Emergency Cloud System
Jesse Alexander, WB2IFS/3
Prince George's County ARES/RACES, Clinton
CERT, SKYWARN
wb2ifs@arrl.net
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
3.0 Unported License.
11/07/14 Jesse Alexander, WB2IFS/3 1

It's (been) alive!!!
11/07/14 Jesse Alexander, WB2IFS/3 2

It all started with a troll I put on
linkedin.com..
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Then I got...
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Basic Idea: when all else fails “send
in the Cloud”
● Mesh Web server connected
in a true cloud: mesh of
diverse devices providing
diverse services
● Survivable
– Self healing
– Low power consumption
(battery/solar operated)
● Deployable
– Mobile
– Portable
– Battery backed solar
– Small and lightweight
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Uses
● Emergency management site
● Winlink.org/Mesh Gateway
● Digital Resource net: Knowledge for
deployed volunteers (manuals, ICS
forms, private email and chat, etc.)
● 3rd responder Situational
Awareness
● VoIP and messaging server (D-RATS,
Echolink, etc.)
● Health and welfare site (
Red Cross safe and well, Ushahidi
mapping)
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Use case: Situational Awareness
Web server
Triage site Web cam
● Blog running on Raspberry PI
provides history/status
● Chat using D-RATS, file transfer
via telnet, etc.
● Remote video feeds
● Health and welfare beacon
● WX telemetry
Incident command
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Use case: Shared Paclink email
server
Web server
● Stations set up throughout a
large shelter/site
● Mobile/portable stations
● Multiple hams use one
Paclink email server
● Access to social media
through email gateways
Mobile Triage
Winlink.org
station
Incident command
Web cam
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Use Case: D-Rats over Hamnet
Jesse Alexander, WB2IFS/3
EECCSS
● DD-WRT router:
provides access to
Raspberry Pi backend
● Configured as AP
Standard
Wi-Fi
● D-rats client running
● Running D-rats client on
Raspberry Pi via VNC
● Sending messages
between clients on same
router
Web server
● D-rats client
● Ratflector

Use Case: D-Rats over Hamnet
Jesse Alexander, WB2IFS/3
EECCSS
● D-rats client running locally on laptop
● Sending messages between clients on
different routers
● Using VNC to run Ratflector on PI's GUI
● D-rats client
● Ratflector
HSMM-MESH
Web server

Use Case: over Hamnet
Jesse Alexander, WB2IFS/3

Use case: Overlay Network Tiers
5 or 3 GHz BOARNet
● Backhaul/long distance
● Long range
● P2P connections
● Highspeed >10Mbps
● Optional mesh mode for emcomm
2.5 GHz Broadband Hamnet
● Campus/Intranet
● Short range
● mesh mode
● <10Mbps
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Disaster – Response – Recovery
A B
DDDDDDDDiiiisisisisissssaaaaaaaassssssssttttteteteteeeeerrrrrrrr
Cycle
D
C
Normal operation: high
speed point-to-point
Recovery Islands
reappear as response
starts
Islands begin to
interconnect (Mesh) as
recovery process
continues
E
Mobile nodes arrive to
support response
Islands stand down as
response becomes
recovery
G
Normal point-to-point
operation resumes
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Recovery Island
Public Cloud
System
● Safe and Well message board
● Volunteer processing
● Games
● Inspiration
ECS
Mesh backhaul
● Safe and Well message board
● Situational Awareness
● Emergency management
● Tactical net
PPuubblliicc SSeerrvviicceess CClloouudd EEmmCCoommmm CClloouudd
11/07/14 Jesse Alexander, WB2IFS/3 14

Raspberry Pi Installation
1.Install basic firmware and
remote login support
2.Move main partitions from
Flash Card to HDD
3.Install Hardware and software
for GPS/RTC support
4.Install web server and Content
Management System
5.Configure HSMM nodes
6.Create content for web site
http://www.raspberrypi.org/
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Install basic firmware software and
remote login support
● Connected the PI to TV analog input and used USB keyboard
and mouse
– http://www.raspberrypi.org/faqs Has instructions.
● Installed & configured PuTTy client on test laptops (except for
the MacBook which doesn't need it)
● Configured static IP on the PI
– http://www.penguintutor.com/blog/viewblog.php?blog=6306
● Installed tightvncserver (Optional)
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Move main partitions from Flash
Card to HDD
● I tried other instructions but these worked best
for me:
http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?p=275750#p275750
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Pi doesn't have a real time clock!
– Adafruit GPS provides battery backed RTC
function
– Network Time Server capabilities
– Location telemetry!
– See
https://www.adafruit.com/blog/2012/08/28/adafruit-ultimate-gps-on-a-ras
pberry-pi/
https://www.adafruit.com/products/746
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Install Hardware and software for
GPS/RTC support
● Configured Pi to allow use of /dev/ttyAMA0
● Installed minicom to test Adafruit Ultimate GPS
● Installed ntp
● Installed gpsd
– Configured it to use /dev/ttyAMA0
– Configured gpsd.php in /var/www
● See the following sites:
– http://www.akadia.com/services/ntp_synchronize.html
– http://www.catb.org/gpsd/index.html
– http://open.konspyre.org/blog/2012/10/18/raspberry-pi-time-serve
r/
–
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GPS Status Screen-shot
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Install web server and Content
Management System
● I used instructions from this site:
http://mitchtech.net/wordpress-on-raspberry-pi/
● I also configured WordPress.org with a “child
Theme” so I could hack it without losing
configuration during upgrades
● Configured gpsd.php to display localized
information with gps status
● Used the WebMail/Paclink install instructions from
Active Ham to set up the webmail system
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Configure HSMM-MESH node
● Took several tries to find the right configuration for
the HSMM-MESH node connected to the PI
● Wordpress.org is persnickety about IP addresses—
especially when it comes to pictures
● The 5-host DMZ mode worked best
● Needed the “search and replace” WP plug-in to clean
out unroutable addresses from first pass
Wordpress.org configuration on the PI
– Noticed that the pictures didn't load because of
bad references
– Replaced IP address with “wb2ifs-103-
rpi/wordpress” URL
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HSMM-Mesh Server Configuration
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HSMM Server Configuration (cont.)
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HSMM Server Configuration (cont.)
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Mesh Server Schematic
12-13vdc 5vdc @ 1A
5vdc @ 2A
USB
Serial Port0
10.1.224.217
10.1.224.218
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WRT54GS running
HSMM-MESH
250GB Laptop HD
GPS
Receiver/Real
Compact USB Time Clock
Charger
Jesse Alexander, WB2IFS
1/28/2013
MausBerry
Switch

