Mpumalanga Mesh:Project Chapter - Revision history

Ajay: /* Strategy maps */

2008-06-04T06:27:46Z

Strategy maps

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	\|Document positive effects of community		\|Document positive effects of community
	\|}		\|}


	== Technical ==		== Technical ==

Ajay at 14:05, 7 November 2007

2007-11-07T14:05:59Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:05, 7 November 2007
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	[[Image:Peebles_Collage.jpg\|left\|800px]]		[[Image:Peebles_Collage.jpg\|left\|800px]]__TOC__

	<br clear=all>		<br clear=all>

Ajay at 14:05, 7 November 2007

2007-11-07T14:05:34Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:05, 7 November 2007
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	[[Image:Peebles_Collage.jpg\|left\|800px]]		[[Image:Peebles_Collage.jpg\|left\|800px]]

	<br=~~clear~~ all>		<br clear=all>
	== Background ==		== Background ==

Ajay at 14:04, 7 November 2007

2007-11-07T14:04:56Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:04, 7 November 2007
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	[[Image:Peebles_Collage.jpg\|left\|800px]]		[[Image:Peebles_Collage.jpg\|left\|800px]]

			<br=clear all>
	== Background ==		== Background ==

Ajay at 11:06, 17 October 2007

2007-10-17T11:06:35Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:06, 17 October 2007
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	{\|		{\|
	!width="150" align="left"\|Researchers:		!width="150" align="left"\|Researchers:
	\|Dwayne Bailey (dwayne[@]translate.org.za)		\|Dwayne Bailey (dwayne[at]translate.org.za)
	\|-		\|-
	\|width="150" align="left"\|		\|width="150" align="left"\|
	\|David Johnson (djohnson[@]csir.co.za)		\|David Johnson (djohnson[at]csir.co.za)
	\|-		\|-
	\|}		\|}

Ajay: /* Exciting Technology */

2007-08-28T13:32:28Z

Exciting Technology

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:32, 28 August 2007
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	Our key installation on the high point above the clinic is located under the eves of the farm house. This was placed just above 2 DECT telephone boxes that had both been lost to lightning. The owners told us of how lightning has at times arced across the metal railing of the balcony about 5m from our box.		Our key installation on the high point above the clinic is located under the eves of the farm house. This was placed just above 2 DECT telephone boxes that had both been lost to lightning. The owners told us of how lightning has at times arced across the metal railing of the balcony about 5m from our box.
	This node has operated for almost 2 years now. It remains on all the time, has had 1 hardware lock-up and has never been damaged by lightning. Either we have not had a bad strike yet or the location under the eves has kept it safe.		This node has operated for almost 2 years now. It remains on all the time, has had 1 hardware lock-up and has never been damaged by lightning. Either we have not had a bad strike yet or the location under the eves has kept it safe.
			<br clear=all>

	== Community ==		== Community ==

Dwayne: spelling

2007-08-01T15:34:11Z

spelling

Ajay at 13:20, 12 July 2007

2007-07-12T13:20:46Z

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	!align="left" \|I-3		!align="left" \|I-3
	\|-		\|-
	!~~aligh~~="left" \|What will be done to produce our immediate output?		!align="left" \|What will be done to produce our immediate output?
	!align="left" \|What will be done to build capacity?		!align="left" \|What will be done to build capacity?
	!align="left" \| How will sustained support guidance or supportive monitoring be provided?		!align="left" \|How will sustained support guidance or supportive monitoring be provided?
	\|-		\|-
	\|Install nodes to link hospice		\|Install nodes to link hospice

Ajay: /* School sadness */

2007-07-10T12:33:37Z

School sadness

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:33, 10 July 2007
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	==== School sadness ====		==== School sadness ====
	One of our key nodes is one of the local high schools. We, quite late in the project, discovered that the head of the computer lab could not type on the computer. He clearly had very limited experience. While we discovered this a young teacher walked in, saw the Internet was up and began ~~browsi ng~~... for a new job.		One of our key nodes is one of the local high schools. We, quite late in the project, discovered that the head of the computer lab could not type on the computer. He clearly had very limited experience. While we discovered this a young teacher walked in, saw the Internet was up and began browsing... for a new job.

