Bay Area Backbone: Difference between revisions
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* [https://sfbackbone.xojs.org/#Bay%20Area%20Backbone Monitor] |
* [https://sfbackbone.xojs.org/#Bay%20Area%20Backbone Monitor] |
||
* [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MVoJiYzehNbI-EUjRsuLvgLdL4KG4JUeKGtlqk4JruM/edit?usp=sharing Configuration] |
* [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MVoJiYzehNbI-EUjRsuLvgLdL4KG4JUeKGtlqk4JruM/edit?usp=sharing Configuration] |
||
| − | * [https://bam-uisp.local.mesh/nms/devices Management] |
+ | * [https://bam-uisp.local.mesh/nms/devices Management] |
| + | ** Read Only: Username: '''mesh''' Password: '''aredn-back-bone''' |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| + | |||
| − | * [[Black Mountain (Site 4)]] - Palo Alto |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| − | * [[4CCCC|CCCC]] - Richmond |
||
| − | * |
+ | *[[Black Mountain (Site 4)]] - Palo Alto |
| − | * |
+ | *[[4CCCC|CCCC]] - Richmond |
| − | * |
+ | *[[Fire Station 8]] - Palo Alto |
| − | * |
+ | *[[Fish Ranch]] - Oakland/Orinda |
| − | * |
+ | *[[Mount Allison]] - Fremont (pending) |
| + | *[[ORCA]] - Oakland/Orinda |
||
| + | *[[Oxford]] - Berkeley |
||
* Palo Alto PBS (pending) |
* Palo Alto PBS (pending) |
||
| − | * |
+ | *[[San Bruno Mountain (Building 4)]] - Brisbane |
| − | * |
+ | *[[San Bruno Mountain (Building 7)]] - Brisbane |
| − | * |
+ | *[[Sunol Ridge]] - Sunol |
| − | * |
+ | *[[Wolfback]] - Sausalito |
Want to become part of the network? We'll provide everything you need to get connected. |
Want to become part of the network? We'll provide everything you need to get connected. |
||
| − | == ARIN |
+ | == ARIN== |
[https://arin.net American Registry for Internet Numbers] |
[https://arin.net American Registry for Internet Numbers] |
||
| − | === |
+ | ===Organizations === |
| − | * |
+ | *[https://whois.arin.net/rest/org/BAM-80.html BAM-80] |
| − | === |
+ | ===Points of Contact === |
| − | * |
+ | *[https://whois.arin.net/rest/poc/TECH1410-ARIN TECH1410-ARIN] - Tech |
| − | * |
+ | *[https://whois.arin.net/rest/poc/WILKI322-ARIN WILKI322-ARIN] - General |
| − | === |
+ | ===Networks === |
| − | * |
+ | *[https://whois.arin.net/rest/net/NET-206-197-44-0-1 NET-206-197-44-0-1] - 206.197.44.0/24 |
| − | * |
+ | *[https://whois.arin.net/rest/net/NET-44-0-0-0-1 NET-44-0-0-0-1] - 44.31.228.0/24 |
| − | * |
+ | *[https://whois.arin.net/rest/net/NET6-2620-B8-A000-1 NET6-2620-B8-A000-1] - 2620:B8:A000::/48 |
| − | === |
+ | ===Autonomous System Numbers === |
| − | * |
+ | *[https://whois.arin.net/rest/asn/AS32681 AS32681] |
| − | == |
+ | ==FCC== |
[https://www.fcc.gov Federal Communications Commision] |
[https://www.fcc.gov Federal Communications Commision] |
||
* FRN: 0031037245 |
* FRN: 0031037245 |
||
| − | === |
+ | ===Experimental Licenses=== |
A number of the backbone links operate with experimental 6GHz licenses in the [[wikipedia:Unlicensed_National_Information_Infrastructure|U-NII-5 band]]. |
A number of the backbone links operate with experimental 6GHz licenses in the [[wikipedia:Unlicensed_National_Information_Infrastructure|U-NII-5 band]]. |
||
https://apps.fcc.gov/els |
https://apps.fcc.gov/els |
||
| − | * |
+ | *[[Fish Ranch]] to [[San Bruno Mountain (Building 7)|San Bruno Mtn 7]] & [[San Bruno Mountain (Building 4)|San Bruno Mtn 4]] - [https://apps.fcc.gov/els/GetAtt.html?id=325016 WN2XRO] |
| − | * |
