Bootstrapping piertopier.net

building free wifi with no money

Dave Phelandave.phelan@gmail.com

Agenda

HistoryWhat, When, Where

PhilosophyTechnology Overview

MeshAP versus Pebble Linux versus OpenWRT versus…

LessonsThings we’ve learnedThings to do better

The Future?

What?

ObjectivesProvide WLAN to the beach between the PiersBounded experimentTest out mesh networking Organically grow a networkDo cool stuff

TechLocustworld Meshbox (AODV routing)NoCat Auth/SplashxDSL linksMini ITX PC hardware

When?

February 2003 – Initial email, followed by pub meetJune 2003 – Node 1 operationalJuly 2003 – Media FrenzyOctober 2004 – Node 2 & Wind SensorFeb/Mar 2004 – Node 3, 4 & 5May 2004 – 100+ unique usersJune 2004 – 300+ unique usersJuly 2004 – Node 6 September 2004 – Wifi SurfboardApril 2005 – 2000 unique usersJune 2005 – Glastonbury FestivalJuly 2006 – Glade FestivalJan 2007 – #2 out of top 10 beaches with WifiMay 2007 – Node 3 vandalisedToday: 10471 users (since we started counting!)

and 12 nodes, of various types

Where?

RiptideBrighton Sailing ClubFishing MuseumGranville ReceptionGranville UpstairsAudioSpringfield RoadHeistThe GrosvenorThe DragonThree & TenIron Duke

Philosophy

Free Internet access for all:Access to the Internet must be free of charge. Charges for use of or access to the Piertopier network are expressly forbidden. The network must not be used for commercial or revenue generating activities. The equipment used to provide access must conform to the WIFI standard. Anyone wishing to use the network for a non commercial application must be allowed to do so. Where Internet access is promoted piertopier must be clearly mentioned Wireless access must be provided 24 hours a day. Charges for access to the location of the node are forbidden. Each node must have access to the Internet or an Internet connected Piertopier node. Mesh architecture must be used

Technology Overview

Locustworld MeshAPx86 hardwareCutdown Slackware LinuxLimited documentationNoCatSplash Captive PortalAODV routing

Pebble LinuxSame hardwareEasier customisation (Debian-ish)NoCatSplash Captive PortalStatic/OSPF routingChillispot Captive Portal

OpenWRTCheaper hardware (Linksys WRT54G)Same customisation as PebbleNoCatSplash not stable enoughStatic/OSPF routingChillispot Captive Portal

DD-WRT?

PC/104

Sticky

GumStix

Problems

AODV routingAd-hoc On-demand Distance VectorTear down link if SNR too lowNot so useful if single linkFixed network is neither Ad-hoc nor On-demand…

NoCatSplashCut-down NoCatAuth Captive PortalNo user databaseNo accountabilityNo banning bad guys…

Chillispot Captive PortalNeeds Radius, UAM, back-end databaseCan’t easily self-provision

Documentation

Problems

PowerGymnasium has lots of big machines and dirty powerVIA 500 mini-ITX don’t reboot after powerfailGood site = no power…

WeatherSeaside = saltSalt & Water = rustRust = antenna mount vulnerability

VandalismSpam

WikiForum

TimeWe all have day jobs…

Lessons

Things we’ve learnedDon’t use Adhoc routing in a fixed networkOpen Source should be OpenAllow end users to self-provisionDon’t be reliant on any one personFree servers <> stable servers

Things to do betterDocumentationResilience/uptimeStandardisationWork less on the tech, more on the sponsorship/sitesFestivals…

Festivals

Glastonbury Festival – June 2005Glade – July 2006

The Future?

Maybe there isn’t oneBrighton Wireless CityFON

But if there is…New bloodNew technologyStandard build – simple for home use

The future?"The future is here, it's just not evenly distributed yet." "The best wifi is just that: free wifi throughout, no codes, no charges." - William Gibson, http://tinyurl.com/2u4873

HELP?

Network techsWireless/radio techsWeb design/maintenanceLinux system adminWiki/Forum adminSounding out new sitesDrumming up new sponsorshipDocumentation!Doing things betterMaking clever things?