	==== Games can take up bandwidth ====		==== Games can take up bandwidth ====

Ajay: /* Technical */

2007-07-09T09:16:44Z

Technical

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:16, 9 July 2007
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	\|Document positive effects of community		\|Document positive effects of community
	\|}		\|}


	== Technical ==		== Technical ==
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	A server has been installed which contains local content such as wikipedia, a music server, a local proxy-server, a samba file server, DNS and Asterisk VoIP server. With this server the network is still useful even without the internet connected.		A server has been installed which contains local content such as wikipedia, a music server, a local proxy-server, a samba file server, DNS and Asterisk VoIP server. With this server the network is still useful even without the internet connected.


	== Network Layout ==		== Network Layout ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:34, 1 August 2007
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	Not only has the clinic brought hope to many, who have literally risen from their death beds (like Benjamin in the right hand corner) thanks to the ART drugs, but Portia Ndluli, 19 years old, has a new life as well because with access to the internet at her home, this school leaver has developed a new interest in life. She would otherwise be unemployed in this rural enclave. But through connectivity she has become self taught and now has a computer club of 6 youths, who come to her house to learn about the internet and online research and communication.		Not only has the clinic brought hope to many, who have literally risen from their death beds (like Benjamin in the right hand corner) thanks to the ART drugs, but Portia Ndluli, 19 years old, has a new life as well because with access to the internet at her home, this school leaver has developed a new interest in life. She would otherwise be unemployed in this rural enclave. But through connectivity she has become self taught and now has a computer club of 6 youths, who come to her house to learn about the internet and online research and communication.

	The tin can “cantennae” used to cover the wireless antennae erected onto of the Ndluli’s house is rusted, but the connection still works very well and Portia, together with the school, hospice, farmers and others are sharing the network at least cost with the clinic. The hospice now has a voice over internet phone connection to the clinic nearby, and will save the staff and clinic thousands of ~~rands~~ in cellular phone bills.		The tin can “cantennae” used to cover the wireless antennae erected onto of the Ndluli’s house is rusted, but the connection still works very well and Portia, together with the school, hospice, farmers and others are sharing the network at least cost with the clinic. The hospice now has a voice over internet phone connection to the clinic nearby, and will save the staff and clinic thousands of Rands in cellular phone bills.

	This Clinic, which is mainly funded by a pharmaceutical company social grant, has brought hope to over 700 patients in the area. The clinic hopes to extend its influence to 32 other public clinics in the area so that the more than 5000 patients can have access to ART. One way to scale up is through improving communications between the clinics.		This Clinic, which is mainly funded by a pharmaceutical company social grant, has brought hope to over 700 patients in the area. The clinic hopes to extend its influence to 32 other public clinics in the area so that the more than 5000 patients can have access to ART. One way to scale up is through improving communications between the clinics.
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	== Technical ==		== Technical ==

	The ~~peebles valley~~ mesh network makes use of a commodity low cost WiFi based router, the Linksys WRT54G, running an OpenWRT based operating system called Freifunk. Freifunk makes us of Optimized Link State Routing (OLSR) for it's routing, which is a well known pro-active mesh protocol being used across large parts of Berlin with network sizes up to 400 nodes. The Linksys WRT54G's have been repackaged into waterproof housing so that the entire unit can be mounted on a mast outdoors. A combination of various antennas ranging from 8dBi omni's to 24dBi grids to ~~approximatley~~ 12dBi cantennas has been employed based on the distance between nodes and the topology.		The Peebles Valley mesh network makes use of a commodity low cost WiFi based router, the Linksys WRT54G, running an OpenWRT based operating system called Freifunk. Freifunk makes us of Optimized Link State Routing (OLSR) for it's routing, which is a well known pro-active mesh protocol being used across large parts of Berlin with network sizes up to 400 nodes. The Linksys WRT54G's have been repackaged into waterproof housing so that the entire unit can be mounted on a mast outdoors. A combination of various antennas ranging from 8dBi omni's to 24dBi grids to approximately 12dBi cantennas has been employed based on the distance between nodes and the topology.