+ | *[[San Bruno Mountain (Building 7)|San Bruno Mtn 7]] to [[San Carlos]], Swallow, [[Fire Station 8]] & [[Black Mountain (Site 4)|Black Mountain]] - [https://apps.fcc.gov/els/GetAtt.html?id=327676 WN2XUD] |
| − | * |
+ | *[[Wolfback]] to [[ORCA]], [[Oxford]], [[4CCCC|CCCC]] - [https://apps.fcc.gov/els/GetAtt.html?id=327671 WN2XTR] |
| − | * |
+ | *[[San Carlos]] to [[Sunol Ridge]] - [https://apps.fcc.gov/els/GetAtt.html?id=333165 WO2XAS] |
| − | == |
+ | ==Network Structure== |
| − | === |
+ | ===Radios=== |
A minimal backbone endpoint consists of two radios providing a point-to-point link between two sites. Ideally a site provides at least two links so the network can be extended from that point. In some places we use point-to-multipoint radios to provide additional shared links from a single site. We currently deploy the following: |
A minimal backbone endpoint consists of two radios providing a point-to-point link between two sites. Ideally a site provides at least two links so the network can be extended from that point. In some places we use point-to-multipoint radios to provide additional shared links from a single site. We currently deploy the following: |
||
| − | * |
+ | *[https://dl.ubnt.com/datasheets/airfiber/airFiber_5XHD_DS.pdf Ubiquiti airFiber 5XHD] |
| − | * |
+ | *[https://dl.ui.com/ds/ltu-rocket Ubiquiti Rocket LTU] |
| − | * |
+ | *[https://store.ui.com/us/en/pro/category/all-60ghz-wireless/products/airfiber-60-lr Ubiquiti airFiber 60LR] |
| − | * |
+ | *[https://mimosa.co/uploads/datasheets/Mimosa-by-Airspan-B11-Datasheet_DS-0007-04.pdf Mimosa B11] |
| − | === |
+ | ===Routers=== |
Any router capable of supporting OSPF can be used to support the radios. We currently deploy the following: |
Any router capable of supporting OSPF can be used to support the radios. We currently deploy the following: |
||
| − | * |
+ | *[https://dl.ubnt.com/datasheets/edgemax/EdgeRouter_X_DS.pdf Ubiquiti EdgeRouterX] |
| − | * |
+ | *[https://dl.ubnt.com/datasheets/edgemax/EdgeRouter_X_DS.pdf Ubiquiti EdgeRouterX SFP] |
| − | * |
+ | *[https://mikrotik.com/product/crs112_8p_4s_in Mikrotik CRS112-8P-4S] |
| − | * |
+ | *[https://help.mikrotik.com/docs/display/ROS/Cloud+Hosted+Router%2C+CHR Mikrotik CHR] |
| − | === |
+ | ===Software=== |
The backbone network runs [[wikipedia:Open_Shortest_Path_First|OSPF]] |
The backbone network runs [[wikipedia:Open_Shortest_Path_First|OSPF]] |
||
| − | === |
+ | ===Hardware=== |
More details description of [[Backbone Site Hardware|typical site hardware]]. |
More details description of [[Backbone Site Hardware|typical site hardware]]. |
||
| − | == |
+ | ==Services == |
A typical backbone node provide the following services: |
A typical backbone node provide the following services: |
||
| − | * |
+ | *'''Private IPv4 address''': A subnet of ''100.100.X.X/24'' is assigned to the router. Addresses from this range can be automatically or statically allocated to devices connected to the router. All addresses can be routed to the Internet (but not from the Internet). The subnet is allocated to VLAN 1100 internally. A router may choose to restrict this using a firewall. |
| − | * |
+ | *'''Public IPv4 address''': Specific public IP address from the subnet ''206.197.44.0/24'' or ''44.31.228.0/24'' can be allocated to specific routers and/or ports. Traffic to these addresses can be routed to and from the Internet. Addresses are managed using policy based routing. No traffic is routed into the network for an address which is not allocated. |
