Improved community network node design using a DLEP based radio-to-router interface

Abstract

Using a static link state routing metric in wireless mesh and mobile ad hoc networks without major efforts in optimizing the physical link properties has proven to be inefficient. It does not take into account link quality information. While some link metrics try to estimate channel properties based on layer-3 observations, more sophisticated metrics need to access layer-2 information directly. The new 802.11 netlink interface provides a common local interface for Linux based systems and thus the basis for practical usage in community networks. However, a standardized radio-to-router communication protocol to access layer-2 information will allow to go beyond the limitations of having all radio interfaces built directly into the router device. While the PPPoE protocol generally can be applied to this scenario, it has some drawbacks when used in wireless mesh networks. The new DLEP protocol is supported by the IETF MANET group to fill this gap. In this paper we describe the advantages of a flexible node design for community networks based on the DLEP protocol. In addition, we present our implementation of the DLEP protocol and discuss some important deviations from the current draft version of the standard

Where have all the MPRs gone? On the optimal selection of Multi-Point Relays

“…OLSR is one of the most widely used routing protocol, deployed in running mesh networks made of hundreds of nodes [1,17,18] and currently at its second generation [19]. The presence of MPR and their selection is one of the distinguishing features of OLSR.…”

On improving connectivity and network efficiency in a heterogeneous military environment

“…Dynamic Link Exchange Protocol (DLEP) is currently the most popular of the proposals. Figure 4 DLEP Radio-to-router interface [21] DLEP is a protocol that is running between a radio and an external router as seen in Figure 4. DELP can report to the router on the available data-rate, link quality, latency etc.…”

“…The draft also allows optional parameters. In [21] DLEP is studied for a community network. It is interesting for RTG-061 to see if other parameters than the mandatory would be beneficial for the heterogeneous network under question on our work.…”

A case for research with and on community networks

“…The latter is mainly important for outdoor installations where the board has to be put in a sealed outdoor encasement. Here the use of radio-to-router communication protocols like DLEP [19] allows for a separation of the radio interfaces from the research device without losing access to cross layer information for routing decisions. Thus, research devices can be deployed in a sheltered environment with adequate cooling systems while being connected to small waterproof embedded computers, most of them with a single radio device connected directly to the antenna and acting as simple bridges.…”