Local area network only ASL3 Configuration with a few nodes Help

1

I’m struggling to find some guidance on the complete configuration of a private network setup.

I currently have 2 Pi’s with ASL3 installed and all seems ok. Using simple usb modems
I also have an i386 laptop with the Debian 12 and ASL3 setup for any possible testing that may need to be done.

I cannot connect to the AllStar Network just yet. This is going to be for a big event next year that you will hear about at some point.

Basic network setup is:

  1. 3 peplink routers all connected via a “layer 2 speedfusion vpn”
  2. All 3 locations are remote and 1 port on each router is configured to this layer
    2 vlan the pi will connect too.

All of this is completed and working fine. I can access each location as if all these devices are on the same local area network. So, I shouldn’t have any type of firewall issues.

2 of the locations will be using a Starlink Mini to make the VPN link possible. The 3rd location is on a fiber network with Static IPs available. (It is a requirement that one location must have a static public Ip for this layer2 Vpn to function and since Starlink offers CGNAT that’s not possible. (Yes, public Ip is available on the commercial plans, but it is still not static for a “roaming” service.

If anyone can point me to all the needed configurations on the setup of the nodes to communicate between each other in a standalone configuration it would be greatly appreciated. I’ve searched and searched and cannot find solid info on this setup.

I’ve done something like this in the rpt.conf file for 2 test device but I’m not even sure if this is correct and where else i may need to setup.
Main Location:
1500 = radio@127.0.0.1:4569/1500,NONE ;main node/server
1500 = radio@192.168.10.198:4569/1500,NONE ;main node client
1502 = radio@192.168.10.221:4570/1502,NONE ;first remote node

Second location:

1502 = radio@127.0.0.1:4570/1502,NONE
1500 = radio@192.168.10.198:4569/1500,NONE
1502 = radio@192.168.10.221:4570/1502,NONE

Its unclear to me if i need to do anything else in the iax.conf with this:
bindport = 4569 ; bindport and bindaddr may be specified

I’m unsure if each node should be configured with a different bind port or not.

Thanks in advance for any information that can help me get going.

2

Hi!

From what you have written, I believe you need different node numbers, they can’t be the same. Additionally, each node should have their own rpt.c9nf configured with its own node number @127.0.0.1

Bind port would need to be the port you have configured for that node, for example in node 1502’s conf u will have 4570. Each conf should have it’s own port correctly configured.

It will also help if you set bindaddress to 0.0.0.0

Then give it a try and see if it works. That’s the only way to know if the settings are correct. Share if you have any issues and someone will definitely help with the exact issue you face or it might even be covered already.

Regards,
Adam

3

Node numbers, even private ones, need to be unique.

I might suggest making all private nodes that start with 15 in one server and 16 for the other so you can keep them straight in your head.

The :port description needs to be the port used on the server your are connecting to.
And that is not clear to me in your config, but you need to go over it.

4

Please do correct me if I am wrong, but i think that the server @Mike is referring to is the allstarlink portal server and when @NurcDiver says server he is referring to the raspberry pi physical device.

Each node may have its own port number which could be different on its own physical device.

5

Allstarlink does not host any servers that handle traffic between nodes. All connections between nodes are peer-to-peer. Allstarlink just provides the “phone book” for nodes to look each other up. The portal is just a place to tell the Allstarlink “phone book” how your physical server (Raspberry Pi in this case) is configured. The “server” is always your physical host device.

2 Likes
6

This was my thinking. I read someplace that each station can act as a server and a client(node) so i assumed i would have to put the local loop back address 172.0.0.1 in the config on each side. and then the actual ip address of that device.

But now that i think about it if i plan on having one device acting as the main server then i probably only need to put one line in each of the remotes like this?

1500 = radio@127.0.0.1:4569/1500,NONE ;main node/server : this will be main server
1500 = radio@192.168.10.198:4569/1500,NONE ;main node client ;this is main server ip address and binded port in the iax.conf on the server These 2 lines are for the server device.