| − | * |
+ | *'''Public IPv6 address''': A subnet of ''2620:B8:A000::/64'' is assigned to the router. Addresses are allocated to a device using [[wikipedia:IPv6_address#Stateless_address_autoconfiguration|SLAAC]]. Traffic to these addresses can be routed to and from the Internet. A router may choose to restrict this using a firewall or choose to not participate in IPv6 routing at all. |
| − | == |
+ | ==Links== |
| − | === |
+ | ===Active === |
| − | * |
+ | *[[Black Mountain (Site 4)]] |
| − | ** |
+ | **[[San Bruno Mountain (Building 7)]] |
| − | * |
+ | *[[4CCCC|CCCC]] |
| − | ** |
+ | **[[Mount Diablo]] |
| − | ** |
+ | **[[Richmond Field Station]] |
| − | ** |
+ | **[[Wolfback]] |
| − | * |
+ | *[[Fire Station 8]] |
| − | ** |
+ | **[[Mount Allison]] |
| − | ** |
+ | **[[San Bruno Mountain (Building 7)]] |
| − | * |
+ | *[[Fish Ranch]] |
| − | ** |
+ | **[[ORCA]] |
| − | ** |
+ | **[[San Bruno Mountain (Building 7)]] |
| − | ** |
+ | **[[San Bruno Mountain (Building 4)]] |
| − | * |
+ | *[[Mount Diablo]] |
| − | ** |
+ | **[[4CCCC|CCCC]] |
| − | * |
+ | *[[ORCA]] |
| − | ** |
+ | **[[Fish Ranch]] |
| − | ** |
+ | **[[Wolfback]] |
| − | * |
+ | *[[Oxford]] |
| − | ** |
+ | **[[Wolfback]] |
| − | * |
+ | *[[Richmond Field Station]] |
| − | ** |
+ | **[[4CCCC|CCCC]] |
| − | * |
+ | *[[San Bruno Mountain (Building 4)]] |
| − | ** |
+ | **[[Fish Ranch]] |
| − | * |
+ | *[[San Bruno Mountain (Building 7)]] |
| − | ** |
+ | **[[Black Mountain (Site 4)]] |
| − | ** |
+ | **[[Fire Station 8]] |
| − | ** |
+ | **[[Fish Ranch]] |
| − | ** |
+ | **[[San Carlos]] |
| − | ** |
+ | **Swallow |
| − | * |
+ | *[[San Carlos]] |
| − | ** |
+ | **[[San Bruno Mountain (Building 7)]] |
| − | ** |
+ | **[[Sunol Ridge]] |
| − | * |
+ | *[[Sunol Ridge]] |
| − | ** |
+ | **[[San Carlos]] |
| − | ** |
+ | **[[Mount Allison]] |
| − | * |
+ | *Swallow |
| − | ** |
+ | **[[San Bruno Mountain (Building 7)]] |
| − | * |
+ | *[[Wolfback]] |
| − | ** |
+ | **[[4CCCC|CCCC]] |
| − | ** |
+ | **[[ORCA]] |
| − | ** |
+ | **[[Oxford]] |
| − | === |
+ | ===Planned === |
| − | * |
+ | *[[Mount Allison]] |
| − | ** |
+ | **[[Fire Station 8]] |
| − | ** |
+ | **[[Sunol Ridge]] |
* [[Mt Vaca East]] |
* [[Mt Vaca East]] |
||
| − | ** |
+ | **[[Carpenter Hill]] |
| − | === |
+ | ===Proposed === |
| − | * |
+ | *[[San Bruno Mountain (Building 7)]] |
| − | ** |
+ | **[[Mount Allison]] |
*[[Fire Station 8|FS8]] |
*[[Fire Station 8|FS8]] |
||
**[[Palo Alto PSB]] |
**[[Palo Alto PSB]] |
||
| − | * |
+ | *[[Twitchell Tower]] |
** [[Mt Vaca East]] |
** [[Mt Vaca East]] |
||
| − | * |
+ | *[[Mount Diablo|Mt Diablo]] |
| − | ** |
+ | **[[Twitchell Tower]] |
| − | ** |
+ | **[[ORCA]] |
| − | * |
+ | *[[San Pedro]] |
| − | ** |
+ | **[[Oxford]] |
| − | ** |
+ | **[[Vaca Valley Radio Club Repeater Site|Mt Vaca West]] |
| − | ** |
+ | **[[San Bruno Mountain (Building 4)]] |
| − | ** |
+ | **[[4CCCC|CCCC]] |
| − | == |
+ | ==Peering and IP Transit== |
The backbone network uses three IP Transit points to facilitate access to and from the public Internet using BGP. |
The backbone network uses three IP Transit points to facilitate access to and from the public Internet using BGP. |
||
| − | * |
+ | *[https://freerangecloud.com FreeRangeCloud] BGP Tunnel (Fremont) [primary] |
| − | * |
+ | *[https://bgp.co August Internet] Transit (Kansas City) [backup] |
Connections to these transit points are via Wireguard tunnels from the Oxford site. The Oxford site uses fiber as the primary with Starlink as the backup. |