	The network is able to self-create itself with optimal routes being chosen based on path with the lowest probability of dropping packets. If a gateway to the internet is connected into the mesh, it is also able to automatically advertise this to all the nodes in the network. In our case the gateway is a VSAT link with a 256kb/s downlink and 64kb/s uplink.		The network is able to self-create itself with optimal routes being chosen based on path with the lowest probability of dropping packets. If a gateway to the internet is connected into the mesh, it is also able to automatically advertise this to all the nodes in the network. In our case the gateway is a VSAT link with a 256kb/s downlink and 64kb/s uplink.

	A firewall is installed at the clinic to partition the clinic ~~lan~~ and ~~internet~~ connectivity from the Peebles valley mesh network. The firewall currently has the capability controlling the amount of bandwidth available to each user or groups of users in the mesh. It can also sub-cap each user to a specific number of Megabytes. Other functions of the firewall are to filter out virus traffic and other unwanted such as windows netbios traffic. We have given 50 Megabytes free to each user in the mesh and will increase this once a payment model is installed.		A firewall is installed at the clinic to partition the clinic LAN and Internet connectivity from the Peebles valley mesh network. The firewall currently has the capability controlling the amount of bandwidth available to each user or groups of users in the mesh. It can also sub-cap each user to a specific number of Megabytes. Other functions of the firewall are to filter out virus traffic and other unwanted such as windows netbios traffic. We have given 50 Megabytes free to each user in the mesh and will increase this once a payment model is installed.

	A server has been installed which contains local content such as ~~wikipedia~~, a music server, a local proxy-server, a samba file server, DNS and Asterisk VoIP server. With this server the network is still useful even without the internet connected.		A server has been installed which contains local content such as Wikipedia, a music server, a local proxy-server, a samba file server, DNS and Asterisk VoIP server. With this server the network is still useful even without the internet connected.

	== Network Layout ==		== Network Layout ==
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	[[Image:acts meshnet may 2007_web.jpg\|thumb\|left\|900px\|Acts Mesh Network - May 2007]]		[[Image:acts meshnet may 2007_web.jpg\|thumb\|left\|900px\|Acts Mesh Network - May 2007]]

	This network diagram shows the current connectivity between all the nodes in the mesh network and some of the servers and devices that have been installed. As can be seen from the above diagram, there is a fair amount of redundancy in the mesh network, for example, if Sakhile school goes down, network can still reach Agnus' house via the Kok farm. There is still a large dependence on US AID for all ~~connecviity~~ reaching the ACTS server and internet. This is something that should be improved in the future. The pictographs which are red show some future work that will be completed in 2007. The ACTS clinic has been nominated as a site for the installation of a digital doorway, which is a ruggerdized computer in a metal case which is placed in an accessible area so that there is 24 hour access to computer resources for the community.		This network diagram shows the current connectivity between all the nodes in the mesh network and some of the servers and devices that have been installed. As can be seen from the above diagram, there is a fair amount of redundancy in the mesh network, for example, if Sakhile school goes down, network can still reach Agnus' house via the Kok farm. There is still a large dependence on US AID for all connectivity reaching the ACTS server and internet. This is something that should be improved in the future. The pictographs which are red show some future work that will be completed in 2007. The ACTS clinic has been nominated as a site for the installation of a digital doorway, which is a ruggerdized computer in a metal case which is placed in an accessible area so that there is 24 hour access to computer resources for the community.

	[[Image:Peebles-mesh.jpg\|thumb\|left\|900px\|Satellite view of Peebles Mesh Network with links overlay]]		[[Image:Peebles-mesh.jpg\|thumb\|left\|900px\|Satellite view of Peebles Mesh Network with links overlay]]
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	==== Sustainability ====		==== Sustainability ====

