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| docs:guide-user:network:wifi:mesh:80211s [2024/09/02 16:50] – reverted revisions made that were malicioulsy deleted thomascrisan | docs:guide-user:network:wifi:mesh:80211s [2024/09/03 12:40] – [IEEE 802.11s Wireless Mesh Networking] Add warning bluewavenet | ||
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| ====== IEEE 802.11s Wireless Mesh Networking ====== | ====== IEEE 802.11s Wireless Mesh Networking ====== | ||
| - | ===== Introduction ===== | + | |
| - | ==== What is a Wireless Mesh Network? | + | <WRAP center round alert 60%> |
| - | A small mesh network can be an excellent solution for placing remote Access Points (APs) throughout an area where running cables is impractical. In a mesh network: | + | **WARNING! This document contains many errors and misconceptions.\\ |
| + | Many paragraphs are produced using an online LLM and added without any verification** | ||
| + | |||
| + | </ | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== Preface | ||
| + | An IEEE 802.11s mesh has many applications, | ||
| * APs communicate with each other using their own wireless channel instead of cabling. | * APs communicate with each other using their own wireless channel instead of cabling. | ||
| * When properly configured, APs automatically find each other and determine the best way to transmit information between stations. | * When properly configured, APs automatically find each other and determine the best way to transmit information between stations. | ||
| - | ==== IEEE 802.11s: | + | ===== Introduction ===== |
| - | IEEE 802.11s is an open standard that defines how wireless devices can interconnect to form a wireless LAN mesh network within the existing IEEE 802.11 wireless framework. Key features include: | + | The purpose of this topic is to provide the necessary information for setting up an IEEE 802.11s mesh and to provide the necessary concepts, setup information and troubleshooting methods so that a set of OpenWrt routers can be used in a mesh configuration. |
| + | ==== IEEE 802.11s: | ||
| + | IEEE 802.11 is an open standard that defines how wireless devices can interconnect to form a wireless LAN mesh network within the existing IEEE 802.11 wireless framework. | ||
| + | Key features include: | ||
| * Standardized, | * Standardized, | ||
| - | * Supports dynamic, self-healing, | + | * Supports dynamic, self-healing, |
| * Requires only one station to be physically connected to the Internet (though larger networks often have more) | * Requires only one station to be physically connected to the Internet (though larger networks often have more) | ||
| * Operates at OSI Level-2 using unique MAC addresses to communicate between stations | * Operates at OSI Level-2 using unique MAC addresses to communicate between stations | ||
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| * Event connectivity | * Event connectivity | ||
| These are some extensions to OpenWrt' | These are some extensions to OpenWrt' | ||
| - | * Mesh11sd: a shell script daemon to assist in the setup and maintenance of a group of mesh stations | + | * [[docs: |
| + | * [[https:// | ||
| * Layer 2 Support Packages: | * Layer 2 Support Packages: | ||
| - | * B.A.T.M.A.N.-Advanced (batman-adv) | + | * [[docs: |
| * Layer 3 Support Packages: | * Layer 3 Support Packages: | ||
| * B.A.T.M.A.N. (Better Approach To Mobile Adhoc Networking) | * B.A.T.M.A.N. (Better Approach To Mobile Adhoc Networking) | ||
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| * OLSR (Optimised Link State Routing) | * OLSR (Optimised Link State Routing) | ||
| ==== Concepts & Terminology ==== | ==== Concepts & Terminology ==== | ||
| - | To start with some terminology, the first term is that IEEE 802.11s mesh points or nodes are called stations, also known as **STA**s. | + | For consistency, |
| * **Mesh Point (MP)**: Mesh Points form the backbone of the mesh network by relaying data and participating in path selection. A mesh point is a basic station in the mesh network that is capable of establishing wireless mesh links with other MPs. MPs can relay frames to other MPs and participate in the mesh path selection protocol, thereby helping to create and maintain the mesh network topology. | * **Mesh Point (MP)**: Mesh Points form the backbone of the mesh network by relaying data and participating in path selection. A mesh point is a basic station in the mesh network that is capable of establishing wireless mesh links with other MPs. MPs can relay frames to other MPs and participate in the mesh path selection protocol, thereby helping to create and maintain the mesh network topology. | ||
