Spawning from a discussion about "Safe and Well" on a mesh (http://www.aredn.org/content/safe-and-well-mesh), Dale suggested a custom EMCOMM Mesh Raspian Distro for Raspberry Pi would be cool, and I agree!
I'm not the most proficient RPi'er in the world but I'd be happy to figure out how to get a custom distro built, if I knew what should be in it.
Dale's Suggestions:
-Asterisk
-MeshChat
-VideoChat
-"PersonFinder"
-internet Proxy (SOCKS) server for authenticated internet access (instead of the "mesh gateway" all-or-none option)
My addition:
- winlink relay (if there's a linux alternative? Suggestions??)
PersonFinder is Google's PersonFinder application, similar to the Red Cross's "Safe and Well" - see the referenced thread to read about that, and volunteer to help port it :P
I'd appreciate input in what works, what doesn't, and what should be included in a distribution.
Thanks!
Scott
KB5ZVP
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EMCOMM Mesh Raspian Distro
Mon, 05/16/2016 - 09:49
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EMCOMM Mesh Raspian Distro
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btw, for Asterisk, to be specific, I really recommend the FreePBX version of Asterisk.
Thanks for starting the thread.
73, Darryl
Possibly an OpenStreeMap server for offline maps (would most likely require a RPi 3)
The recent versions of Free PBX gets pretty upset when there is no Internet connectivity - but I think that can be worked out, In fact, it must be worked out before general use. The Asterisk which runs repeaters is a different one. Some people may want that one instead. But I am of the opinion it would be better to have a separate PI (or whatever) running the repeater and using an Asterisk "trunk" between the mesh unit and the repeater unit. So I am happy with the Free PBX version being the one in the "package".
i wouldn't worry too much about getting it all in the first distro. I'd encourage you to get something out there and let people play with it. After the 3rd iteration you'll have a very useful toolbox for the masses.
I'm a supporter and I'll be a customer !
Andre, K6AH
PS. I wouldn't mind seeing Nagios on the list ;-)
Agree with Andre. At $35/ea, this could easily be modularized to multiple distros.
They key is having the FIRST one!
If, as I believe, it works without need to contact Corporate 'ownCloud' for anything other than the rare upgrade, the freeware version should be very functional at AREDN speeds. It almost works well in our rural 'upload deprived' ADSL environment.
it might be an easily supportable way to deploy a uniform, SQL(Lite) based, Document Management Center with a useful GUI interface, capable of mirroring NIMS and SIMS document libraries.
Just thinking out loud about subjects I need to know more about <g>
pax & 73
...dan wl7coo
:)
we us ownCloud for our ARES group here as well. For disaster planning, we have the ownCloud Linux client that syncs to our mesh periodically so we have a mesh-only copy of everything that stays up to date. We expose that directory with Apache. Very simple setup.
+1 for Nagios!
Nagios is a great tool.
I however use Zabbix these days as its 100% GUI (SQL backend) without a need for config files. But the flip side is this may be a bit too abusive for a Pi SD card
OK, I've got my raspberry PI 2 dusted off and loaded up with the latest jesse distro, and would like to start adding some of these packages.
From the discussions so far, I've got:
- Google PeopleFinder - (Got it running locally anyway)
- askterisk - FreePBX seems to be the consensus?
- meshchat - this to run on the server, or on the node device?
- videochat - load it up and try it from the other forum?
- ownCloud (I've seen the how-to's on this)
Does that sound like a good starting point? Any other suggestions?
I'll throw a VoIP question here - I've got 1 PolyCom IP-550 phone laying around - which I think uses that funky verseion of VoIP protocol. Could I re-program this one or look for other gear?
Scott
KB5ZVP
I might suggest, starting with the following:
That polycom would need to be converted to SIP protocol. No experience with that phone.
There is really nothing "funky" about the IP-550, it's just an upgraded version of the IP300 series with more phone features. It is a standard SIP VoIP phone and can easily be configured for use on any standard Asterisk-based VoIP installation like FreePBX or Switchvox. I configure all the Polycom phones I work on via the web GUI, I just find it easier that standing up and maintaining a TFTP server and the necessary config files. Now it is possible the phone you have was "customized" for some specific VoIP provider or company, in that case it may need to factory reset it, but don't go this route till you have tired the GUI config approach. If you need some config pointers for that phone I'd be happy to assist off-forum.
Bill, N4SV
Maybe a server for a website on there? It might be useful for a node to have Apache, PHP, and MySQL pre-installed. Or is that even possible?
Just a note this thread is about an OFF NODE setup so the node limitations don't really come into play.
Sorry, that's what I meant, I just phrased it the wrong way.
H2 database is lighter than MySQL (and is compatible)
Sounds good, I hadn't heard of that before. And also, maybe Nginx may be a better choice than apache.
agree with Nginx too.
I'm super excited to see this. Thanks for taking this on!
BTW, KM4PSL, let's get your node pinned on the AREDN map. You'll be first in Georgia!
+1
Andre
Sadly, I'm not first in Georgia. I don't have a node set up... yet.
I've got an RPi2 loaded up with
PeopleFInder, MeshChat, and VideoChat.
