v3 is into production beta test

[lonnie]

Yesterday we put v3 into a major spot for some beat on it testing. We have 4 ADSL lines into one location and we distribute it from there to every location in our system, so this is our MAIN router.

DHCP and RipV2 are doing fine. nat is also doing its job. The big news is that with policy routing we are able to direct traffic to one of 4 ADSL lines based on the subnet of the IP. This means I can now have all lines terminate in a single machine and balance my load to the outside world through multiple Ethernet cards to the DSL modems..

Things are wide open for the moment but I will be testing bandwidth control later today.

I also have to ask for more time. We need another month to get this fully tested in production settings and we have only just the third attempt at a user interface. Right now the only usabel things is good old bash.

I will not be putting this out for other beta tests. If my location goes down I can get to it and we can deal with it. If I get 10 guys phoning because their whole system is down and customers are upset then my stress level goes through the roof. I don't want that.

We have always done our best to provide solid code and for that reason I am hoping this delay will not cause too much grief for you guys. After everything is said and done we have a very solid v2 for you to use while we perfect this release.

There will be two releases initially. There will be a WRAP image with the wireless drivers and the support necessary for an advanced AP. We are seeing more than 4,000 KBytes/sec on speed tests. We have complete WDS, DFS and TPC added to the system and XR works like a treat. Imagine getting a rock solid 1.5 mbps connection with -102 dB signals (it displays as -8 dB quality).

The user Interface will be web based and we will have a fairly complete SNMP interface as well. We have tried to bring the SSH interface over but it was just too much trouble and we abandoned it after several weeks of trying.

The other release will be for Server use and will support a wider range of hardware, but will not have any wireless initially. We will have support for additional drives for data storage. We have full Apache and PHP as well as DHCP and FreeRadius for the major packages. traceroute has made it into the system. We have recursive and authoritative DNS. I tried to add perl but it was over 10 MB. yuck. The current image fits on 8MB flashes, so the current 16 and 32 units will be adequate. This is the package we are testing on our main router, so it has MAC and IP based bandwidth control, MAC and IP based firewall and policy routing as well as RipV2. I have not
yet built OSPF and BGP into the mix but that will happen shortly and we already are quite pleased with them in v2 so things should be just as good for v3.

[rasimoes]

Lonnie, it will have ONLY web interface? I use OSPF in my network and sometimes i need to login via ssh to the box when OSPF goes down...

[bairdc]

If you can log into it via SSH, why couldn't you log into it via a web interface? If the machine is reachable, it seems to me it wouldn't matter what method you use.

Craig

[rasimoes]

The problem is that the next hop isn't reachable... Look my diagram.

Thanks!

http://srv1.life.com.br/diagram.png

[funkywizard]

I like being able to hit up the cisco-like interface for advanced config of rip/ospf/bgp. I imagine that can't be done with a web interface. I understand a full featured ssh interface isn't in the cards, but some sort of remote console to configure the command line zebra router would be nice.

[rasimoes]

I agree in 100%! It's hardest to be done without a ssh interface...

[River-Net]

How about a beta release with the XR technology. For AP's this was the one main reason I went with wraps and StarOS ( it says supported on the home page but in fact it is not yet). Don't take this wrong I do like StarOS my main server is now StarOS. I just need to have the capabilities of XR as described in the white pages on Atheros website. I need to post pictures of the area I'm covering I have litterally gone where every other WISP has run away from in this area.
Joe
River-Net

[lonnie]

I agree there are situations where the ability to drill in is nice.

With things like static arp you can always get to the next unit if you know its MAC and it is alive.

[rasimoes]

Lonnie, this will be the only way to access unreachable units in v3? (in my situation)

I need to use static ARP on all units, right? Example:

NOC-R1-R2-R3-R4

To access unreachable R4 from my NOC, how is the procedure?

Thansk!

[lonnie]

Before I answer, please tell me the reason why R4 is unreachable.

[rasimoes]

If OSPF on R1,R2 or R3 goes down...

Example: If OSPF on R4 is down, i need to login on R3 and access R4 via ssh client, because R1 only see R2, R2 only see R3, and R3 only see R4.

Most carriers use this topology on their networks...

This topology is veeeery bether than bridging because it is 100% layer3. Thanks to OSPF! :wink:

[lonnie]

Something is wrong with your diagram. I cannot view it. Any chance you can check the link?