Bill of Materials
ITEM Quantity Price subtotal Model #
Compact USB Charger 1 $20.00 $20.00 USBCC-COMPX2
HDD enclosure 2 $15.99 $31.98 IM25COM-BK
WD Notebook Hard Drive 1 $58.99 $58.99 WDBABC3200ANC-NRSN
USB to Micro-USB cable 2 $10.00 $20.00
all-in-one Card reader 1 $10.99 $10.99
Raspberry PI B 2 $35.00 $70.00 RASPBERRY-PCBA
Serial GPS/RTC unit 1 $39.95 $39.95 Adafruit Ultimate GPS
1220 Lithium battery 1 $5.00 $5.00
MausBerry Shutdown switch 1 $20.00 $20.00 Shutdown switch with rocker
HSMM-MESH access point 1 $3.99 $3.99 WRT54GS
totals $280.90
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List of Wordpress.org Plugins
Plugin Why it's installed
List Yo' Files Package support for e-gokit
Quick Chat Allow operators at multiple stations to collaborate in real
time
Search & Replace Allows the changing of the servers IP address in all the
wordpress tables
Vasaio QR Code Allows easy data transfer from Wordpress pages to
smart phones and tablets
PHP Code widget For the “on line” detection widget
Updraft + Backup and restore
11/07/14 Jesse Alexander, WB2IFS/3 28

Next steps
● Add system status page for vitals telemetry (CPU temp, usage, memory and disk
capacity, etc.) DONE
● Add Paclink integration for Webmail via ham radio DONE: RPi is web server and
Paclink running on Laptop with Kantronics modem and VHF Radio (Rpi may not
have enough “horse power” to run it all)
● Set power budget for solar array and battery capacity (Calculated need for 100W
PV array, very expensive)
● Determine best way to package system
– Using outdoor box
– Considering using Rootenna enclosure
– Using an old plastic tool box
– Inverted 5-gal jug “bell-jar” vs. briefcase vs. NEMA box
– Pi components are rated for commercial temperature range 0-70deg C will it
work outside?
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Next steps
● R&D on integration with Commotion Wireless and Project Byzantium
● Replace AP with 2nd Raspberry PI running Broadband-hamnet
● Considering replacements for Raspberry PI because I'm maxing out RAM and the
Hard drive latency is increased because of its connection to the USB port:
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Shameless plugs
● Project site: https://sites.google.com/site/ecsmesh/
● These slides:
http://www.slideshare.net/jessenalexander/emergency-cloud-s
erver
Jesse Alexander, WB2IFS/3

TTHHEE EENNDD
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Test Configuration
WB2IFS-100
44.128.60.25
WB2IFS-103-RPi
44.128.60.27
10.1.224.217
WAN port to
Internet (DHCP)
10.1.224.218
(Static)
172.27.0.1 10.1.224.220
172.27.0.148
(DHCP)
(DHCP)
CCLLIIEENNTT
PPrriimmaarryy WWeebb sseerrvveerr
CCoonnssoollee,,
22nndd WWeebb sseerrvveerr
WWLL22KK mmooddeemm
VVHHFF rraaddiioo
11/07/14 Jesse Alexander, WB2IFS/3 33

Client test Configuration
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Test Case: Internet Relay Chat
(IRC) over Hamnet
WB2IFS-113
IRC Server
HSMM-MESH
WB2IFS-102
● Xchat clients running locally on laptops
● Sending messages between clients on
different routers
WB2IFS-100
IRC server
Instructions:
http://www.broadband-hamnet.org/applications-for-the-mesh/118-internet-relay-chat-irc.html

Test Case: Internet Relay Chat
(IRC) over Hamnet @Toughbook
Instructions:
http://www.broadband-hamnet.org/applications-for-the-mesh/118-internet-relay-chat-irc.html

Test Case: Internet Relay Chat
(IRC) over Hamnet @Notebook

Test Case: Internet Relay Chat
(IRC) over Hamnet @Toughbook

Test Case: Internet Relay Chat
(IRC) over Hamnet @Notebook