Mesh Network Gateway

MESH Network Gateway

This software is intended for Intel IXP425 based Access Points from various vendors. It doesn't disturb builtin vendor's software (firmware) and can be unloaded at any time by resetting power of the box. The software turns Access Point into a node of mesh network. After loading, it automaticaly detects nearest mesh nodes and internet gateways on Wi-Fi and LAN interfaces. This software was tested on Access Point XG-3120 by Zcom (see also Zcomax from UK). For futher instructions how to use mesh nodes refer to Locust MeshBox homepage.

Use cases

Repeater
The node runs repeater mode when there are no internet gateways detected on LAN interface. It accepts client's connection both from WiFi and LAN interfaces, assigns IP addresses by DHCP protocol and provides DNS caching service. If there are other nodes in the mesh network then the node provides connections to neighbours nodes and their clients.

Gateway
The node runs gateway mode when it detects internet gateway locally connected via LAN interface. In this case the node accepts client's connections on WiFi interface only. LAN interface is used for gatewaying to external networks. In gateway mode the node spreads advertising messages telling to another nodes that the gateway is here.

Download instructions

Demo image for XG-3120 Access Point box may be downloaded here.

Demo image for XG-3120

Boot instructions

To load software image on the node, prepare tftp server at your host machine:

(Instructions below are for RedHat Linux on host and RedBoot 1.94 on target box.)

Place the image file bootpImage-DD-MM-YYYY.bin to directory /tftpboot
Set IP address of LAN port in accordance with your board settings (RedBoot, "Default server IP address")
Start tftp server by command: service tftpd start
Connect your host machine to IXP425 box via serial cable and switch power on.

Then, interrupt boot sequence on target box just after the message:
== Executing boot script in 2.0 seconds - enter ^C to abort

Boot Meshok image by commands:
RedBoot > load -r -b 0x1600000 bootpImage-DD-MM-YYYY.bin
RedBoot > exec 0x1600000

Run instructions

After the image is loaded, login shell asks for name and password in a standard Unix way. Use name root and skip password for logins from console (serial interface). Use login admin and password admin for logins via ssh on WiFi or LAN interface.

Note: Demo version assigns random IP addresses to all interfaces, so you should login first from serial interface to see assigned IP addresses. Use command ifconfig to print IP adresses on interfaces.