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Aredn in a virtual machine environment?

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Fri, 05/10/2019 - 15:12
#1
N3WTT
Aredn in a virtual machine environment?

Please forgive me if this appears as a stupid question as I am still quite new to this. But my (limited) understanding is ARDN is based off openwrt, or maybe better phrased as the hardware needs to be able to run openwrt. Since a few Google searches turn up some information regarding openwrt running in a virtual machine does this mean the same would hold true for arden? Could the firmware run I'm a virtual environment as well?

Again sorry if this is a silly question.

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Fri, 05/10/2019 - 15:48
N3WTT
Or even running Ardn on a
Or even running Ardn on a cheap old Linux computer?
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Fri, 05/10/2019 - 15:59
K5DLQ
K5DLQ's picture
In my opinion, for learning,

In my opinion, for learning, by the time you add a supported (ATH9K) wireless card to a PC, you've probably already exceeded (or are approaching) the cost of a GL-Inet USB150 ($29) or a more capable Mikrotik hAP AC Lite ($49).
 

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Fri, 05/10/2019 - 16:17
(Reply to #3)
N3WTT
Lol fair enough! When my mind
Lol fair enough! When my mind is on a subject it races all over the place.
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Tue, 05/21/2019 - 01:27
zl1cqo
A while ago, I did spin up
A while ago, I did spin up openwrt in a vm and install olsrd and crunch modules. My thinking was that for those who play with tunnels, you could have a “pc” doing the tunnels rather than a wireless AP/router. 

I managed to get it working and tunnelling between 2 small mesh networks and it appeared on the routing tables as a node. 

But it then I also did the same with a Linux laptop so anything is possible. My thoughts with this one were either it was a dedicated WAN gateway or it ran a pile of services that were directly accessed as a node rather than as a service behind a node if that makes sense. 

Building a true AREDN image that will run in a x86 environment would be a bit more challenging but possible and,depending on what you want to do with it, it doesn’t have to have a wireless card installed. 

After all, its basically just Linux underneath :-)
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Tue, 05/21/2019 - 10:57
(Reply to #5)
N3WTT
That was what I was kinda
That was what I was kinda thinking long term was to have a server for tunneling. If I understand correctly the ram usage pit on these router devices is the limiting factor? A server node would lighten this issue up greatly of it is the case. I still have quite a bit to learn my Amazon order just came in so I will be getting my hands on time shortly. The original post I made was just trying to kill 2 birds with one stone idea, but Daryl was right about my original idea. A server would be nice for those of us that have no visible Arden nodes in our area. Yes I will be putting up node(s) and looking at this project long term, a server/tunnel system would bandaid the issue in the mean time.
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Tue, 05/21/2019 - 17:56
(Reply to #6)
AA7AU
AA7AU's picture
Personal opinion follows ....

I would repeat the suggstion to simply get a Mikrotik hAP AC Lite and use it for any/all tunnel connections. It seems to have plenty of available space compared to other units and it features a terrific little 5.8GHz Access Point to use for all your LAN connections if you choose. I'd refer you to other posts here about more features and uses, but you just can't go wrong for under US$50 - currently under $43 when Sold by Prime Electronics USA and Fulfilled by Amazon.

I use one of mine next to my desk setup for 8 different (non-concurrent) control-operator type occasional tunnels.

Also makes a terrific base for a GoKit if you get tired of looking at it on your desk. It's been called the AREDN Swiss Army Knife with good reason.

HTH,
- Don - AA7AU

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Tue, 05/21/2019 - 18:36
(Reply to #7)
N3WTT
Mikrotik hAp is what I ended
Mikrotik hAp is what I ended up going with. Ordered 2 of them to learn with, figured I could mesh them as a start. Just need the time now is all.
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Mon, 06/03/2019 - 21:17
(Reply to #8)
N4CV
Issue Considered Last Year
KC3NKK, I had the same use case last year when I wanted to set up a virtual tunnel host.  See https://github.com/aredn/aredn_ar71xx/issues/127/.  At the time, the hAP devices had just started to be supported, with their resources to support multiple tunnel connections.  At that time, the feature didn't exist to turn off RF on a node and the best I could do was put an AirRouter HP in the rack with the RF power turned down and a 50-ohm load on the SMA connector.  Sounds like you came to the same conclusion to use the hAP device.  Anyway, I'd still be interested in a virtual tunnel-host node if someone wants to take it on one day.
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Mon, 06/03/2019 - 22:49
(Reply to #9)
AJ6GZ
VM
I will second the interest in a VM image. I haven't figured out why or what to do with it yet... But I do enjoy all things VM! It just seems like something that should be :) Ian
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Sun, 06/02/2019 - 06:26
(Reply to #10)
KE4AHR
What did you use to emulate
What did you use to emulate the arm-based platform?
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Fri, 07/30/2021 - 02:14
(Reply to #11)
KM6SLF
KM6SLF's picture
It looks like you might have
It looks like you might have done something very similar to what I'm trying to do... Would you be up for helping out with this? https://www.arednmesh.org/content/fitpc4-w-wle200nx-ruggedized-integrate...
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