[rasimoes]

It's ok now... Sorry! :oops:

[lonnie]

How about a beta release with the XR technology. For AP's this was the one main reason I went with wraps and StarOS ( it says supported on the home page but in fact it is not yet). Don't take this wrong I do like StarOS my main server is now StarOS. I just need to have the capabilities of XR as described in the white pages on Atheros website. I need to post pictures of the area I'm covering I have litterally gone where every other WISP has run away from in this area.
Joe
River-Net
I did a search of our pages to find where we claimed that XR technology was supported by StarOS. I cannot find it. Atheros describes it, but we do not.

XR is coming but it will not be released until I am satisfied with v3. We are not doing any betas until we are more certain of the code.

I just cannot handle a dozen guys in panic mode if their system does something wrong. We will test it, go into our own panic mode, and fix it. Too many guys with the same trouble are just a distraction.

[bairdc]

If OSPF on R1,R2 or R3 goes down...

Example: If OSPF on R4 is down, i need to login on R3 and access R4 via ssh client, because R1 only see R2, R2 only see R3, and R3 only see R4.


Okay, it took me a while, but I think I get what you're saying. If OSPF goes down on R4, the route to it would disappear from the routing table in R3, R2, R1, and NOC. Therefore, in order to access R4, you would have to first get into R3, then jump to R4 via ssh--a procedure which obviously couldn't be done via a web browser. Is this what you're saying?

Craig

[rasimoes]

Exactly!

[dorijan]

you could do dst-nat....
but this is too complex if you have to go throu several routers...
done it once, it was weeery ugly :)

[rasimoes]

Yes... Actualy i have more than 25 routers in my network...i spect to double this number quickly!

StarOS is an excelent system to me... I don't want to abandon OSPF or other things that makes my network solid, secure and veeeery easy to admin...

[River-Net]

Lonnie
I did'nt mean for you to waist your time searching your website I'm sure I took the fact that Atheros had it and figured it was supported. But I sure do need that XR as soon as you can get it out (hint,hint). :oops:
Joe
River-Net

[funkywizard]

I've had a lot of times where I can't connect to a router from anything other than the router next to it. Even a web interface would be fine as long as you can chain the connection through a different router and the router you are trying to connect to doesn't need to be accessible from the computer you are on. I suppose you could do this by enabling the proxy server on the next router over and proxying through that?

Oh, and the XR sounds really great. I look forward to seeing it in action. Some bandwidth is always better than nothing and getting 1.5 megabits at 10 less db than what a normal connection completely stops working at would be a major boon. On an orinoco, I can hardly associate and ping let alone pass traffic past -90.

[lonnie]

Lonnie
I did'nt mean for you to waist your time searching your website I'm sure I took the fact that Atheros had it and figured it was supported. But I sure do need that XR as soon as you can get it out (hint,hint). :oops:
Joe
River-Net
No problem, but if we gave the impression we had a feature that was not there yet I wanted to correct the page. I do not want anyone to purchase the software based on what might be coming. My goal is to deliver a product that meets your needs. If the current software works for you, great, we both win.

I want you to test the new features and then decide if it is what you want.

[lonnie]

I am sure we can get this going with static arp or proxy.

[rasimoes]

humm....ok! I'll not stress anymore...let's wait the version to be released and i'll try to adapt my network model to this version.

And about real-time tools, like signal reading, traffic monitor, etc... It will continue in real-time or "update every 5 seconds" like?

Rodrigo

[lonnie]

Since it is web based it might not be quite as real time, but we will try and get it as fast as possible.

[phendry]

We are seeing more than 4,000 KBytes/sec on speed tests.

On a WRAP board???? Excellent. I guess you guys really have optimised the programming. Was this with the CPU running at 99%?

[staroslanf]

I think , I need not only the MAX speed improve. I also need the improve of the intercurrent connects.

I try some other bridge , like AB-ACCESS, the speed download used by FTP can be 1600kbps but under 4 way MPEG4 video , each 768kbps

will get packet loss....

[earlofcrookes]

There will be two releases initially. There will be a WRAP image with the wireless drivers and the support necessary for an advanced AP. We are seeing more than 4,000 KBytes/sec on speed tests. We have complete WDS, DFS and TPC added to the system and XR works like a treat. Imagine getting a rock solid 1.5 mbps connection with -102 dB signals (it displays as -8 dB quality).



