Primer April 2, 2008 This page is a resource page for myself in brings multi thoughts together of providing Software as a Service to wireless mesh. The idea is straight forward; however, there are a lot of different type of solution to implement. The focus is to have the latest free software from Locustworld used as a base and to provide the necessary secured routing to be used with in the wireless mesh or specifically Locustworld's wireless mesh.

No in the last two years I have come to the conclusion that Grid or HPC cluster should be used. Simply put a wireless mesh with a mainframe. I think I will call it Shiva after the Hindu God, most statues of Shiva have multiple arms but one brain or I could have called it Octopussy but that sound too much like James Bond. Back to the Mainframe part. I believe that buying a mainframe will be out of reach for many ISP or WISP. The idea is to create a supercomputer using off the shelf parts.

Over a decade people have been clustering computers together to build super computers. It just has been recently in that the software has matured to the point that also anyone can make one. DIY supercomputer is practical. The software on this computer can be 100% open sourced and you can bring to everyone the power of a supercomputer. Yeah I can imagine that most people would be using it for word processor. But what a world processor. Can you imagine it processing every language, every dictionary, thesauruses, etc. Since it has the power to do anything man it could write itself. Oh did I just write that. Ok it stays for now.

The topology for this would be a supercomputer with similar to what I have put together for VoIP with in wireless mesh. The key is to ensure it has the 2048 encryption between the client and the server!

So here is the road map:

Locustworld Free software last update looks to be in 2006 and it call version 1311. Since it stop evolving and pro version has been advanced. The Pro version is excellent and I don't think we need all those features. In fact why re-invent the wheel again. If I need a MeshAP with those features I will buy it! But what I'm looking for is a secure wireless feature. I figure I used free version to build upon:

OpenLWC - Client: Basically the same software Locustworld but with X windows and fully version of Slackware 8.1

OpenLWS - Server: Basically the same 1311 version but with no gui and fully version of Slackware 8.1

OpenLWvm - vmWare: Basically this is router but in vmWare. It can also be a client or server but it is running in vmWare such that as virtual appliance.

Shiva aka Octopussy: HPC computer with with either OpenLWS server or vmWare Server. I'v haven't figure out which distro I would use for this but it would have to be compatible with slackware.

This Primer intent is to build the mesh client and server with integrate MeshAP and to create a distribution package. This package then should be able to run on servers with connection to Ethernet and wireless mesh using Locustworld distribution.

Because this primer is on the web and this primer has not been tested it provides basic instruction of how to put this server together. Its intent is to put some order into building this package; however, it should be used as guide and there is no warranty that this method would work. Take Caution. It could damage your equipment or yourself.

READ ALL Instructions prior to building this system.

Materials

PC400 Mhz
256 RAM
5 gig hard drive
Prism based Radio Card
Network Card
CDr Writer and Player
CDR blanks disk
High Speed Internet Connection
Assume you have LAN and Router and network cables
Linux skill sets
Windows or other makes of PC with connection to internet

	Windows utilities Winscp, Putty, Winrar,
	gParted LiveCD

Resources & Thoughts

Linux commands

	ls –R –l #will give you a tree directory and permissions
	Great source of information regarding Slackware http://www.slackbook.org/html/book.html#INSTALLATION-METHODS
	The next is a iso linux cd that you can repartition or partition Linux drives using a GUI. This is a really handy tool. It also gives the ability to remotely mount partitions. http://gparted.sourceforge.net/livecd.php
	The scenario is that you have compiled Slackware 8.1 then add all the directories from another free Locustworld installation. You will need to reset the hardwarekey. In Free Locustworld in the directory call /tmp/work there is a file called ultrakey.cache if you remove this file then you can reset hardware key in MeshAP. To do this: cd /tmp/work rm ultrakey.cache hardwarekey
	For HPC Server use Rocks i.e. http://www.rocksclusters.org/rocks-documentation/4.3/getting-started.html
	This looks good from the UK http://www.gridpp.ac.uk/explain.html
	The Italians look like they have something going too http://netsukuku.freaknet.org/?pag=faq
	This was an intrusting tool kit http://vdt.cs.wisc.edu/
	You going to need to look at cramfs http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=18351

Instructions

I believe you can cut a lot of corners with building this system. There are three schools of thought:

