diff --git a/src/SUMMARY.md b/src/SUMMARY.md index 73f0c0e..f932537 100644 --- a/src/SUMMARY.md +++ b/src/SUMMARY.md @@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ [Notice](./notice.md) +- [Glossary](glossary.md) - [Network](./network/main.md) - [Supernode 1](./network/supernode1.md) - [Exit Node](./network/exit-node.md) diff --git a/src/glossary.md b/src/glossary.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..de6497b --- /dev/null +++ b/src/glossary.md @@ -0,0 +1,39 @@ +# Glossary + +## Toronto Community Network (TCN) + +The name of the Toronto-based community mesh network initiative started by Toronto Mesh with its collaborators in 2020. + +This book documents the current resources of this initiative. For more information, visit [the project page](https://github.com/tomeshnet/toronto-community-network/). + +## Toronto Mesh + +A community group that helps communities create better networks with open source and peer-to-peer technologies that promote digital literacy and privacy. + +The group that started the Toronto Community Network initiative and its steward for the foreseeable future. For more information, visit [tomesh.net](https://tomesh.net). + +## Point-to-point (PTP) + +A **PTP** (Point To Point) link is a connection limited to only two devices. This could be a virtual connection like a VPN or Tunnel, or a physical connection like two routers connected via a fibre optic link, or two antennas configured for P2P. Although most antennas are capable of doing both PTP and PTMP, antennas used for PTP usually are high gain by being directional. This allows them to reach longer distances with less noise. + +## Point-to-multipoint (PTMP) + +**PTMP** antennas support multiple links by allowing many antennas to connect to it. They're usually sector antennas (moderate gain) installed at a high point. These kinds of links are used to connect homes on the ground, because one antenna may connect to up to hundreds of others pointing to it. These kinds of links are more limited in range than PTP setups. + +## Node + +A **node** is a device that's connected and accessible on the mesh network. This might be a router and antenna combo, for example, on top of someone's house, or an apartment building. This doesn't include devices connected to the mesh network that are [NATed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_address_translation), so even if your home router is connected to the mesh network, your laptop and phone usually aren't counted as nodes. + +## Supernode + +A **supernode** is an actively maintained relaying node that supports high bandwidth point-to-multipoint (PTMP) connectivity. Currently all supernodes are managed by Toronto Mesh, but other groups may also operate their own supernodes on the Toronto Community Network. + +## Babel + +The **Babel routing protocol** is used to create a mesh network. By running a Babel implementations on the nodes of the network, paths to all other nodes are actively calculated, so that connections can be made to any node on the mesh. + +[Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babel_(protocol)), [Homepage](https://www.irif.fr/~jch/software/babel/) + +## babeld + +Pronounced "babel-dee", this is a reference implementation of the Babel protocol, and the software used to run Babel on the mesh network. The "d" stands for [daemon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daemon_%28computing%29). The code is available [here](https://github.com/jech/babeld).