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authorDaniel Baumann <daniel.baumann@progress-linux.org>2024-05-06 01:02:30 +0000
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Adding upstream version 4.19.249.upstream/4.19.249upstream
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+.. SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
+
+==========
+batman-adv
+==========
+
+Batman advanced is a new approach to wireless networking which does no longer
+operate on the IP basis. Unlike the batman daemon, which exchanges information
+using UDP packets and sets routing tables, batman-advanced operates on ISO/OSI
+Layer 2 only and uses and routes (or better: bridges) Ethernet Frames. It
+emulates a virtual network switch of all nodes participating. Therefore all
+nodes appear to be link local, thus all higher operating protocols won't be
+affected by any changes within the network. You can run almost any protocol
+above batman advanced, prominent examples are: IPv4, IPv6, DHCP, IPX.
+
+Batman advanced was implemented as a Linux kernel driver to reduce the overhead
+to a minimum. It does not depend on any (other) network driver, and can be used
+on wifi as well as ethernet lan, vpn, etc ... (anything with ethernet-style
+layer 2).
+
+
+Configuration
+=============
+
+Load the batman-adv module into your kernel::
+
+ $ insmod batman-adv.ko
+
+The module is now waiting for activation. You must add some interfaces on which
+batman can operate. After loading the module batman advanced will scan your
+systems interfaces to search for compatible interfaces. Once found, it will
+create subfolders in the ``/sys`` directories of each supported interface,
+e.g.::
+
+ $ ls /sys/class/net/eth0/batman_adv/
+ elp_interval iface_status mesh_iface throughput_override
+
+If an interface does not have the ``batman_adv`` subfolder, it probably is not
+supported. Not supported interfaces are: loopback, non-ethernet and batman's
+own interfaces.
+
+Note: After the module was loaded it will continuously watch for new
+interfaces to verify the compatibility. There is no need to reload the module
+if you plug your USB wifi adapter into your machine after batman advanced was
+initially loaded.
+
+The batman-adv soft-interface can be created using the iproute2 tool ``ip``::
+
+ $ ip link add name bat0 type batadv
+
+To activate a given interface simply attach it to the ``bat0`` interface::
+
+ $ ip link set dev eth0 master bat0
+
+Repeat this step for all interfaces you wish to add. Now batman starts
+using/broadcasting on this/these interface(s).
+
+By reading the "iface_status" file you can check its status::
+
+ $ cat /sys/class/net/eth0/batman_adv/iface_status
+ active
+
+To deactivate an interface you have to detach it from the "bat0" interface::
+
+ $ ip link set dev eth0 nomaster
+
+
+All mesh wide settings can be found in batman's own interface folder::
+
+ $ ls /sys/class/net/bat0/mesh/
+ aggregated_ogms fragmentation isolation_mark routing_algo
+ ap_isolation gw_bandwidth log_level vlan0
+ bonding gw_mode multicast_mode
+ bridge_loop_avoidance gw_sel_class network_coding
+ distributed_arp_table hop_penalty orig_interval
+
+There is a special folder for debugging information::
+
+ $ ls /sys/kernel/debug/batman_adv/bat0/
+ bla_backbone_table log neighbors transtable_local
+ bla_claim_table mcast_flags originators
+ dat_cache nc socket
+ gateways nc_nodes transtable_global
+
+Some of the files contain all sort of status information regarding the mesh
+network. For example, you can view the table of originators (mesh
+participants) with::
+
+ $ cat /sys/kernel/debug/batman_adv/bat0/originators
+
+Other files allow to change batman's behaviour to better fit your requirements.
+For instance, you can check the current originator interval (value in
+milliseconds which determines how often batman sends its broadcast packets)::
+
+ $ cat /sys/class/net/bat0/mesh/orig_interval
+ 1000
+
+and also change its value::
+
+ $ echo 3000 > /sys/class/net/bat0/mesh/orig_interval
+
+In very mobile scenarios, you might want to adjust the originator interval to a
+lower value. This will make the mesh more responsive to topology changes, but
+will also increase the overhead.