Use Slackware 8.1 as the base: Download Slackware 8.1 and install on the above machine and add the existing Locustworld directory on to that machine. Problems will occur especially on registration as the registration is based on address of the hard drive. I believe this would be the best hack. Ideally you would install the latest version of free Locustworld 1311 configure it etc. then you would copy everything to an external PC. Next you would install Slackware 8.1 on the same machine then import all the original content from 1311 back onto the pc. Yes there will be problems but you can solve them one at a time.
Use Locustworld as the base kernel: Install Locustworld 1311 (the latest version non pro version) Get it running. Download Slackware 8.1 iso and burn a CD. Boot with Slackware 8.1 iso cd. Install the slackware version into /dev/hdb or the second no bootable drive this is /drv2 on with in Locustworld. Next type setup and set the swap to the /devhdb (second no bootlable drive) Continue installation. Near the end of the installation it will ask for a number of things. Ideally you don’t care cause you want to boot up with the original Locustworld. So don’t configure anything. Once you reboot then you can look into /drv2 all your new systems are waiting for you. Next you will need to add PATHS to your new directories. Avoid having duplicates, in /sbin you have a number of executable, do not put a path to /drv2/sbin it will get confused to which system should be used. Add symbolic links to items that can’t be copy due space limitations.
Use new distro and update AODV: To get a modern distro like Ubuntu and build AODV-UU version as instructed below

Use new distro and update AODV

The Mesh Server Edition - built on the solid foundation of Linux 2.6.X kernel from the distribution package of Ubuntu 6.06 LTS whish is a Debian which is known for its robust server installations — has a strong heritage for reliable performance and predictable evolution. The objective of this server is for a lower total cost of ownership with automatic LAMP installation with Locustworld mesh connectivity.

The objective is to have a fully functioning MeshAP with a built in LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP) server. This feature, exclusive to Ubuntu Server Edition, is available at the time of installation. The LAMP option means you don't have to install and integrate each of the four separate LAMP components, a process which can take hours and requires someone who is skilled in the installation and configuration of the individual applications. Instead, you get increased security, reduced time-to-install, and reduced risk of incorrectly configuring applications, all of which results in a lower cost of ownership.

It also means that you have controls over each of the components and are able to upgrade or downgrade them appropriately. It also means that unlike Locustworld you will require system administration and best practices that are assumed with this activity.

LAMP server (Ubuntu 6.06 LTS - Supported to 2011) http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download
Burn ISO, using XP http://www.petri.co.il/how_to_write_iso_files_to_cd.htm
Install Ubuntu Lamp server http://www.howtoforge.com/lamp_installation_ubuntu6.06 or http://www.howtoforge.com/lamp_installation_ubuntu6.06
For now just use the DHCP to connect to LAN, and test the server out.
Check to see if netfilter is installed. Check out the distribution of Ubuntu it may contain this information already in the following location;
/usr/share/doc/netfilter-extensions-source/changelog.Debian.gz
/usr/share/doc/netfilter-extensions-source/copyright
/usr/src/netfilter-extensions.tar.bz2
If not you will then require to install it. Download the latest netfilter: http://packages.ubuntu.com/gutsy/net/netfilter-extensions-source also check out http://packages.ubuntu.com/gutsy/net/netfilter-extensions-source Here is information on testing netfilter http://www.netfilter.org/documentation/HOWTO/netfilter-hacking-HOWTO-7.html
Download AODV-UU http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=212045&package_id=254999
Download Winscp: http://winscp.net/eng/download.php#download2
Use Winscp to copy the files to your Linux directory
Create a directory at root call “mserver” copy all your compress files there
Alternatively you can use on your pc Winrar http://www.rarlab.com/download.htm to uncompress your tar files and then move to winscp. This is just an alternative.
In the directory “mserver” Make sure you have the kernel source (or at least headers) of the kernel you are compiling against installed. Otherwise the kernel modules might not compile. See the troubleshooting section in the readme file if there are problems.
Compile with "make":
> make
Install (as "root"):
> make install
Run (as "root" with recommended options for debugging):
> aodvd -l -r 3
For command line options, run:
> aodvd –help
The following module must be loaded when running (or compiled into the kernel):
* kaodv.{o,ko}
Module loading should happen automatically if AODV is installed and the module loading system (modprobe) is properly configured.
Follow the instruction to determine if AODV is working. Resource can be found at http://core.it.uu.se/core/index.php/Main_Page
At this point you should have AODV running on the server. If you do already you have made great progress. Collect 50 points and move to the next part. The next part is will be a bunch of hacks. They may need to be recompiled but my thinking is that many of the items could be copy over from Locustworld distribution. In the event that you need to download source code from Locustworld it is located at: http://www.mirrorservice.org/sites/ftp.locustworld.com/

The idea here is to see what Locustworld needs to perform its routing. It seems not that difficult but nothing is documented. Key directories look to by

Cramfs

Etc

Tmp

Bin

After looking at the distro everything needs to be added! every file folder.

There are many areas that need to be investigated Locustworld init files,

Cron,