Musenki
Enabling “hotspot” wireless Internet connectivity through technology and services.
802.11 and Open Source
• Axiom
– Innovation will occur
• Joy’s law (MIPS):
– MIPS = year^(year-1984)
• Joy’s law of organizations
– N(# smart employees) = log(# employees)
• Conclusion:
– Innovation will occur, but it will occur elsewhere
– Especially in small companies
802.11 and Open Source
Open Source is an answer to the question:
“How can we leverage other people’s work?”
Knowing the answer without knowing the
question is Jeopardy.
Get to the Point
• 802.11(b) is one of the fastest-growing
technology curves ever
• I believe it is the next dial-up.
– You probably do too.
– This potentially includes VOIP adjuncts to
cellular.
• No Open Source AP exists today
– Just try getting the firmware from
Cisco/Intel/Symbol/…
– Limits innovation
Get to the Point (cont)
Places to innovate
• Authentication/Authorization/Acct
• Security
• Protocol tweaks
• “Interesting” applications
– Mesh routing
– Bridge/client and AP in same box
– Many more
Traditional solution(s)
1. Off-the-shelf AP + PC running *nix
2. Apply liberal duct tape
3. Wait for hard drive crash
Musenki Products
• Open Source AP software
• Open Source authentication clients
• Meaty, low-cost platforms
– Engineered for the real-world
• Phoenix, outdoors, in the summer
• Other tools (management, etc.)
• Open Source is my “barrier to entry”
Let 10^3 flowers bloom
Wireless Internet Access
Solutions
• Solutions designed for service providers
– Everyone can be a service provider
– Especially ‘Guerilla’ wireless
• Open Source software
– Strategic advantage
• Embedded public access features
– NoCat, etc
• 802.1x clients
Musenki Products
• OEM/embedded hardware APs
• All-in-One AP (‘Buddha box’)
• Low-cost AP (‘Chi AP’)
• Full PCI card 802.11(b) radio
• Client connectivity devices
• USB, Ethernet, Serial to 802.11x
• 802.1x software clients
Musenki Buddha Box
– Motorola 8245 SOC
• High-speed, low-power CPU (603e @ 266Mhz - 350Mhz)
• 3 - 128MB of RAM/4 - 16MB Flash
• head room for multiple protocols, transports and applications
– 2 miniPCI slots
• 802.11x radios, Bluetooth radio(s), Ethernet, V.90 modem
• 32bit  more radio performance
– 1 PCI slot
• 802.11x radio, T1/T3/ATM card, CATV modem, etc
– 10/100 Ethernet (w/power over Ethernet)
– Linux operating system
• NetBSD next
– Leverages
• commodity radios
• 802.1x
• third-party authentication technologies
Musenki Buddha Box
• Hardware
• 802.11(b/a) - $500
• Multi-radio - $650 -$800
• Software
• Basic package
• Security, authentication, plug-n-play
• Additional packaging per industry application and
partners
• Open Source
• except for 3rd party code
Musenki Buddha Box Markets
• Broadband Wireless
– multiple radios
– Advanced networking features (QoS, VPN, MPLS, etc)
– T1/T3/xDSL/ATM transport
• Enterprise
– 802.1x authentication
– Strong encryption
– Advanced networking features (QoS, VPN, MPLS, etc)
– Multiple radio type support (802.11b, 802.11a)
• Wireless ISPs/Carriers
– 802.1x authentication
– Runs Linux (familiar)
– Multiple radios/radio types
– T1/T3/ATM transport
Musenki Chi AP
• Lower cost (< $300)
• Non-expandable
– One miniPCI slot
– miniPCI slot supports 802.11b/V.90 combo
• Basic Software Package
– Security, authentication, plug-n-play
– 100% Open Source
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Boot loader
OS
AP software
Captive portal (NoCat, LANroamer, etc)
Musenki Chi AP
– Motorola 8245 SOC
• (603e @ 166Mhz)
• 32MB of RAM
– 1 miniPCI slot
• 802.11x, Bluetooth, combo 802.11b/V.90 modem
• 32bit  more radio performance
– 10/100 Ethernet
– Linux operating system
• Yes, NetBSD is next
– Leverages
• commodity radios
• 802.1x
• third-party authentication technologies
Musenki Chi AP
• V.90 modem also supports ISP wireless
offerings
– Dial-up ISPs go ‘wireless’
• AOL already offering wireless tablets
• Auto-dial when required
– Chi AP acts as ‘gateway’ for client machines
(DHCP, NAT, etc)
– Auto-setup (dial 800 #, collect info, re-configure)
– Payphones could be interesting market
Musenki Chi AP Markets
• Broadband Wireless
– Customer connectivity
– Advanced networking features (QoS, VPN, MPLS, etc)
• Enterprise
– 802.1x authentication
– Strong encryption
– QoS
• Wireless ISPs/Carriers
– 802.1x authentication
– Customize
– Runs Linux (familiar)
Musenki AP SW
– Security, authentication, plug-n-play
– All Open Sourced
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Bootloader (currently PPCboot)
OS (Linux, NetBSD, FreeBSD late next year)
AP software
Captive portal (NoCat, LANroamer, etc)
– You can change it all (if you wish)
– 3rd party code may not be Open Source
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Radio firmware
hereUare
802.1x
etc
Musenki 802.11(b) PCI card
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Prism-2.5 design on 0.5-length PCI card
65mW RF output
SMA external antenna connection
Costs similar to PCMCIA card (<$80)
3rd radio for Buddhabox
Best solution for “PC-as-AP”
Musenki Client Adaptors
• Chi AP platform with hw/fw modifications
– Add/Enable USB
– Modify software to be pure bridge
– Enable MSFT USB auto-download driver
• Wireless to wired access
– Enables communication to desktops, etc
– Hospitality
• Less expensive than wired solutions
– DSL/CATV broadband
• ‘No Wiring’ solution
802.1x Topology
Semi-Public Network/
Enterprise Edge
Enterprise Network
R
A
D
I
U
S
Authentication
Server
Authenticator
(e.g. Access Point,
Ethernet Switch, etc)
Supplicant
Outsourced Remote Access
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User sends authentication request to ISP
ISP Delegates authentication to Corporation
Corporation checks LDAP/Active Directory
Single point of administration
ISP A
RADIUS Proxy
POP A
PSTN
Wireless
...
POP B
Customer
RADIUS
Server
Internet
BIGCO
IP
POP C
Carrier networks
Remote user
fred@bigco.com
Access server
front ends
Active
Directory
Musenki 802.1x clients
• Microsoft will supply for Win XP & Win 2000
– Huge marketing push by MSFT in October
– Musenki supplies for Linux, Win95, Win98, WinCE,
NT4, MacOS, PalmOS
• Guerilla/viral marketing vehicle
– Brand-awareness leads to product pull-through
• Channels: notebook vendors, Big6, on-line sales,
WISPs, …
Musenki Status
• Buddha Box
– Bringing up prototype hardware
– Software & kernel still in-development
• Chi AP/Client Adaptor
– In layout
• 802.1x clients
– Partial code in-works
• 802.11b PCI adaptor
– Beta units 10/1
Current Team
• Jamie Thompson
• Kem McClelland
• Brad Martin
• Jim Thompson
• Craig Sullender
• Jim Raab