pybatmesh/README.md

# naxalnet

**naxalnet** is a program to create a wireless mesh network for
communicating with each other. It can be useful during an
[internet shutdown](#internet-shutdown), or to join
[online classes](#online-class-in-remote-areas) with a group
of laptops.
It uses [B.A.T.M.A.N. Advanced][batman-adv], an implementation
of the B.A.T.M.A.N. routing protocol to communicate with peers.
The name naxal comes from Naxalbari, a village in Darjeeling,
West Bengal.

WARNING:
This program uses an **unencrypted** network. This means
you do not get any more privacy or security than with an open wifi
network.

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Running this program in the world's largest partly free democracy
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**Disclaimer**:
In case you are either 1) a complete idiot; or 2) a member of the saffron
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Using the name naxal does not imply any form of connection
with anyone currently at risk of death in overcrowded prisons.

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## Requirements

- [systemd v248 or more][batman-systemd]
- Linux kernel with batman-adv module
- [iwd][]
- python3
- python-setuptools (for building)
- [python-dasbus][]
- wifi adapter with ad-hoc support
- two or more computers, or laptops with wifi adapter, called nodes
- systemd-resolved (optional, for DNS)
- batctl (optional, for debugging)

## Installing

### Arch Linux

Install [naxalnet][aur] (or [naxalnet-git][aur-devel] for the
development version) from the AUR with your favourite helper:

```sh
yay -S naxalnet
```

Optionally, [setup systemd-resolved][arch-resolved] for DNS if any
of the nodes have internet access.

### Manually

Clone the repo and cd into it.

```sh
git clone https://git.disroot.org/pranav/naxalnet.git
cd naxalnet
```

Or, if you have an [IPFS client][ipfs] running, try:

```sh
git clone http://k51qzi5uqu5dlye74be0n9iihwk6sm54vexo7bf7pdr4w811y6mmrcp25djozv.ipns.localhost:8080/naxalnet.git
```

Run `sudo make install` to install naxalnet.
After installing, reload systemd so that you can enable `naxalnet.service`
without rebooting:

```sh
sudo systemctl daemon-reload
```

## How to use

You need more than one computer running for the connection to work.

### Start naxalnet

To start naxalnet, do the command on all the nodes:

```sh
sudo systemctl start naxalnet.service
```

To test if it works, run `ip -c addr` to find out your address.
Note the `inet` address of `bridge0`. If there isn't one, try again
after a few seconds. If the address starts with 169.254, it has
got a link-local address. Otherwise, it has got an IP address
from DHCP.

### Getting internet access

Connect an ethernet cable to any of the peers and
[start naxalnet][startnx]. Now all the peers should
be able to connect after renewing their DHCP connection
(`sudo networkctl renew bridge0`).

### Tethering via WiFi AP

If there are two adapters in a peer, naxalnet will start a
wifi ap (wifi hotspot) on one of them.

Connect two wifi adapters on a device and [start naxalnet][startnx].
Now an ap will be created on one of the adapters with
SSID `NaxalNet` and password `naxalnet256`.
If you had set up internet access on one of the peers, internet
can be accessed from the AP.

### Running at boot

Starting the service will stop `NetworkManager.service` and
`wpa_supplicant.service` if it is running. If you start either of these
services after naxalnet was started, systemd will stop naxalnet.

To run naxalnet at boot, enable the service on all the nodes:

```sh
sudo systemctl enable naxalnet.service
```

Now naxalnet will configure a batman interface on every boot.
Disable the service to stop running at boot:

```sh
sudo systemctl disable naxalnet.service
```

### Stopping the service

```sh
# Stop the services
sudo systemctl stop naxalnet systemd-networkd systemd-resolved iwd
# Delete the virtual interfaces created by naxalnet
sudo networkctl delete bat0 bridge0
```

If your distribution uses NetworkManager, starting `naxalnet.service`
will have stopped it. Start NetworkManager again:

```sh
sudo systemctl start NetworkManager.service
```

## How it works

There are three modes commonly supported by wifi adapters -
`ap` (wifi hotspot), `station` (for joining wifi networks) and `ad-hoc`
(for decentralised networks).
naxalnet uses iwd to start an `ad-hoc` network and configures
systemd-networkd to setup a BATMAN Advanced network.
Read the code to learn the details.
See [systemd-networkd](systemd-networkd) to see how systemd-networkd
configures the network.

## Use cases

### Online class in remote areas

naxalnet can be used to share connections in remote areas.
You need at least one device with internet access.

### Internet shutdown

You can communicate with neighbouring devices running naxalnet,
using services like [IPFS][], [Jami][], [Secure Scuttlebutt][ssb]
and others which can work on an intranet.
They need to be installed on your device _before_ your friendly
democratic government announces an [internet shutdown][], since you
cannot download and install them during a shutdown.
When a shutdown occurs, [enable naxalnet][enablenx]

## Uninstalling

If you installed naxalnet manually, there is no way to uninstall
than manually removing the files:

```sh
sudo pip uninstall naxalnet
sudo rm -rf /usr/share/naxalnet* /usr/lib/systemd/system/naxalnet.service
```

## Contributing

See [HACKING.md](HACKING.md)

## Similar projects

The following projects are similar to naxalnet, but are not designed
to be used in a laptop or computer with wifi adapter. If you live in
an area where the materials required for any of them are easily
available, consider using them instead of naxalnet.

- [LibreMesh][libremesh]: framework for OpenWrt-based
  firmwares
- [disaster.radio][]: solar-powered communications network

## License

naxalnet is [free/libre/swatantra][free-sw] software: you can
redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General
Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either
version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

See [LICENSE](LICENSE) for the complete version of the license.

[batman-adv]: https://www.open-mesh.org/projects/batman-adv/wiki
[internet shutdown]: https://internetshutdowns.in
[ipfs]: https://ipfs.io "InterPlanetary File System"
[jami]: https://jami.net "Peer to peer video calls"
[ssb]: https://scuttlebutt.nz "Secure Scuttlebutt"
[python-dasbus]: https://github.com/rhinstaller/dasbus "A python D-Bus library"
[aur]: https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/naxalnet
[aur-devel]: https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/naxalnet-git
[arch-resolved]: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Systemd-resolved#DNS "systemd-resolved on ArchWiki"
[batman-systemd]: https://www.open-mesh.org/news/101 "systemd v248 brings support for batman advanced"
[libremesh]: https://libremesh.org
[disaster.radio]: https://disaster.radio
[startnx]: #start-naxalnet
[iwd]: https://iwd.wiki.kernel.org "wifi daemon"
[free-sw]: https://gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html "What is free software?"
[enablenx]: #running-at-boot