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====== Accel-ppp on OpenWrt with MESHdesk ====== | ====== Accel-ppp on OpenWrt with MESHdesk ====== | ||
===== Background ===== | ===== Background ===== | ||
* One of the main goals of MESHdesk is to enable fast WiFi deployment with commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware and open source firmware. | * One of the main goals of MESHdesk is to enable fast WiFi deployment with commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware and open source firmware. | ||
- | * Another | + | * Another |
- | * For **bandwidth** and **data usage** | + | * We offer a captive portal to manage |
* An alternative to a captive portal is PPPoE. | * An alternative to a captive portal is PPPoE. | ||
* In 2021 we introduced PPPoE client support in MESHdesk and APdesk. | * In 2021 we introduced PPPoE client support in MESHdesk and APdesk. | ||
* PPPoE is used by most WISPs. | * PPPoE is used by most WISPs. | ||
* In South Africa (and probably in most other countries) the PPPoE server of choice is provided by Mikrotik' | * In South Africa (and probably in most other countries) the PPPoE server of choice is provided by Mikrotik' | ||
- | * This is combined with the CPE of choice (usually Ubiquiti). | + | * This is combined with the CPE of your choice (usually Ubiquiti). |
* There is already a solid and feature-rich open source PPPoE server called **Accel-ppp** for Linux. | * There is already a solid and feature-rich open source PPPoE server called **Accel-ppp** for Linux. | ||
- | * As we strongly believe in open source we want to offer a completely | + | * As we strongly believe in open source, we want to offer a fully open source system for Internet providers. |
- | * The biggest hurdle was compiling | + | * The biggest hurdle was to compile |
* Then we had to integrate it with MESHdesk and APdesk. | * Then we had to integrate it with MESHdesk and APdesk. | ||
- | * This was no easy task but thanks to the work that others have done in the past we were able to draw on this knowledge and develop this last missing piece of the puzzle. | + | * This was no easy task, but thanks to the work that others have done in the past, we were able to draw on that knowledge and develop this last missing piece of the puzzle. |
- | * Now that this part is complete we can offer Internet providers a managed alternative that could serve as a drop-in | + | * Now that this part is complete, we can offer Internet providers a managed alternative that can serve as a replacement for their current vendor-specific PPPoE servers. |
- | ===== POC using a $15 AP ===== | + | ===== POC with a $15 AP ===== |
- | * When fishing, it is much more fun to catch a big fish with a light line. | + | * When fishing, it' |
* For this Proof Of Concept (POC), we decided to go light on the hardware too. | * For this Proof Of Concept (POC), we decided to go light on the hardware too. | ||
* The Xiaomi 4C was on special offer, so we grabbed a couple of them. | * The Xiaomi 4C was on special offer, so we grabbed a couple of them. | ||
- | * The price of the special offer was equivalent to ~15USD per device. | + | * The price of the special offer was ~15USD per device. |
+ | <panel type=" | ||
{{: | {{: | ||
+ | </ | ||
- | <WRAP center round info 100%> | + | <alert type="info"> |
* MESHdesk and APdesk support WiFi 6 and hardware with up to three radios. | * MESHdesk and APdesk support WiFi 6 and hardware with up to three radios. | ||
- | * We have deliberately chosen | + | * We purposely chose entry-level hardware for this POC to prove a point. |
- | </WRAP> | + | </alert> |
* Here are the technical details of the AP: | * Here are the technical details of the AP: | ||
+ | <panel type=" | ||
^ Model ^ SoC ^CPU MHz ^Flash MB ^RAM MB ^WLAN Hardware | ^ Model ^ SoC ^CPU MHz ^Flash MB ^RAM MB ^WLAN Hardware | ||
| Mi Router 4C | MediaTek MT7628AN |580 |16 |64 | | Mi Router 4C | MediaTek MT7628AN |580 |16 |64 | ||
+ | </ | ||
===== POC networks | ===== POC networks | ||
==== Jhb-South (Main Mesh) ==== | ==== Jhb-South (Main Mesh) ==== | ||
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* Add a PPPoE server exit point. | * Add a PPPoE server exit point. | ||
* This connects then with the **Jhb-South Wireless** SSID | * This connects then with the **Jhb-South Wireless** SSID | ||
