📶OpenWRT EasyMesh WiFi App

Deploy a Mesh WiFi Network in Minutes with OpenWRT & Batman-adv

This app was created to make it faster and easier to deploy a basic mesh WiFi network for WireGuard using OpenWRT and batman-adv. The app is powered by Batman-adv (Better Approach To Mobile Adhoc Networking - Advanced) and is designed for seamless integration with TorGuard’s WireGuard apps. However, it can also be used standalone without a VPN.

Why Use a Mesh WiFi Network?

Mesh WiFi networks are ideal for:
✔ Extending VPN WiFi coverage over large areas
✔ Enhancing connectivity using multiple nodes over WiFi or Ethernet
✔ Improving performance by enabling seamless roaming
✔ Simplifying homelab setups behind WireGuard for managing devices across locations

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🔥 Features

• Easy server deployment for access point WiFi and backhaul mesh networks
• Supports WPA3 authentication (or open networks)
• Advanced settings: K/V/R, Mobility Domain, RSSI Threshold
• Mesh status dashboard showing Interface, Neighbor Nodes, and Last Seen time
• Client/Node support for DHCP or Static IP & Dumb AP mode
• Auto Firewall & Interface Configuration for Mesh Servers and Clients
• Dumb AP Mesh Nodes can provide Internet access via LAN ports
• Compatible with TorGuard's WireGuard OpenWRT App for VPN-based mesh networks

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📦 How to Compile & Install luci-app-easymesh Using OpenWRT SDK

Step 1: Setup OpenWRT SDK

1. Download and install the OpenWRT SDK for your target platform:

   git clone https://git.openwrt.org/openwrt/openwrt.git
   cd openwrt
   ./scripts/feeds update -a
   ./scripts/feeds install -a

Step 2: Add the EasyMesh App to OpenWRT Package Sources

cd package
git clone https://github.com/torguardvpn/luci-app-easymesh.git

Step 3: Compile the Package

1. Go back to OpenWRT’s root directory:

   cd ../

2. Select the package using make menuconfig:

   make menuconfig

   • Navigate to LuCI → Applications → luci-app-easymesh
   • Select <M> to compile it as a module

3. Compile the package:

   make package/luci-app-easymesh/compile V=s

4. Once compiled, the .ipk package will be available in bin/packages/.../base/.

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📥 Installing luci-app-easymesh from Release IPK

Option 1: Install via OpenWRT UI

1. Download the latest luci-app-easymesh_3.8.17-r1_all.ipk from the Releases section.
2. Navigate to System → Software in OpenWRT's LuCI UI.
3. Click Upload Package, select luci-app-easymesh_3.8.17-r1_all.ipk , and install it.

Option 2: Install via CLI (SSH/Terminal)

opkg update
opkg install /path/to/luci-app-easymesh_3.8.17-r1_all.ipk

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🛠️ How to Setup a Basic Mesh Network (1 Server + 2 Nodes)

Step 1: Setup the Mesh Server

1. Disable/Delete any active wireless networks in OpenWRT (Go to Network → Wireless).
2. Go to Network → EasyMesh
3. Select "Server" for Mesh Mode.
4. Enter your WiFi SSID (This is the main WiFi network all devices will connect to).
5. Select the WiFi Radio for the regular AP. (Recommended: Use a different radio than the mesh backhaul for best performance.)
6. Select the Mesh Radio and enter a separate SSID. (The app will automatically append -mesh to your mesh SSID.)
7. Enable Password Protection, enter a Mesh Password, and click Save & Apply.
8. Click "Reapply EasyMesh Settings" to deploy the APs and activate mesh networking.

🔹 Verify Setup:

• Go to Network → Wireless to check that the WiFi networks were added.
• Go to Network → Interfaces to confirm that the Batman (bat0) device and (mesh_batman) interface was added.

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Step 2: Setup a Mesh Node

1. Go to Network → EasyMesh on the second router.
2. Select "Client" for Mesh Mode.
3. Enter the same WiFi SSID, Mesh SSID, and Password as the server.
4. Ensure you select the same WiFi radio type (AX, AC, b/g/n) for both WiFi SSID and Mesh SSID.
5. Click Save & Apply, then click "Reapply EasyMesh Settings".
6. Go to AP Mode tab and select a hostname (e.g., node2, node3, etc.).
7. Set to DHCP (recommended for Dumb AP nodes) or configure a Static IP in the same range as your Mesh Server.
8. Click Save & Apply, then click "Enable Dumb AP Mode".

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Step 3: Repeat for Additional Mesh Nodes

• Use the same WiFi SSID, Mesh SSID, and Password for every node.
• Ensure all nodes use the same WiFi radio type (AX, AC, b/g/n).

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Step 4: Verify Neighbor Nodes

1. Go to Network → EasyMesh on the Mesh Server
   • Check that nearby nodes are listed under Mesh Status.
2. Go to Network → Wireless
   • Verify that Mesh Backhaul Networks are communicating with the server.
3. Find your Mesh Nodes' IPs in DHCP Devices under Status → Overview.
4. Access a node by entering its IP in a browser.

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Step 5: (Optional) Activate TorGuard WireGuard VPN on the Mesh Server

1. Go to Network → TorGuard WireGuard.
2. Enter your WireGuard Username & Password.
3. Select your preferred WireGuard server location.
4. Enable WireGuard and click Save & Apply.
5. Click "Start WireGuard" to tunnel all mesh network traffic through the VPN.

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❓ FAQ (Common Questions & Issues)

Do I have to use WireGuard with this app?

No. You can deploy a standard Mesh WiFi network on an OpenWRT router without a VPN in minutes.

Can I run both the main WiFi AP and Mesh AP on the same radio?

You can, but it’s not recommended.
For best performance, use separate radios for each network.

• If running both on the same radio:
  • Limitations: Limited channels reduce performance.
  • Disable Batman Advanced features: Disable bonding and fragmentation to reduce overhead.

Can I add wired devices or a router that doesn’t support mesh?

Yes. If using a wired OpenWRT router (x86 device) without mesh support:

• Go to Network → Interfaces and manually select bat0 as the device on the mesh_batman interface.

How do I recover a node after enabling Dumb AP mode?

• If you can't access it via Wifi connect it to your server via LAN cable, then find the node IP under DHCP and connect in a web browser.

Best way to change Mesh WiFi settings?

1. Change settings on each node first.
2. Update settings on the Mesh Server last.
3. Reapply settings to reconnect all nodes.

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🔥 Now your OpenWRT Mesh WiFi is fully set up! 🚀