	Ray Smith from a local computer shop in ~~Whiteriver~~, called Compuright, has agreed to take over the support and maintenance of the mesh network. His grand plan is to create a mesh network of his own based on the same concept that we have demonstrated to him and connect farmers in the outlying areas back to ~~Whiteriver~~. He also plans to put up a mesh node on a high site above “Petra college” which is located on one of the largest dolomite domes in the area. This site has line of sight to the ACTS clinic and a water tower and school in White river. Once this is up, Ray will be able to sell his same internet services to ACTs clinic and all the farmers in Peebles Valley. The expensive VSAT link will become redundant and a much cheaper mechanism which shares an uncapped ADSL line ~~throught~~ the mesh will be used. All left over mesh equipment from the project has been placed in safekeeping at the clinic with a combination lock. Ray will use this equipment, either to repair damaged nodes or to install new nodes in the area.		Ray Smith from a local computer shop in White River, called Compuright, has agreed to take over the support and maintenance of the mesh network. His grand plan is to create a mesh network of his own based on the same concept that we have demonstrated to him and connect farmers in the outlying areas back to White River. He also plans to put up a mesh node on a high site above “Petra college” which is located on one of the largest dolomite domes in the area. This site has line of sight to the ACTS clinic and a water tower and school in White river. Once this is up, Ray will be able to sell his same internet services to ACTs clinic and all the farmers in Peebles Valley. The expensive VSAT link will become redundant and a much cheaper mechanism which shares an uncapped ADSL line throughout the mesh will be used. All left over mesh equipment from the project has been placed in safekeeping at the clinic with a combination lock. Ray will use this equipment, either to repair damaged nodes or to install new nodes in the area.

	For places such as schools and people who cannot afford internet access, Ray is looking at the idea of supplying the first 20 to 30 Megabytes free per month and thereafter pay on a per Megabyte basis. The following phases are envisaged for the establishment of this business which will help the mesh to become self-sustaining:		For places such as schools and people who cannot afford internet access, Ray is looking at the idea of supplying the first 20 to 30 Megabytes free per month and thereafter pay on a per Megabyte basis. The following phases are envisaged for the establishment of this business which will help the mesh to become self-sustaining:
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	'''Stage I:''' For next 3-6 months: Mesh is maintained by Ray via R20000 kitty established out of left over funds which weren't used to buy equipment.. Ray invoices ACTS and ACTS pays out of kitty. 20-30Meg free cap per month per user is given out to current users. (This is a total of about 240Meg per month out of the 2Gig available on the VSAT for the clinic)		'''Stage I:''' For next 3-6 months: Mesh is maintained by Ray via R20000 kitty established out of left over funds which weren't used to buy equipment.. Ray invoices ACTS and ACTS pays out of kitty. 20-30Meg free cap per month per user is given out to current users. (This is a total of about 240Meg per month out of the 2Gig available on the VSAT for the clinic)

	'''Stage 2:''' High site at Petra is installed and ~~Whiteriver~~ mesh is bridged to Peebles Valley. Ray then sells a service to the current mesh farmers in the area and grows the network in Peebles area. Some users in the Masoyi area are again given a 20-30Meg free per month option but can buy up extra megabytes on a pay per use model. ACTS VSAT becomes redundant.		'''Stage 2:''' High site at Petra is installed and White River mesh is bridged to Peebles Valley. Ray then sells a service to the current mesh farmers in the area and grows the network in Peebles area. Some users in the Masoyi area are again given a 20-30Meg free per month option but can buy up extra megabytes on a pay per use model. ACTS VSAT becomes redundant.

	'''Stage3:''' Ray becomes a licensed wireless operator in the area with a VANS converted to infrastructure license.		'''Stage3:''' Ray becomes a licensed wireless operator in the area with a VANS converted to infrastructure license.
	Another encouraging fact is that Ray has employed Lassey who we used originally to help us install many of out mesh nodes in the area. Although many of the farmers in the area have 3G, in reality they are only ~~gettting~~ GPRS speeds and they will be very keen to connect to a much higher speed wireless internet service.		Another encouraging fact is that Ray has employed Lassey who we used originally to help us install many of out mesh nodes in the area. Although many of the farmers in the area have 3G, in reality they are only getting GPRS speeds and they will be very keen to connect to a much higher speed wireless internet service.
	So now we watch in anticipation as Ray begins sell the mesh network to a wide audience in the Peebles Valley area and area surrounding White River.		So now we watch in anticipation as Ray begins sell the mesh network to a wide audience in the Peebles Valley area and area surrounding White River.
	We placed a node within the accommodation block to provide Internet to all visitors. The clinic loves this and so do all the visitors who can now do email in the bush.		We placed a node within the accommodation block to provide Internet to all visitors. The clinic loves this and so do all the visitors who can now do email in the bush.