---
# System prepended metadata

title: LAN Mesh Networks
tags: [explorations]

---

# LAN Mesh Networks

LAN mesh networks are LAN networks created by multiple router devices that communicate with each other, usually over WiFi. From the user's perspective, it's a single WiFi network that covers a big area. These kinds of networks are used in University Campus or industrial complexes.

From the technical point of view, they create a single LAN network.

These are the requirements for Dash Chat to work on LAN based mesh networks:

- mDNS: mDNS SHOULD be enabled. Peers can announce their IP address and public key in the LAN through mDNS. 
  - If mDNS is not allowed, IP addresses could potentially be shared by scanning QR codes or connecting phones through NFC, but this would need to be done each time that the devices join the network. 
- Direct peer-to-peer connections: the VLAN/ACL layout MUST allow peers to establish direct UDP based connections with internal LAN based IP addresses. 
- Requests get routed through the mesh: a routing protocol like BATMAN, Babel or sudomesh MUST allow the request to be routed through multiple router devices to reach its destination.

## OpenWRT

https://openwrt.org/

OpenWRT is a replacement router OS (minimal linux with network stack) used to repurpose wifi access points for mesh networks.

It's highly configurable, so you can set up secure tunneling, etc.

It is a good option wherever we can recommend or use it when setting up LAN mesh networks.