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{{: | {{: | ||
+ | </ | ||
* Jhb-South will be our main mesh network to which various APs will connect via WiFi and PPPoE. | * Jhb-South will be our main mesh network to which various APs will connect via WiFi and PPPoE. | ||
==== Client Mesh Networks ==== | ==== Client Mesh Networks ==== | ||
* We create two client mesh networks named **Jhb-South-Unit1** and **Jhb-South-Unit2**. | * We create two client mesh networks named **Jhb-South-Unit1** and **Jhb-South-Unit2**. | ||
* These can typically be a unit in a gated community. | * These can typically be a unit in a gated community. | ||
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{{: | {{: | ||
+ | </ | ||
==== PPPoE RADIUS users ==== | ==== PPPoE RADIUS users ==== | ||
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* Since Accel-ppp can serve as replacement for Mikrotik, we can use the old Mikrotik attributes as they are. | * Since Accel-ppp can serve as replacement for Mikrotik, we can use the old Mikrotik attributes as they are. | ||
* Accel-ppp will interpret them and apply the desired shaping. | * Accel-ppp will interpret them and apply the desired shaping. | ||
- | <WRAP center round tip 100%> | + | <alert type=" |
- | * Accel-ppp also supports the advanced shaping | + | * Accel-ppp also supports the advanced shaping |
- | * Again, | + | * Again, |
- | </WRAP> | + | </alert> |
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{{: | {{: | ||
+ | </ | ||
==== Add gateway nodes to client networks ==== | ==== Add gateway nodes to client networks ==== | ||
* We add gateway nodes to our client networks. | * We add gateway nodes to our client networks. | ||
* We specify their Internet Connection as **WiFi Client - PPPoE** and provide the required information. | * We specify their Internet Connection as **WiFi Client - PPPoE** and provide the required information. | ||
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{{: | {{: | ||
+ | </ | ||
==== Up and running overview ==== | ==== Up and running overview ==== | ||
* Now that the client gateway nodes have been added, we can display everything in a grid. | * Now that the client gateway nodes have been added, we can display everything in a grid. | ||
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{{: | {{: | ||
+ | </ | ||
* A few important points about the screenshot above. | * A few important points about the screenshot above. | ||
* The Jhb-South mesh has two nodes: PPPoE-GW and Node-2. | * The Jhb-South mesh has two nodes: PPPoE-GW and Node-2. | ||
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* Although not shown here, one client AP is connected to the WiFi of the PPPoE-GW. The other client AP is connected to the WiFi of Node-2. | * Although not shown here, one client AP is connected to the WiFi of the PPPoE-GW. The other client AP is connected to the WiFi of Node-2. | ||
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{{: | {{: | ||
+ | </ | ||
- | <WRAP center round tip 100%> | + | <alert type=" |
If it is necessary to extend the coverage of the client networks (Unit1 and Unit2), you can simply add more mesh nodes to the client networks. | If it is necessary to extend the coverage of the client networks (Unit1 and Unit2), you can simply add more mesh nodes to the client networks. | ||
- | </WRAP> | + | </alert> |
==== RADIUS Activity ==== | ==== RADIUS Activity ==== | ||
* Finally we show the active sessions of Unit1 and Unit2 in RADIUS | * Finally we show the active sessions of Unit1 and Unit2 in RADIUS | ||
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{{: | {{: | ||
+ | </ | ||
* Since this is a replacement for Mikrotik, the extended RADIUSdesk functions such as FUP also work on the Accel-ppp PPPoE server. | * Since this is a replacement for Mikrotik, the extended RADIUSdesk functions such as FUP also work on the Accel-ppp PPPoE server. | ||
* http:// | * http:// | ||
==== Load on PPPoE server ==== | ==== Load on PPPoE server ==== | ||
- | * We deliberately | + | * We deliberately |
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{{: | {{: | ||
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* Our PPPoE clients are limited to 2Mbps up and down. | * Our PPPoE clients are limited to 2Mbps up and down. | ||
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{{: | {{: | ||
+ | </ | ||