Location: NodeLuckyLabNW
Date and Time: Wednesday, October 30, 2024, 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Scribe: You
Roll Call: JasonBergstrom,TedBrunner,RussellSenior,MatthewKlug,SteveTree
Agenda
- Node notes:
NodeStreetRoots -- was decommissioned on October 24 by Russell and Ted. We also got a brief tour of the new building. Noted no indoor access points visible. Didn't see the "telco closet" that was on the architects drawings, didn't see the basement, and didn't recognize the roof penetration we'd asked for (maybe there, maybe not, but didn't look like what was expected). Afro Village PDX was informed that we'd visited the site, to avoid accusations of surreptitious spying. NodeStreetRoots had been in operation since 2012, nearly 12 years of run time. During the last two years, we saw approximately 3000 devices connect to the network annually, including what might have been some regular users in the building.
NodeLuckyLabNW -- we should eyeball locations to mount an outdoor access point on the west side of the building without relying on the existing roof structure and report back to node host what our desires are.
NodeSmart -- Russell bricked the Buffalo WZR600DHP at the node during an update, exposing a bug relating to some winbond W25Q128 flash parts in v6.6 linux kernels, introduced about in the summer of 2023. OpenWrt has moved to v6.6 in recent months and the updates finally hit a vulnerable device. There was a patch applied to the mainline kernel in June 2024, but it was not backported to 6.1 or 6.6 kernels. Russell has initiated an effort to get those patches applied upstream, which will filter back into OpenWrt and fix up the issue. Meanwhile, NodeSmart is down. Russell prepped a replacement device, an E8450, for NodeSmart and is looking to schedule a time to hand it off to the node host.
NodeKlickitat -- one of the nodes in the local batman-adv mesh has been intermittently suffering an ethernet-related outage. This prompted a research effort to demonstrate that an E8450 can function as a replacement device, which will have advantage that the shelf space available for the device is not at such an awkward angle (currently involving a 180 degree bend) in the ethernet cable, which is a plausible guess as to the cause of the outage. Discovered that the mt76 driver on (at least) the 2.4GHz radio does not like having an adhoc (aka ibss) mode interface and an AP mode interface enabled at the same time, at least at boot time. The behavior was unexpected and has been reported upstream. Two work arounds: a) turn off AP mode permenantly and only mesh; or b) allow the mesh to initialize and then activate the ap-mode after a brief delay. More testing is underway. Additional hardware updates to the node are contemplated.
NodeFirstUnitarian -- trying to work out a plausible install date for bell tower roof. Ted has become unavailable for November 9 target date. Depending on weather, might bump to a time of greater availability.
- EFA meeting report.
- None Yet
Notes
- Node notes:
NodeStreetRoots - decommissioned last Thursday. MR24 APs sweat oil over time (two APs/PoE/Powerstrip/ERX), toured roof and both floors, but not basement (where telco closet was moved to).
NodeLuckyLabNW - There are a couple of existing holes with cables to the North end on the exterior West wall, but we'd probably want to run the cable outside to the South to be closer to the mid-point of the wall. The roll-up door is in the middle, and has wood over the top, but we don't want to run a wire out through that wood as it is likely to be conflicting with the door mechanism. Also worth asking about putting it on the roof instead.
NodeSmart - Russell handed Matt the replacement node hardware to deploy at his neighbors. The issue with the Buffalo also was replicated in Russell's test bed, MTD and 6.6 issue. Patch in June (revert for older MTD), Russell suggested patch for upstream.
NodeKlickitat - Issue with the nearest node to the North (ethernet link between roof and basement PoE and first floor WDR3600).
- Maybe leverage E8450, but didn't want to talk with the rest of the mesh (worked in Russell's test bed). May have fixed ethernet issue will check in a week.
NodeFirstUnitarian - Perhaps another day, or day of the week? Concerns about DST change and past rain leaving a lake.
- EFA - Russell and Ted attended today, Nate Brauer of PDX Privacy.
- We suggested we could use their help reaching out for node host and volunteer help
- Digital safety fair was good, we could've used more attendees
- Chris Vines was at B-Sides, but Russell/Ted didn't run into
- Engagement with politicians - post election, posture on technical topics, will get back to them if you don't know the answer.
- Meet online 11/6 and 11/13, cancel 11/27