Difference between revisions of "Mesh/WalkThrough"

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Congratulations on choosing to become part of a People's Open Network! This a walkthrough for flashing a node (a home router) with the SudoMesh's sudowrt-firmware (a custom build of OpenWRT) and then configuring it with makenode (a custom javascript tool developed by SudoMesh). At the end of the walkthrough, you'll be able to plug in your router and join the mesh. The walkthrough assumes you're using a linux-ish OS (mac OSX should work also) and that you have [https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UsingTheTerminal basic knowledge of the terminal]. The basic idea of getting a node on the mesh consists of flashing (copying files to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_memory flash memory]) an operating system to the node and then using a software tool finish the setup.
Congratulations on choosing to become part of a People's Open Network! This a walkthrough for flashing a node (a home router) with the SudoMesh's sudowrt-firmware (a custom build of OpenWRT) and then configuring it with makenode (a custom javascript tool developed by SudoMesh). At the end of the walkthrough, you'll be able to plug in your router and join the mesh. The walkthrough assumes you're using a linux-ish OS (mac OSX should work also) and that you have [https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UsingTheTerminal basic knowledge of the terminal]. The basic idea of getting a node on the mesh consists of flashing (copying files to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_memory flash memory]) an operating system to the node and then using a software tool finish the setup.
If you do not want to use a pre-compiled sudowrt-firmware image, you can build your own from the [https://github.com/sudomesh/sudowrt-firmware source code].
If you do not want to use a SudoMesh's OpenWRT image, you can also install [https://downloads.openwrt.org/ a standard OpenWRT] release and configure it from scratch,


Before you flash your router it is recommended that you read the [[Home and extender nodes#Home_nodes|Home node info]] to find out the router works as a mesh node.
Before you flash your router it is recommended that you read the [[Home and extender nodes#Home_nodes|Home node info]] to find out the router works as a mesh node.


= Download/Build =


= Install sudowrt-firmware on your node =
Now that you have node, you will probably want to learn how to flash it with the latest sudowrt-firmware build. The first step is to download the latest build of the firmware from our builds server, [https://builds.sudomesh.org/builds/chaos_calmer/ar71xx/ https://builds.sudomesh.org/builds/chaos_calmer/ar71xx/].
Now that you have node, you will probably want to learn how to flash it with the latest sudowrt-firmware build, This guide will lead you through the steps for building your very own People's Open node.
 
== Download sudowrt-firmware for a supported router ==
 
SudoMesh firmware images can be found at [https://builds.sudomesh.org/builds/chaos_calmer/ar71xx/ https://builds.sudomesh.org/builds/chaos_calmer/ar71xx/]


At the moment, we are supporting the following routers for home nodes:
Download the firmware image file for your supported router. At the moment, we are supporting the following routers for home nodes:


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Download the image file for your supported router.
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 a SudoMesh's OpenWRT image, you can also install [https://downloads.openwrt.org/ a standard OpenWRT] release and configure it from scratch.


== Flash your node with sudowrt-firmware ==
= Flash/Upload =


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


=== Reset your new router ===
== Reset your new router ==
* Plug one end of the Ethernet cable into your laptop.
* Plug one end of the Ethernet cable into your laptop.
* Plug the other end of the Ethernet cable into one of the normal ports on the router (not the Internet/WAN port).
* Plug the other end of the Ethernet cable into one of the normal ports on the router (not the Internet/WAN port).
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* Once the front blue is flashing, you can let go of the pin.
* Once the front blue is flashing, you can let go of the pin.