PeopleFinder isn't quite ready for primetime, so maybe we'll start by leaving it out and folding it in when it's more ready
VideoChat works as advertised
MeshChat, I get an error when clicking on the advertised service link: "Firefox can't establish a connection to the server at raspberrypi.local.mesh:8080" I've probably not set up a port forward or something?
I may be reaching the outer limits of my understandings - newbie and all - esp. with the network configurations
That being said, I think starting with MeshChat and VideoChat is as good a release point as anything.
Would a GitHub and/or Sourceforge project be helpful for folks to grab, modify, contribute? Suggestions? Does someone else wanna take over?
Scott
KB5ZVP
The Pi's web server is probably listening on 80, not 8080.
Sorry for the long delay, you were right Daryl the port was the problem. Simple setup fix, so that's all running now.
What would be the best way to distribute such an animal? I could re-install and then create a complete 4GB image (as I'd expended the file system to whatever size SD Card). But it's a mighty big download. I may have a website I could post it on - but I'm open to best ideas / practices for this group.
I'm completely ignorant about scripting, but would just making install scripts be better, and have them available somewhere.
And as I'm working with my PI, I'm thinking about designing a 12V "hat" with a couple power poles, a 5V regulator, and a 12-V POE injector all in the form factor of the Pi. Would anyone else be interested in having such an animal?
Scott
KB5ZVP
That sounds real similar to the How To article: http://www.aredn.org/content/use-ubiquiti-toughswitch-remotely-control-p...
Andre, K6AH
I wasn't particularly thinking about being able to provide that functionality, though I could fairly easily. I was more trying to eliminate having to cobble together a 5V supply for the pi, the POE injector, and also have my power-pole distribution. It could all fit on a pi daughter card, and even more nifty if someone had a 3D printable case to enclose it all :D
Scott
KB5ZVP
Just a suggestion but you may want to add soundmodem and ax.25apps to your pi. I have been working on a similar project (a ham distro) for my pi, it is setup so you can access a bbs via telnet on the mesh, and by using ax.25 over 2m. I wanted a way to bridge the gap between mesh networks and old school packet radio. I figure the two systems can enhance each other.
You may also want to install telnet and telnetd, it doesn't come pre-installed with raspian.
here is a list that I used to build my image for the pi: https://packages.debian.org/jessie/hamradio/
I've not given up on this, just several other things have slipped their noses in.
After some thought, the PeopleFinder app seems a bit onerous, esp. as I'm not a coder by trade, and it's a little too bloated I THINK to be really useful?
Only having 1 IP phone, I'm not sure I'll be too sucessful at working out the PBX functionality either, so basically I'd be down to looking at:
*Mesh Chat
*Video Chat
*NGinx Web Server
*OwnCloud
Since I'm in BBHN territory, there isn't much interest in AREDN around Austin yet, and it's definitely not on the EMCOMM radar just yet. So, still more input if that's not a good set.
Another thought MIGHT be to start perhaps a repository of setup scripts? They'd be smaller than trying to store entire images, and pretty much every deployment is gonna have it's own uniqueness? (I'm not a scripter either - so I'm learning that as well ;) )
Hello Everyone, David here. I'm new to the forum but I would like to comment on FreePBX (Asterisk). I would try XIPAR (xelatec.com) if you need a web based GUI. It uses FreePBX, Asterisk and APP_RPT. APP-RPT is apart of Asterisk and turn your PBX into a RoIP connecting radio network to other radio networks. Check out AllStarLink. (allstarlink.org). I think XIPAR has a network install. I'll check if you would like me too.
73's
KE6UPI
Hello, David
it would be great if you could check that out. More information the better!
Scott
KB5ZVP
I love this idea and was looking to see if someone had already thought of doing this. In my estimation rather than being the killer app this becomes the "Killer Appliance". When it matures it would be good to be able to have it advertise its services once connect to the mesh with littler intervention. It would be good to have a setup web page on the Pi to be able to just check which packages/service this appliance is going to offer. Simple WYSIG web based web page setup would be good so that just about anyone could post files and documents in a disaster.
In the bigger wish list I could see a use for being able to make an RTL-SDR dongle available to the mesh, basic database with web setup so that if a shelter was opened it would not take much to quickly establish a basic database there. Similar to the old ARESdata program.
Some sort of gateway to legacy packet networks would be good and serve a couple of purposes. One it could offer a much wider reach for things like chat nodes, BBS access and winlink telepack connections.
Has the disk image being worked on been posted anywhere?
Thank you,
Brian N2KGC
Totally agree Brian! I don't think there has been any progress on this. Perhaps you can solicit for others to join you and get it started!
OK I will start doing some research and see what I can find and/or get accomplished.
Thanks,
Brian
Let me join the party as I might have just the resources in a group of college students in a cyber security program who may be interested in taking on the compilation task to create the distro.
if a finalized list of software has been identified for v.1, send it my way and I will put that and a few Pi3s in front of them to build on.
keith - AI6BX
Has anyone made any progress on this effort?
Bob
KO2F
i am working on a distro and hope to have a test version out for pi3 later this summer.
It's been a while with no activity on this thread. Just wondering if there has been any progress on the Pi project? Just got my first pi and gonna start playing around with it tomorrow.
73 de N4TNA
I didn't want to duplicate work if there is a distro available. Is there any news on this effort? Sounds really super cool!
Need somebody the lead this effort! Who will step up?
Anything happen yet?