Lonnie - this is what you said earlier in the same thread! It certainly made me think this was to be included! (With reference to the XR on Atheros)

[rasimoes]

In my example, how i use the static arp to solve my problem? Sorry, but i never used proxy/static arp stuff...

Thanks!

[lonnie]

There will be two releases initially. There will be a WRAP image with the wireless drivers and the support necessary for an advanced AP. We are seeing more than 4,000 KBytes/sec on speed tests. We have complete WDS, DFS and TPC added to the system and XR works like a treat. Imagine getting a rock solid 1.5 mbps connection with -102 dB signals (it displays as -8 dB quality).



Lonnie - this is what you said earlier in the same thread! It certainly made me think this was to be included! (With reference to the XR on Atheros)
A previous post indicated the guy (was that you with another login?) was disappointed to not find XR as he had seen that we had it supported. This thread is about the upcoming v3 and when I say XR is running it means it is running in v3, and you cannot take that statement and expect to find it running in v2.

[lonnie]

In my example, how i use the static arp to solve my problem? Sorry, but i never used proxy/static arp stuff...

Thanks!
There is always a first time. Just take a look at the static arp under Advanced menu and I am quite sure you can figure it out.

[rasimoes]

OK, but my question is:

Using this example -> NOC-R1-R2-R3

I need to create a static arp entry in R1, R2 and R3? Example:

In my NOC, i'll put the MAC of R1, on R1 i'll put the MAC of NOC and R2, on R2 i'll put the MAC of R1 and R3, and on R3 i'll put the MAC of R2...it's right?

[lonnie]

In the units that would talk to R3 you make a static ARP entry for R3 with the IP that you expect it to have.

[bairdc]

You could probably also use the ping watchdog (assuming it's still in v3) on R3 to automatically reboot the box if OSPF goes down on it... When it comes back up, OSPF should be up again.

Craig

[earlofcrookes]

Ahh!.

Soz, I misunderstood what was written then! (The Forum Factor!)

It wasn't me with a different login! That's good that XR will be in v.3 - thanks for the clarification! Cheers Lonnie :)

[bairdc]

Well, what the heck--there's already two or three different topics being discussed under this topic--why not one more...

With regard to SSH being gone in v3, how will the interface to Zebra work? I have a hard time seeing how you would "webify" it, and still retain all of its functionality and versatility. Will some way to get into the Zebra interface be preserved?

Craig

[lonnie]

We can do telnet inside web. We can always edit the config file and restart the service.

[patos]

Lonnie ,

I find the System without SSh will look like a gaming console :shock: :lol:

I am sure we will have the SSH back later on , cause i am affraid my enginers will laugh on me :roll: :lol: without SSH ..

[dkii]

as for the slow signal display/refresh problem, the Tranzeo CPE's have a web-based performace screen that displays signal among other things in near real time(I think about .7 sec delay) apparently without refreshing the page, looks like some sort of Javascript, it may be worth looking into.

[butchkemper]

Another method for access to the remote servers using https is to setup a series of port forwards:

on R1 forward port 40443 to R2 port 40443
on R2 forward port 40443 to R3 port 40443
on R3 forward port 40443 to R4 port 443
Access R4 by https://Rx:40443 from the networks served by R1, R2, or R3.

on R1 forward port 20443 to R2 port 443
on R3 forward port 20443 to R2 port 443
on R4 forward port 20443 to R3 port 20443
Access R2 by https://Rx:20443 from the networks served by R1, R3, or R4.

I use a setup like this to ssh to a StarOS unit that is located on a private network behind a StarOS unit that has a public IP. I have another place where a TT/CPE unit is located on a private IP behind another TT/CPE that has a public IP and I use https.

Butch

[bairdc]

We can do telnet inside web. We can always edit the config file and restart the service.

Would this be some sort of secure telnet?

Craig

[lonnie]

We can look at using SSL but initially it will likely be standard telnet.

[bwbboot]

Any new possible projected release date for the first beta? :?:

[greg]

Any chance of adding a feature to spin down hard drives after they boot up? None of the mb's include that anymore as WinXP takes care of that in the software.

[Bossman]

I'm another one that will look forward to the return to SSH. Lonnie made me use SSH when I wanted a web GUI and now he's gonna make me switch back. :wink:

Your hard drives should spin down on their own... most do that in the drive firmware by default... totally OS independant.

[lonnie]

Or use a Flash. No matter what we do for a hard disk it will never equal the flash for reliability.