=== Configure your computer's network settings ===
== Configure your computer's network settings ==
On your laptop edit your network settings to reflect the following:
On your laptop edit your network settings to reflect the following:


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See Network Configuration Guides: [https://sudoroom.org/wiki/Mesh/Network%20Configuration%20for%20Linux Linux] [https://sudoroom.org/wiki/Mesh/Network%20Configuration%20for%20MacOS%20X Mac]
See Network Configuration Guides: [https://sudoroom.org/wiki/Mesh/Network%20Configuration%20for%20Linux Linux] [https://sudoroom.org/wiki/Mesh/Network%20Configuration%20for%20MacOS%20X Mac]


=== Upload sudowrt-firmware ===
== Upload sudowrt-firmware ==
In your web browser:
In your web browser:


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== Configure your node to work on a People's Open Network ==
= makenode/Configure =
After flashing sudowrt-firmware to your router you will need to configure it work on the mesh.
After flashing sudowrt-firmware to your router you will need to configure it work on a People's Open Network.


=== Reconfigure your computer's network settings ===
== Reconfigure your computer's network settings ==
A freshly flashed node automatically sets its IP address to 172.22.0.1. You will need to configure your laptop to use the following network settings to communicate with the node.
A freshly flashed node automatically sets its IP address to 172.22.0.1. You will need to configure your laptop to use the following network settings to communicate with the node.


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After you have successfully flashed your router with OpenWRT, you will need to use [https://github.com/sudomesh/makenode makenode] to complete the setup. makenode registers your node on the peoplesopen network, resulting in the assignment of a 64 IPv4 address subnet to your node, in addition to applying basic configuration.
After you have successfully flashed your router with OpenWRT, you will need to use [https://github.com/sudomesh/makenode makenode] to complete the setup. makenode registers your node on the peoplesopen network, resulting in the assignment of a 64 IPv4 address subnet to your node, in addition to applying basic configuration.


=== Preparing your laptop for makenode ===
== Preparing your laptop for makenode ==


You will need to install the dependencies for the [https://github.com/sudomesh/makenode makenode] utility developed by the SudoMesh project.
You will need to install the dependencies for the [https://github.com/sudomesh/makenode makenode] utility developed by the SudoMesh project.
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* Install Dropbear (no known ports for Windows)
* Install Dropbear (no known ports for Windows)


=== Install and run makenode ===
== Install and run makenode ==


From your terminal, run the following:
From your terminal, run the following:
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* "private wifi password" - this is the password for the private wireless network that will run on this router - it must be at least 8 characters long
* "private wifi password" - this is the password for the private wireless network that will run on this router - it must be at least 8 characters long


=== Troubleshooting ===
= Testing =
 
After you're finished with the makenode configuration, your home node should be available for connections via your private WiFi SSID. Additionally the public SSID 'peoplesopen.net' will be available.
 
A third interface named 'pplsopen.net-node2node' will be detectable as well. This is the interface used for the nodes to mesh with each other.
 
At this point you're setup. For more information on using your node, such as accessing the web-based management interface, see [[Home and extender nodes#Home_nodes|Home node info]]


2017/10/26 -- I also needed to replace the `node-uuid` module with `uuid` in order to get this to work, using the following commands:
For more technical details on the internals of the home node, see the [[Mesh/Technical_Overview]]
 
= Troubleshooting =
You may need to replace the `node-uuid` module with `uuid` for makenode to work, to fix this using the following commands:


   npm uninstall --save node-uuid
   npm uninstall --save node-uuid
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   npm install
   npm install
   ./makenode.js
   ./makenode.js
== Testing ==
After you're finished with the makenode configuration, your home node should be available for connections via your private WiFi SSID. Additionally the public SSID 'peoplesopen.net' will be available.
A third interface named 'pplsopen.net-node2node' will be detectable as well. This is the interface used for the nodes to mesh with each other.
At this point you're setup. For more information on using your node, such as accessing the web-based management interface, see [[Home and extender nodes#Home_nodes|Home node info]]
For more technical details on the internals of the home node, see the [[Mesh/Technical_Overview]]


= Flashing Extender Nodes =
= Flashing Extender Nodes =


If you're wanting to optionally boost the signal of your home node for a larger range, you'll want to setup an extender antenna.
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).


See [[Mesh/Flashing extender nodes]]
See [[Mesh/Flashing extender nodes]]
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