Connections to these transit points are via Wireguard tunnels from the Oxford site. The Oxford site uses fiber as the primary with Starlink as the backup. |
||
| − | === |
+ | ===Peering Information === |
| − | * |
+ | *https://bgp.tools/as/32681 |
| − | == |
+ | ==History== |
The first backbone link, between [[Fish Ranch]] and [[San Bruno Mountain (Building 7)|San Bruno Mountain]], was installed on the 23rd November, 2021 and became operational on 3rd September, 2022. The goal was to provide a solid connection across the Bay which the AREDN network could use. It had been observed by the AREDN network builders in Southern California, that a better quality and more stable network could be constructed by creating a solid, well engineered backbone, to which local community AREDN networks could connect. |
The first backbone link, between [[Fish Ranch]] and [[San Bruno Mountain (Building 7)|San Bruno Mountain]], was installed on the 23rd November, 2021 and became operational on 3rd September, 2022. The goal was to provide a solid connection across the Bay which the AREDN network could use. It had been observed by the AREDN network builders in Southern California, that a better quality and more stable network could be constructed by creating a solid, well engineered backbone, to which local community AREDN networks could connect. |
||
| − | == |
+ | ==Projects== |
| − | === |
+ | ===Bay Area Mesh on the Backbone=== |
Using the Bay Area Backbone to support the Bay Area Mesh has a number of advantages for the Mesh: |
Using the Bay Area Backbone to support the Bay Area Mesh has a number of advantages for the Mesh: |
||
| − | * |
+ | *It easier to connect high sites to other high sites, especially when we're trying to connect different neighborhoods while avoiding mountain ridges. |
* High sites are often backed up with generator power. We provide battery backup ourselves, but that will only last so long. |
* High sites are often backed up with generator power. We provide battery backup ourselves, but that will only last so long. |
||
* High sites will be there when the Ham moves on. Because these are generally commercial sites with long histories of ham involvement, we are not a the whims of someones current housing situation or - in some cases - employment situation. |
* High sites will be there when the Ham moves on. Because these are generally commercial sites with long histories of ham involvement, we are not a the whims of someones current housing situation or - in some cases - employment situation. |
||
* It's often easier for a neighborhood to connect up to a high site (or more than one) as they're less obstructed. |
* It's often easier for a neighborhood to connect up to a high site (or more than one) as they're less obstructed. |
||
| − | ==== |
+ | ====Status ==== |
The current health of the backbone is monitored [http://kn6plv-grafana.local.mesh here] ([https://sfbackbone.xojs.org/ internet]) |
The current health of the backbone is monitored [http://kn6plv-grafana.local.mesh here] ([https://sfbackbone.xojs.org/ internet]) |
||
| − | ==== |
+ | ====Hardware ==== |
The mesh operates on the Backbone by creating point-to-point connections between mesh sites (these are called '''xlinks''' - see below). Mikrotik hAP ac2 nodes provide the the mesh endpoint hardware. The traffic is routed between the specified IP addresses of the xlink. The underlying network may encapsulate this traffic if desired. We often use VLANs. |