Then in each remote node something like this only?

1502 = radio@192.168.10.220:4570/1502,NONE ;first remote node
1503 = radio@192.168.10.225:4571/1503,NONE ;second remote node
1504 = radio@192.168.10.230:4572/1504,NONE; 3rd remote node and so and and so on.

But this doesn’t seem right to me because the remotes are not pointing to the server in anyway.

Then maybe on the server unit i should also add the bind address to 0.0.0.0 ??? or should i add each port from each remote node?
set bindaddress to 0.0.0.0
set bindaddress to 4570
set bindaddress to 4571
set bindaddress to 4572

I can’t be the only one that is wanting to do this…lol Once i get all working as it should i will be putting together a “how to” for the site because i have not been able to find a lot of details on this as you can tell with all my questions :slight_smile:

Just to add if i’m not dealing with any port restrictions(all local area network not passing out any firewall) should i just be using that 0.0.0.0 bind port on the server and the same on the remote nodes?

7

If you have 2 nodes of the same number, how do you expect to pick which connection path to use ?

Node numbers need to be unique, public or private.

The system finds the node number and uses the connection path/data listed

That is showing 3 servers. Each with it’s own port ans IP and one node on each.

Why not lay out a description here like this…

I have server 1 /ip /port needs how many nodes
I have server 2 /ip /port needs how many nodes
sever 3…etc

You are confused about what is required and I am confused as to your architecture to be able to tell you exactly what it should be.

Each server only need one bindportport, no matter how many nodes.

8

This was pretty helpful. One question though-

wouldn’t i need to use the actual ip of each node rather than 127.0.0.1 for them to contact each other across the lan? I’m not seeing how the devices will be able to find each other across the lan.

9

127.0.0.1 means local, it means it is on the server you are describing it from.
You could use the local IP address I guess but why slow it down by bouncing it off the router.
There is no requirement to set the iax port on the local address, but I always use it.
It port will default to the local server setting when it’s internal 127.0.0.1

10

I second @Mike’s request for more details on your topology. Can clearly tell us:

  • how many (local LAN) servers you are setting up
    • can you name each of these servers (“A”, “B”, “C”)
    • can you provide an IP for each of these servers (.1, .2, .3)
    • can you tell us how many nodes will be hosted by each of these servers (A1=1101, A2=1102, B1=1201, C1=1301)
  • how many other (WAN) servers you plan set up
    • names, IP’s, node #'s
  • are you planning to have only private nodes? or will you also looking to connect with other ASL nodes?

With that info we can provide you with some guidance about what to put in your .conf files (rpt.conf, iax.conf, …).

11

I understand all of that. i guess my question is if all the remote nodes have 127.0.0.1 in the config file how do they contact each other? it’s going to contact itself with a local loopback address 127.0.0.1 just not understanding this part.

with any other type of ip communications between a server/client/node/phone etc. you must tell the devices the ip to contact. So, if this is correct there’s something else going on between server/clients/nodes that i am not aware of and would like to understand how they are communicating.

12

I’m not going to mention server/client/ because I may I’m making this more confusing than it really is.

3 raspberry pi’s running ASL3 with a simple USB interface connected directly to each radio and set to a specific frequency.

Station 1 - Node 1500 192.168.10.30
Station 2 - Node 1501 192.168.10.40
Sation 3 - Node 1502 192.168.10.50

All Stations to be able to communicate to each other over the local area network.

No remote stations outside the local area network (private network only) possibly to be expanded at a later time but not for this setup.

No connection at this point to the ASL Servers.

Sorry for the back and forth. Hope this clears up what I’m trying to do.

Let me know if you need any more details.

Thanks Much!

13

I think this might make it clear and should enable communication between all 3 nodes.

