DEMO-OPPNET includes a HTTP client-server application, called Webadmin, that serves as an administration tool. This tool allows the user to manage the DoDWAN web apps and to configure the demo itself.
This manual describes the GUI of the Webadmin client application (running in a web browser).
In general, the Webadmin client application runs on the same machine as the
demo itself (a node of the opportunistic network), that is, the demo is
accessible from a web browser on localhost, on port 8080
(http://localhost:8080).
However, you may also access the demo HTTP server remotely, potentially within the opportunistic network, but more probably via another network interface (different from the Wi-Fi interface dedicated to the opportunistic network), so with a different hostname in the URL.
The GUI presents three tabs: 'Webapp Manager' for managing DoDWAN webapps, 'Config Manager' for modifying the configuration of the demo, and 'Status' to manage the state of the demo.
The 'Webapp manager' allows you to install, uninstall, and launch DoDWAN webapps. The GUI is divided into two zones. The 'Download' zone, and the 'Installed Webapps' zone.
In the 'Download' zone, you can download a DoDWAN webapp and install it in the
demo. A DoDWAN webapp comes in the form of a DWAR file (DoDWAN Webapp
Archive). If you have access to a DWAR file, you can specify the URL of the
file (potentially a local file with a file:// URL) and click on the 'Install'
button. You can also choose one of the DWAR files that the INZU research team
makes accessible on a HHTP server (INZU store).
Once you have installed a webapp, it should be added to the list displayed in 'Installed' zone. Two buttons are available for each installed webapp: the 'Delete' button allows you to remove the webapp from the demo. The 'Launch' button is used to start the webapp.
Note that webapps can be directly be launched in a browser at the URL
localhost:8080/apps/<name of the app>
The 'Config Manager' tab allows your to configure the opportunistic network used in the demo. The 'Active Mode' defines the configuration that is currently applied whereas the 'Default Mode' defines the configuration that will be applied at the next start of the demo.
A configuration includes three items:
Wifi: the type of Wi-Fi networks the opportunistic network is based on.
For this item, the Config manager plays a similar role as the usual Linux NetworkManager (the NetworkManager is actually deactivated for the Wi-Fi interface.) If several Wi-Fi interfaces are present on the machine, DEMO-OPPNET chooses the last one (considering interfaces whose name starts with wl, in lexicographic order).
Three options are offered by default, in a drop-down list:
Other options can be added, in order to use Wi-Fi in Access point mode (see below).
DoDWAN : the way a DoDWAN peer interacts with other DoDWAN peers.
By default, there is only one option: p2p, which means that DoDWAN communicates in a real opportunistic network. Other options can be added in the case DoWDAN should communicate with emulator LEPTON, which plays the role of a hub between peers whose mobility is simulated (see below).
Location (not yet implemented): DoDWAN webapps have access to a location API. This option indicates how this API delegates the retrieval of the location.
The bottom part of the Config Manager screen allows you to add new options for the drop-down lists WiFi and DoDWAN discussed above.
You can add a new Wi-Fi Access point option, giving the option a name (for example myAP), and indicating the SSID and the WPA key for this access point. The option name will be available afterwards in the Wifi drop-down lists.
If you want to simulate the move of you peers, you can use LEPTON, which will also simulate communication between DODWAN peers via a hub. For this, create a new DODWAN hub option, giving it a name, and specify the IP address for the host where LEPTON runs and on which port this hub listens (-1 if you use the default LEPTON port). The option name will be available afterwards in the DoDWAN drop-down lists.
The 'Status' tab allow you to get information on the current state of the demo and possibly change this state.
The following zone are displayed:
DoDWAN Node ID
By default, the ID used by DoWDAN to identify the local peer is taken as the name of the machine where the it runs (the hostname). You can change it by giving it another name (it is recommended to use only ASCII letters and possibly minus, plus and undersore characters), and clicking on the 'Rename' button. Note that this renaming will restart the demo.
Wifi Status
Some information items are given on the configuration interface that is presently used. They should reflet the configuration chosen in the 'Config Mananger'.
The last one concerns the status of the RFKill switch for the Wi-Fi interface (blocked or unblocked). You can use button 'Set Wifi Down/Up' to switch between the two states. Note that setting Wifi Up will non only unblock the RFKill switch but also reconfigure the interface.
Neighbors
Here are displayed the names of the neighbor peers in the opportunistic network, as perceived by DoDWAN. Note that there is a certain delay (up to around 15 secondes) before DoDWAN can be aware of the appearance or the disappearance of a neighbor.
DoDWAN Status
Some technical information are dispalyed about DoDWAN. The SMTP and POP3 port numbers are to be taken into account when using the Mail application in the demo (see section Pre-installed applications.)
Relay Status
DEMO-OPPNET can run a specific process that plays the role of a relay for CRDT-based DoDWAN Webapps (e.g., cartopp or quillopp). This process can be started (respectively stopped) with the button 'Start Relay' (respectively 'Stop relay"). The 'Relay Status" reflects the state of this relay process. Note that the role of relay is exclusive: while the relay process is running, the DoDWAN node id is changed (a "R_" prefix is added) and no CRDT-based Webapp should be launched on the device.
Refresh
The status information display in the status is obtained from several sources (DoDWAN, system, demo processes...), sometimes asynchronously. It may occur that some information is out of date, especially on very slow platforms. The 'Refresh' button will ask again for the sources to deliver up to date info.
Set Wifi Down / Set Wifi Up
Toggles the RFKill switch.
Start Relay / Stop Relay
Starts/stops the process that plays the role of relay in CRDT-based webapps.
Restart Demo
Restarts all the subsystems of the demo (including Wifi configuration and DoDWAN), except the HTTP Webadmin server.
Power off
Sends a power off command (halt -p) to the host of the demo. This is only useful on platforms with no user interface (headless PCs).