The mesh operates on the Backbone by creating point-to-point connections between mesh sites (these are called '''xlinks''' - see below). Mikrotik hAP ac2 nodes provide the the mesh endpoint hardware. The traffic is routed between the specified IP addresses of the xlink. The underlying network may encapsulate this traffic if desired. We often use VLANs. |
||
| − | ==== |
+ | ====XLINKS ==== |
XLINKS are custom connections between sites which feed directly into the AREDN router. Think of them as DtD links, but only point-to-point. By default we use VLAN 1100 for all XLINKs. |
XLINKS are custom connections between sites which feed directly into the AREDN router. Think of them as DtD links, but only point-to-point. By default we use VLAN 1100 for all XLINKs. |
||
{| class="wikitable" |
{| class="wikitable" |
||
| Line 206: | Line 208: | ||
!Notes |
!Notes |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| − | |[[San Bruno Mountain (Building 7)|San Bruno Mountain]] to Swallow |
+ | | [[San Bruno Mountain (Building 7)|San Bruno Mountain]] to Swallow |
| |
| |
||
|100.101.12.101 |
|100.101.12.101 |
||
| Line 230: | Line 232: | ||
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| − | |[[San Carlos]] to [[Sunol Ridge]] |
+ | | [[San Carlos]] to [[Sunol Ridge]] |
| |
| |
||
|100.101.17.101 |
|100.101.17.101 |
||
| Line 236: | Line 238: | ||
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| − | |[[San Bruno Mountain (Building 7)|San Bruno Mountain (7)]] to [[San Carlos]] |
+ | | [[San Bruno Mountain (Building 7)|San Bruno Mountain (7)]] to [[San Carlos]] |
| |
| |
||
|100.101.12.101 |
|100.101.12.101 |
||
| Line 242: | Line 244: | ||
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| − | |[[San Bruno Mountain (Building 7)|San Bruno Mountain (7)]] to [[Fire Station 8]] |
+ | | [[San Bruno Mountain (Building 7)|San Bruno Mountain (7)]] to [[Fire Station 8]] |
| |
| |
||
|100.101.12.101 |
|100.101.12.101 |
||
| Line 248: | Line 250: | ||
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| − | |[[Fire Station 8]] to [[Mount Allison]] |
+ | |[[Fire Station 8]] to [[Mount Allison]] |
| |
| |
||
| - |
| - |
||
| Line 266: | Line 268: | ||
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| − | |[[San Bruno Mountain (Building 7)|San Bruno Mountain (7)]] to [[Black Mountain|Black Mountain (4)]] |
+ | | [[San Bruno Mountain (Building 7)|San Bruno Mountain (7)]] to [[Black Mountain|Black Mountain (4)]] |
|20 |
|20 |
||
|100.101.12.101 |
|100.101.12.101 |
||
| Line 272: | Line 274: | ||
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| − | |[[Sunol Ridge]] to [[Mount Allison]] |
+ | |[[Sunol Ridge]] to [[Mount Allison]] |
| |
| |
||
| - |
| - |
||
| Line 286: | Line 288: | ||
Backbone links appear in the mesh labeled as '''xlink''' but are no different from any other link in the network from AREDN's perspective. |
Backbone links appear in the mesh labeled as '''xlink''' but are no different from any other link in the network from AREDN's perspective. |
||
| − | === |
+ | ===WB6ECE Repeater Group Interconnect=== |
[[WB6ECE Repeater Group]] operates a network on about a dozen sites south of the Bay Area. The interconnect project aims to share networks to provide greater redundancy and reduce duplicated effort. |
[[WB6ECE Repeater Group]] operates a network on about a dozen sites south of the Bay Area. The interconnect project aims to share networks to provide greater redundancy and reduce duplicated effort. |
