Hi everyone, I accepted an offer from Mike for WISP-Dist to join LEAF. He suggested that I introduce it, so here it goes.
WISP-Dist is a distribution targetted for wireless routers (e.g., motherboards with integrated PCMCIA and CardFlash slots, usually having 16 MB RAM, 8 MB CF) and wireless ISPs. Until I move all the content is hosted at http://www.hazard.maks.net/wisp-dist/. Originally based on Bering, technically WISP-Dist now has several architectural differences to standard LEAF. Excerpt from my e-mail to Mike: -- 1) WISP-DIST packages are based on combined LRP/CFS approach. Read-only files (binaries) are kept in CFS files, which are CramFS images which are symlinked into root during boot (more info on WISP-Dist's homepage). This allows to save RAM or space on R/W partition. E.g., now WISP-Dist requires only about 1Mb for all the r/w files. If RAM disk is used, that would mean only 1 MB RAM is needed, everything else is free for applications. HOWEVER, WISP-DIST is backwards compatible with LRP packages. 2) Network subsystem is completely different and is replaced in favor of simplification. It is entirely script based without use of "ifup" binary and is configurable via menu interface. 3) Some of the packages are integrated into "root", like pcmcia. -- 4) Another feature is that WISP-Dist comes with an easy-to-use menu-based configuration interface based on dialog. And now, a copy of my original announcement with the list of features: WISP-Dist is an embedded Linux distribution for wireless routers, but can be used for other purposes as well. Entire system fits in 8 MB flash/16 MB RAM. The goal is to create an open, customizable and easy to use solution for wireless routers. Development was sponsored by ThunderWorx. Highlights: * Completely open system based on Linux kernel 2.4 and LEAF Bering * Entire distribution fits in 8 MB flash, of which 1.2MB are currently free for additional packages * Works on 16 MB RAM * Simple to use menu-based configuration system for basic functionality * Command-line access for advanced configuration * Remotely upgradable * Modular: you can add/remove packages * Local access via console or serial port * Remote access via SSH * Statistics available via SNMP * OSPF, RIPv2 dynamic routing support integrated; networks built this way are much easier to debug and tune than bridging-based networks * NAT * Bandwidth shaping * VTUN software allows for encrypted PtP tunnels between locations and Layer 2 unification of networks. * VLAN trunking support: service several customers from one CPE connected to a switch * Access Point support for Prism2, Prism2.5 * MAC filter (access list) support for AP * Advanced network diagnostics: NTOP, tcpdump * Can log all system events to remote system via SYSLOG protocol * checkping: system will reboot if some of the specified hosts are unreachable (useful when radios get stuck) * Easy to service: all files are stored on standard FAT partition * Compatible with LRP (LEAP) packages Drawbacks: * No integrated bridging support (I don't count this as a drawback). It is not needed if you use RIP/OSPF routing, which is very easy to setup. However all the components are inside to make bridging on Prism2 boards; you can do it by editing scripts manually. Full-fledged bridging is not possible on other cards as drivers do not support WDS. A workaround is possible if somebody develops an L3 (IP) bridging solution similar to the one used by Teletronics CPR images; however it won't be reliable solution anyway (you get various problems if you mix routing & bridging). * KarlNet support is not integrated yet. Supported (tested) platforms: * Teletronics CPR motherboards * Nagasaki MS-2100 mini-servers Supported wireless cards: * Aironet LMC352 * Lucent/Avaya WaveLan * Prism2-based cards (Teletronics, Zcomax, D-Link, LinkSys ...) Generally, all modern hardware is supported. -- Best Regards, Vladimir ------------------------------------------------------- Sponsored by: ThinkGeek at http://www.ThinkGeek.com/ _______________________________________________ Leaf-devel mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/leaf-devel
