Wireless: Mesh
Mesh networks have the advantage of self configuration and self healing. The Internet itself is a mesh network. A Wireless mesh network functions in a similiar manner discovering neighbours and forwarding packets on to their final destination. The drawbacks include increase latency for each hop, which impacts real time transmissions like voice over internet (VoIP). There is something very attractive to this approach to networking. It has the potential to create organic solutions where the sum is more functional than the sum of the parts. It would be useful if each node knew its location and movement characteristics. As a trend this follows the VoIP approach to pushing the intellegence toward the edge of the network.
MeshCube OpenSource distribution of the meshcubeÉ targeted mainly to the wireless community network "The MeshCube is a new hardware platform dedicated to WirelessLAN mesh routing, developed by 4G Systems, Hamburg. With a 400MHz MIPS processor, 64MB RAM and 32MB flash and up to 8 MiniPci cards, it is strong enough to provide excellent security and encryption, and flexible enough for custom applications and modifications. The MeshCubeDistribution is the Linux distribution running on the MeshCube. It's main features are MeshRouting, autoconfiguration of networking, security (IpSec, VPN) and the reduction in size to fit on the 32MB flash. It is completely licensed unter the GPL and will be developed here in our CVS in a true OpenSource manner." Based in 20457 Hamburg Deutschland
4G Access Cube This is the same product as the MeshCube noted above targeted especially for companies with integrated environments with backend systems like Access Controller and Billing Systems. This web site describes the technology of the Cube better than the MeshCube.org site which is intented primarily for the openSource distribution. " This so called 'Multi Point To Point' technology has been developed by 4G Systems and used with countless projects. It makes possible, for the first time ever, to produce an extensive wireless network without cost-intensive infra-structural measure. Additional 4G Access Cubes™, which automatically organize themselves, form flexible, extensive networks, the so called 4G Access Zone™ with a flexible broadband from/to 216 Mbit/s." Based in 20457 Hamburg Deutschland
LocustWorld "We really like this wireless technology. There is a huge potential in free community networks, as idealised by www.communitywireless.org. Where every part of the network is owned and operated by the users themselves."
MIT Roofnet "MIT Roofnet is an experimental rooftop wireless network testbed for the Grid Ad-Hoc Networking Project in development at MIT LCS's Parallel and Distributed Operating Systems group. The goal of our project is to build a production-quality self-organizing network capable of providing Internet service while researching scalable routing protocols."
P3: CUWiN Project "The CUWiN project wants to allow self-forming, noncentralized, mesh-based Wi-Fi networks using standard, old PCs with no configuration. Slightly more advanced units could be ruggedized boxes using Compact Flash, but the basic unit would be a 486 or later PC with a bootable CD-ROM or bootable floppy that bootstraps a CD-ROM. Once booted, a unit finds other similar units without any other configuration or control and forms a mesh."
OpenAP "OpenAP is the complete distribution of open-source software that is required to produce a fully 802.11b compliant wireless access point. One cool feature of OpenAP access points is their ability to do multipoint to multipoint wireless bridging, while simultaneously serving 802.11b stations."
RFC 3561 -Ad hoc On Demand Distance Vector ( AODV ) Routing "The Ad hoc On Demand Distance Vector (AODV) routing algorithm is a routing protocol designed for ad hoc mobile networks. AODV is capable of both unicast and multicast routing. It is an on demand algorithm, meaning that it builds routes between nodes only as desired by source nodes. It maintains these routes as long as they are needed by the sources. Additionally, AODV forms trees which connect multicast group members. The trees are composed of the group members and the nodes needed to connect the members. AODV uses sequence numbers to ensure the freshness of routes. It is loop-free, self-starting, and scales to large numbers of mobile nodes."
NIST: Kernel AODV "Kernel AODV is a loadable kernel module for Linux. It implements AODV routing between computers equipped with WLAN devices. National Insitute of Standards and Technology ( NIST ) is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce's Technology Administration"
AODV For IPv6 Network "This project is the product of the combination of these two hottest subject in networking world: Implementing IPv6 AODV Ad Hoc Routing Protocol." Based in Burnaby, BC, Canada
RFC 3561 - Ad hoc On-Demand Distance Vector ( AODV ) Routing "The SIP Center is a portal for the commercial development of the Session Initiation Protocol. Serving both the SIP community and the wider industry, the SIP Center offers comprehensive technical and market resources as well as an environment for the testing of SIP implementations." Based in Newport, Wales, NP18 2LH United Kingdom
802.16 MAC Layer Mesh Extensions Overview Tutorial (pdf), Mesh Overview Changes, Mesh Overview Changes: Revisions
Mesh Dynamics " Our Multiple Radio software control layer approach provides the most cost effective means of providing bandwidth over large areas - especially when multiple hops away from an Ethernet termination point are required to minimize the cost of multiple Ethernet "drops" . Our software controlÊ layer ensure even distribution of bandwidth over large areas - not possible with single radio mesh networks - and control mesh topology to address differing performance requirements for voice and data."
Mesh Networking Forum 2004
October 19 - 20, 2004 :: San Francisco, CA
"Determining the Value Proposition of End-User Mesh Network Implementation
Quantifying the Market for Wireless Mesh Technology and Applications
Identifying Growth Areas and Investment Opportunities
Understanding the Impact of Mesh Networking on Wi-Fi, WiMAX, and Ultrawideband Standards
Overcoming Mesh Networking Challenges with Cutting-Edge Technology Developments"