| * **Mesh Portal (MPP)**: A mesh portal is a specialized station that connects the mesh network to other types of networks, such as Ethernet or another 802.11 network. In OpenWrt, MPPs serve as gateways, allowing data to flow between the mesh network and external networks. This is crucial for providing Internet access or integrating the mesh network with other network infrastructures. | * **Mesh Portal (MPP)**: A mesh portal is a specialized station that connects the mesh network to other types of networks, such as Ethernet or another 802.11 network. In OpenWrt, MPPs serve as gateways, allowing data to flow between the mesh network and external networks. This is crucial for providing Internet access or integrating the mesh network with other network infrastructures. | ||
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| ===== Installation & Configuration ===== | ===== Installation & Configuration ===== | ||
| - | If you want to run an encrypted mesh, you must install a version of '' | + | If you want to run an encrypted mesh, you must install a version of '' |
| - | + | ||
| - | At the time of writing, either | + | |
| Examples: | Examples: | ||
| - | * '' | + | * '' |
| - | * '' | + | * '' |
| * '' | * '' | ||
| * '' | * '' | ||
| - | * '' | + | * '' |
| - | * '' | + | * '' |
| **Installing support for Mesh Encryption: | **Installing support for Mesh Encryption: | ||
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| Every device you want to participate in the mesh must be configured in the same way ie same mesh_id, same channel, same key. | Every device you want to participate in the mesh must be configured in the same way ie same mesh_id, same channel, same key. | ||
| - | This wireless UCI configuration may be sufficient for a " | + | This wireless UCI configuration may be sufficient for a " |
| - | But an organic, autonomously self managing mesh network | + | |
| + | The **`mesh_hwmp_rootmode`** setting is not available in LUCI but can be set in the `/ | ||
| + | |||
| + | * **Mode `0`** (not Root): This is default mode OpenWrt and ensures that the mesh point does not engage in any root-specific activities. | ||
| + | * **Mode `2`** (Root with PREQ announcements only): This mode informs other mesh points of its presence as a root station managing paths. | ||
| + | * **Mode `3`** (Root with PREQ announcements and responds to other PREQs with PREPs): This mode periodically sending PREQ messages, to determine mesh station paths. | ||
| + | * **Mode `4`** (Root Proactive RANN announcements in addition to PREQ announcements PREP responses): A RANN message includes information such as the root station' | ||
| + | Either Mode 3 or Mode 4 would be acceptable. | ||
| + | < | ||
| + | ... | ||
| + | option mesh_hwmp_rootmode ' | ||
| + | ... | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | The next important change you should make to this same portal and root station is **`mesh_gate_announcements`** which is used to enable or disable the announcement of a mesh gateways. This setting is important for informing other mesh stations about the presence of gateways that can provide access to external networks, such as the Internet. Only mesh stations that provide connectivity to external networks should have `mesh_gate_announcements` set to ' | ||
| + | < | ||
| + | ... | ||
| + | option mesh_gate_announcements ' | ||
| + | ... | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | Your pertinent section of your file should no look something like this: | ||
| + | < | ||
| + | config wifi-iface ' | ||
| + | option device ' | ||
| + | option disabled ' | ||
| + | option mode ' | ||
| + | option ifname ' | ||
| + | option network ' | ||
| + | option mesh_id ' | ||
| + | option encryption ' | ||
| + | option key ' | ||
| + | option mesh_hwmp_rootmode ' | ||
| + | option mesh_gate_announcements ' | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | Other options that can manually be set in the / | ||
| + | **Note:** As time permits, the definitions of these options will be added. | ||
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| + | * **'' | ||
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| ===== Verify the Mesh Network is Working ===== | ===== Verify the Mesh Network is Working ===== | ||
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| * [[http:// | * [[http:// | ||
| * [[https:// | * [[https:// | ||
| - | * [[https:// | + | * [[https:// |
| * [[https:// | * [[https:// | ||