What are the different Node Classifications?

Administering an ever expanding network such as ours requires a lot of time and effort. To successfully do this, and to keep things running as smooth as possible, we have defined a basic hierarchy for classifying network nodes.

At the top of this hierarchy are the most important (or 'mission critical') nodes, and working towards the bottom of the hierarchy we find nodes that are less relied upon for network continuity.


Core Router Nodes

These installations are to be considered the property of Air-Stream Wireless Incorporated, and are carefully administered under the guidance of the Network Team, to comply as closely as possible to the Technical Documentation.

Referred to as 'Core Nodes', they are designed to create a reliable backbone of connections upon which all other Air-Stream nodes interconnect.

Air-Stream APs have the following characteristics:

  • Property of Air-Stream Wireless Incorporated.
  • Administered by Air-Stream, specifically the committee and the Network Team.
  • Only financial members may connect directly to a Core Node.
  • Passage of non Air-Stream traffic is heavily regulated to ensure some QoS for financial members.
  • Core Nodes may have backbones to both Independent Nodes and other Core Nodes.
  • Link stability, server uptime, quality of service, routing and installation longevity can be guaranteed to some degree.

Client Nodes

These installations are usually a termination point, that is they do not route traffic to another part of the network.

The installation consists of a wireless device, in client mode, connected to a directional antenna that is pointed at either a Core Router Node or an Independent Router Node. The network at the Client Node can either be bridged (ie hosts are assigned IP's from the pool given to the remote access point) or routed where the client network is given a seperate subnet that is routed onto the network.

Most nodes on Air-Stream begin as Client Nodes.


Independent Router Nodes

These are installations not owned nor administered directly by the Air-Stream association. Such access points (called 'Independent Router Nodes') are to be used to extend the Air-Stream "core mesh".

Independent Routers have the following characteristics:

  • Hardware not owned by Air-Stream Wireless Incorporated, with possibly the exception of wireless interfaces for backboning to the Air-Stream Core Network (may or may not be provided by Air-Stream, Air-Stream retains ownership of such equipment).
  • The AP is not controlled directly by Air-Stream, other than as per the following guidelines.
  • Configuration of the AP conforms to the standard for linking to other Independent APs and/or the Air-Stream Core Network.
  • Air-Stream members connecting to an Independent AP are responsible for their own traffic to the Independent AP and the Air-Stream Core Network.
  • The Independent AP owner is responsible for all other traffic from the Independent AP.
  • Parties connecting to the Independent AP (including Air-Stream members) must agree to any terms and conditions set out by the Independent AP owner, including fees and access restrictions.

Independent Router Nodes may be connected to the Air-Stream Core Network either by a dedicated point to point backbone (exclusively carries data that must travel from node to node - usually in 802.11a) or by a "backbone" (usually 802.11b) that shares the wireless bandwidth of the remote access point.