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A Framework for the A Framework for the Management of Management of

Large-Scale Wireless Large-Scale Wireless Network TestbedsNetwork Testbeds

Krishna Ramachandran,Krishna Ramachandran,Kevin C. Almeroth, Elizabeth Belding-Kevin C. Almeroth, Elizabeth Belding-

RoyerRoyerDept of Computer Science, Dept of Computer Science,

UC Santa BarbaraUC Santa Barbara

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Growing Testbed Growing Testbed DeploymentDeployment

Experimental research crucial in the Experimental research crucial in the design of robust wireless networking design of robust wireless networking systemssystems

Thus, wireless testbeds are being Thus, wireless testbeds are being increasingly deployedincreasingly deployed Examples: MIT Roofnet, Great Duck Examples: MIT Roofnet, Great Duck

Island, UCSB MeshNet, OrbitIsland, UCSB MeshNet, Orbit

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Testbed ManagementTestbed Management Maintaining Testbeds can be Extremely Labor-Maintaining Testbeds can be Extremely Labor-

IntensiveIntensive Nature of wireless medium makes management Nature of wireless medium makes management

challengingchallenging Bugs or design flaws can crash the entire networkBugs or design flaws can crash the entire network

Best Current Practice?Best Current Practice? Manual intervention through maintenance of devices on-Manual intervention through maintenance of devices on-

sitesite Labor-intensive Labor-intensive

In-band managementIn-band management Prevents certain testbed changesPrevents certain testbed changes

Ex: Switching frequency of a multi-hop wireless network testbedEx: Switching frequency of a multi-hop wireless network testbed Node failure can leave entire network disconnectedNode failure can leave entire network disconnected In-band management adds overhead to traffic in testbedIn-band management adds overhead to traffic in testbed

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Testbed ManagementTestbed Management

Best Current Practice? (cont'd)Best Current Practice? (cont'd) Out-of-band management offers substantial Out-of-band management offers substantial

reliefrelief Typically performed via wired backhaul networkTypically performed via wired backhaul network Not always feasible!Not always feasible!

Logistical/Bureaucratic issues (Ex: UCSB MeshNet)Logistical/Bureaucratic issues (Ex: UCSB MeshNet) Large or inhospitable testbed area (Ex: Rooftop Nets)Large or inhospitable testbed area (Ex: Rooftop Nets)

Our solution: out-of-band management Our solution: out-of-band management via a multi-hop wireless mesh via a multi-hop wireless mesh

networknetwork

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Proposed SolutionProposed Solution Wireless multi-hop Wireless multi-hop

mesh backhaul for out-mesh backhaul for out-of-band managementof-band management

Maturing mesh Maturing mesh networking technology networking technology provides stable provides stable backhaulbackhaul

CheapCheap

Easy to deployEasy to deploy

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OutlineOutline MotivationMotivation

ATMA FrameworkATMA Framework

Self-Configuring ArchitectureSelf-Configuring Architecture

ATMA Management ToolsATMA Management Tools

Implementation OverviewImplementation Overview

ConclusionsConclusions

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ATMA FrameworkATMA Framework

Enables out-of-band mgt of large-scale testbedsEnables out-of-band mgt of large-scale testbeds

Distributed agent-manager architectureDistributed agent-manager architecture

Self-configuring architectureSelf-configuring architecture

Extensions of basic framework for management Extensions of basic framework for management of multi-hop wireless testbedsof multi-hop wireless testbeds

Proof-of-concept using Linksys WRT54G Proof-of-concept using Linksys WRT54G devicesdevices

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Self-Configuring Self-Configuring ArchitectureArchitecture

1.1. Manager BeaconingManager Beaconing Hop-by-hop propagation of mgr beacons throughout Hop-by-hop propagation of mgr beacons throughout

networknetwork Helps agents automatically discover the managerHelps agents automatically discover the manager Helps to resolve 802.11 BSSID problem in mesh Helps to resolve 802.11 BSSID problem in mesh

networksnetworks

2.2. Agent Boot-StrappingAgent Boot-Strapping Agent listen for beacons by scanning all 802.11 Agent listen for beacons by scanning all 802.11

channelschannels Pick temporary IP address to communicate with Pick temporary IP address to communicate with

managermanager

3.3. Agent RegistrationAgent Registration Agents register with manager Agents register with manager Manager issues appropriate instructions to agentsManager issues appropriate instructions to agents

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ATMA Management ATMA Management ToolsTools

Testbed Configuration ToolTestbed Configuration Tool Agents configure testbed nodes as per instructions from Agents configure testbed nodes as per instructions from

managermanager Interference MeterInterference Meter

Listens for IEEE Management framesListens for IEEE Management frames Count of unique MAC IDs gives estimate of interference levelCount of unique MAC IDs gives estimate of interference level

Network Monitoring Using DAMONNetwork Monitoring Using DAMON Generic monitoring tool for collection of topology data, data Generic monitoring tool for collection of topology data, data

traffic statistics, routing protocol statisticstraffic statistics, routing protocol statistics http://http://moment.cs.ucsb.edu/damonmoment.cs.ucsb.edu/damon//

Topology Control ToolTopology Control Tool Creates virtual topologies without physically moving nodesCreates virtual topologies without physically moving nodes Uses selective dropping of packets to create virtual topologyUses selective dropping of packets to create virtual topology

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Implementation Implementation OverviewOverview

Proof-of-concept implemented using Proof-of-concept implemented using Linksys WRT54G wireless devicesLinksys WRT54G wireless devices

Low-cost solutionLow-cost solution

Uses OpenWRT open-src firmware (Uses OpenWRT open-src firmware (www.openwrt.orgwww.openwrt.org))

Uses multi-path version of AODV Uses multi-path version of AODV Reliability-based metric for route selectionReliability-based metric for route selection

ATMA Management tools using Perl/CATMA Management tools using Perl/C

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ConclusionsConclusions ATMA enables the out-of-band management of ATMA enables the out-of-band management of

large-scale wireless testbedslarge-scale wireless testbeds

Self-configuring architecture enables quick and Self-configuring architecture enables quick and easy deployment of support mesh networkeasy deployment of support mesh network

ATMA extensions for multi-hop wireless testbedsATMA extensions for multi-hop wireless testbeds

Proof-of-concept using cheap commodity devicesProof-of-concept using cheap commodity devices

Plan to offer framework as free download in the Plan to offer framework as free download in the futurefuture

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Questions?Questions?