So, you like the idea of a Mesh network, but want you aren't anywhere near lancaster to join in the LancasterMesh. This section documents how to build your own version of the WRT54GL firmware and customise it for your own project.

By documenting the build system, and distributing the NodeDB, hopefully it will make it a lot easier to roll your own mesh network.

NodeDB

This is the key central node registration database. Nodes initially generate a random IP address in the range 10.1.*.* and either connect over its local internet connection (for gateway nodes) or tries to join in to the mesh network and connects via another node(s). It tries to connect to a web server based somewhere on the internet hosting the NodeDB software and sends its MAC address. The NodeDB will then respond with a new IP address and reboot the node if required. The node will also periodically check in to the NodeDB to check for updates and confirm its operation.

The NodeDB software itself is just a couple of PHP pages on a web server somewhere, with access to a MySQL database. All instructions for installing the software can be found in the NodeDB download, in the downloads section.

Firmware

The LancasterMesh firmware is simply a standard build of OpenWRT, with a few patches to the standard applications so that the WRT is configured out of the box, without having to log into it and configure anything manually.

• First off, download the latest copy of OpenWRT from their website and uncompress it.
• Next, download the LancasterMesh patches
• Apply the patches to the standard OpenWRT file structure:
  patch -p0 < lancsmesh.diff
• Enter the OpenWRT directory
• Customise the following files:
  packages/mesh/files/etc/mesh.conf
• Type 'build.mesh' (this will increment the build version number.
• The firmware will be compiled and placed in the bin directory. This may take some time!

Once the firmware is built, upload it to your WRT, as specified in the standard instructions.