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--- howto:aredn:meshchat [2021/11/07 16:13] – va7fi
+++ howto:aredn:meshchat [2021/11/09 07:23] (current) – removed va7fi
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-====== Mesh Chat ======
-Using Mesh Chat is easy: simply click on a Mesh Chat service and enter your callsign.
-{{  :howto:aredn:meshchat01.png  }}
-{{  :howto:aredn:meshchat02.png?800  }}
-At the moment, we have four Mesh Chat instances that sync to each other:
-  * [[http://ve7tom-hap.local.mesh:8080/meshchat |VE7TOM-HAP]]
-  * [[http://ve7tom-hap-1.local.mesh:8080/meshchat |VE7TOM-HAP-1]]
-  * [[http://ve7ax-2.local.mesh:8080/meshchat |VE7AX-2]]
-  * [[http://va7fi-linux.local.mesh/meshchat/ |VA7FI-Linux]]
-===== Hosting a Mesh Chat Instance =====
-Mesh Chat can be installed directly on the hAP, but it's not recommended because it uses resources and it offers very little storage for files:
-{{ :howto:aredn:storage01.png?300 }}
-In contrast, a server install (coming up next) frees up resources and offers more space:
-{{ :howto:aredn:storage02.png?300 }}
-To synchronize Mesh Chat instances together, simply change the name to ''MIMeshChat''
-{{  :howto:aredn:meshchat.jpg?800  }}
-===== Mesh Chat on a Linux Server =====
-==== Fresh LinuxMint Install ====
-  * Install [[https://linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=290 |LinuxMint Xfce]] on a cheap laptop.
-  * Change Hostname to ''VA7FI-Linux'' because that's what will show on Mesh Chat:<code bash>
-sudo hostnamectl set-hostname VA7FI-Linux</code>
-==== Installing Mesh Chat ====
-Following the instructions on [[http://www.trevorsbench.com/meshchat-messaging-for-mesh-networks |Trevorsbench]]:
-  * Install dependencies:<code bash>
-sudo aptitude install curl apache2
-</code>
-  * Download and install Mesh Chat:<code bash>
-wget https://s3.amazonaws.com/aredn/meshchat_1.02_all.deb
-sudo dpkg -i meshchat_1.02_all.deb
-</code>
-  * Edit configuration file:<code bash>
-sudo pico /usr/lib/cgi-bin/meshchatconfig.pm
-</code> and edit the last two lines so that the zone matches the other Mesh Chat instances, and the node is the name of your AREDN node.  In my case:<code bash>
-our $pi_zone                    = 'MIMeshChat';
-our $local_meshchat_node        = 'VA7FI-HAP-1';
-</code>
-On LinuxMint there's an issue that needs to be fixed before continuing.  Essentially, the current setup uses files in the ''/tmp'' folder, which the Apache server is not allowed to edit.  So the solution was to create that folder somewhere else and set the permissions properly.((The ''/tmp'' issue is discussed here: [[https://www.arednmesh.org/content/pi-meshchat-error-sending-message]]))
-  * Create these folders:<code bash>
-sudo mkdir /var/www/html/meshchat/tmp/
-sudo mkdir /var/www/html/meshchat/tmp/meshchat/
-</code>
-  * And change the ownership and permissions:<code bash>
-sudo chown www-data:www-data -R /var/www/html/meshchat/tmp/
-sudo chmod 770 -R /var/www/html/meshchat/tmp/
-</code>
-  * Edit the config file:<code bash>
-sudo pico /usr/lib/cgi-bin/meshchatconfig.pm
-</code>
-  * And replace every instance of ''/tmp/'' by ''/var/www/html/meshchat/tmp/'' (line 2, and 18)
-  * Restart services:<code bash>
-sudo systemctl daemon-reload
-sudo /etc/init.d/apache2 restart
-sudo /etc/init.d/meshchatsync restart
-</code>
-=== Tests ===
-At this point, you should be able to run Mesh Chat from the computer where it's installed, but it won't talk to any other nodes yet:  [[http://localhost/meshchat/]]
-==== AREDN Configuration ====
-Install the meshchat-api package:
-  * Download it from [[https://s3.amazonaws.com/aredn/meshchat-api_1.02_all.ipk |here]]
-  * Click on ''Upload Package'' <key>Browse...</key> from the ''Adminstration'' page to install it.
-From the ''Port Forwarding, DHCP, ans Services'' page:
-  - Setup a DHCP Address Reservation for the Linux computer
-  - Advertise the service
-  - Forward WAN port 8080 to LAN port 80
-{{ :howto:aredn:meshchatportforwarding.png }}