naxalnet

Naxalnet is an experiment to create an intranet and use it for communicating with each other during an internet shutdown. It tries to use existing software and tech as much as possible. Currently you can only communicate with other peers running the same software.

The name naxal comes from Naxalbari, a village in Darjeeling, West Bengal.

A rewrite in python is in progress in the branch python-rewrite.

How it works

The program naxalnet copies predefined systemd-networkd configuration into networkd's runtime configuration directory. It uses iwctl to start an ad-hoc network named "Hello World". The wireless interface is linked to bat0, the batman interface. A bridge bridge0 is created so that other devices such as wired connections and wireless ap can be bridged. bat0 is added to the bridge, and the bridge gets an ip address (link-local, or DHCP if any of the computers have a DHCP server configured. If these were successful, an intranet is created. You can now use services like IPFS, Jami, Secure Scuttlebutt and others which can work without internet access.

Requirements

• systemd v248 or more (for batman support)
• Linux kernel with batman-adv module (if modinfo batman-adv shows no error then you already have it)
• iwd (for starting ad-hoc network)
• wifi adapter with ad-hoc support
• two or more computers with wifi adapter

Installing

Manually

Clone the repo and cd into it.

Run sudo make install to install naxalnet. This will install naxalnet in /usr/{bin/naxalnet,share/naxalnet/,lib/systemd/system/naxalnet@.service}.

TODO

• add support for wireless ap (WiFi hotspot)

Add list of things here.

This project is in pre-alpha stage. Documentation is incomplete.