||
The ultimate goal of the Interconnect project is to provide a BGP connection between the two. For the moment the networks are interconnected by each providing the other with IP addresses on their respective networks. |
The ultimate goal of the Interconnect project is to provide a BGP connection between the two. For the moment the networks are interconnected by each providing the other with IP addresses on their respective networks. |
||
| − | ==== |
+ | ====Interconnect Points ==== |
There are three interconnect points. |
There are three interconnect points. |
||
| − | ===== |
+ | =====[[San Bruno Mountain (Building 7)]]===== |
Routers at San Bruno Mountain are connected via a 1 Gbps link. |
Routers at San Bruno Mountain are connected via a 1 Gbps link. |
||
| − | ====== |
+ | ======Forward Link====== |
| − | * |
+ | *BAB IP: 44.31.128.190 |
| − | * |
+ | *WB6ECE IP: 44.31.128.189 |
| − | * |
+ | *Subnet: 44.31.128.188/30 |
| − | * |
+ | *Routes: 44.31.128.0/22 |
| − | ====== |
+ | ======Reverse Link====== |
| − | * |
+ | *WB6ECE IP: 206.197.44.37 |
| − | * |
+ | *Subnet: 206.197.44.0/24 |
| − | * |
+ | *Routes: 206.197.44.1/24 |
| − | ===== |
+ | =====[[Black Mountain (Site 4)]]===== |
Router at Black Mountain is connected to [[Black Mountain (Site 5)|Site 5]] via a 60 GHz link. |
Router at Black Mountain is connected to [[Black Mountain (Site 5)|Site 5]] via a 60 GHz link. |
||
| − | ====== |
+ | ======Forward Link====== |
| − | * |
+ | *BAB IP: 44.31.128.222 |
| − | * |
+ | *WB6ECE IP: 44.31.128.221 |
| − | * |
+ | *Subnet: 44.31.128.220/30 |
| − | * |
+ | *Routes: 44.31.128.0/22 |
| − | ====== |
+ | ======Reverse Link====== |
| − | * |
+ | *WB6ECE IP: 206.197.44.38 |
| − | * |
+ | *Subnet: 206.197.44.0/24 |
| − | * |
+ | *Routes: 206.197.44.1/24 |
| − | ===== |
+ | =====[[Mount Allison]]===== |
Not currently active |
Not currently active |
||
| − | ==== |
+ | ====Interconnect Links ==== |
| − | * |
+ | *[[San Bruno Mountain (Building 7)]] to [[Black Mountain (Site 4)]] |
** BAM: an VXLAN connection between these two sites provides a backup link for our backbone. The backup is managed using OSPF. |
** BAM: an VXLAN connection between these two sites provides a backup link for our backbone. The backup is managed using OSPF. |
||
| − | ** |
+ | **WB6ECE: an IP-over-IP provides them with a similar service. The backup is managed using OSPF. |
| − | == |
+ | ==Contacts== |
| − | * |
+ | *Tim Wilkinson - KN6PLV - tim@sfwem.net |
Revision as of 21:00, 13 November 2023
The goal of the Bay Area Backbone Project is to provide a fast, IP microwave based networking between amateur high sites in the Bay Area. The backbone provides IP connectivity within the network and can provide public IPv4 address for full Internet connectivity when required.
The network is available to any amateur operator needing connectivity to, from or between supported sites.
Management
- Read Only: Username: mesh Password: aredn-back-bone
Sites
- Black Mountain (Site 4) - Palo Alto
- CCCC - Richmond
- Fire Station 8 - Palo Alto
- Fish Ranch - Oakland/Orinda
- Mount Allison - Fremont (pending)
- ORCA - Oakland/Orinda
- Oxford - Berkeley
- Palo Alto PBS (pending)
- San Bruno Mountain (Building 4) - Brisbane
- San Bruno Mountain (Building 7) - Brisbane
- Sunol Ridge - Sunol
- Wolfback - Sausalito
Want to become part of the network? We'll provide everything you need to get connected.
