[WLANware] running freifunk + batman on older computers as router]

[elektra]

Hi -

if you have a good power supply you may achieve 15-25 Watts. Rip the 
graphics adapter and everything superfluous out. Let the hard drive 
switch off when idle or replace it with a USB stick or CF-Card in an IDE 
adapter or 2.5'' HDD.

Remember that it is old gear - so the power supply may be worn out. Also 
contacts on the mainboard (like PCI slots) may cause trouble when 
exposed to humidity. Make sure the system doesn't overheat in bright 
sunlight.

I was running such a system since 2003, it died recently because the CPU 
fan blocked. Which is not a big deal because there is no lack of old 
CPUs/Mainboards... Passive cooling is a good idea with a decently 
dimensioned cooler.

I think it is great thing to do - I had enough CPU power to run many 
services, and the power consumption is not too bad, particularly if you 
need more than one wireless interface and massive storage capacity.

Compared to a embedded single-board system it needs more maintenance, 
but is very versatile and individual software requirements are easy to 
implement. Just putting it on top of a pole is not that easy...

There is no issue running OLSR or B.A.T.M.A.N. on i386.

There is only one problem: Drivers an Chipsets for WiFi in ad-hoc mode. 
But a recent Atheros connected to Cardbus/PCI Madwifi with recent 
OpenWRT patches does the trick. Ideal would be to use USB Wifi but I'm 
afraid there is not a single USB product that works reasonably with 
ad-hoc. Correct me if I'm wrong, if somebody knows a working product for 
Linux I would be glad to know.

cu elektra




>  
> Hello,
>
> I'm sure some of you might have thoughts or experience regarding the use
> of old desktops PI's, PII's, K7's as routers with freifunk.
> What is the minimum power consumption I can expect?
> Is there a way (an ideal way) to convert an old motherboard + processor +
> ram for use as an outdoor wireless router?
> Is there a way to convert to DC at the wall and make a longer DC run to
> the  router?
> Are any of you running batman + freifunk on an i386 router?
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> WLANware mailing list
> WLANware at freifunk.net
> Abonnement abbestellen? -> https://freifunk.net/mailman/listinfo/wlanware
>
> Weitere Infos zu den freifunk.net Mailinglisten und zur An- und Abmeldung unter http://freifunk.net/mailinglisten
>
>