Deployment

Attached is a doc that shows some 802.11ac devices that are appropriate for new installs, or upgrades of existing equipment.  While the software for them is still in the nightly builds, the software is stable and they'll be included in the next production release, which should be soon.

All 802.11ac devices:

1. Have Gigabit Ethernet ports, two in some cases, and five for the Mikrotik hAP ac2 & ac3

2. Have faster CPUs

3. Have more RAM

4. Most have more flash memory

Looking to start building out the backbone across Maine this year. One of the first use cases will be connecting Yaesu Fusion repeaters that have the LAN cards. The repeaters will be co-located with the AREDN nodes/switches and directly cabled on the AREDN LAN. The IP's must be static (no DHCP, this is a Yaesu thing :( ). Looking to the future when a AREDN node fails and needs to be replaced we don't want to have to re-IP the repeaters. Any options to keep the same ip address ranges when swapping out a bad AREDN node? Any other thoughts?.. What have others done?

I received a Mikrotik hAP AC Lite from a frustrated new user, who'd been unable to load AREDN software on it.   He didn't apparently read the memo about having to downgrade the RouterOS prior to sending it to me.  This particular device has RouterOS v6.49.8.

However, in trying to downgrade the version of RouterOs:

1-  the hAP fails to retain the new password after rebooting.  Am I missing a step here?

2 - Prior to rebooting, I uploaded the routeros-arm-6.45.7.npk into the #Files area, went to System/Upgrade and clicked Downgrade

Being somewhat new to AREDN and having just implemented my first AREDN node, I noted that there seemed to be no way to use it effortlessly from my home Wi-Fi networked computers.  It also appeared that I couldn't host services from my home network computers.  The AREDN node was a completely different network with a different IP block.  I saw several people asking how to integrate AREDN into their existing computer networks but the best answer offered was that plugging a computer into the switch via cable would allow you to be on both the home network and AREDN at the same time.

AREDN Nightly build  20230719 has been designated as the second release candidate for the upcoming production release.  If no flaming issues are uncovered in the next few weeks, the production release will be made available.

Orv W6BI

Warning: I've thought about making this suggestion for a while... but my brain tends to go many directions all at the same time. If this post seems like it was written by someone with a scambled brain... Well... You were warned.

One thing that I've thought would be helpful is some form of network diagram script for AREDN. Don't get me wrong, I use and like the meshmap software, but was thinking about something that could be used to help manage the network in a field deployment.