ARIN
American Registry for Internet Numbers
Organizations
Points of Contact
- TECH1410-ARIN - Tech
- WILKI322-ARIN - General
Networks
- NET-206-197-44-0-1 - 206.197.44.0/24
- NET-44-0-0-0-1 - 44.31.228.0/24
- NET6-2620-B8-A000-1 - 2620:B8:A000::/48
Autonomous System Numbers
FCC
Federal Communications Commision
- FRN: 0031037245
Experimental Licenses
A number of the backbone links operate with experimental 6GHz licenses in the U-NII-5 band.
- Fish Ranch to San Bruno Mtn 7 & San Bruno Mtn 4 - WN2XRO
- San Bruno Mtn 7 to San Carlos, Swallow, Fire Station 8 & Black Mountain - WN2XUD
- Wolfback to ORCA, Oxford, CCCC - WN2XTR
- San Carlos to Sunol Ridge - WO2XAS
Network Structure
Radios
A minimal backbone endpoint consists of two radios providing a point-to-point link between two sites. Ideally a site provides at least two links so the network can be extended from that point. In some places we use point-to-multipoint radios to provide additional shared links from a single site. We currently deploy the following:
Routers
Any router capable of supporting OSPF can be used to support the radios. We currently deploy the following:
Software
The backbone network runs OSPF
Hardware
More details description of typical site hardware.
Services
A typical backbone node provide the following services:
- Private IPv4 address: A subnet of 100.100.X.X/24 is assigned to the router. Addresses from this range can be automatically or statically allocated to devices connected to the router. All addresses can be routed to the Internet (but not from the Internet). The subnet is allocated to VLAN 1100 internally. A router may choose to restrict this using a firewall.
- Public IPv4 address: Specific public IP address from the subnet 206.197.44.0/24 or 44.31.228.0/24 can be allocated to specific routers and/or ports. Traffic to these addresses can be routed to and from the Internet. Addresses are managed using policy based routing. No traffic is routed into the network for an address which is not allocated.
- Public IPv6 address: A subnet of 2620:B8:A000::/64 is assigned to the router. Addresses are allocated to a device using SLAAC. Traffic to these addresses can be routed to and from the Internet. A router may choose to restrict this using a firewall or choose to not participate in IPv6 routing at all.
Links
Active
- Black Mountain (Site 4)
- CCCC
- Fire Station 8
- Fish Ranch
- Mount Diablo
- ORCA
- Oxford
- Richmond Field Station
- San Bruno Mountain (Building 4)
- San Bruno Mountain (Building 7)
- San Carlos
- Sunol Ridge
- Swallow
- Wolfback
Planned
Proposed
Peering and IP Transit
The backbone network uses three IP Transit points to facilitate access to and from the public Internet using BGP.
- FreeRangeCloud BGP Tunnel (Fremont) [primary]
- August Internet Transit (Kansas City) [backup]
Connections to these transit points are via Wireguard tunnels from the Oxford site. The Oxford site uses fiber as the primary with Starlink as the backup.
Peering Information
History
The first backbone link, between Fish Ranch and San Bruno Mountain, was installed on the 23rd November, 2021 and became operational on 3rd September, 2022. The goal was to provide a solid connection across the Bay which the AREDN network could use. It had been observed by the AREDN network builders in Southern California, that a better quality and more stable network could be constructed by creating a solid, well engineered backbone, to which local community AREDN networks could connect.
Projects
Bay Area Mesh on the Backbone
Using the Bay Area Backbone to support the Bay Area Mesh has a number of advantages for the Mesh:
- It easier to connect high sites to other high sites, especially when we're trying to connect different neighborhoods while avoiding mountain ridges.
