag/0.3.0 release 0.3.0] for myNet N600 routers, you do not need to use makenode. See the autoconf instructions above.'''''

 

Makenode's documentation has been consolidated to [[Mesh/Makenode|its page.]]

 

If you happen to come across a TP-Link router, such as a WDR4300, you may discover that the above instructions absolutely do not work. This is especially true if the router has previously been flashed with the sudowrt firmware (or any kind of OpenWRT or DD-WRT?). If you find yourself attempting to reflash a TP-Link router, you will first need to reset the router to its factory default firmware. Luckily, redconfetti has provided instructions on how to do this, http://www.rubycoloredglasses.com/2016/04/tp-link-wdr4300-recovery/ (TODO, test/update these instructions and copy them to this wiki)

 

 

 

There also exists something called tp-flasher, https://github.com/sudomesh/tp-flasher. However, it is highly recommended that you avoid using this because there is a very good chance you will brick your router if you use it incorrectly. Of course, we don't want to discourage anyone from improving tp-flasher.

 

 

 

If you would like to make long distance point-to-point connections between two or more home nodes, you'll want to setup an extender node (a roof mounted antenna).

 

 

 

 

 

As you are resetting routers, you may end up having a component, such as the reset button itself, fall off of the PCB (printed circuit board). The WD MyNet n600 has security screws, so you may need a [https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ei=Zz30XZ-iLurJ0PEP8Mq90As&q=site%3Aaliexpress.com+torx+t10+security+bit&oq=site%3Aaliexpress.com+torx+t10+security+bit&gs_l=psy-ab.3...15707.23122..23261...0.0..2.605.6423.23j13j6j1j1j1......0....1..gws-wiz.......0i273j0j0i131j0i67.SQrobDcWg6U&ved=0ahUKEwjf8eHvgLTmAhXqJDQIHXBlD7oQ4dUDCAs&uact=5 Torx T10 Security Bit] to remove the case.  

 

<gallery mode="traditional">

File:Wd_n600_reset_button_resolder.jpg|WD MyNet n600 resolder of the reset button that fell off