The ADRCS deployment of the AREDN Network

The AREDN network, since its inception in 2015, has grown to over 2500 nodes worldwide. This has necessitated that it be divided into segments to keep the internal routing at a manageable level. In Western Canada and the US Pacific Northwest, the segment has approximately 50 nodes. At present, all nodes are identical in function and run the same software.

The network as it stands today is implemented as a traditional mesh network, with each node being able to see all others on the network.  The figure below illustrates the reach on the current network, the nodes marked with an ‘A’ are deployed and active, those with a ‘P’ are proposed.

 

Recently a new network topology has been adopted, create a two-tiered network consisting of a ‘cloud network’ and a ‘mesh island’. The cloud network is implemented with a network of supernodes, which are connected by the public internet. A mesh island is a group of nodes connected to a supernode. The ADRCS network, as shown on the network map, connects to a single supernode, which gives it access to the entire world-wide network.

The mesh island on the west coast and Vancouver Island have been moved to their own supernode to make the network more manageable.