[commedia] Sputnik: Open Source Wireless Network

[Bill Best]

There is some interest on this list about wireless networks and their
applications within communities.  The Register
(http://www.thregister.co.uk) reported last week on the release of Sputnik
which may help to overcome some of the technical difficulties associated
with building a community wireless network
(http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/59/24349.html).

Sputnik (http://www.sputnik.com) is an Open Source 802.11b wireless gateway
designed to allow wireless access providers to authenticate users while
sharing their bandwidth.  Download the software to a spare machine or pop
in a CD bought from Sputnik, and you have a working 802.11b wireless
network, providing you have the needed wireless cards. The Sputnik software
is run directly from the CD -- no hard drive needed, and no need to mess
with MAC addresses, or "goofy" Web interfaces to add users.

Sputnik can be run on outdated legacy hardware and it comes with a range of
features including bandwidth shaping and firewalling.  Sputnik subscribers
will have to pay a monthly fee to roam on the Sputnik Network, however, for
a limited time Sputnik subscribers roam for free.