What's Cooking (new projects)

Talk about Documentation
1

Being nosy into new development, I noticed several interesting new projects emerged (besides the next major OpenWrt release) - A brief overview:

adblock-lean

adblock-lean lately gained new features and optimizations - a luci interface is in the works
references:
*https://github.com/lynxthecat/adblock-lean
*https://github.com/rickparrish/luci-app-adblock-lean

Alpine Package Keeper (APK)

APK is intended to replace OPKG package management
references:
*The future: opkg vs apk
*https://github.com/openwrt/packages/issues/23706

ApmonD - access point monitor

Release expected around December 2024
ApmonD is a centralized access point data monitor/collector.

Access Point Micro Peering (APUP)

APUP is a simpler [..] successor to Ad Hoc, Wireless Distribution System, 802.11s mesh mode, Multi-AP and EasyMesh
references:
*https://github.com/openwrt/openwrt/pull/15442
*APuP - an alternative for WDS and Mesh
*https://blog.freifunk.net/2024/08/24/a-new-way-to-mesh-apup/

eBPF performance optimizations for Firewall

new firewall software offloading variant using eBPF with performance gain of 50% more throughput
references:
*https://blog.freifunk.net/2024/08/26/gsoc-2024-ebpf-performance-optimizations-for-a-new-openwrt-firewall-final-report

geoip-shell

Restricts inbound access based on geographical location.
Outbound outbound geoblocking is in the works
Useful for those who do self-hosting or enable port forwarding from WAN to a LAN host
references:
*Geoip-shell: flexible geoip blocker for Linux
*https://github.com/friendly-bits/geoip-shell
*https://github.com/friendly-bits/geoip-shell/discussions/23

Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP)

LLDP is a network layer 2 protocol (802.1AB) which advertises hostname, description and ports to network neighbors. LLPD can show the devices which are connected to your switch
references:
*https://github.com/openwrt/luci/pull/6456

Mesh11sd - v5 around the corner

Mesh11sd is a dynamic configuration daemon for 802.11s mesh network parameters which enables easy and automated mesh network operation with multiple mesh nodes.
The upcoming v5 supports iot/guest type networks on the mesh using vxlan tunnels and does this automatically with no configuration requirements. Multi-point to portal tunneling is fully supported. In addition, v5 supports built in access point monitoring. The portal mesh node collects mesh hosted access point data, such as client id, data usage etc centrally in its database. Cabled access points (aka dump access points) can also be supported using the soon to be released ApmonD package.
references:
*https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-user/network/wifi/mesh/mesh11sd
*https://github.com/openNDS/mesh11sd

Modular Assistant

A GUI wizard to simplify initial OpenWrt configuration
references (unsure about the state of this):
*https://blog.freifunk.net/2024/08/29/gsoc-2024-development-of-a-modular-assistant-for-openwrt-final-report/

OpenWrt Upgrade Tool (owut)

owut is a command line upgrade tool that creates and installs custom builds containing all your currently installed packages and retaining your configuration.
references:
*https://github.com/efahl/owut/
*Owut: OpenWrt Upgrade Tool
*https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-user/installation/sysupgrade.owut

QoSmate

QoSmate is a Quality of Service solution that aims to optimize network performance while allowing for controlled prioritization of specific traffic types.
references:
*https://github.com/hudra0/qosmate
*QoSmate: (Yet Another) Quality of Service Tool for OpenWrt

Table of Hardware

faster improved Table of Hardware overview

Ubus Device fingerprinting (UFP)

UFP is a neat feature to identify device types like iPhone model based on device fingerprinting
references:
*https://github.com/openwrt/openwrt/pull/16568
*Ufp: add a device fingerprinting daemon


ps: let me know in case you have better links / descriptions or additional projects to keep this topic up-to-date

16 Likes
2

perhaps the topic should be made clearer ?

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Anyone know if this will outperform WDS for say three fixed location APs distributed over a home?

4

You mean to change the Topic title?
If so, should I chance this to something like What’s Cooking (new projects) ?

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5

Something like that, but the thread got moved, perhaps it's not as needed as it was before (imho).

Initially, I thought your post was some kind of food or kitchenware spam :slight_smile:

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6

hi, i could not find related thread on the eBPF improvement, can someone point to if exists?

7

for context: I am an elderly Dutchman and not very good at native English - I thought that What's Cooking was a regularly expression for in progress development...

2 Likes
8

I'd say it's more like "What's up ?"
I'm also not a native speaker :wink:

10

Title adjusted - thanks for the feedback

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Besides https://blog.freifunk.net/2024/08/26/gsoc-2024-ebpf-performance-optimizations-for-a-new-openwrt-firewall-final-report/,
I only found https://github.com/tk154/GSoC2024_eBPF-Firewall
And https://blog.freifunk.net/2024/08/26/gsoc-2024-ebpf-performance-optimizations-for-a-new-openwrt-firewall-final-report/

12

appreciate!
(unfortunately it is not clear to me from those links how this eBPF improvement work together with queue management and with hardware offloading. hence if there is any other source of information would glad to hear about it.)

thank you!

13

This is interesting, particularly the upgrade tool. I love the auto-upgrade feature in GL.iNet routers, and would like to see a similar feature integrated with the standard distributions.

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14

"no more unnecessary complications, like hardcoded bridging or routing algorithm in WiFi stack"

Somewhat reminds me of Reticulum...

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15

Unsurprisingly, me too. :thinking:

16

That’s a kind of WW3 protocol?

17

There is my pet project - geoip-shell. It's even in the official repositories already (albeit an earlier version because I'm a bit slow with submitting PRs). The wiki doesn't mention it, which I'd like to correct BTW.

4 Likes
18

I dont think this will be ready for the release
24.x.x

19

Thanks for mentioning - I have added it to the list
(is the short description that I used ok?)

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20

Currently it works the other way: it restricts access from the internet, based on the geographical location. This is a useful security tool for people who do self-hosting or enable port forwarding from WAN to a LAN host for any other reason. Outside OpenWrt, people use it to restrict access to their VPS.

I am working on a new feature which will optionally restrict access either way (or both) but it's not ready yet.

1 Like
21

Thanks - I adjusted the description

1 Like