+
+
+Usage
+=====
+
+To make use of your newly created mesh, batman advanced provides a new
+interface "bat0" which you should use from this point on. All interfaces added
+to batman advanced are not relevant any longer because batman handles them for
+you. Basically, one "hands over" the data by using the batman interface and
+batman will make sure it reaches its destination.
+
+The "bat0" interface can be used like any other regular interface. It needs an
+IP address which can be either statically configured or dynamically (by using
+DHCP or similar services)::
+
+ NodeA: ip link set up dev bat0
+ NodeA: ip addr add 192.168.0.1/24 dev bat0
+
+ NodeB: ip link set up dev bat0
+ NodeB: ip addr add 192.168.0.2/24 dev bat0
+ NodeB: ping 192.168.0.1
+
+Note: In order to avoid problems remove all IP addresses previously assigned to
+interfaces now used by batman advanced, e.g.::
+
+ $ ip addr flush dev eth0
+
+
+Logging/Debugging
+=================
+
+All error messages, warnings and information messages are sent to the kernel
+log. Depending on your operating system distribution this can be read in one of
+a number of ways. Try using the commands: ``dmesg``, ``logread``, or looking in
+the files ``/var/log/kern.log`` or ``/var/log/syslog``. All batman-adv messages
+are prefixed with "batman-adv:" So to see just these messages try::
+
+ $ dmesg | grep batman-adv
+
+When investigating problems with your mesh network, it is sometimes necessary to
+see more detail debug messages. This must be enabled when compiling the
+batman-adv module. When building batman-adv as part of kernel, use "make
+menuconfig" and enable the option ``B.A.T.M.A.N. debugging``
+(``CONFIG_BATMAN_ADV_DEBUG=y``).
+
+Those additional debug messages can be accessed using a special file in
+debugfs::
+
+ $ cat /sys/kernel/debug/batman_adv/bat0/log
+
+The additional debug output is by default disabled. It can be enabled during
+run time. Following log_levels are defined:
+
+.. flat-table::
+
+ * - 0
+ - All debug output disabled
+ * - 1
+ - Enable messages related to routing / flooding / broadcasting
+ * - 2
+ - Enable messages related to route added / changed / deleted
+ * - 4
+ - Enable messages related to translation table operations
+ * - 8
+ - Enable messages related to bridge loop avoidance
+ * - 16
+ - Enable messages related to DAT, ARP snooping and parsing
+ * - 32
+ - Enable messages related to network coding
+ * - 64
+ - Enable messages related to multicast
+ * - 128
+ - Enable messages related to throughput meter
+ * - 255
+ - Enable all messages
+
+The debug output can be changed at runtime using the file
+``/sys/class/net/bat0/mesh/log_level``. e.g.::
+
+ $ echo 6 > /sys/class/net/bat0/mesh/log_level
+
+will enable debug messages for when routes change.
+
+Counters for different types of packets entering and leaving the batman-adv
+module are available through ethtool::
+
+ $ ethtool --statistics bat0
+
+
+batctl
+======
+
+As batman advanced operates on layer 2, all hosts participating in the virtual
+switch are completely transparent for all protocols above layer 2. Therefore
+the common diagnosis tools do not work as expected. To overcome these problems,
+batctl was created. At the moment the batctl contains ping, traceroute, tcpdump
+and interfaces to the kernel module settings.
+
+For more information, please see the manpage (``man batctl``).
+
+batctl is available on https://www.open-mesh.org/
+
+
+Contact
+=======
+
+Please send us comments, experiences, questions, anything :)
+
+IRC:
+ #batman on irc.freenode.org
+Mailing-list:
+ b.a.t.m.a.n@open-mesh.org (optional subscription at
+ https://lists.open-mesh.org/mm/listinfo/b.a.t.m.a.n)
+
+You can also contact the Authors:
+
+* Marek Lindner <mareklindner@neomailbox.ch>
+* Simon Wunderlich <sw@simonwunderlich.de>