[WLANware] Selling the idea of OLSR

[Aaron Kaplan]

On Sun, 2006-07-09 at 01:47 +1000, Dan Flett wrote:
> Hi guys,
> 
> I am giving a presentation to my wireless group, Melbourne Wireless, this
> Friday on OLSR.  We currently use OSPF and a traditional routed network
> where each node has multiple radios, each with a separate /28 subnet.  Most
> of our links are point-to-point or point-to-multipoint (client-to-AP).  A
> lot of people are very sceptical of the idea of using a /16 netmask on an
> interface and of using Omni-to-Omni links.
> 
> Here are some of the criticisms I'll need to address:
> 
> * Mesh networks are not scalable - they cause too much CPU load on small
> routers.

true. but: gradually increase as you go. it works. In Vienna, there are
around 100 olsr devices and berlin has AFAIK 250 (?)
so... you should have some space to grow.

> 
> * Omni antennas pick up too much RF noise for usable links
> 

true, use more directionals in addition

> * Omni-to-Omni links have limited range and the population density in
> Melbourne is not sufficient for a critical mass to form a useful mesh
> 
c.f. above, use more directionals

> * A network where everyone is using a /16 netmask will be like a giant LAN
> and everyone will be swamped with everyone else's broadcast traffic
> 
no, AFAIK not true. You will be swamped by olsr TC messages, but this is
ok since freifunk-olsr included the fish-eye algorithm

> * Using OLSR on every node is like trying to create a city-wide network with
> WDS
> 
wrong. It is more like trying to put routing decisions at every point 
with lots of host routes (which are ok, since your net is limited in
size - host routes would not scale to the whole internet)

> I think I have answers for most of these questions, but I'd like to get some
> ideas from the wider OLSR community.  I'm sure many of you have faced
> similar criticisms, and may have some experience behind you to refute these
> claims.  If so, I'd love to hear from you!
>  

I would be interested in better answers.

best regards,
aaron.

> 
> Regards,
> 
> Dan Flett
> Secretary
> Melbourne Wireless 
> 
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