- High sites are often backed up with generator power. We provide battery backup ourselves, but that will only last so long.
- High sites will be there when the Ham moves on. Because these are generally commercial sites with long histories of ham involvement, we are not a the whims of someones current housing situation or - in some cases - employment situation.
- It's often easier for a neighborhood to connect up to a high site (or more than one) as they're less obstructed.
Status
The current health of the backbone is monitored here (internet)
Hardware
The mesh operates on the Backbone by creating point-to-point connections between mesh sites (these are called xlinks - see below). Mikrotik hAP ac2 nodes provide the the mesh endpoint hardware. The traffic is routed between the specified IP addresses of the xlink. The underlying network may encapsulate this traffic if desired. We often use VLANs.
XLINKS
XLINKS are custom connections between sites which feed directly into the AREDN router. Think of them as DtD links, but only point-to-point. By default we use VLAN 1100 for all XLINKs.
| Link | VLAN | A | B | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Bruno Mountain to Swallow | 100.101.12.101 | 100.101.12.103 | ||
| ORCA to Wolfback | 100.101.18.102 | 100.101.18.101 | ||
| ORCA to Fish Ranch | 100.101.13.101 | 100.101.13.102 | Dues to an intermediate Switch, uses VLAN 1101 | |
| Fish Ranch to San Bruno Mountain (7) | 100.101.14.101 | 100.101.14.103 | ||
| San Carlos to Sunol Ridge | 100.101.17.101 | 100.101.17.102 | ||
| San Bruno Mountain (7) to San Carlos | 100.101.12.101 | 100.101.12.102 | ||
| San Bruno Mountain (7) to Fire Station 8 | 100.101.12.101 | 100.101.12.104 | ||
| Fire Station 8 to Mount Allison | - | - | ||
| Oxford to Wolfback | 100.101.18.101 | 100.101.18.103 | ||
| Fish Ranch to San Bruno Mountain (4) | 100.101.14.101 | 100.101.14.102 | ||
| San Bruno Mountain (7) to Black Mountain (4) | 20 | 100.101.12.101 | 100.101.12.105 | |
| Sunol Ridge to Mount Allison | - | - | ||
| CCCC to Wolfback | 100.101.18.104 | 100.101.18.101 |
Backbone links appear in the mesh labeled as xlink but are no different from any other link in the network from AREDN's perspective.
WB6ECE Repeater Group Interconnect
WB6ECE Repeater Group operates a network on about a dozen sites south of the Bay Area. The interconnect project aims to share networks to provide greater redundancy and reduce duplicated effort.
The ultimate goal of the Interconnect project is to provide a BGP connection between the two. For the moment the networks are interconnected by each providing the other with IP addresses on their respective networks.
Interconnect Points
There are three interconnect points.
San Bruno Mountain (Building 7)
Routers at San Bruno Mountain are connected via a 1 Gbps link.
Forward Link
- BAB IP: 44.31.128.190
- WB6ECE IP: 44.31.128.189
- Subnet: 44.31.128.188/30
- Routes: 44.31.128.0/22
Reverse Link
- WB6ECE IP: 206.197.44.37
- Subnet: 206.197.44.0/24
- Routes: 206.197.44.1/24
Black Mountain (Site 4)
Router at Black Mountain is connected to Site 5 via a 60 GHz link.
Forward Link
- BAB IP: 44.31.128.222
- WB6ECE IP: 44.31.128.221
- Subnet: 44.31.128.220/30
- Routes: 44.31.128.0/22
Reverse Link
- WB6ECE IP: 206.197.44.38
- Subnet: 206.197.44.0/24
- Routes: 206.197.44.1/24
Mount Allison
Not currently active
Interconnect Links
- San Bruno Mountain (Building 7) to Black Mountain (Site 4)
- BAM: an VXLAN connection between these two sites provides a backup link for our backbone. The backup is managed using OSPF.
- WB6ECE: an IP-over-IP provides them with a similar service. The backup is managed using OSPF.
Contacts
- Tim Wilkinson - KN6PLV - tim@sfwem.net