[WLANnews] Fwd: Commotion Beta is out: Free Wireless Mesh Network Software

[Hirschgott]

-------- Original Message --------



Hi All,

I wanted to share that OTI released Commotion Beta, free, open source,
wireless networking platform this week. This “Developer Release #1”
(DR1) makes Commotion’s technology available for testing and feedback
and is freely available from the project website:
www.commotionwireless.net <http://www.commotionwireless.net>. I would
encourage you to check it out, but please head our caution that this
release is BETA and thus should not be used for mission-critical and/or
sensitive communications until version 1.0 is released. This release
includes:

  * A fully integrated web-interface in addition to traditional
    command-line access.
  * QuickStart setup wizard
  * A set of core libraries that will form the backbone of a common
    network management interface across Commotion platforms
  * An application portal that makes it easy to announce and discover
    authenticated local social applications
  * A debugging tool to provide one-click error reports for network
    maintainers

There are also security features including  basic network encryption,
which brings mesh networking up to the level of security expected from
today’s wireless networks.  Commotion adds an additional layer of
security by allowing the use of network keys and application signing
through the use of The Serval Project’s http://www.servalproject.org/
Serval daemon, making it easier to identify bad-agents posing as
legtimate services. These features form the foundation for the Commotion
security features under active development. Again, this is beta and
_not_ for sensitive communications at this time.

If you want to try setting up your own network, interested in providing
feedback or just want to learn more head over over to
www.commotionwireless.net <http://www.commotionwireless.net>.

Best,
James


    RELEASE: OTI Launches Commotion Beta: Free Wireless Mesh Network
    Software

Commotion Technology Revolutionizes Community Wireless by Providing a
Safe, Low-Cost Option
*Published:  * March 20, 2013

Washington, DC — The New America Foundation's *Open Technology
Institute  <http://oti.newamerica.net/>*(OTI) announced today the public
release of Commotion Beta - a free, open source, wireless networking
platform. This “Developer Release #1” (DR1) makes Commotion’s technology
available for testing and feedback and is freely available from the
project website: *www.commotionwireless.net
<https://commotionwireless.net/>*. Please note that Commotion is in Beta
and should not be used for mission-critical and/or sensitive
communications until version 1.0 is released.

Commotion is a cutting-edge open-source communications software platform
that uses laptops, mobile phones, and other Wi-Fi devices to create
decentralized, wireless “mesh” networks.  Commotion interconnects
devices directly to one-another in a peer-to-peer manner to form a
“spider web” of connectivity.

“Commotion Beta is a transformative technology - the culmination of
years of research and development by hundreds of developers around the
globe,” said New America Vice President and OTI Director Sascha
Meinrath, who is the founder of Commotion Wireless. “Commotion is an
incredible resource for empowering communities and constituencies
worldwide, helping with a variety of different needs, from spreading
low-cost connectivity, securing communications, and enhancing
disaster-response.”

Commotion Beta adds new usability enhancements and features that
simplify mesh network setup and reduce the difficulty of network
maintenance.  DR1 contains a fully integrated web-interface in addition
to traditional command-line access.  Among the new technical features in
DR1 are a QuickStart setup wizard, a set of core libraries that will
form the backbone of a common network management interface across
Commotion platforms, an application portal that makes it easy to
announce and discover authenticated local social applications, and a
debugging tool to provide one-click error reports for network
maintainers. These features will be ported to the Android, Linux, and OS
X clients over the next quarter.

The DR1 release also includes key security features, beginning with
basic network encryption, which brings mesh networking up to the level
of security expected from today’s wireless networks. Commotion adds an
additional layer of security by allowing the use of network keys and
application signing through the use of The Serval
Project’s http://www.servalproject.org/ Serval daemon, making it easier
to identify bad-agents posing as legtimate services. These features form
the foundation for the Commotion security features under active development.