Open Source Network in a Box

Basics

• Also referred to as NIBs
• A Hardened Case with all that is needed for networking at a site (Outside of external antenae/dishes perhaps) (Also any cables used for connection to devices (ethernet etc) would also need to be added in post installation
• Main use case is semi-permanent setups
• May also contain a NAS and/or a VOIP server, and/or a Radio Node (s)
• Needs external power either by utility power, a genset/generator, a solar electric system, a battery bank, or a HMCU Powerplant

Minimum Viable Product

• Able to use Link Aggregation to merge 2 or more WAN sources depending on budjet and need etc
• Also have optional internal WAN sources such as cellulat to ethernet/pcie, coaxial to ethernet/pcie, and fiber optic to coaxial/pcie
• Satellite Communications would most likely require external units, but perhaps the signal decoding could be internal, and the antennae external
• Also look into ports built into the case door for waterproof use (waterproof ports etc)
• UPS or only external power?
• Processing power?
• Optional NAS Rack(s)
• All rack mounted for modularity, ease of use, and conforming to industry standards ( may not work for Unit Load Devices need to look into this )
• Small versions could perhaps be put in/made into a "hiking backpack" form and functions via either an internal frame bag, or an external frame and welds/ties

Basic Design

Case

• Some sort of hardened case such as a "pelican case" with built in rack mount rails
• add a custom silicon/tpu etc cover for extra shock + scratch protection?
• Expensive, but perhaps less so than a pelican brand (also has integrated power distribution if desired)

Power Distribution

• preferabbly built into the case, or a rack mounted bar
• UPS?
• Also perhaps a waterproof "shore power" style plug for use while sealed to protect the internal componets during use in harsh enviroments
• There are different levels of quality of ports, here is a "shore power" plug, marine rated so would work well even with salt water

Core Module

• Motherboard (Workstation or Server?)
• GPU/Graphics Card or Intiggrated Graphics?
• RAM (How much is needed, also will depend heavily on budjet )
• SSD Storage (To prevent storage bottlenecks, depending on use case and budjet, a large one may not be needed, a small NVME or PCIE card would do? ~250gb etc? )
• PSU (Modular ITX)
• Cooling (This may be hard if sealed? air or water? would some sort of plate epoxied to one cut out side (to keep it sort of waterproof etc) act as a good enough heat sinK, perhaps make a plastic cover for protection when not in use?)

Switch

• At least gigabit ethernet
• 10GB would be a nice to have (especially with NAS use and large file transfer such as videos and large cad files (ie assembly etc) )
• Bonding/ Link Aggregation via a managable switch?

NAS Module

• Off the shelf or semi-diy (motherboard and slots rather than hot swappable rack)
• Optional but would allow for large group storage even when using small smartphones, tablets, and computers thus reducing individual storage needs
• Mainly need only HDDs since speed is less of an issue, perhaps independant ram/ssd for buffer?

VOIP Module

• Not 100% neccisary, but would do the conversion on the server end, so landlines could be used instead of VOIP phones
• Any off the shelf options?

Radio Node

• Probably best in a seperate device/case, but a radio Ham Radio HF Radio or UHF Radio or multiple that could be connected to the network allowing for use of other devices for input

WAP Module

• Could be integrated with the core
• Again may be best for seperating this from the case, but perhaps leave processing inside
• Wifi cards or full on routers depending on need
• What standard(s) short range fast, and long range/long range directional slow?

WAN Module

• Could be integrated with the core
• Multiple modems/hotspots
• Could be DSl, Coaxial, Fiber, Cellular, Satellite, or any source really as long as it gets converted to ethernet, a pcie card, or something fancier (fiber/network grade plugs, bit unneccisary for this scale (not a supercomputer/large network center etc)
• Also could handle the aggregation if it isn't in the switch section

Display/IO Module

• Not 100% needed, especially if using another device for this, but slide out rack displays and keyboard + mice exist. also small no sliding displays exist
• Would be quite easy to diy most likely (Display port/vga from core to a small screen, usb for mouse/keyboard/rollerball etc if in use)

Useful Links

• A Short Video Outlining the Concept and Current Off the Shelf Solutions