Station 1 - Node 1500 192.168.10.30
(assuming port 4570 and so on)
rpt.conf should have

1500 = radio@127.0.0.1:4570/1500,NONE
1501= radio@192.168.10.40:4571/1501,NONE
1502 = radio@192.168.10.50:4572/1502,NONE

Iax.conf should have

bindaddr = 0.0.0.0
bindport = 4570

Station 2 - Node 1501 192.168.10.40 rpt.conf

1501 = radio@127.0.0.1:4571/1501,NONE
1500= radio@192.168.10.30:4570/1500,NONE
1502 = radio@192.168.10.50:4572/1502,NONE

Iax.conf should have

bindaddr = 0.0.0.0
bindport = 4571

Station 3 - Node 1502 192.168.10.50 rpt.conf

1502 = radio@127.0.0.1:4573/1502,NONE
1500= radio@192.168.10.30:4570/1500,NONE
1501 = radio@192.168.10.40:4571/1501,NONE

Iax.conf should have

bindaddr = 0.0.0.0
bindport = 4572

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14

Awesome! I have had some combinations of this but not the bindaddr =0.0.0.0
I had bindport =0.0.0.0

Thanks a million for clarifying.

I will get all configured. I’m very new to this so it’s been a learning curve!

Excited to do some testing (waiting on a couple more simple usb sound cards to arrive) which is probably going to open up a whole other can of worms!~

15

Give it a try and update if it works. I am very new to this as well, haha.

Good luck!

16

Will do…the only thing different i did was put the bindport before the bindaddr because of what this is saying. . think this is ok?

image
image952×264 7.89 KB

1 Like
17

You really should re-read the PDF I posted.

Bindport= 4569
should only be the iax port you are using on server 1,
bindport=4570 on sever #2
but you can allow ‘any port’ by using 0.0.0.0 but once you have done that any other definition is meaningless. and lowers security

;=========================================
;Server 1 iax port 4569
; server 2 iax port 4570
;=========================================

;1st server

[nodes]
1500 = radio@127.0.0.1:4569/1500,NONE ;local primary node on this server (local)

1501 = radio@127.0.0.1:4569/1501,NONE ;2nd node on this server (local)

1600= radio@192.168.10.xx:4570/1600,NONE ;1st node on second server

1601= radio@192.168.10.xx:4570/1601,NONE ;2nd node on second server

;============================

;Server #2

[nodes]

1600= radio@127.0.0.1:4570/1600,NONE ;1st node on second (this) server (local)

1601= radio@127.0.0.1:4570/1601,NONE ;2nd node on second (this) server (local)

1500 = radio@192.168.10.xx:4569/1500,NONE ;local primary node on 1st server

1501 = radio@192.168.10.xx:4569/1501,NONE ;2nd node on 1st server

You still need a path in the dialplan (extensions.conf) for connecting the private nodes.
I can’t spell this part out any clearer from the info you have provided.

1 Like
18

bindaddress should be uncommitted and have a value of 0.0.0.0
This restricts connecting addresses for security if you so desite and should be open if you want to allow incoming connections.
0.0.0.0 is ‘ANY’ but the line is commented and says ‘NONE’ as is.

Once you have established your system working, you can restrict it to the address of a known server ‘ONLY’ if that is your goal.

while bindport can have multiple ports to bind to, stay on the beaten path and just use one port to bind your iax connects to. To do anything else is for a advanced level you clearly have no purpose for.

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19

Hi ap2x, so i’ve finally received all of the required components to continue this project. I have one question for you. Should I not use the default port of 4569 on any of the nodes (only reason i’m asking is Station 1 already is set to it) absolutely no problems changing it but was just curious if that could be causing any potential conflicts. Thanks!

20

It should be fine. As long as you dont repeat ports.

It is covered in the document @Mike has linked, https://wiki.allstarlink.org/images/0/0c/ASL_two_servers_one_netwrok.pdf , in fact one of the examples is 4569.

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